Tiny House Build (20' house on trailer)

Hello, I thought someone might be interested to see my tiny house build. I have been trying to document while I build. It is a 20 ft trailer that I bought in Oregon. ask questions if you have any. Ill be living in it full time once finished.
Im a carpenter and have had jobs before welding, so the building process is nothing new to me which is making it much easier. Today was day 3 of framing. No plans, just fitting in my budget buy windows ect.
If youre wondering why my loft / cantilever is over the back side it is because the trailer weight distribution.

Hi Emilio! Thank you for sharing your awesome work with us on permies! It looks great, and I look forward to seeing more of your posts!

Looks like you used a good starting point-3 axle trailer . Many attempt these on under engineered trailers. Nice job.

wayne fajkus wrote:Looks like you used a good starting point-3 axle trailer . Many attemp these on under engineered trailers. Nice job.

I agree. The trailer is rated at 22k pounds so I am definitely in the clear there. I also used overkill 4x8 to cantilever the loft only 2 foot, but I have seen some very sketchy non-structural builds out there.

Looks over built, but if it workks...

John C Daley wrote:Looks over built, but f it workks...

Better than underbuilt right? I mean it's a 13.5 foot tall stick framed structure that has it withstand being transported. I haven't even gotten to the threaded rod that'll tie the to plates to the trailer, or the horizontal strapping

Update. Framed and sheered

Update from a week ago.
Got the roof framed and sheeted and papered.  

Well long time since last update, but I have done alot. Finished the exterior and moving on to plumbing and electrical this week.

Looks fantastic, Emilio.  

What's your approach to the roof?  Is that synthetic on the sheathing or tar paper?  How are you insulating and is there any venting or airflow around the roofing material?

Timothy Markus wrote:Looks fantastic, Emilio.  

What's your approach to the roof?  Is that synthetic on the sheathing or tar paper?  How are you insulating and is there any venting or airflow around the roofing material?

Thank you!
The roofing material is called ondura by onduline. It is an organic asphalt saturated material, just more esthetically pleasing IMO.
the under layer is asphalt saturated tar paper / on top of 1/2 ply.
No roof ventilation/ no attic. Which is why I steered clear of metal roofing which a LOT of people are going with. The condensation factor is too concerning.

Any idea what the final build weight will be?  I've done modular homes and the boxes, at 40-50' by 12-14' come in at 35-55k lbs at about 90% finished.  I think Wayne's right that a lot of people under-estimate the weight of a tiny home.

Did you get that trailer new?  Would you tell us how much you paid and if you're in the States?

Emilio Booker wrote:

Timothy Markus wrote:Looks fantastic, Emilio.  

What's your approach to the roof?  Is that synthetic on the sheathing or tar paper?  How are you insulating and is there any venting or airflow around the roofing material?

Thank you!
The roofing material is called ondura by onduline. It is an organic asphalt saturated material, just more esthetically pleasing IMO.
the under layer is asphalt saturated tar paper / on top of 1/2 ply.
No roof ventilation/ no attic. Which is why I steered clear of metal roofing which a LOT of people are going with. The condensation factor is too concerning.

It really does look nice!

I went with through-fastened steel on mine, also with no attic and a sealed roof. I assauged my condensation fears by using a solid ply roof deck with a double layer of breathable synthetic underlayment that wraps to outside the steel siding, followed by counterpurlins underneath the purlins, so any condensation should in theory simply run off...

Now that my house will not need to go on the road again I'm planning to tear off the roofing and add another layer of roof for added insulation and overhangs. Will be interesting to see how things look.

Timothy Markus wrote:Any idea what the final build weight will be?  I've done modular homes and the boxes, at 40-50' by 12-14' come in at 35-55k lbs at about 90% finished.  I think Wayne's right that a lot of people under-estimate the weight of a tiny home.

Did you get that trailer new?  Would you tell us how much you paid and if you're in the States?

Interesting,,, I have heard many people saying closer to 12-15k.. But that seems quite light.
I am guessing mine will come close to the weight capacity of the trailer, that being 22k.. But when I tow the house it will practically be gutted so that will keep weight down.
I am planning on really going thru the trailer before any long haul.. New brakes/ tires possibly shackles and springs too.

Trailer cost was $2300. I talked the guy down from I think $3k? I bought it in Oregon and I live in California but go to Oregon often and used to live there. I bought it used, it is actually a very old and extremely solid I beam welded trailer that has gone thru lots of modification.

Had some fun incorporating welding and reclaimed materials with the utility shed.. I think I'm in the pinterest mom club now.

I love it. I am going to put a tiny house on my property and enjoy seeing what others do with theirs. It's beautiful.

Sonja Draven wrote:I love it. I arm going to put a tiny house on my property and enjoy seeing what others do with theirs. It's beautiful.

