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Tiny Houses to House Workers in Oil Fields?


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Not long ago I showed you what Stew MacInnes has created to fill a better need for workers. He calls them tiny houses on steroids because they can withstand extreme conditions. So this is Maximus Extreme Living Solutions’ second tiny home project.

These homes are a better solution for workers, let’s say in oil fields, who have to spend a lot of time away from home. And instead of living in man camps which are often used in these situations, Stew is on a mission to change this with tiny houses on wheels which are still portable but homier.

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Caboose-style Tiny House on Wheels by Stew MacInnes

Stew MacInnes Second Tiny House

Take a look at the rest of the photos below:

Stew MacInnes Second Tiny House for Workers in Oil Fields Stew MacInnes Second Tiny House for Workers in Oil Fields Stew MacInnes Second Tiny House for Workers in Oil Fields Stew MacInnes Second Tiny House for Workers in Oil Fields Stew MacInnes Second Tiny House for Workers in Oil Fields Stew MacInnes Second Tiny House for Workers in Oil Fields Stew MacInnes Second Tiny House for Workers in Oil Fields Stew MacInnes Second Tiny House for Workers in Oil Fields Stew MacInnes Second Tiny House for Workers in Oil Fields

As you can tell this model uses bunk beds instead of an upstairs sleeping loft to house more people. When these photos were taken this one was not completely finished but near.

What’s your take on tiny houses being used on the field to house workers? I thought that Stew brought a new perspective into the world of little houses on wheels because in this case they’re being used to market and sell to oil and mining industries which is quite different from what we usually talk about here.

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Sources:

  1. http://maximusextreme.com/

This post contains affiliate links.

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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!
{ 18 comments… add one }
  • alice h
    December 3, 2012, 10:02 am

    I’ve worked in several mining and exploration camps and have friends who worked in oil camps. In most of them you need to be able to clean every surface in the place quickly and easily – often kitchen staff double as room cleaners and you don’t want to make their lives any harder than they already are. (First rule in camp – don’t piss off the cook!) If people are cleaning their own rooms you’ll have to be able to get them clean again afterwards. Surfaces have to be resistant to wear and tear – people are tromping in and out with heavy boots, tools, dirty clothes, etc. unless they have a separate place to wash and change first. Sometimes these things are going to be hauled over some really rough terrain. Long term, short term, scientific or exploration camps may have different needs than “roughneck” crews. Some workers will appreciate these nicer accommodations, some will abuse them. A “man-camp” can be quite the intense little world. The main objective of most of the companies will be to keep expenses to a minimum.

    • December 4, 2012, 2:35 pm

      Thanks Alice, nice insights.

    • Ralph Sly
      July 6, 2013, 5:11 am

      Alice, you said it well, been there done that. And your advice not to piss off the cook is the best ever. LOL, I always liked to have my own accommodations. Avoid even staying in the camp trailers as often as possible and this looks like he is trying to house a few. This is too small for any more than one in my experience. I like to scratch and yawn and hit my own shower, I am not antisocial, contra but when it comes to sleeping and cleaning, I don’t want to share unless it is with my significant other. These TH build on a trailer is the only reason I would have one and would be more of a large durable well insulated box, as you said, I have been over the terrain you mentioned. I have used subsistence which is generous on many out of town projects and the Oil field to finance personal space and comforts, a lot cheaper than motels. I use cube vans and batten down everything. I have a ton of work clothing and like one big box to put the soiled goods in. I can go 3 months without doing laundry but have to put the dirty stuff someplace. I even did a stint with pilot trucks one time and used vans, I always had a bed and port potty handy. I never slept in the truck or scrounged for a room when all the motels were full, Ralphie slept comfortably. I did eat in camp though, dam good food if, “you don’t piss off the cook” LOL (but I also always had my personal stash, and a nip or two, before testing that is) It’s one thing to develop a lifestyle living in a TH full time than it is to live in it and work those types of industries, moving when the rig or job dose…

  • keven
    December 3, 2012, 12:00 pm

    The look is great except for the exposed electrical work. It makes the electrical work look like an after thought. Exposed pipe is used more for an industrial application than residential. If the work can’t be recessed I would suggest a product meant to be run on the surface such as Wiremold. A few hours of electrical layout will increase the product marketability.

