How to Build a Tiny House on a Trailer

Tiny homes have become immensely popular as green living has entered the social conscious, as well as the hard economic times of the last couple years, which are forcing people to cut cost while demonstrating what a person needs versus what they want. These tiny homes are built onto trailers, which generally have two to four wheels, and usually bypass minimum square footage zoning standards given their mobile nature. These small houses usually have utility bills in the single digits, and can often be powered easily with solar panels.

If you want to build your own little house but aren't sure how to proceed, read on for general information on how to get started.

Step 1

The first step is to locate a suitable trailer. Unless you have a few thousand dollars to spend on a trailer, it is best to locate a used one. The trailer should be rated for 2000 or more pounds, depending on how large of a house you plan on building. Make sure the trailer is long enough for the home - the minimum size you should use is 4' x 6', which can be extended to 6' x 10' fairly easily. Make sure the trailer has a good axle and hitch, and that the metal isn't too rusted (minor surface rust is easy to repair).

Step 2

Sand off any surface rust, then paint and seal the trailer user appropriate paint meant for metal. Repair the hitch if needed, and consider getting new tires put on the trailer before you start building, as it will be much more difficult once you're started.

Take any wood on the surface of the trailer off unless it is in excellent condition, as it is the foundation of your home and you want it to be in prime condition.

Step 3

Take measurements of the house and draw them onto graph paper. Measure the necessary dimensions of your bed and for the bathroom, then plan the rest of the house around them. Make a small cardboard model to scale if you can; this will allow you see if your trailer will have any odd issues or sizes.

Step 4

Build the floor frame and wall frames using 2x4 boards and 4" nails. If you don't know how to make a structurally sound frame, consider taking a building class or study some textbooks before continuing.

Step 5

Put plywood on the outside of the trailer, then fill in the walls and floors with insulation. Put up either pine boards, plywood, or drywall on the interior walls. If you want to have wired electricity, run the wiring before finishing the last step for the walls. The same applies to plumbing, though in such a small house, it is possible to have plumbing without embedding it into the floor.

Step 6

Put on the roof, seal it, apply tar paper, then tack on shingles. This will keep the inside from becoming wet and molding. Seal the outside of the unit with wood sealant, then either paint it, leave it with the natural wood, or put up siding.

Step 7

Cut the holes for the windows you want and install the windows. Apply expanding foam sealer around the edges to seal it, then put up woodwork to cover the wood and leveling boards.

Step 8

Install the front door, then mount any exterior lights you want up. Install the locks at this point to keep unwanted spelunkers out of the unit. On a warm day, paint the interior of the unit, then apply flooring or polish and wax the wood.

Step 9

Install stabilizers on the external corners of the unit. Build a staircase to the front door. Add decals, such as drawer handles, shower rods and doors, light fixtures, and more.