Traveling with a tiny house can be an exciting and invigorating experience. But it can also be a stressful white-knuckled journey.
A tiny house on wheels (THOW) might appear to be similar to a travel trailer, but there are some key differences that need to be understood when towing a tiny house.
A tiny house typically weighs more than a camper or travel trailer. Make sure your tow vehicle is equipped and has the correct towing capacity.
an average 24' camper weighs 5000 lbs.
an average 24' tiny house weighs 11,000 lbs.
We build our tiny houses just like a regular house, with a few modifications to make it travel worthy.
an average camper may have a 200,000 miles or more during its life span.
we recommend towing a tiny house about 100 miles per year.
The weather is a significant factor when moving a tiny house.
A camper is typically equipped to handle any type of weather when in-tow. High winds, heavy rain and even small hail and sleet are acceptable conditions depending on the tow vehicle and driver ability.
A tiny house is limited when towing in certain weather conditions. High winds due to vehicle speed combined with rain presents a situation that can cause water to creep into places it's not supposed to. For example, if it's raining and you're driving 60 mph, that's the equivalent of a 60 mph rain storm.
Cross winds and head & tail winds can cause havoc when towing a tiny house. Basically, the THOW is a sail in the wind and may cause the tow vehicle to sway and possibly lose control.
HIT THE ROAD
We say all of this to help you protect your investment. But this doesn't mean you can't travel with your tiny house! We want you to be aware of some tips and tricks so you can enjoy the outdoors with your tiny house.
Check Tire Pressures
Before moving or heading to a trip, make sure to spend time checking your tire pressure in all tires. Inflate the trailer tires to the maximum inflation indicated on the sidewall just like what you would do with your car.
Always ensure your inflation when the tires are in good condition. Make sure there is adequate tread and the rubber is not dry rotted.
Cold weather can cause PSI to drop, while excessive heat can cause your tire pressure to increase temporarily.
Check Lug Nuts
Ensure that all of the lug nuts are tightened to the correct torque
Check the torque twice during the first 1000 miles.
After the first 1000 miles, check them on the next brake service or when the tires get balanced.
Check Lighting & Trailer Brakes
Verify that ALL lighting is working properly
Braking
Both turn signals
Hazards
This is also a good time to make sure your break away system is working properly
Just like camper, our tiny houses come equipped with an electronic braking and brake-away system.
Weight Distribution
We build our tiny houses with weight distribution at the forefront of the design. Heavier items should be loaded in the front, with lighter, smaller items placed near the rear. However, there will be times when that distribution could become compromised.
A weight distribution system eliminates highway hop, loss of steering control and tow vehicle sagging. A good system suitable to tow a tiny house costs $300-$500.