    • December 4, 2012, 2:36 pm

      It’s funny some people like the exposed electrical panels and others hate it. I think he’s doing it this way for the company’s buying them as employee housing but I think he’d be able to change that for any individual orders like one of us.

  • Carolyn B
    December 3, 2012, 3:54 pm

    I think your friend, Stew, may have better or at least equal success selling these to circus or carnival people who need a homier accommodation while they travel.

    • December 4, 2012, 2:38 pm

      Good idea Carolyn although I’m not sure of those folks would be willing to exchange their lighter travel trailers for one of these heavier stick built models with all the traveling they probably do.. Do you think?

  • davidrc
    December 3, 2012, 8:27 pm

    Personally I like the exposed emt runs but wondered why he went with wiremold boxes. Also liked how the exterior resembled a caboose. In some communities,such as where I live, so many people are moving into here for all the available jobs that housing is a major issue. And there is price gouging going on for what’s available. Those who can are bringing in their own travel trailers but even the rv parks are in on the price hikes, even FEMA trailers (of which there is still a huge surplus) are selling here at outrageous prices. So just fitting these out as houses and selling them for a reasonable price would go over really well here.

    • December 4, 2012, 2:39 pm

      Hey David, wow, that’s interesting. Where are you right now again? Hope you’re doing well! Long time no chat.

      • davidrc
        December 4, 2012, 6:40 pm

        I’m in Midland Tx now Alex.

  • December 4, 2012, 7:50 am

    Very Caboose-like, and being a former HO Guage Train Nerd way back in the day, I can’t complain. It looks well built too…

  • joe chipman
    December 5, 2012, 8:28 pm

    The yellow caboose model is is simply stunning. Beautiful exterior fit and finish and the ladder rungs really set off the train caboose look perfectly.The Interior Seating, bunk beds, sheeting and trim look simple, neat and very professional. Beautiful work, this is the kind of fit and finish that most tiny house people dream of.

    Now being a electrician myself, wiring a tiny house with 1/2″ emt conduit detracts from the natural beauty of the wood and the wonderful interior design. Have you considered consulting with a local electrician specializing in wiring log homes. I believe you could easily find a way to nicely hide all those wires with the right electrical contractor.

    good luck on your new business venture.

    Joe Chipman
    Hermit DeLuxe

  • December 7, 2012, 1:11 pm

    Although style and function are well blended, overall the cost per square foot is the defining feature. I would be very interested in this type of product application not to exceed $200 a square foot. I am looking at Tiny Texas Houses as a top of the line product and Brad is doing a superior product at that price range. True a different application, but unless a method is found to mass produce systems with this SIPS system at less than $85 per square foot we will never get them to the masses.

  • John
    December 8, 2012, 2:48 pm

    Having installed and lived in many “camps”, the house on wheels doesn’t fly, most of the staff want their own privacy, so no bunk beds, and really see as people are up in fort macmurry to make money, they don’t really care. Sad but true

  • Glema
    December 8, 2012, 5:37 pm

    The bunk styling is good for young families maybe with toddlers say, til dad works his way into larger style little house? The extra wrm is always good:) Ty for sharing your comments, I learn a bit more each time. ( always more about people if not product:) )

  • Glema
    February 19, 2014, 8:57 pm

    If the beds could be flip up style so as to be out of the way at other times it might work ok depends on the “roomies”. As for yuk oily duds, how about a plastic barrel type thing on a porch of the TH? drop the outter oilies and come on in. 🙂 Slippers as you walk in off to the side maybe, they could be hung in less room than you think. Just a thought! Turns for showers of course, need a hook up type system for water etc. like an RV if you will house so many. (Or a lot of black hose! lol) Seriously I think this is a much better option for workers, maybe just two per TH is best though. Happy Trails! God bless the cook! 🙂

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