We’re getting ready to launch construction of a Ballard model home, and the first big step is selecting the right trailer.
After all, the trailer is the “foundation” for a tiny house on wheels. Pick the wrong trailer and you risk the long-term structural integrity of your home.
To get it right, Sharon (founder of Seattle Tiny Homes) teamed up with a structural engineer and two contractors to brainstorm the best solution. Together they designed a trailer with several goals in mind:
1 – Use every possible inch of the trailer to allow for maximum square footage while still providing complete support for the structure.
2 – Integrate the trailer fully into the home’s construction, so the home plus the trailer become one complete unit, rather than a structure tacked on to a trailer.
3 – Use the best quality materials to provide a lifetime of service, while still keeping the trailer as light as possible.
After multiple conversations and scribbled drawings, we’ve come up with an excellent solution. It’s a custom designed trailer with steel brackets that allow key studs of the home to be firmly secured to the trailer with TimberLocks®. We’ll also use Simpson strong ties at each corner. These and other extra steps make the tiny home and the trailer a completely integrated unit.
The end result is a home built for a lifetime of safety, stability, and longevity. In a strong headwind while driving, hurricane force winds, or an earthquake – this home should stand straight and true. In fact, it exceeds international hurricane standards.
We’ve ordered the trailer and expect it soon. We’ll post pictures when it arrives!
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