How to tow a park model home safely, Tiny homes moving advice, Towing property

How to Tow a Park Model Home Safely & Conveniently?

6 August 2024

Among the most obvious advantages of living in a tiny home on wheels is you can move it for real. Still towing such a tiny house or a park model cabin isn’t going to be a cakewalk. There are so many things that you need to keep an eye on to make the move safe. Otherwise, your living space is at stake, quite literally.

Whether you’re planning to travel the entire country in your model home or just going to do it once in a while, you must understand how to do it with ease and by eliminating any issues. You might have to prepare yourself for a few tense moments because seeing your house move for the first time can test your nerves a bit.

Towing a Model Home Safely & Legally

You must consider several things to tow your model home safely. Therefore, it’s better to have a checklist and follow a step-by-step process so you don’t miss out on anything. Let’s discuss these aspects in more detail.

The Tiny House

According to an estimation, tiny homes tend to cost 38% more than regular homes in terms of square footage. Therefore, you need to protect it and make sure that it is roadworthy. You must consider a few things before you put your home on the road.

There are different measurements to consider. For example, there is dry weight, the weight of your belongings, gross vehicle weight, etc. Hence, you need to look for a truck that can tow your entire tiny home with its belongings, and cargo.

You must also check the overall condition of your tiny house. Its lights and signals should be working properly, and you must also check the tire pressure and have a spare ready. Moreover, be sure that your model home is insured and registered. It should have a valid license plate, and the same should be displayed. Still, the first and most important step is to find park model cabins for sale.

The Truck

Towing your model home with a small car is not an option here. Therefore, if you don’t own a suitable truck for your move, it’s better to hire one. You can always buy one or even hire a towing company or a moving company to make the move for you.

The most important of all the specs is the total towing capacity of the truck you’re considering. A truck’s towing capacity refers to the weight it can tow. In simple words, you need to look for a vehicle that can tow much more than the total weight of your park model home.

Hence, you need to look for a truck that can weigh at least two 15,000 lbs, and for that, your vehicle must also feature a large engine, such as v8 or v10. Apart from the truck itself, you also need a few more accessories to tow a tiny home behind it. You will need to install a trailer brake controller, a trailer hitch, etc.

You must also be sure to use a truck that is in good condition. You don’t want your truck to break down while transporting your model home. Moreover, any truck you can use for your move needs to be licensed, insured, and titled for towing. No need to tow your tiny home behind a truck that shouldn’t be on the road.

The Route

You must also plan the route before you tow your model home. Due to the huge size and weight of the tow, you must avoid bends, potholes, traffic jams, bridges, phone lines, low tree branches, or anything else obstructing your path. It is better to do a practice run with a regular car to see which route is better and has the least number of obstacles.

Also, have a backup route ready in any case, and be sure that your parking space will be ready once you have arrived. You can travel with a team that can attach and detach your tiny home or even maneuver it into its place after arrival.

It’s better to have another car follow you to keep other vehicles from tailgating you. Having someone in the passenger seat right next to the driver is also handy for watching out for any hazards and indicating beforehand.

How to tow a park model home Conclusion

Towing a tiny model home doesn’t need to be hard. If you do proper research and make sure that you have everything in its place, all will be fine. It’s better to use a checklist and have a step-by-step process to follow, it will help you in avoiding many hiccups. Some unexpected issues might always turn up but it is better to anticipate them and equip well.

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