I have a great relationship with my landlords, I think it's an awesome opportunity for extra income for a homeowner, or an extra dwelling. With cool tenents, the minimal impact of a tiny house if you have the property is almost a no brainer.

Wow, 22k estimated weight!

I have not weighed mine; I did run rough(but trying to err on high side) math on the materials and ended up with the belief that I was at best a few hundred pounds under 14K including the 22ft(deck) trailer. I did weigh the tongue and got 1100lbs, right where I wanted it with house empty barring stove and mattress.

I used 2x8 floor joists, 2x4 walls, and 2x6 rafters. Roxul throughout with an extra layer of 1.5" on outside of walls; 3/4 OSB and ply in floor, ceiling, roof deck. 1/2 ply exterior sheathing and 5/8 ply inside. Steel siding and roofing.

I thought my build was pretty darned heavy, but 22k is a *lot*! What sort of materials are bringing your weight up that high?

That trailer looks great, and sounds like a good deal. I would have loved to have some extra capacity in reserve.

Will you be towing it yourself?

Dillon Nichols wrote:Wow, 22k estimated weight!

I have not weighed mine; I did run rough(but trying to err on high side) math on the materials and ended up with the belief that I was at best a few hundred pounds under 14K including the 22ft(deck) trailer. I did weigh the tongue and got 1100lbs, right where I wanted it with house empty barring stove and mattress.

I used 2x8 floor joists, 2x4 walls, and 2x6 rafters. Roxul throughout with an extra layer of 1.5" on outside of walls; 3/4 OSB and ply in floor, ceiling, roof deck. 1/2 ply exterior sheathing and 5/8 ply inside. Steel siding and roofing.

I thought my build was pretty darned heavy, but 22k is a *lot*! What sort of materials are bringing your weight up that high?

That trailer looks great, and sounds like a good deal. I would have loved to have some extra capacity in reserve.

Will you be towing it yourself?

Well I guess I haven't weighed anything yet.. Are you similar dimentions to me? I'm 20 ft long, wax + width and 2 ft cantalever.
I'm using 2x4 framing and floor joists (steel joists built into trailer as well) 2x4 roof joists, half in sheer and roof ply, 1 5/8 subfloor ply and obviously cedar siding. Though I'm not sure steel siding would weigh more or less than cedar?

Nothing else specifically too heavy, pbly 1/4 or 5/8 interior clad, real hardwood floors, solid wood bamboo counter tops and real wood cabinets. And a wood stove.

Emilio Booker wrote:

Dillon Nichols wrote:Wow, 22k estimated weight!

I have not weighed mine; I did run rough(but trying to err on high side) math on the materials and ended up with the belief that I was at best a few hundred pounds under 14K including the 22ft(deck) trailer. I did weigh the tongue and got 1100lbs, right where I wanted it with house empty barring stove and mattress.

I used 2x8 floor joists, 2x4 walls, and 2x6 rafters. Roxul throughout with an extra layer of 1.5" on outside of walls; 3/4 OSB and ply in floor, ceiling, roof deck. 1/2 ply exterior sheathing and 5/8 ply inside. Steel siding and roofing.

I thought my build was pretty darned heavy, but 22k is a *lot*! What sort of materials are bringing your weight up that high?

That trailer looks great, and sounds like a good deal. I would have loved to have some extra capacity in reserve.

Will you be towing it yourself?

Well I guess I haven't weighed anything yet.. Are you similar dimentions to me? I'm 20 ft long, wax + width and 2 ft cantalever.
I'm using 2x4 framing and floor joists (steel joists built into trailer as well) 2x4 roof joists, half in sheer and roof ply, 1 5/8 subfloor ply and obviously cedar siding. Though I'm not sure steel siding would weigh more or less than cedar?

Nothing else specifically too heavy, pbly 1/4 or 5/8 interior clad, real hardwood floors, solid wood bamboo counter tops and real wood cabinets. And a wood stove.

Oops, all those numbers and still missed a couple!

28ft long house on 22ft trailer; 24ft @ 13'-6" height from ground and 4ft rear cantilever slopes from 11ft down to 9ft.

8'-6" wide.

1" dry Cedar is probably similar to the steel? But my extra layer of external roxul has some mass too.

Trailer is intact with its own deck underneath the house, too.

I had made a spreadsheet with known or estimated weights for all major parts right down to the fasteners(..I used a lot of screws, ok?), all inputs rounded up slightly and a bit of margin added... could have made an error but can't really imagine it was a 4 digit one!

Your woodstove certainly outweighs my propane furnace, but it's not going to account for thousands of pounds...

So.. I am thinking your estimate is probabaly pretty high; good news for your fuel bill!