When some people look at a tiny house for the first time their immediate thought is, “why would you build a more expensive tiny house when you can buy a travel trailer or other camper that’s usually bigger and cheaper?”
That’s why I decided to put together this post on the top 5 reasons we, as tiny house people, would want a stick built house on a trailer instead of a camper, travel trailer or motorhome.
1. First and foremost is so I can feel at a home. Sure, you can make a camper feel more like home but not so much on the exterior. The look of a traditional tiny house with a pitched roof really makes you feel like you own a home and not a trailer or a double wide.
Photo Credit WatchTheDaily/YouTube
2. If this is going to be my home, then it has to be well insulated so it can stay cool in the summer and stay warm in the cold winter months. With most travel trailers this is very challenging. With a custom built tiny home, you can insulate it really well so that it functions like a home instead of a vacation trailer.
3. So I can use my own choice of materials inside and out. If I’m going to live in a tiny house, I definitely don’t want it to be anything like most travel trailers. Inside I’m going to choose quality materials that I enjoy living with and looking at everyday. Materials that do not contain chemicals with harmful off-gassing.
Photo Credit YouTube/WatchTheDaily
4. If I’m going to live in a “trailer” it’s going to look good because I don’t want to be looking and feeling like trailer trash. This obviously goes with reason one, but the point is, that this “trailer” (tiny house on wheels) is staying put unless I choose to move. So I don’t care about aerodynamics. I want it to be aesthetically pleasing like a house, cottage, or bungalow.
5. Last but not least, so I can finally own my own mortgage-free home. To me, a camper or a travel trailer just isn’t a home. I like them and all, but I’m not planning on hitting the road and traveling. I want a home.
We, the tiny house people, see nothing wrong with travel trailers, campers, motorhomes and bus conversions. In fact, most of us also love them. Some people have even created the perfect combination. See Rob Scott’s house-truck tiny houses. But these beauties aren’t built to be moved very often.
In conclusion, tiny houses are for living in full-time and only towing when you decide to move. Like once a year or less. Campers, travel trailers, and motorhomes are for those of you who want to travel the country. Other people live in tiny homes and travel frequently with their cars or using airplanes thanks their low cost lifestyle at home. What would you do?
Alex
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This was actually my dilemma a couple months ago: stick with the plan to live in a tiny home or consider moving into a fifth-wheel RV? After talking to many people and reading several articles, we decided to stick with tiny house and buy an RV later for travel purposes. This post does a great job highlighting the exact reasons we had for tiny house. Thank you!
Thanks Laura glad you enjoyed the article!
Laura, I think you made the right decision about the tiny house vs. 5th wheel. Adittedly, I have owned and lived in a fifth wheel since Sept. 2003 and have enjoyed it, but the outside of any rv or travel trailer is not that unique, or even attractive. And because you don’t have the ceilling height in a 5ver, you are limited to a single floor dwelling with a raised end. Too, and likely a factor of age, I don’t take the unit on road trips nearly as often as I had originally planned. I am actually contemplating a smaller single axle trailer with a unique look to If you don’t move the trailer often, it is generally better in the long run to pay a licensed hauler (NOT one from Craigslist!) You will have the personality, architecure AND appreciation instead of the immediate and substantial depreciation of a trailer. Good luck!
My used RV was not as expensive, and we’re renovating the inside to suit us, and it is easy to insure because the companies recognize it, and there is a HUGE community of support for living full time in such a vehicle.
Ours is going to be re-insulated as part of the re-do and will be very well insulated when complete.
I hope your movement succeeds in knocking down the excessive zoning and finds a format for small home communities that allows them to work and prevents the problems that communities fear will follow such small home communities. Ditto the changes needed in mobile home parks as you like to set up and stay permanently or semi permanently.
Interestingly, I saw an RV park where members own their lots, and have parking for the RV and many have a roofed area to park the RV and a small/tiny square foot home as part of the set up– thus giving them a home base for their nomadic style of life. I find it interesting that many full timers talk about liking to stay small after living in an RV.
It is important to make clear that the preferences are personal and OUGHT to be accepted.
I say welcome to the Tiny Life! Glad to have you.
Thanks for sharing Ann! I’ve seen those communities you’re talking about before in my area. They’re really cool. And even better that folks can own their own lots.
Agree!
What are you using to upgrade the insulation?
That would be a question for my hubby who has done the research into what he wants to use for insulation. It is expensive he says but so much of an improvement… I have no idea except to wonder if it is new what is the out-gassing going to be like?
But he is very much into researching everything so I’ll ask him and try to remember to come back here and answer your question.
YEs, please! I’m very interested. We are building our Tiny House in late 2014 once we get to our homesteading place. We have learned so much from this blog alone.
He says he plans to use a spray in plastic based insulation, whichever one will give the highest R-value in the thickness he has to fill.
Alas, that is the most detail I could get out of him today. He is in the middle of another project so vague is as good as it will get until he rotates back around to our RV project.
