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16-ft. Assembly-line Tiny House for $25k by Incredible Tiny Homes


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I’ve never been more excited to show you a tiny home before! Introducing the “Incred-I-Box” — an 8×16 tiny house on wheels that requires *no* DIY to live in it for just $25,000. Truly affordable — and comfortable — housing.

These homes will be made on an assembly line and won’t come with any modifications — what you see is what you get. But the house, built from Engineered Steel Panels, is fully wired and plumbed and ready to live in! Randy, the owner of Incredible Tiny Homes, lives in one of these, and at the end of the video below, he shows you what a little bit of paint and decor can do to take this bare box and make it feel like a home.

They start production of the homes in February, and if you purchase by Dec. 31, 2021, you can buy it for that $20,000 price tag. Come January, it will go up to $25,000, which is still such a deal especially when everything right now costs more and more!

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Affordable, 128-sq.-ft., ESP-Built, Assembly-Line Tiny Home on Wheels by Incredible Tiny Homes

This is what the assembly-line-built tiny house will look like when customers get it.

And THIS is what paint and decor can do!

The exterior is just Sherwin Williams black metal paint.

A simple daybed acts as a couch and a full-sized bed.

VIDEO: Introducing the World’s First Assembly Line Tiny House

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Natalie C. McKee

Natalie C. McKee is a contributor for Tiny House Talk and the Tiny House Newsletter. She's a wife, and mama of three little kids. She and her family are homesteaders with sheep, goats, chickens, ducks and quail on their happy little acre.

Latest posts by Natalie C. McKee (see all)

{ 37 comments… add one }
  • Tim J Emanuel
    December 8, 2021, 11:36 am

    No sheetrock work done, more greed

    • Bryan O'Connor
      December 8, 2021, 11:58 am

      I kinda like it that way, IF I’m buying something i want to put my own stamp on it and make it my own. I personally want less than what they say comes in it. I wanna put my own Cabinets, sink and countertops in it. I want MY house not someone else’s idea of what my house should be. Just do the plumbing and run the electic and throw some drywall up and mud it in, I’ll do the rest.

      • April 27, 2022, 8:04 pm

        Throwing up drywall, is the same as sheetrock, and I agree that there should be something on those walls.

    • James D.
      December 8, 2021, 1:03 pm

      No, the exact opposite, this was specifically done to achieve the lowest sustainable cost possible at this time. The normal cost of building right now is a lot higher!

      Besides, sheetrock tends to crack and crumble in moveable structures, which is why it’s rarely used in THOWs…

      • Tim J Emanuel
        December 8, 2021, 8:52 pm

        What is that wallboard that you’re using that looks like unfinished sheetrock?

    • James D.
      December 8, 2021, 10:02 pm

      I’m not the builder, but what you’re seeing is called an ESP home…

      ESP (Engineered Structural Panels) is a type of SIP (Structural Insulated Panel) that uses metal instead of OSB or Plywood sheets. Each panel is attached to the next with an overlap of the sheet metal that is then screwed or riveted together…

      ITH started to use these back during the sky high lumber price period as an alternative to the expensive lumber builds and continue to offer it as a budget option as general costs remain high and they can no longer offer their original base pricing for their other traditional wood framed models…

      Their higher priced ESP home options would finish the walls with a synthetic stucco to give an either smooth or uniform textured appearance but this model is intended to be for those seeking the lowest price possible.

      So they’re just showing what you get with a bare bones model and demonstrated a low cost way to finish it by just using paint and decoration…

      While the intent is for the owner to do the finishing for appearance. So owner can opt to do the same with paint, or opt for stucco, plaster, wallpaper, stick on wall panels, trim, etc.

  • Bryan O'Connor
    December 8, 2021, 11:54 am

    Needs more pictures and a better description, Some of us don’t have other things to do besides watch a half hour video by some wanna be local game show host. Tell us what it is, what features it has and show us pics so we can decide on whether we want to look into more detail. I hate to be “THAT GUY” but someone has to be. I don’t need a 14 page expose’ but I’d like a like more than who what when and where with more pics, even if it is pics of the unfinished one. I wanna see roughly what it is.

