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What To Know Before You Buy A Used Trailer For A Tiny Home

11 March 2015 by Janice Knight

Building a tiny home on a flatbed trailer is a great way to enjoy freedom of mobility, finishing a do-it-yourself project, and owning your own home. But buying a trailer is a task that should be well-researched before you make a decision. So when you're in the market for a used trailer that you can build a tiny home on, there are a few things you should know before you invest.

Understand The Specifics

Understanding the trailer specifics will allow you to build the exact home you want without altering plans to meet height or width requirements imposed when traveling. But even if you don't have plans in mind to build and are willing to be flexible with the used trailer in your price range, there are a few things you should know:

• Type: Though there are a few different types of trailers, there are two main types to choose from, including the deck-between and deck-over. Deck-between allows you to build between wheels, which can extend the height of some homes to include a loft. Deck-over trailers sit on top of the wheels, leaving you less room for height, but it will allow you to build a wider home. These two types can also be found in a "gooseneck" bed, that carries a heavier load and attaches within the bed of a truck using a ball hitch.
• Dimensions: The width for travel without a permit should be no greater than 8 feet, as most states will not permit you to tow anything beyond about 8.5 feet. Length can vary, but should be no more than 65 feet when measured with the towing vehicle. A build height from ground to roof apex for either trailer type should be no greater than 13.5 inches.
• GWVR: Gross Weight Vehicle Rating is important to understand because it tells you how much weight every axle is capable of handling. Subtract the trailer weight from the total load handling capacity of all axles, so you can determine how much weight you can carry with building materials and cargo.
• Necessities: Whether the used trailer has them or doesn't, you'll have to have a hitch, a brake system, lights, and a license plate for your home to be travel-ready.

Buying a used trailer to build a tiny home is a great way to save money, giving you a chance to use it on extras you'll need for building (or interior luxuries). But before you buy, also consider the shape of the trailer and whether or not there's visible rusting, damage, or wear, because these can compromise the integrity of your structure down the road. Talk to experts like Arrow Trailer & Equipment Company for more information.