What if . . . You want to live Tiny, but not “that” tiny? Sure, there are a lot of attractive elements with living Tiny, but to some, the 8 foot width is just too tight. If that is you, go with a wider tiny house built with these new trailer plans! Now available here at Mechanical Elements.
We are listening. From the previous article on the Tiny House Size Quandary, we agree there is a need for a good, solid, wider foundation. So, you asked, and now we are delivering awesome wider trailer plans.
New, Wider Trailer Plans
We took a long analyzing look at the changes required to go wider. It seems so simple to just stretch everything wider and there you have it. But, like most things in Engineering, it is never as simple as it seems. That is OK, because we are Engineers, and that is what we do.
Without boring you with all the details of “How”, we can just say we are filling your request. We now have 2 new sizes of “Wider” tiny house trailer plans, and they are available for you to purchase, then download, right now.
First, a 10′ wide by 32′ length foundation.
Second, a 12′ wide by 32′ length foundation.
These are both Fully Engineered trailer plans, designed for the few that wish to jump into the not-quite-so-tiny life. And, they are based on the same principles we set out for all our Tiny House Trailer Plans.
You can read the details and the reasoning for design choices in the article The Wise Man And The Tiny House. If that is not enough, try the a Case Study on Tiny House Trailer Design on our Engineering Website. We believe it is important to understand and decide about the trailer – because there are many trailers sold as Tiny House trailers, but lack fundamentals needed for supporting your house.
Is It Right For You?
The big question is always – Will it work for me? While it is fun to ask, really, you are the only one that can answer it. To help you, here are some things you need to know before going wider with a tiny house.
- Will your new tiny house move around a lot? Some people want a Tiny House because it is mobile. If that is you, then the wider Tiny might be constraining.
- Do you love the idea of living Tiny, but worry about claustrophobia or cabin fever? Adding a little to the width makes a huge difference. An extra 1.5′ to 8.5′ adds a lot of elbow room. Going 12′ wide – adding 3.5′ – is almost half again the wider. That makes many things more practical.
- A wider trailer requires special permits on the road. Requirements vary in different jurisdictions, so we recommend some research.
Permit types vary by trailer width and length. This 32′ length (longer with the tongue) is usually OK. Often, permits for a 10′ width are not too difficult to acquire. They probably require signs and probably some road or time restrictions. A 12′ wide trailer is a little more involved, so check on requirements.- Do you have a vehicle capable of pulling this size and weight? Of course, the weight will not be determined until the house is built, but a 32′ long x 1o’ or 12′ width will not be light. Or, you can hire it out.
- Finally, are you planning to live in it for a long time? If the answer is no, think about it carefully. What is the market for a wider tiny house – on an awesome trailer?
Permit types vary by trailer width and length. This 32′ length (longer with the tongue) is usually OK. Often, permits for a 10′ width are not too difficult to acquire. They probably require signs and probably some road or time restrictions. A 12′ wide trailer is a little more involved, so check on requirements.Those are just a few things to consider going wider. For people committed to it, these are not burdens.
Wider Trailer Plans Are Now Available
If you have a place to park a wider trailer, we have the plans – designed from the beginning with the Tiny House in mind. They include a low deck height, a very stiff chassis, triple axles, and strength at the perimeter to support the weight of the walls and the roof. The house floor integrates right into the frame, which increases available head space. It also allows plenty of insulation in the floor – for both warmer and cooler climates.
Check out the details by following the links to these 2 wider tiny house trailer plans with Full Engineering by Synthesis Engineering Services.
- 10′ x 32′ Foundation Trailer Plans. (Actual trailer width is 9′ 10″ allowing 2″ for finish, and coverage over the trailer edge.)
- 12′ x 32′ Foundation Trailer Plans. (Actual trailer width is 11′ 10″ allowing 2″ for finish, and coverage over the trailer edge.)
The choice is not about which is better, the choice is now about which foundation will fit your needs best. Good luck with your new Tiny House project.
How Do These Fit ICC Appendix Q
The International Residential Code Appendix Q is a building code for Tiny Houses. For the trailer, from how we read it, compliance is making the case that the trailer meets the foundation needs. Though little is specified about the foundation, we believe these trailers fit. The design specifically places strength at the perimeter where the primary loads from walls and roof and lofts really are. Even these wider trailer plans are engineered as a foundation – not, like many other trailers – as a retro-fit to hold a house.
Of course, most of the code is about safety features for lofts, stairs, windows, etc. for ingress, egress, fire, safety, etc.. Oddly, I did not see codes to level the trailer or to anchor it. However, the code does define Tiny Houses as 400 square ft or less. Bigger than that, they fall in other categories under different rules – not necessarily DIY.
We do not understand all the code or the issues it solves or creates. However, our 32′ x 12′ wider trailer plans give a 384 square ft platform (with a noted option for 12.5′ width allowing a true 400 sqft base.) If max is your goal, these trailer plans get you there.
As of this writing, there are no specific laws regulating the size of a dwelling that meets the guidelines as a “Tiny Home”. However, the ICC Appendix Q is a proposal to make rules. It is definitely worth looking for understanding with your plans for a wider trailer and tiny house.
Footnote: Why So Expensive?
Most plans on MechanicalElements.com are less than $50. But these wider tiny house trailer plans are more. What’s up?
True, we like the idea of keeping the price affordable. We are, after all, focused on DIY, not high-end custom. And yet, we are a business, and we need to eat and pay rent and all those things too.
We strive to create the best, most complete plans available. We do that with thorough engineering. Your success in understanding how to build it, is our measure of quality, and that takes time. (Full engineering, iterative analysis, drawings, instructions, notes and details.) In general, the cost of Engineering is about 100 times more than we charge for our regular trailer plans – because we hope to sell 100 sets.
That said, these wider foundation trailer plans are a special request. Custom trailer plans for something similar are in the $5000 to $6000 range (usually). Of course, these are much less, so you get the bargain. Hopefully we will sell enough to cover our cost – but if not, you still get the screaming great deal at more than 90% discount. Better than Black Friday deals, every day!
If you are in the market for a wider trailer for your tiny house on wheels, these are the plans. If you really need something different, we also do custom design, for your unique needs, but it is much more expensive.
Good Luck With Your Project!
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