How Much Is a Tiny House Trailer?

Tiny houses have been all the rage lately. Being that they are so much more affordable to build and you can travel with them, it’s easy to see why. Don’t like where you live? With a tiny home, it’s a lot easier to pack up and leave.

The reason that tiny homes are so easily portable is that they are built on a trailer. Since tiny houses are built right on top of the trailer, it is very important that you don’t get a poor quality trailer. It is best to avoid buying a used trailer as well unless you are skilled with metalworking.

There are three standard sizes of trailers for tiny homes, and the average costs go as followed:

• 20 Foot Trailer – $2,800
• 24 Foot Trailer – $3,000
• 30 Foot Trailer – $4,500

If you were thinking of going for a used trailer in order to save money, remember to also consider other factors that are going to cost you. That trailer has to hold an entire tiny home, so it needs to be in its best shape before your house starts getting built. 

That means that you will have to attend to any fixes, reinforcements, and repairs ahead of time. Not to mention that you may also have to change the trailer’s tires and give it a fresh paint job so it doesn’t bring down the appearance of your new home.

When you think about how much you would have spent on the used trailer then add in what you spent on supplies to fix it, you will probably be looking at roughly the same total as a brand new trailer. You should also factor in your time spent doing the labor to fix up the used trailer. 

As you can see, when it comes to cost, you are better off going for a new trailer. It is also important to buy a new one for safety reasons. A brand new trailer will be in the right condition to have a tiny home built on top of it.

How High Can The Prices Of Tiny House Trailers Get?

The prices listed above were the average costs of the three most common trailer sizes. When it comes to building a tiny house there is no maximum size, so you can get bigger sized trailers if need be. 

If you decide to go for one of the larger tiny houses then you may need a 40-foot trailer. That could set you back anywhere from $6,000 to $8,000 at the highest. 

How Much Is The Average Cost Of A Used Trailer?

If you decide to buy a used trailer, you will be looking at spending roughly $500 to $1,500 on just the trailer.  

Although we only recommend buying a used trailer if you have the right skills to fix it up like new again and also have the right tools and supplies to do so.

What To Look For When Buying A Trailer For A Tiny House

The trailer is the foundation to the tiny house. It’s easily one of the most important components for putting your house together. Before you start to plan out all of the details about your new house, you need to make sure you have the right trailer picked out.

Just like your house, you probably want a trailer that will last a lifetime. The biggest mistake that people make when picking out a trailer is building the home on a flatbed. Never do this. 

Flatbeds aren’t designed to hold tiny houses and can’t safely secure them. You need your living space to be secure, so always pick a trailer that your home will be stable on. It should also have the right amount of building space because every little bit of room counts.

You should pre-plan how much space you will need so you can pick out the right size trailer. If you are not quite sure about this, you can always contact a trailer manufacturer to break it down inch by inch for you.

Try to find a trailer that has holes already pre-drilled for any reinforcements you may need to use. If you have to drill these yourself you will need a special set of tools which are pretty expensive. Avoid the extra cost by choosing a trailer with pre-drilled holes, and also save yourself a lot of time while you’re at it.

Check the type of paint used on the trailer as well. Trusted trailer companies use an industrial grade paint that can inhibit rust. If you plan on doing a lot of traveling with your tiny house then it is a good idea to submerge it in molten zinc, that way it will have extra protection. 

What Features Should A Tiny House Trailer Have?

An adjustable coupler will make moving a lot easier for you. One of the joys of a tiny house is that you can bring them along with you wherever you move to, With an adjustable coupler you can use any type of hitch to move your home to a new location.

When you move your home you will need to hitch and unhitch the trailer. To make this easier for yourself look for a trailer that has a forward-facing and side-winding jack. If you have a forward-facing handle then it allows more room for your house, remember that every inch matters with these homes.

The trailer’s tires matter too. Go for a trailer that has radial tires because they can stay parked in the same position for a very long time without going flat. Try to avoid putting bias tires on your trailer. Even though they are more affordable, they wear down much quicker. 

Radial tires also provide a much smoother ride, which is essential if you ever want to move to a location that’s further away. 

What Else You Need To Know Before Buying A Trailer For A Tiny House

Depending on where you live, you may need to register your trailer. To be on the safe side you should look into getting a trailer that includes your title of ownership. If the trailer has a VIN number it will be easy for you to get it licensed and registered. Getting this taken care of from the beginning will make things less hectic for you.

Another thing you should consider is that tiny houses are becoming more popular by the day so you will have a lot of options when it comes to which company you do business with. That’s why it’s important that you do your research on what’s available to you.

You should be able to find a company that will work with you so the trailer meets your needs. The right company will aspire to help you get your tiny house built without any issues. They should be able to provide you with safety tips and advice to properly secure your house. 

The company should also offer a fair price, sitting somewhere similar to the prices listed above. As much as you don’t want to underspend by getting a cheaply made or used trailer, you also don’t want to overspend. There are no special features that an overpriced trailer can offer you that a fair priced one doesn’t already have. 

Picking the right trailer for your tiny house will help you to eliminate most complications before they even get a chance to arise.