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Guest Post by Ryan Mitchell of The Tiny Life

Heating water in a tiny house can be a tricky thing; by its very nature, heating water is often a resource intense endeavor and many solutions are often bulky. These two things are often at odds with those wanting to live in a tiny house because we don’t have a lot of space and we’d like to be as low impact on the environment as possible. While the choice can be a difficult one to make, I think we all can agree, a nice hot shower is something we all enjoy.

So here are my top 5 ways to heat water in a tiny house.

1. RV-500 Tankless Water Heater by Precision Temp

This little tankless water heater is actually designed for motor homes, but it works quite well in a little home. For those of you who aren’t familiar with tankless water heaters, instead of a tank that keeps the water hot 24/7, it only heats as you need it. The upshot of this solution is that it is often uses a lot less energy and you can have endless hot water if you need it. The added benefit of this being an RV unit is that they make the venting really easy, they are quite small, and a standard propane tank can last you about a month and a half.  The downside is the price tag, at $1,000, it’s a hard pill to swallow, but owners sing praises of this unit.

RV-500 Tankless Water Heater

Image from http://www.precisiontemp.com

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WIN a signed copy of Deek’s “Humble Homes, Simple Shacks” book, The book “Eco-House”, Shelton Davis’ “Adirondack Pallet-Chair” plan-set, and a really nice work shirt from VT’s Jamaica Cottage Shop (www.Jamaicacottageshop.com)

We’re looking for your ideas, input, creativity, and brainstorming, on what exactly could be done in a space so small as 64 square feet. Yes, SIXTY FOUR SQUARE FEET. Not “I’d do Yoga in it”, but how you would lay things out and arrange them to make it work, to create and save the maximum amount of space.

Sleeping arrangements? facilities? jacuzzi? ping pong table? Where would it all fit!? IS it possible? -well, maybe not the ping pong table and jacuzzi- but we’re looking for some different narrative ideas on how YOU would approach this tiny house design challenge. Sketches aren’t required, but they might help to convey your idea- its up to you.

8×8 Tiny House Design Submissions:

Deek's Giveaways

Winners will be selected a week from the date of this post..

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Teardrop campers are becoming more and more popular today because they’re relatively inexpensive and make camping much more convenient.

Thanks to one of our readers, Sandy, who emailed me a photo of their little travel trailer that they got from Tex’s Teardrops.

With a queen size bed and the ability to tow with your 4-cylinder vehicle if you wanted it really is economical and comfortable.

The galley in the back is your kitchen on the go. All you have to do is throw all of your equipment inside, tow, and go.

This one is only 5 feet wide so you’ll still be able to see with your side view mirrors while towing it.

Inside there’s overhead cabinets to keep your belongings out of sight and just like in any other travel trailer you’ve got locks on your doors to keep your stuff safe.

Would you consider a teardrop camper for weekend camping or even long-term travel?

Please don’t miss other exciting tiny homesjoin our FREE Tiny House Newsletter!

Tex's Teardrop Camper

Photo Credit Sandy

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Not long ago, I attended a networking event for the Asheville Blogger Society. There was a great turn out and after business was conducted we shuffled off to one of the many local watering holes for some socializing. I spent some time speaking with Jason, the author of Tribe.ly, a website dedicated to helping people find and build their tribes and change the world.

Our conversation, as it often does, turned to living in a tiny house. Reactions to the 120 square foot house range from curiosity to repulsion. Jason fell on the curious end of the spectrum and wanted to know more about how we live and, more importantly, why we live the way we do. A lot of people miss out on that piece of the puzzle by not asking the right questions. We are not trying to live the way we use to; we are fundamentally changing the way we participate in our own lives.  

Jason got it. And he wrote about it:

“There is a fascinating element that I picked up on as I was talking with Laura and Matt, that I probably never would have considered as a benefit of Tiny House living until I actually tried it myself. They see their 120-square feet as a perfect excuse to live life outside of the house, so they can get to know their neighbors, invest in community and building relationships in their area. We met at a blogger society meetup, so they were clearly committed to breaking out of the 4 walls we all call our homes and intentionally investing in relationships with like-minded people.”

Want more kind of like this? Join our FREE Small House Newsletter!

Will You Join the Evergrowing Tiny House Tribe

Photo by Laura LaVoie

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I thought I’d start a new series of posts called tiny house concerns.

In it we’ll go over questions and concerns that readers from Tiny House Talk have sent in.

Then in the comments, we’ll all discuss possible solutions and swap ideas. So here’s this week’s question from Pamela.

Hi Alex,

A couple of things I’ve never seen anyone address regarding the tiny houses on trailers is, what about the long term decomposing of the tires? Do folks jack the house up a bit to alleviate pressure on the tires, remove them, or do they pick the house up and take it to the local gas station now and then to fill them up? Also what happens if they leave the trailer to rest on the tires and one gets a flat or loses air? And finally, have you heard of anyone building a small house on a trailer with the intent of being able to remove it from the trailer once they get to a more permanent spot?

