When it comes to tiny houses and wondering how much they weigh, it can take a mathematician to work out all the numbers!
Even though this will not be your first priority, afterall, you will be looking at designs and room measurements, it is important to know how much it will weigh.
So, why should it be a top priority?
Even though a tiny house is not a caravan, it is still worth noting the weight distribution. When used in transport, you will be placing items such as those that are heavy in the middle, whilst placing lighter items at the back or front.
If weight is not distributed correctly in the first place, you could potentially end up in an accident whilst transporting your home.
It is also important to know how much it will weigh once it has been built to make sure you will be able to tow it.
When this question is considered, you will find that it all depends on what the weight of the tiny house is and what your vehicle’s tow rating is.
Now that we have simply discussed the reason it is important to know how much the tiny house weighs, let’s look at it in more detail. Hopefully this handy guide will give you all the information you will need to understand about the weight of a tiny house before you buy one.
Here is what we will cover in the article:
- The Different Weights Explained
- The Dry Weight of a Tiny House
- Let’s Take a Look at the Gross Vehicle Rating (GVWR)
- The Trailer Weight
- The Tongue Weight
- Adding the Weight of Personal Items
- How To Tow a Tiny House
- Will My Tow Vehicle Need Anything?
- The Different Weights of a Tiny House
- Conclusion
The Different Weights Explained
When it comes to calculating the weight of a tiny house, there are a few factors to consider.
These are the dry weight, the trailer’s weight, the gross vehicle weight rating of the trailer and the tongue weight. It might all seem quite daunting right now, but once you read on, it will all sound a lot less overwhelming.
The Dry Weight of a Tiny House
The dry weight is an obvious one. It is the weight of the tiny house as a shell, before people, water systems, and belongings are added inside.
Of course, you should never tow a tiny house with people inside, but it is good to make a note of what the weight generally is without anybody having made a home yet.
Let’s Take a Look at the Gross Vehicle Rating (GVWR)
The GVWR weight is the overall maximum weight the trailer can hold. You will need to know the weight of the trailer, the weight of the tiny house itself, plus the weight of every item that will go inside the house. Phew!
What you will be aiming for is an even weight across the dry weight and the GVWR. The reason being is you will be adding water to the mix, which weighs in at around over eight pounds per gallon.
So, if you have a 40-gallon water tank, you will need over 320 pounds to carry the water with you – and that is a lot. All of these things will need to be factored in, even though you may not even have water installed yet.
The Trailer Weight
The trailer weight is another time that you will need to know the weight of it before anything is added to it. When looking at trailers, they will have a different GVWR which is based upon how they are made – so, how many axles or what material the trailer is made out of.
The Tongue Weight
For those who are not sure what the tongue is, it is the part of the trailer that connects to a vehicle’s hitch. You will need to know how much this weighs.
If it is either too light or too heavy, it may make towing the tiny house more difficult. It is not impossible to tow with a tongue like this, you just need to be more wary when it comes to distribution of weight.
Adding the Weight of Personal Items
Once you have calculated the weight from the tiny house and the trailer, you will need to know how much weight your personal belongings and furniture are.
It is easy to pile on the pounds when it comes to these items, as you will probably have a fair few to add.
If you are unsure about what furniture to include in a tiny house, it is best to do your research.
There will be many ways to cut space and weight, but still making sure you have more than the basics whilst living a comfortable life in your new tiny home.
How To Tow a Tiny House?
There are three ways to tow a tiny house.
Firstly, if you only move your house around once a year, get somebody else to tow your house. It is the best option if towing your house is not a high priority.
If you move a few times a year, you could either rent or even buy a tow vehicle. If there are only two of you, renting a tow vehicle will be a great option.
Whilst one of you drives the vehicle, the other person could tow. Team work makes the dream work, afterall.
Lastly, you could buy one. This makes sense if you plan to move a lot, as you will already have what you need for when you need it without relying on having to rent or ask somebody else to do it every time.
Will My Tow Vehicle Need Anything?
If you do plan to buy a tow vehicle, you will need to look at tow ratings. The tow vehicle will need to be rated as able to tow your tiny house and all the personal belongings you own.
Anything else that needs to be added can be discussed with the dealer, so do not forget to ask any questions!
The Different Weights of a Tiny House
A small tiny house can range from anything from 2,500-8,500 pounds. They are normally around 10 feet to 18 feet.
A medium sized tiny house will range in size from 19 to 25 feet and can weigh around 8,500-10,500 pounds.
A tiny house is considered large at 25 feet and over. It can weigh around 10,000 pounds up to around 15,000. Even though these are tiny houses, they can fit a whole family!
Conclusion
When it comes to tiny houses, they really do vary in weight which can be surprising to some people. If you want a house that can move around but provide somewhere cosy for you and your family (that is not a caravan), a tiny house is a good option.
While tiny homes are becoming increasingly popular, there are still many people that are unaware of the best accessories, and necessities to purchase. This is why I decided to set up Clothesline Tiny Home, to share my experiences with others.
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