  • Sue Roberson
    December 8, 2021, 11:57 am

    This is a deal! Considering the cost of materials & labor, this is a great price. I would like it for a small office/guest house.
    Well done.

    • Bryan O'Connor
      December 8, 2021, 12:07 pm

      Nah, I could live in it full time. but I would want even less in it than their idea of “Barebones” Bare bones to me is NOTHING in side it, I wanna be able to reconfigure it and build some clothes storage at the very least. I also want a 3/4 or full size fridge, as a traveling motorcycle tech living in extended stays and hotel rooms for the past 2 and half years those apartment size fridges suck and you have to go shop every day or every other day because there’s room in the fridge and the freezer won’t hold anything more than a couple popsicles. Just plumb it, wire it up for electric and bring it to me, I’ll put my own cabinets kitchen, sink and countertops in.

      • James D.
        December 10, 2021, 1:10 am

        For tiny houses that usually falls under a “Shell”, they can range from very basic framework to nearly complete but usually have complete plumbing and electrical with mostly the interior to finish out. While “Bare Bones” doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone…

        Anyway, a work around for a mini-fridge is to get a separate unit to function as the freezer… Some units can even be set to be either a fridge or freezer and there’s also options like Drawer fridge/freezer units that can blend in with cabinets… Much like Washer/Dryers, stacked combo units aren’t the only options… You can even create your own cool room if you really want to have flexible options beyond the normal commercial options. Something to consider if you’re working on a shell, as an alternative to just adding a closet, pantry, etc.

        • Bryan O'Connor
          December 10, 2021, 10:19 am

          I disagree, Bare Bones only has one meaning, the word Bare literally means “nothing” or “without additions”, Barefoot means your not wearing shoes, your not barefoot when your wearing Sandals or flip-flops, your open toed, when your “bare a$$ naked” that means your not wearing any clothes, If “Your cupboard is bare” that means you don’t have any food in it…… Bare Bones means just that….. Nothing added. While I agree with the mini fridge I’ve pretty much lived out of a Extended Stays and Hotels for the last 3 years as a traveling motorcycle tech and the mini fridges absolutly suck because they don’t really hold anything. The entire intent of living tiny is to “get away from the rat race” yet you have to go into every day or every other day to get food because your fridge is so small they won’t hold much food past that once you keep your condiments in the fridge there’s barely enough room for a couple pork chops.

        • James D.
          December 10, 2021, 11:35 pm

          Bryan, I actually posted the definition already but also pointed out how people actually use it which is apparently the part you’re not understanding. It is the nature of language that there’s always aspects of it that will be up to opinion and interpretation because people don’t all use language the same way and in every situation. I already gave solid examples like how Bare Bones can refer to different aspects, like pricing, and not apply to everything the same way.

          Regardless, it doesn’t change the simple fact that “Shell” is the industry standard for what you actually want… Do a search for a tiny house “shell” and you’ll actually find a lot of options… Companies like Tiny House Basics even specializes in “Shells”… It’s just not something ITH specializes in because that isn’t their primary customer base…

          While this isn’t ITH’s only video on this product, like I already stated this was originally intended to be a kit but that fell through. So the meaning of “Bare Bones” actually changed for this product for what the majority of their customers were asking for and is why it’s now called Incred-I-Box… There is a difference from original intent and actual final product!

          Among other factors like what they needed to do to get it to this price point involved setting it up for mass production on an assembly line. So no variations, changes, etc. and it has to work for the most number of people, which is one of the reasons they had to move away from the kit they originally intended and ended up producing this product instead…

          I’ve also been following ITH since they started, and it’s one of the things to get used to with them that their wording isn’t always precise or always accurate to what they are presenting. A lot of what they’ve done actually has nicknames like the Randy Rack is a pull out pantry shelving unit, for example that shows it may take awhile to know what they actually mean. Most of the videos they post were recorded live, so no editing, script, etc. Just raw comments that they make on the spot, to give some idea of the context you’re not picking up on here… Though, they did pre-record this specific video but they still did it in the same way they do their live videos in just one take.

