How To Build A Tiny House On Wheels For Cheap

By | January 23, 2025

How To Build A Tiny House On Wheels For Cheap – Have you ever wanted to learn how to build a tiny house step by step? Well, you’ve come to the right place!​

Building a THOW is easy with the proper guidance. Here are the exact steps I took to build a 24′ tiny house on wheels from start to finish with no construction experience.

How To Build A Tiny House On Wheels For Cheap

There is tons of information out there about setting up a THOW – guides, videos, books, tutorials and tons of mini home tours and more.

Tiny House With Loft Cabin Diy Plans 8′ X 24′ Mobile Tiny Home Build Instructions

However, for people with no building experience starting out on their tiny house building journey, it can be easy to get lost and discouraged before starting the project.

So I wanted to make everyone’s life easier by creating a simple, easy-to-follow step-by-step guide that includes all the resources I used and the steps I took to build my 24′ x 8’5″ THOW. .

Hey! Sing here. In 2018, I was tired of spending thousands of dollars every month. I guess there must be another way.​

Long story short, later that year I spent the next 5 months preparing and building a 24 foot THOW from scratch! I named my little house @this and have lived there ever since.​

Installing Lifeproof Flooring In Our Diy Tiny Cabin On Wheels

During the construction process, I taught myself everything I needed to know including carpentry, electrical, plumbing, roofing, mini-split installation, hardware, etc.​

There is a wealth of information out there today about THOW setups – guides, videos, books, tutorials and mini home tours. Because of this, it’s easy to get tired and many people are put off before starting a project.

So I wanted to make everyone’s life easier by creating a simple, easy-to-follow step-by-step guide that includes all the resources I used and the steps I took to build a tiny house on wheels, even if you don’t know . no experience!

You want to learn how to build a tiny house on wheels, but how do you get started?

Tiny House With Loft On Wheels Plans. Build Tiny House Cheap

There are two main steps to building a successful tiny house: planning your sections and building your sections. If you have already built your own home or are in the process of building your own, skip to How to Build a Tiny House: Tiny Building.

Before you consider building a tiny house, you need to make sure you have enough money to cover the construction costs.​

So how do you know how much to save for a tiny house? Well, it costs $30,000 to build a new 24-foot cabin from scratch. You can lower the price by following the instructions below.

SketchUp is a tool that allows you to design, visualize and modify any structure – in our case: a small house. In just two hours you can turn your idea into reality.

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The folks at Tiny Nest have a SketchUp tutorial that will teach you everything you need to know to design a tiny house.

SketchUp is a paid tool, but you can get the 2017 version for free. This is the version I use with my kids and it has more than enough features. No need to download the paid version.

As you learn SketchUp, play with it. You can design your tiny house from scratch or purchase tiny house plans online and then recreate and modify them in SketchUp.

Now, you just learned SketchUp. But how do I know if my house is structurally sound?

Tiny House On Wheels

Once you can visualize the general process of building a tiny house, you’ll feel more confident going into it.

If you’ve never built anything in your life, I recommend keeping your design as simple as possible.

If you live in an area with an HOA. You can’t build there. This is a hard no-no.

So, if you’re like me, you live in a house with no extras. Try the following options.

Custom Tiny House On Wheels By Big Freedom Tiny Homes

Once you’ve decided on your tiny house design and found a place to build it, it’s time to create a materials list and start building.

To build your hardware list, simply calculate the number of studs, joists, shingles, sheathing, insulation, hardware, doors, windows, hardware, and more you’ll need based on the tiny house plan you create or purchase.​

Then, find the price and quantity of the device you want to purchase and add it to your device list.

So that’s it, let’s start building! Below are all the tasks you must complete in the following order.

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If you have no previous experience with used trailer repairs, I recommend purchasing a new trailer designed specifically for a small home.

Now when I order a small trailer I highly recommend getting the square fenders and lower flash option from the manufacturer if they offer it.

These add-ons cost hundreds of dollars but will save you time, money, and energy.

Having these ready in advance can make your job easier, as you can simply remove the subfloor and install the subfloor liner directly onto the trailer.

Petite Cabinette Tiny House On Wheels Adu

Insulate your foundation with R-23 rockwool insulation (the most expensive DIY option) or foundation-appropriate insulation.

Leave 1/8-inch gap between all boards to allow for expansion. Use metal to wood screws to secure the board to the trailer.

Let this wall be a partition that your colleagues (family, friends, even neighbors) can build. Match them up and form a square.

Raise the walls one by one. Once the wall is up and the wall studs are installed, secure the wall so it won’t move by installing the wall studs.

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It goes a little like this: Protect the walls. Now, if your trailer comes with pre-installed bolts, use Simpson Strong zip ties to secure it.

Alternatively, you can drill a 1/2-inch hole in the baseboard, floor, and trailer and secure the wall sections to the trailer using a combination of nuts, bolts, washers, and strong Simpson fasteners.

Once the wall is raised and secured, you’ll notice that it’s still “wobbly.” Don’t worry. Once the walls and roof are assembled, the walls will be strong.

There are many loft designs out there. No need to reinvent the wheel. Pick one and move on!

Tiny Heirloom’s Larger Luxury Tiny House On Wheels

Use 3/4-inch plywood or OSB for flooring. Use the entire basket when possible to reduce waste and save money.

Building a loft at the beginning of construction will allow you to easily install rafters on the roof. Install it the same way as the lower layer.

Pre-cut the rafters according to the roof design. For most small homes, 2×6 roof trusses are sufficient for most uses.

Depending on your preferences and insulation, your roof may or may not require ventilation. Do your research and build accordingly.

My First Diy: Tiny House On Wheels

Use 1/2 inch plywood/OSB for the walls and 3/4 inch for the roof. Use whole parts when possible and stack them for extra strength.

Once the walls and roof are completely covered, cut the covering to leave openings, such as doors and windows.

Housewrap is a weather-resistant barrier that protects your home from rain, wind and moisture. This helps keep your home dry when you go indoors.

The roof is located between the outer edge and the wall. Tar paper/roofing felt/roofing sits on top of the roof but underneath the roofing material. Likewise, it also acts as a moisture barrier.

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For a small house, a metal roof is the best option. It’s expensive, but it will last over 50 years, save energy, and make your home look great!

If you’re looking for budget options, you can order basic and custom metal roofs from Lowe’s and Home Depot.

But if the roof design is more complex (although not recommended) and requires additional materials and roof components, I recommend visiting a local roofing company to get some quotes for the roof.

Before starting roof work, make sure the fascia board is installed and make the necessary preparations (as per the manufacturer’s requirements) for proper installation.

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I chose the LP SmartSide. It is a wooden product but has an amazing blend of ingredients that make it last for over 50 years.

It’s cheap, pre-packaged, and easy to install. (Great for DIY!!) Lowe’s and Home Depot usually carry these products because of their popularity.

I don’t have much experience off the grid. While this is possible, I recommend connecting to the grid to keep your home plumbing as simple as possible.

Here’s a step-by-step guide that teaches you everything you need to know about installing plumbing for a tiny house on wheels.

How To Build A Tiny House On Wheels Step By Step

I have a degree in physics and went to graduate school for electrical engineering. When I built I knew nothing about house wiring.

You don’t need a degree in electrical engineering to successfully perform a home installation. You just need to know

If you’re still uncomfortable with your home’s wiring, now might be a good time to seek professional help.

Let me say I love using air conditioners and heaters. I love blowing it all summer and winter.

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Because tiny houses don’t require much energy to heat