Very well put, Alex. Our thoughts exactly.
Thanks Jane!
I think another great reason to go tiny vs. camper is off-gassing. My wife and I attended an RV show once, and we nearly passed out from all the fumes we inhaled from that new plastic, glue, etc in the campers.
We went up to see Brad at Tiny Texas Houses once, and it was amazing how his houses smelled so good – like fresh wood – but something as simple as an induction cook top threw off the entire feeling with a pungent plastic smell.
One of my favorite things is laying down in my dried in tiny house and smelling the wood.
I agree Casey and off-gassing goes with my reason #3 to choose our own materials. I don’t like that feeling of plastic, glue, etc in campers. In fact, I hate it. Mass manufactured feel. Not good for me. Or anyone really.
That’s awesome you got to go see Brad at Tiny Texas Houses. Nothing like the smell of a cabin/tiny house that’s made out of real wood.
I read too quickly – sorry about that! Agreed about the custom vs. manufactured feel.
It’s all good Casey I do the same all the time.
I agree, the stink of “new” makes me ill as well. That is the delight of buying older.
Alex,I live in fly-over country (Council Bluffs,IA)and there are a lot of actual tiny built homes here non moveable.My guess is some of these homes are 400 sq. ft. or less.Probably bought and paid for,and people are extremely happy here.I’m also looking at mobile home parks that are half empty in town because people just cant afford lot rent and the trailer payments.
People in general need to really think about downsizing there life and look seriously at a smaller home all is is just shelter from the elements,not a place to BRAG about how much square footage you have too Heat,Cool,Clean,Etc.
If everyone in the USA thought more about there needs and less about there wants we could all healthier and Happier and retire a lot sooner.
Making a Tiny House, whether you start with an RV shell, Bus, Basic Trailer, or building from scratch, is a personal journey that many have already undertaken, and many more are contemplating, or are in various stages of developing. Each and every Tiny Home is as unique as its dweller(s) is(are). Personally, I like the actual “house” look. It makes me feel like I am a “home” owner. I have lived in a variety of travel trailers. The one thing I have found to be the most difficult is the cookie cutter layouts that others have created. I want something that is unique to me and my family’s needs. There is a whole new level of appreciation from people who see a Tiny House versus a travel trailer. I do not have the need to feel like I am in a constant state of “camping.” There are any number of reasons people choose to live small. Amongst those reasons are living green, living cheap, living debt free, transportability, etc.. Whatever the reason is, there is a level of satisfaction gained from the journey.
Well said, thank you
Another reason for me is that it is built to last like a conventional house with quality materials and will have good resale value somewhere down the line if/when I decide to sell. Most older trailers I’ve seen are just built to look nice when they’re new. The cheap materials inside and out fall apart quickly and look shoddy after a short time. The mobile home I used to live in was truly meant to be disposable.
Excellent point Frankie. Most campers are built cheap or at least to only last X number of years before like you said everything starts falling apart inside and out. With a well built tiny house, that’s totally different. It’s more like a real house.
So true about the materials falling apart over time. My parents had a great RV that I actually did live in for a few months between jobs. Over the years, it became really, really ugly and all the plastic parts–even the important ones, like the toilet!–started to fall apart. I like the idea of using “real” building materials instead of petroleum-based materials. I know they can’t be totally avoided, but I’m going to keep them to a minimum as much as possible. (I’m even planning to have my dad weld a metal soaking tub for my Lusby!) And the camper? My dad was burning some stumps next to it and accidentally set in on fire. It burned to the ground and they sold the metal that was left for scrap. When my mom told me, I said, “Thank God. Now I don’t have to figure out how to get rid of that thing!”
During my time saving up for my tiny house, I almost broke down and bought a travel trailer. As we sat in it debating what to do next I realizes that it was not for me. The trailer was poorly insulated, made out of cheap materials, and was extremely ugly. Instead of going for immediate gratification I opted to wait. I am so glad I did. Nothing worth doing is achieved immediately. It was a long hard road to where we are now, but it was so worth it. I have a beautiful home that people are always interested in, instead of that cheap trailer that would not get a second glance. Did I make the right decision? Absolutely.
Couldn’t have said it better. My favorite part of your comment, “Instead of going for immediate gratification I opted to wait. I am so glad I did. Nothing worth doing is achieved immediately.”
I’m choosing tiny wooden house over trailer because of the aesthetics (really don’t want a huge white thing with ugly swoopy swirls and a big name all over it) being able to completely customise the layout to my exact needs, the taller ceiling and ability to have a “wall of windows”. The only reason I’m going for a house on wheels is to fit the “trailer” designation for my zoning and the ability to take the house with me if I move later. If I were moving around a lot I’d go for a regular RV.
When I build my TH, it will be a real house-looking home. I only plan to move it about once every 1-2 years so home will be where the TH is. For recreation, my favorite way to get away is camping, so I will have a teeny tiny car to put my teeny tiny tent, stove & sleeping bag in and take off. And I will always be glad to get back to my little home, wherever it’s parked.