      • James D.
        December 10, 2021, 3:26 pm

        You’re free to disagree but understand you’re just arguing the semantics of your personal interpretation.

        Fact is “Shell” is the actual industry standard term for what you want!

        Unlike desktop computers, etc. they don’t call them Bare Bones and ITH already deviated away from the original kit option they intended with it when there was clearly not enough interest. So there’s a different context for the meaning here that you’re not accounting for…

        Since, word combinations and how people use a phrase can change it’s meaning, which again is the case with use of “Bare Bones” here as it’s a generic term and depends on what is being referenced. Like bare bones pricing, doesn’t mean something is not included with the product but just that there’s no additional fees. Among other examples that show it can either mean the whole, or a part, or something related and its actual meaning will change depending on the context.

        People can also disagree on the definition of “Bare Bones” for what “The basic elements or essentials, the most basic or important elements or parts of something” actually are as not everyone agrees on what’s essential, etc.

        Like some people don’t require modern conveniences but others can feel that it’s unlivable without those conveniences. Some people feel that they need dedicate space for certain functions but others are fine with a transformable space that can be adapted as needed. Among other examples where people won’t all agree…

        Thus, not everything will necessarily lend itself to impart an exact meaning when that’s actually subjective and that’s the point I’m making here…

        This even applies to your “get away from the rat race” remark, as not everyone even needs a fridge. There are other ways to store food and to get food besides always going to the store as some people are more self sufficient than others or have an alternative way to provide their needs or just have a different preference like some people prefer to always eat fresh food and their way of getting away from the “rat race” is to support local farmers market rather than big supermarket chains, among other examples…

        Part of tiny living is having an open mind and at least consider other ways to live, instead of only looking at a revised way of how you were already living… It doesn’t mean it has to be for you but part of the point is for everyone to find what’s appropriate to them and their needs, which just has to be understood doesn’t have to be the same for everyone and for some can be even very different and that’s actually okay as people are diverse and the way for us to actually get out of the “rat race” is to get away from the idea that there’s only one “right” way to do things…

        • Bryan O'Connor
          December 10, 2021, 8:30 pm

          I’m not arguing semantics on a personal opinion, Go to Webster’s Dictionary and then READ it and then get back to me, An OFFICIAL defination isn’t up for opinion or interupratation, They ARE what they ARE, I’m just calling it what it is. Besides watch the video, “The BareBones” is LITERALLY what they named the model that they build.

  • December 8, 2021, 12:23 pm

    I love this layout, really perfect for a single person. Great looking. Price is really good for most anyone.

  • jerry dycus
    December 8, 2021, 12:59 pm

    I can think of better ways, even stick built that is better finished inside and out. But one can put whatever outside, inside they want here.
    I generally do stressed skin to get light weight like boats I build.
    Since it is light why such a heavy trailer? It should be able to get by with just 1 axle and building the floor as box beam can be the trailer frame too cutting cost, weight.
    The simplicity is great with nice windows and kitchen, bath at 1 end.
    I do the same style storage loft over the bath but also 2′ wide at 6′ tall down the long walls that in marked bins can hold a huge amount of easy to get to storage.
    The shed style roof with water catching is excellent with a solar awning or porch, shed or day/screen room and lead or soon lithium battery and one doesn’t need any utilities.
    There is a large market for these though I’m partial to 10′ wide that sits on a trailer but can be taken off and trailer used for other things or just rented or moved by flat bed tow trucks.
    Lowers the cost by about $4k

    • James D.
      December 8, 2021, 1:41 pm

      Well, that’s not counting the cost of setting up where you’re going to put it as you typically can’t just put it on the ground and call it good long term. Especially, as not being on wheels can also mean it runs into local code and zoning requirements, which means needing a foundation, septic system, impact fees, etc. So whether that works for someone as is will be very location specific or they’ll run into much more than $4K in additional costs…

      While they do have single axle options but this is intended as a standard model that will be built on an assembly line to minimize costs. So it’s not being optimized for a specific user and use case.

