If you feel tired of the conventional life – the big house, stress, financial burden – perhaps a jump to living in a tiny house trailer might be your solution. With less upkeep and lower utility costs, a tiny house trailer can be financially liberating. It allows you to move wherever and whenever you feel like, but you can also find comfort in stability when you need it.
Benefits of a tiny house trailer
A tiny house trailer has all the benefits of a standard tiny house, except with an extra set of wheels. But what benefits can a tiny house trailer offer that other types of homes can’t?
Freedom to travel
For keen travelers, a tiny house trailer could be a suitable option, as you’re able to take your home with you everywhere you go. With a tiny home hooked up to the back of your vehicle, you’ll never be stuck in one place for long. When traveling frequently is on the books, you’ll also get some mental health benefits from being outside, and spending time with nature and your travel companions. On the other hand, you’ll also have the option to settle down when you want to take a break from your nomadic life – a tiny house trailer can do both equally well.
Costs less money and time to build
It’s a no-brainer that tiny homes cost significantly less to build compared to regular homes. If you skip on the traditional American Dream and go for a tiny house trailer, you’ll find that you won’t spend all your hard-earned money on high building costs and mortgages. You can still design a tiny house exactly how you want it, and it will cost less as you’re not using as much material for a smaller space. On top of that, tiny house trailers can take less time to build, especially if you are purchasing prefabs or having professionals to help.
Better for the environment
Tiny house trailers are often designed to be used off-grid, which means you won’t be requiring public utilities, such as electricity, water, heat, and other services. Instead, tiny house trailers would include self-sufficiency features, such as solar panels or wind turbines, composting toilets, and rainwater collection systems. By using renewable energy sources, as well as living in a smaller space, you’ll be reducing your ecological footprint immensely.
Spend less on maintenance, upkeep, and utility costs
Naturally, the smaller the space, the less time you’ll spend cleaning and maintaining it. As there is less room, you’d want to keep the clutter at a minimum to have a clear space and mind. With minimal things around the house, you’ll have more time to do more productive things instead of chores all day long. Utility costs will also be lowered, as you won’t have a huge space or many appliances to power up.
How to get a trailer for your tiny house
Now that you’ve decided to go for a tiny house trailer, there are a few steps to make it reality.
- Design your tiny house. Consider what your priorities are when designing your home, as this will greatly affect the end result and whether it will fit on a trailer. You’ll want to avoid purchasing a trailer before finalizing on your home’s design, as it may not be suitable. Keep in mind that it can be tricky to build an extension once you’ve got your tiny house trailer, so make sure you stick to a design you like.
- Off or on the grid? Deciding on your power source before purchasing your trailer can make a huge difference. If you’re going off-grid, your house will need power sources built in, which would add to the total weight of your tiny home. Consider how solar panels can weigh over half a tonne – this would affect your choice for a trailer that suits your tiny house.
- Weigh everything. When you realize how weight affects your choice of trailer, you’ll want to do a good estimate on how much your whole tiny house will weigh. From appliances to furniture, do a weight estimate to see if your tiny house trailer needs any design trimming.
- Have the right vehicle. Of course, a tiny house trailer will need an accompanying vehicle to tow it. Depending on how heavy your tiny house trailer is, you’ll need to do some research into what type of vehicles can comfortably tow the load.
Other things to consider
While living in a tiny house trailer sounds like a dream, there are other details to remember to make sure you make the most of your new lifestyle.
- Hidden expenses. Even though you’ll save considerably by not paying for the usual expenses of a permanent home, there are additional expenses that you’ll incur. When you want to stay somewhere long-term, you may have to pay for parking to park there legally. You’ll also need to have insurance for your tiny home, in addition to your towing vehicle.
- Similar to owning a car, tiny house trailers are subject to depreciation. This may have to do with the fact that it’s exposed to the wear and tear of the road, which can decrease its value over time.
- Constantly moving your belongings. Although you are already living minimally, you’ll still have things in your tiny house trailer that could get broken from moving around constantly. Securing loose items and packing up your solar panels every time you’re on the move can get tiresome.
Final Thoughts
Tiny house trailers have obvious benefits, from mobility and flexibility to saving money, but life on the road may not be fitted for everyone. However, tiny house trailers would be a great option for those that prioritize traveling.
There are many variables to consider when deciding to live in a tiny house trailer, including what type of trailer and vehicle to purchase. The key is to do thorough research on all aspects to get a proper tiny house trailer that will get you on the road safely.
