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

Images © Barbara Diaz

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Just for fun I thought you might like this 64 sq. ft. micro cabin that is actually used as a sauna.

Yes, a sauna, but in Finland and other places in Europe having a sauna outside is a social thing.

The architects designed it for a client who wanted it during the winter months because it’s great after a sweaty run or after jumping in icy cold lake water. Plus it’s small enough that it can be moved on a sledge.

I’m thinking this would make a great private space for reading/writing/meditation? But if designed right, this micro cabin could even make the perfect tiny living space. Let’s take a look.

Mobile Micro Cabin in the Woods

Images: Tiina Tervo

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This is the story of a couple who teamed up and decided to build their own 250 square foot tiny cabin made out of mostly reclaimed materials for only around $7,000 in material costs. They did all the labor themselves.

And since they built their tiny home on a foundation on their own land they continually make improvements to the place to better meet their needs. For example, they’ve added a porch and a bathroom so far to the original design.

Originally the structure was 12’x20′ until they added the porch and bathroom which extends the footprint to 18’x20′. Lots of the materials were salvaged from a barn along with other random finds that they repurposed.

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Couple Build Debt-free $7k DIY Off Grid Tiny Cabin

Images: PreciousRoy

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I wanted to share this wonderful look at Burt’s Buzz, a documentary about Burt Shavitz, the co-founder and face of Burt’s Bees. The film explores his down-to-earth personality and his love for living simply — often in small cabins and tiny houses surrounded by nature.

Even after helping build one of the most recognizable natural brands in the world, Burt chose to live a quiet, humble life in rural Maine. His story reminds us that happiness doesn’t always come from success or wealth — sometimes it’s found in solitude, simplicity, and connection with nature.

Sadly, Burt passed away in 2015 at the age of 80, but his philosophy and legacy continue to inspire people around the world to live more authentically and sustainably.

You can watch the documentary trailer below:

Creator of Burt’s Bees Tiny Home

© Yahoo! Movies on YouTube

I think you’ll enjoy watching the trailer video below:

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I wanted to show you this tiny cabin with its 18′ vaulted ceilings in Asheville.

It’s a vacation rental you can actually stay in if you wanted and I find it to be the perfect size house.

It’s really spacious compared to a little house on wheels but has a similar design concept.

A cabin that’s a little larger, more spacious, but still very small relative to even today’s smallest homes.

Jenny’s cabin is 16’x25′ so it’s approximately 400-square-feet with a large deck.

And for those of you who don’t like the idea of upstairs sleeping lofts, maybe something like this is what you might want instead? Come on, let’s go inside!

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Now here’s a tiny cabin with a twist that I wanted to show you. It’s best built on stilts so you can make the best of use of the fold out porch area.

We’ve already seen ideas like this being used on tiny houses on wheels. Joe at Tennessee Tiny Homes is doing it along with the folks over at Molecule Tiny Homes, for example.

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Fold Out Porch on Tiny Cabin

Photo Credit Roderick James Architect

Learn and see more below:

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Kevin, from Cozy Home Plans, sent me pictures of his upcoming tiny house design with a balcony. The design hasn’t been released yet, but we know it has the following features:

• an upstairs and downstairs to separate the living space
• an upstairs balcony
• you can set up another outdoor area underneath the balcony
• cathedral ceilings when you walk in makes it feel spacious

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The Cozy Cube Tiny House

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Deek just published a video tour that his brother, Dustin, shot of the Bolt Together House. According to Deek, in 1972 this small house design was featured in Family Circle Magazine.

I recognized it from Lester Walker’s book, The Tiny Book of Tiny Houses which was published in 1993. Apparently, more than 25,000 people purchased a set of plans for the bolt together house. I wonder how many other versions of it are out there, which remain standing. Back in 1972, this tiny cabin could be built for just $2,500 and most of the work could be done at home and then assembled on site. At just 224 square feet, the design accommodates two adults and two children.

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The Bolt Together House!

That’s a photo I took from the feature in Lester Walker’s book, which you might be able to find on Amazon.

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