How to Build a Tiny House on Wheels That’s Ready for the Open Road
Take your home with you on your newfound adventures
- LED work light
- Miter saw
- Orbital sander
- Electric drill
- Pneumatic nailer
- Eye glasses
- Dust mask
- Work gloves
- Trailer
- Framing lumber (unless you’re buying a shell)
Whether you dream of traveling coast to coast or living in a few beautiful spots, building a tiny house on wheels might be your ticket. With the right planning and execution, you can design and build a tiny house that fits your new lifestyle aspirations. Getting a few licensed pros to help you along the way can ensure your tiny house is structurally sound, holds up to highway travel, and meets your daily needs.
Prepping to Build a Tiny Home on Wheels
Set a Budget
As with any home, determine how much you're willing and able to spend on your tiny home trailer. According to HomeAdvisor, the cost of a tiny home on wheels falls between $60,000 and $80,000. The main cost factors include square footage, materials, and how much of the work you do yourself.
Develop a Blueprint
Building a tiny home on wheels requires very specific planning and design to ensure all proper elements fit into a small space. Work with a local architect to help you create a detailed tiny house plan that accommodates standard building codes and fits all of your essential housing needs.
Consider the following components:
Length and width of your trailer
Hauling power of your vehicle
Ceiling height
Roof style
Floor plan
Framing material (steel, wood, or prefab shell)
Window size and placement
Storage space
Doorway size and location
Major systems (electrical, heating, and plumbing solutions)
Most tiny home utilities, appliances, and cabinets are custom-built to fit a compact space, so you can veer from some standard home measurements in your design. Remember that your tiny home has to undergo inspection before it hits the road, so having an architect or builder review your plan before building is a wise idea. You’ll also want to make sure that your tiny home on wheels meets road regulations where you’ll be traveling.
Find a Place to Build Your Tiny Home
Before your tiny home has a roof and siding, you need a covered location to work on your trailer. Consider a large garage, pole barn, storage facility, or warehouse. Aim for a place with easy and convenient access so you can work on your tiny home whenever you want.
6 Steps to Building a Tiny House on Wheels
Insulate Your Tiny House Trailer
To ensure your home stays warm and comfortable, you need to insulate the trailer. Fill the cavities with insulation and lay waterproof subflooring.
Frame Your Tiny Home and Build Its Exterior Shell
Whether you're using steel or wood framing, your next step is to build your home’s structure. Secure each framing piece down to the trailer. As an alternative, you can buy a trailer with a prefabricated shell, meaning that the frame and exterior of the house is complete. All you’d need to do is finish the inside.
Then you’ll need to rough your plumbing and electrical into the frame, so you have what you need for lights, outlets, toilets, sinks, and a shower. Insulate any gaps and install your windows. Finally, install a vapor barrier wrap to protect your tiny home from the elements.
Because plumbing, electrical, and HVAC are specialty trades with specific risks and requirements, it’s best to hire out these portions of the project. A local plumber, professional electrician, and HVAC pro can rough in your components, then come back later to finish the work when you’re finalizing the interior. When looking for the best pros for the job, try to find professionals who have worked on tiny homes before.
Install Roofing and Siding
With a solid structure in place, you can now finish the exterior of your tiny home. Lay the roofing material and put up the siding, ensuring that each piece is airtight and secure.
Once you have a roof, you can move it outdoors while you work on the interior.
Finish the Interior
Photo: ppa5 / Adobe StockAfter adding any interior insulation, install the drywall or plywood for your walls. Paint or stain the walls, then lay your flooring. Consider a durable, easy-to-maintain floor like vinyl or laminate plank flooring.
Next, add in cabinetry and other solid pieces, such as your bed frame, vanities, or a TV lift. Put in your fixtures and tiny house appliances like a water heater, composting toilet, fireplace, refrigerator, and stove. Now is a good time to have your plumber and electrician come back to install outlets, light fixtures, toilet, sinks, and shower.
As you complete the interior, ensure that each piece is secure enough for travel. You don't want your shower head to wobble and break on its debut trip.
Add Finishing Touches
Complete the final elements of your tiny home. Here are a few pieces to tackle:
Install your trim and shoe molding
Secure a ladder to reach loft spaces
Bring in your furniture, mattresses, and textiles
Hang window coverings
Install a mirror in the bathroom
Get Your Tiny Home Inspected
Photo: Mechelle Brooks / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty ImagesBefore your tiny house trailer hits the road, get it inspected for safety, power, and insulation. Talk with your local municipality or NOAH remote digitized inspections about how to get your tiny home inspected.
DIY Tiny Home on Wheels vs. Hiring a Pro
Building a tiny home on your own can take at least 480 hours and is a complex project. A professional tiny home builder can do it in 120 hours on average and likely has years of experience. When hiring, ask to see samples of previous builds, as well as copies of licensing and certifications, insurance, and client references.
To build a tiny house on wheels, you need to have the right tools, materials, skills, and plenty of time. You also need to be very precise and ensure each element can hold up to road travel. Mistakes can be costly and it's critical that your tiny home is sturdy and meets code.
Doing some of the work yourself, such as framing the tiny house or installing flooring, can help you save on cost. But working with pros on the design, insulation, electrical, and plumbing ensures your home is safe and secure.
Tiny House on Wheels Additional Questions
How can you design a tiny house on wheels?
You can design a tiny house on wheels by developing your own blueprint, hiring a tiny home builder, or working with an architect who specializes in tiny house plans. It’s essential that each element holds up to travel and fits well in a tight space. You can also buy tiny home building plans to start your planning process.
What skills do you need before you start building your tiny house?
Before you start building your tiny house, you should have basic carpentry, flooring, painting, and appliance installation experience. It also helps to have an understanding of your plumbing, electrical, and HVAC components, but a licensed pro should handle these elements.
What are some pros and cons of a mobile tiny house?
Tiny house living offers a range of benefits, including a mobile and flexible lifestyle. Here are the main pros and cons of a tiny house on wheels:
Pros
Allows you to live almost anywhere
Less expensive to build than a traditional home
Lower utility costs
Environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient
Less space to clean
Allows you to live off the grid
Brings you closer to nature
Fosters a minimalist lifestyle
Cons
Requires a large vehicle to tow it
Minimal storage
Limited space for guests
Doesn’t always meet zoning laws and legal housing definitions
Lower resale value
Harder to cook and prep meals in advance