      Add, weight isn’t the only factor with choosing the number of axles. Like a single axle travel trailer may have a bit more bounce and sway than the dual axle version… Extra tires is an extra layer of security if one gets damaged while towing… Single axle’s don’t have the best weight distribution and that can mean a lot when you are on rough roads and have a home full of stuff…

      Besides, light dry weight doesn’t mean the owner won’t load it with more than what the single axle is rated for and as something intended to be a home it has to be able to last and handle loads for up to a very long time, even if the owner abuses it and doesn’t put proper supports under it when parked. So typically, it’s best to err on the side of a little overkill, at least for a commercial builder who has to also worry about liability…

      ITH is also ANSI certified and some choices are made because that’s the minimum requirement they have to follow and what they’ve learned after doing a few hundred homes, in the last few years, is what works for them and produces the least call back issues…

  • Marsha Cowan
    December 8, 2021, 1:33 pm

    Wow! Now this is a step in the right direction. I’m impressed, and yes, drywall finishing is a pain, but hanging it is even worse, so I’ll take finishing any day. Lol! I use plywood on my interiors because it does travel well as it does not crack, and it offers a more lateral support. However, if the drywall is finished after delivery, then you don’t have the cracking problem, right? This is a great first tiny home step for anyone. Well done!

    • Lapo A Casini
      September 3, 2022, 12:53 am

      You may know this by now, but that isn’t drywall, but steel (ESP) panels. It only needs painted. The video is just the interior painted white. I saw another video that zoomed in on the painted over screws, though they said they don’t really notice the screws on day to day living

  • December 8, 2021, 3:51 pm

    Great little starter, of course it’s not the end all but as a starter or final mother in law for the back yard a very sellable unit after she passes…And you are right Randy, the only way you will be able to do it is NO OPTIONS or CHANGES….And as the builder you are not getting rich selling them, in fact you are doing a community service that FEMA trailers were SUPPOSED to do…KUDOS…

  • Kathy
    December 8, 2021, 4:32 pm

    I noticed that there is a small fridge sitting on top of a box-like structure next to the door. In the first photo. Q1- what is the “box” for? Q2 – the fridge disappears in the second photo. Does this mean a fridge is not an included item? Q3 – is there a shower stall installed, as well as a toilet? Any water storage tanks? Q4 – How complete is the wiring in the walls? How many wall plugs and wall switches? Is there any hot water, heat or cooling source or will rewiring be required? Could the wiring you put in support a microwave and/or a small convection oven and and counter heating plates? I agree that $20k is a great price, but depending on the answers finish work and costs may be a lot more than dry wall finish and paint.

    • James D.
      December 8, 2021, 5:21 pm

      Wire and plumbing is complete, it’s just a very basic setup. They thought of doing a DIY/Shell where the owner would finish part of the build but not enough interest to sell enough at this stage. So they compromised on this bare bones model that gets it to a move in ready state but still leaves all the aesthetic finishing to be done by the owner and for them to install their own appliances and furniture. Thus just demonstrating examples of where things can go.

      The box is actually where the default 19 gal electric water heater would go…

      Presently, rising costs have forced them to raise their prices for their existing finished home options. So they’ve been struggling to find a way to still offer something in their previous base price range of $25K, and came up with this option, which for the introductory promotion period will be offered for $20K but the normal price will be $25K beginning at the start of next year.

