40 replies to this topic

[hoyden]

Wouldn't necessarily need a utility hook up. Could easily have solar. 

 

And a custom built mobile home isn't a bad thing. Mobiles homes tend to be crap for quality and definitely not so mobile since they need a flatbed to move them, so why not build something affordable with decent quality that a person can tow with their own truck? 

 

I'm no fan of hipsters, but y'all seem remarkably cynical to something that while yes trendy, also has some good ideas and applications. It's not like we're talking about beard decorating or playing Pokemon Go. 

[ski3pin]

It is uplifting to see a portion of our population seriously considering downsizing and having a much smaller impact. Refreshing indeed!

[Bill D]

But, at the end of the day, they are an upscale, trendy, custom built mobile home.  Yes, they may be somewhat more mobile than what we traditionally have come to think of mobile/manufactured homes, but you would still need some sort of utility hook up.  Not much different than travel trailers depicted in "The Long Long Trailer" with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez,  Maybe more upscaled and hipsterized to keep up with Facebook and the latest TV shows.

 

They can be whatever you choose.  They can be made for living on or off grid.  They can be as upscale or basic as you choose.  I personally think it is a bit stupid to build $80,000 tiny houses, but to each their own.

Of course the ones you see on TV are more upscale, but I've seen a few episodes where people have had some really inexpensive basic houses built $20,000 or less.  Some of them even opted for RV trailers or buses that they turned into a more traditional living spaces.

Edited by Bill D, 09 January 2017 - 06:43 AM.

[munchmeister]

I'd prefer to rehab an old school bus. Lots of those out there could compete with the tiny houses, not to mention the customization done to "sprinter" or other large vans (check out "outsidevan.com"). There are a couple of municipalities considering changes to their codes to allow them. One is in Salida, CO area where there may be a "development" of them.(http://sprouttinyhom...lida-community/) Probably sell the heck out of them, especially if there are utilities, sewer lines, etc. that becomr a part of the development. Otherwise, they'll need an RV dump site and have to pay for a weekly "honey wagon" to clean the dump every week. To me, that is the big issue with any mobile unit, be it an old school bus, a van, slide in or a tiny home. Gotta poop somewhere! Oh, and those "loft" bedrooms. I don't want to crawl into my bed at night. Ugh. Signed, "old hipster...."

[hoyden]

munchmeister:

I'm stuck in Terre Haute, In right now at an RV place waiting on a part to (hopefully) fix my furnace. Had a chat with the guy who was testing my electrics. He was impressed with the quality of my FWC and we talked about what poor quality most RVs are. They really are junk. He said "folks should build out a school bus instead". I said I want a 4x4 van :-) 

 

It's easy enough to poop in a port-a-potti, but it does get old. Plumbing is nice! On my travels, I take advantage of gas stations and rest stops!

That said, if I had a Tiny House I'd have a composting toilet. Those are handy! 

[Bill D]

I like school bus conversions as well.  It's always interesting looking characters that I see driving them.  I always smile when I see a stove pipe coming out of the top of one 

[riz]

 image.jpeg   16.05K   61 downloads
Not my home, but my home away from home in the winter. Saves me thousands in lodging costs at ski resorts. I'm building one right now on a Ford 750 that will be over 300 square feet.

[hoyden]

COOL, riz!!!

[ski3pin]

riz, that is cool! Please post photos of your new project.

[Lighthawk]

image.jpeg
Not my home, but my home away from home in the winter. Saves me thousands in lodging costs at ski resorts. I'm building one right now on a Ford 750 that will be over 300 square feet.

 

Super cool.  I'm a contractor and we build in the $200-$300/SF range; mostly high end remodels.  

Not counting the cost of the tractor, aka Ford 750, I wonder how similar our costs might be.  

Granted this is an apples and grapefruit comparison.  

Meanwhile, my 70SF Sprinter build awaits a similar budget process.