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Woman Builds Micro Cabin on Wheels to Break Free (Part 1)


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Guest Post – How I Built the Cutest DIY Cargo Trailer (aka Micro Cabin) Ever

This project was done as a way to quickly and inexpensively enclose my 6’x10′ utility trailer to protect my cargo during transport to the Blue Ridge Mountains where I would start building my own tiny cabin. So I figured, “why not make it cute and practical at the same time?” I bought the trailer new and then built the enclosure around it for about $400 in materials and about a month of labor on my spare time.

I built it on the fly with no plans since it was only intended to keep the rain off my stuff and allow me to lock it up at night. If I hadn’t used reclaimed materials for much of it, I could have finished it a lot faster. But because I used reclaimed materials it took a lot of creative manipulation to make it all work.

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Micro Cabin Cargo Trailer Built for Move to Live Simply

Nearly finished!

Images © Barbara Diaz

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Related: DIY Micro Camping Trailer I Built for $2900

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It was challenging to keep it lightweight so that there would be enough weight left for my ‘cargo’. Go ahead and see how I did it below if you want to. Who knows? It might inspire you to do something similar.

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12×12 Tiny Cabin they also Built

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Images © Barbara Diaz

Video: Building a Micro Cabin on Wheels to ‘Break Free’

As of August 2014 the tiny cabin I built in the mountains is complete on the outside but the inside is still just naked studs. Soon I’ll post photos of how all of that was done too.

Plus I’m also working on converting the micro cabin ‘cargo trailer’ into an actual camper. 🙂 So stay tuned and thanks for checking out my ‘micro cabin on wheels’ which helped me ‘break free’ to the mountains.

To stay in touch with me and learn more about what I’m doing you can head on over to my website, CottageCamper.com and my YouTube Channel, Tiny Living. Thanks!

Update: See Part 2 of Barbara’s Micro Camper Here with Latest Upgrades

Thank you so much for sharing, Barb!

You can send this micro cabin on wheels to your friends for free using the social media and e-mail share buttons below. Thanks!

If you enjoyed this micro cabin on wheels you’ll absolutely LOVE our Free Daily Tiny House Newsletter with even more! Thank you!

Related: Pop Up Trailer to Teardrop Camper Project

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Alex

Alex is a contributor and editor for TinyHouseTalk.com and the always free Tiny House Newsletter. He has a passion for exploring and sharing tiny homes (from yurts and RVs to tiny cabins and cottages) and inspiring simple living stories. We invite you to send in your story and tiny home photos too so we can re-share and inspire others towards a simple life too. Thank you!
{ 12 comments… add one }
  • Charlie
    August 18, 2014, 4:59 pm

    You should feature her tiny house as well. I went to her blog and it looks very interesting but no interior pictures.

  • Jeannette
    August 18, 2014, 7:47 pm

    Never have left a comment before but couldn’t not on this one. Love Loved Loved it. Plus great music in the video !

  • Glema
    August 21, 2014, 8:12 pm

    Really just too cute! I would wonder about the snow load of said “mountains” though on that roof? I will keep praying for you, enjoy! TC and GBU all thank you for sharing your little dream house and thank you Alex for sharing it with us. Happy Trails!

    • Alex
      August 21, 2014, 10:58 pm

      Thanks Glema 🙂

  • elizabeth barrett
    September 2, 2014, 11:58 am

    I am guessing you paid about $1000 for the new trailer. So $1400 for the entire project. Totally adorable way to transport materials. Plus it would make an excellent camping RV. Just bring a few sleeping bags, a coleman stove and basic supplies and you will be the envy of the entire camping grounds !!

  • Lisa E.
    September 21, 2014, 7:00 pm

    The lack of insulation in the roof has me concerned; rock and roll temperatures are no fun. But other than that, it’s a great job and the cutest small trailer house I’ve seen, yet. Great job!

  • Doris
    September 27, 2014, 1:51 pm

    I’m curious as to how the roof held up on the road? It looks like Tuftex (Deek used this on a cabin for a NYU professor’s micro cabin) and is rated to withstand 140 mph winds. I love how it lets light inside so you can see what you’re doing. After seeing Deek’s work, we’ve started using this on outbuildings, but it hasn’t been tested by anything over 60 mph yet.

  • September 28, 2014, 3:46 pm

    I was looking for the pic on you tube. I was looking for blueprints on the micro cabin on ebay . found a plan #2 5×10 made out of plywood it cost 600 bucks to make. the plans#2 cost 25 bucks. he say you can mod them to go longer and wider. 8×16 should be a good start. I need to carry 10 foot boat, atv tools box.

  • Shirley
    October 3, 2014, 6:37 am

    Kudos to you! I absolutely LOVED everything you did here! The pics, video, narrative, and end product were all absolutely fabulous! Congratulations on arriving at your dream destination and getting your happily ever after!

  • Glema
    September 10, 2015, 4:26 am

    I look forward to seeing your build on the little cabin in the mountains as well. I’ve shared something for you on “part 2” comments 😉

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