      So it comes how it appears in the beginning and they were demonstrating how easily it can be finished off with just some decorating and paint but that’ll all depend on the owner and what they want to do with it…

      They’ll post more info on their webpage later as they get into production stage, as they’re setting this up on an assembly line production system. But the video they posted 2 days ago…

      “Look what this homeowners un-finished ESP TINY HOME can look like DIY-Do”

      Covers what’s included, number of outlets, etc. and you can jump to those details a little after the 12 minute mark, just after he shows off a camping wood stove he’s personally using…

  • Tim J Emanuel
    December 8, 2021, 8:53 pm

    What is that wallboard that you’re using?

  • Maria Kentala
    December 9, 2021, 6:05 am

    I don’t see any hook ups outside for water, electric or sewer. If you park it in a mobile home park how do you get your utilities? Or is this house meant to be off the grid? How much does it cost to have the dry wall done?

    • James D.
      December 9, 2021, 6:30 am

      Hookups are underneath, they opt to make them easier to hide for the home owner and easier to make permanent for those who find permanent locations…

      For just installing Drywall, it’ll typically cost just over $2K for something this size and you can hire just about any commercial drywall installer to do it…

      For about the same amount you can also opt for the synthetic stucco option ITH offers, which is more durable and can still give you a smooth to textured look…

      • Sue Roberson
        December 11, 2021, 11:56 am

        James, keep up the voice of logic, reason & reality! It makes my day….

  • Andrew Wilson
    December 11, 2021, 11:15 pm

    Congratulations
    This is really good value and you deserve to be a great success.
    Pity people come out of the woodwork to bag and criticize what you are doing.
    They have never done a thing themselves .
    Just keep on.This is brilliant value and can provide a great start for people to escape the rental trap or folk like me who are winding down at the end and just need a secure refuge.
    Andy

  • Terry
    January 7, 2022, 6:02 pm

    Finally a no frills house for those of us not trying to keep up with the Jones. Never needed all that other crap. Now all I need is the contact info and financing!!

  • Eileen McLoughlin
    January 8, 2022, 5:29 pm

    Perfect home. You couldn’t have done any better.
    I have been trying to figure out how I could build on my trailer and keep the weight as low as possible so that I can pull it with my Dodge Grand Caravan. My Dodge has a 4.7 liter engine. The house I’m living in will soon go into foreclosure (not my house). But, I have a half acre in an unzoned township that I can put it on in spring summer and autumn and then go south for the winters. Here in Michigan it is too cold for someone who wants their freedom and not be in an old folks home at 70 years young even if I only make $790 on social security.

    • James D.
      January 8, 2022, 8:27 pm

      Well, SIPs, ESPs, MIPs, etc. Structural Insulated Panels are a good way to make a well insulated structure that is also light weight. Since, they’re mostly insulation sandwiched between sheet material. Along with generally being easy to build, though there is a learning curve if you’ve never used them before and you’d have to make sure they’re in your budget…

  • Ben Galforests
    February 22, 2023, 11:32 am

    As of February 2023, the 8′ × 16′ Incred-I-Box is still priced at $20K. There is now an 8′ × 20′ version for $25K.

    Both models have an improved design, and can be ordered with additional equipment for full off-grid living.

  • Maria Kentala
    May 23, 2023, 12:25 pm

    can the electrical box be able to power a mini spit,or does it need to be upgraded?

    • James D.
      May 23, 2023, 1:34 pm

      Yes, you can run a mini-split…

    • Ben Galforests
      May 23, 2023, 4:27 pm

      Incred-I-Boxes come pre-wired for a mini-split to be installed above the entrance. ITH will install a mini-split for little more than the wholesale price of the mini-split unit. An independent contractor would charge at least twice as much for the same unit.

  • Maria Kentala
    May 23, 2023, 12:27 pm

    Oh! BTW where is the electrical box located?

    • James D.
      May 23, 2023, 1:39 pm

      In this early production unit, you can see it under the counter top. The stool is right in front of it, 3rd photo down. It’s a 12v/AC combo panel… They’ve since moved it to the partial wall by the entrance.

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