Book ‘From a small dream home to a finished home’: Our tiny house must have wheels (Chapter 2)
For many years, Chris and Caro have been talking about tiny houses and more in their podcast ‘tinyon’. Now the two have published their first book. Readers of the NEW HOUSING page can regularly read excerpts from the work. Here is Chapter 2.
A tiny house on wheels, which is often built on a trailer, is certainly the most common design in the tiny house community. Even though we have seen a trend towards modular construction without wheels in recent years, this approach reflects the origins of the movement in Germany and continues to inspire many people.
Maximum 3.5 tonnes
The version with a maximum weight of 3.5 tonnes is particularly appealing to interested parties, as it can be moved by car. However, there are also models that have wheels but require a different towing vehicle due to their dimensions and/or weight.
Modular construction is becoming increasingly important in the context of tiny living because it creates living space that can be adapted quickly and economically. Unlike tiny houses on wheels, this approach focuses less on mobility and more on the possibility of creating an individual home in a short construction time using prefabricated modules – whether as a permanent residence, a temporary retreat or an addition to existing buildings.
Only the advantages considered?
Since many modular systems are built on classic point or strip foundations, they are quite similar to conventional building types – but with significantly less space requirements. Many people with whom we discuss their dream of living in a mini house have already made their decisions about building details at an early stage. This includes the decision of whether the house should have wheels or not. When asked about their reasons, they often only have the advantages in mind.
To be honest, it took us months of intensive research to look at the entire range of different tiny house models and construction methods and work out the general advantages and disadvantages of a tiny house. This was important to us so that we could later assess the challenges associated with choosing a particular construction method.
At this point, we would like to review our personal decision-making process ‘wheels or no wheels?’ once again:
- 2020: Enthusiasm for mobile working and living.
- Therefore, focus on tiny houses with wheels; land should be leased.
- First trial living: The impression is confirmed that many structural compromises have to be made for mobility: Height restrictions only allow limited standing room on the second floor; maximum height 4.00 m, with the consequence that there is only one sleeping berth.
- Legal framework: In Germany, a building permit is required for any building intended for permanent residence.
- Insight: Processing time and costs severely limit short-term relocation.
- At the same time, we fundamentally reflected on our life plans: travelling and mobile working have increased the importance of a ‘home base’ and familiar workplace; striving for a permanent centre of life, also with a view to putting down roots and starting a family.
- Insight: We will probably rarely move the tiny house in practice.
- 2021: Decision in favour of a stationary yet flexible modular house on point foundations; modular expansion or subsequent reduction in size of the house are taken into account.
Chapter 2 of 10 covers extensive information on the basic advantages and disadvantages of a mini house, a detailed distinction between tiny houses on wheels and modular construction, and a multi-layered overview of (hidden) costs.