I just want to contribute a shout out to those of us who have purchased vintage trailers to live in. These trailers are extremely well made. The quality of the materials used and the craftmanship is wonderful. I especially like the feeling of character and individuality in my trailer( 24 ft.1962 Avion). I feel that my trailer feels very much like my home. The cost is reasonable and allows each person to make the “green” changes to match our lifestyles. Another plus, we are recycling on a large scale and also preserving a bit of history. I admire and respect everyone desiring to live a simpler, less expensive life and regard us all as pioneers in our own futures. Vintage trailer groups also have built community online and offer encouragement and lots of practical advice.
Vintage trailers are works of art and craftsmanship, new trailers are junk.
Brad at Tiny Texas Houses is doing a restore on a large airstream using salvage materials that you would like. Might drop him a line with some of your Ideas.
I’d love to follow Brad and see how his restoration is progressing. I can offer some help as far as connections to online trailer groups but I haven’t done too much work on my own trailer, other than cosmetic and I had the propane system worked on professionally. I’m researching a lot of green ideas and saving money to implement them. My Avion is very similar to the Airstreams, the outside aluminum shell on my year of Avion is the last year Avion used the same aluminum as Airstream. I’d love to read about some of his decision-making processes, especially if he is interested in going off-grid. I know tiny house workshops offer a lot of this info, but I just got laid off and cannot afford the cost. Truly appreciate all I’ve learned from you all in the last few years! Cecilia
This all said, I’m on my way to our local Ohio RV Show for an all day exploration of ideas and products that may be useful in my tiny house build starting as soon as the winter weather breaks in the norht. I’m taking my Tiny House book with me to help explain my plan in a less than understanding environment I bet. It will be interesting.
A tiny house on wheels is better for permanent living in climates that get hot or cold but the drawback is they are not designed for lots of travel and can be difficult to tow and get into places where you might want to stay.
I live in a permanent small house but I have two travel trailers for camping and I lived in a camper for two years before building the cabin.
I know people that have RVs nicer than some homes and live in them year round but the price for one- wow.
I too dream of the perfect lifestyle. For me it is a spot in Luling Texas at one of Brad’s Villages so I can market my artworks in the winter months and be close to the Gulf for recreation. Having a second Tiny Home in a Northern Area to travel to by my Lit Motors C-1 commuter would be the jelly on the peanut butter sandwich. I imagine a full solar panel palace with all off grid capability at both locations. The issue is travel after all and there is the beauty of tiny homes. Some times months in an area is need to see it all(on a fixed income like SS)and having a tiny home makes a HOME not just a camp.
I could also give you 5 reasons you should buy a BMW coupe rather than a Toyota mini van, but in the end it is one about utility and money.
Nothing wrong with little houses on wheels, and there is nothing wrong with RV living (an estimated 8 million Americans do).
It comes down to money, needs and choices.
BTW: I live in a 300 square foot tiny house.
One of the things I like best about groups like this is the marvelous diversity and the sharing of the same general goals.
I keep moving my messy life toward greater simplicity and as I adjust to the changes I feel greater freedom and mental health.
I keep moving toward smaller. There is just so much to recommend it. Like easier to pay to heat it.
Trailer Trash??????? Thanks for the put down. We all can’t afford $35000. for a tiny “real”home.
Well, heres what nobody is talking about…Insurance?!? what IF some drunk nails that sucker going down I85?….What about Taxes?, Registration, and as some people have said Back Roads, LOL, Anyone going from the North to the South West has obviously NEVER seen or been through the so-called back roads of say Ten, WV, NC, those Smokey Mountain ranges are a bitch, dirt, gravel, potholes, and yet you say simpler, NO Toyota Corolla is going to tow that 7,000 pound $30,000 TH anywhere for very long, so now your looking at a truck, gas mileage?..yeah right 12 in the shity citys and 18 on the highway if your lucky, and wheres the grocery getter when you get there?….smaller living with less blah blah blah…Prove it..show me the reciept that you sold that gas guzzler that moved your TH from that Tax Infested East Coast to say Iowa or Nebraska or hell even Texas or NM, doesnt realy matter because trading in a $200,000 home for a TH and still owning that gas guzzling truck to haul it around proves nothing to me except you obviously have more money than brains. Smart People would sell all their shit live in a hotel while they built their TH on the land in the Destination state anyway, but what do i know? If i could remember the link id post it for ya…there is 1 man that i have respect for that actualy built his TH on 5 acres of land OFF GRID and owns a 40 mpg car thats 15 years old..he has a well, septic, NOW THATS TINY LIVING. his Cabin is like 210 square feet. All this trash talk about a TH on trailers just buy a RV already or do it right like that guy above did…buy some cheap ass land, drill a well, put in a septic live OFF GRID. People showing videos of ther TH sitting their driveways…JOKESTERS. and WANNABEES.