Thanks,

Pamela D.

Tiny house on trailer foundation

Photo Credit Dan Louche of Tiny Home Builders

🛞 Tips for Maintaining Trailer Tires on Your Tiny House

If your tiny house sits parked for long periods, your trailer tires need a little extra love to prevent dry rot, flats, and uneven wear. Here are some simple tips that can make a big difference:

1. Keep tires off the ground when possible.
Use jack stands or leveling blocks to relieve pressure on the tires when your home is stationary for months at a time. This helps prevent flat spots and cracking.

2. Cover your tires from the sun.
UV rays are one of the biggest culprits in tire deterioration. Invest in quality tire covers or use a durable tarp to block sunlight.

3. Maintain proper air pressure.
Check your tire pressure monthly (even if you’re not moving the trailer). Underinflation can lead to cracking and blowouts, while overinflation causes uneven wear.

4. Move the trailer occasionally.
Rolling your trailer even a few feet every couple of months redistributes the weight and prevents the same spot from being under pressure all the time.

5. Clean tires regularly.
Use mild soap and water—avoid harsh chemicals that can dry out the rubber. After cleaning, apply a tire protectant formulated for UV resistance.

6. Replace tires every 5–7 years.
Even if the tread looks fine, the rubber breaks down over time. Check your manufacturer’s date code and replace them when aging signs appear.

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Trailer tires on a tiny house showing signs of wear and deterioration.

Images: MidJourney

If you have any ideas, tips, or suggestions on protecting trailer tires from decomposing, please share them in the comments below. Thank you!

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One of our wonderful readers, Sandra, sent me her recently completed designer inspired tiny house on wheels. She is not planning on living in it full-time, instead, it’s a really inexpensive vacation home that’s 100% insulated with vapor barriers.

Since Sandra lives in the wilderness, parking is no issue for her. The tiny house gets parked on the shore of the Great Slave Lake on a private campground. By next year, she hopes to have it hooked up with solar panels. All the lighting is LED and the refrigerator is so small that it uses very little electricity. The fireplace is electric but Sandra notes that she hardly has to use it since cooking and some body heat keeps the place relatively warm.

Please don’t miss other exciting tiny homes – join our FREE Tiny House Newsletter!

Could you see yourself living in this designer-inspired tiny house on wheels?

Sandra's Tiny House

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This post is going to show you a method called piling to help you get rid of your stuff fast.

In order to live in a tiny house or any other small space, most of us have to part with a lot of our belongings. Even if you’re not downsizing in terms of space, it can feel great to get rid of some of the clutter around you. In the end,I think you’ll feel lighter and happier. I sure did.

In particular, I’m going to show you how to organize your belongings into appropriate piles that lead to action… and maybe even a few extra bucks in your pocket! My recommendation is to do this in micro sections. What I mean by that is, instead of focusing on the entire bathroom, you’d do it one drawer at a time. So for instance, instead of worrying about an entire bedroom, you just do one drawer. If you go through it fast, you can move on to the next micro section of the area. You can do this on one hour a day or you can take a weekend and do it all day. That part’s up to you! The chunking part will just help you stay focused and be more productive.
Please don’t miss other exciting tiny homesjoin our FREE Tiny House Newsletter!

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Have you ever thought about having your own micro house in your backyard? This little structure is perfect for working, brainstorming, relaxing, or brunching. You can use it as a day time getaway, micro office, or kids playhouse. This particular one has a built in table that converts into a double size bed platform. One of the best parts is that since it’s on wheels you can rotate it according to sun or shade depending on the weather and season.

Please don’t miss other exciting tiny homesjoin our FREE Tiny House Newsletter!

This micro home was built using reclaimed redwood siding, pre-owned windows and door, metal siding, and FSC-Certified plywood.

Backyard Micro House or Office

See the rest of this micro shelter below:

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By Laura LaVoie

Before building a tiny house, the most home improvement work I had ever done was painting. But that was the draw of doing something that I had never done before. There were two of us, which made the process easier, but that doesn’t stop most tiny house builders from moving forward.

Our motivation was to build something by ourselves with our own hands. Since it took us so long to build our tiny house, each week would be a new and interesting project. We would spent time throughout the week learning how to build whatever was next. Was it post and pier foundations? Was it framing? Was it roofing? Was it insulation? Flooring? Siding? Windows? The list goes on and on.
Please don’t miss other exciting tiny homesjoin our FREE Tiny House Newsletter!

I believe that the Do It Yourself spirit lives within most tiny house builders. 

DIY Tiny House Construction Project

Photo Credit Collin and Joanna

I encourage you to read the rest of this article below:

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