Living in a Tiny House Trailer: Is it Worth it?

Farah Nadia

Living in a tiny house trailer is an idea that might seem really interesting to some people, but not so much for others. The benefits of living in a tiny house are affordability, mobility, and eco-friendliness.

On the other hand, there are also plenty of downsides to living in a tiny house trailer like lack of privacy and limited space. It’s hard to say whether or not living in a tiny house trailer is worth it because everyone has different needs and wants from their home.

To help you make this decision we’ll go over what exactly is a tiny home trailer, how big they are typically built (hint: they’re small), how much do they cost (hint: less than $50k) and what are the pros and cons of living in one.

Tiny house trailer

What is a tiny house trailer

A tiny house trailer is a mobile home that is built on wheels, previously used as RVs or campervans for camping purposes. Tiny house trailers typically range anywhere from 100 square feet to 400 sq ft, but there are some as small as 16 sq ft or even tiny houses on wheels that measure just 20 sq ft.

They are often smaller than the average size of the typical American family’s single occupancy dwelling, and they have fewer amenities as well.

This means you will need less space for utilities like electricity and water which saves money long term. And since they’re usually built offsite then delivered via a truck, there’s no worrying about construction time interfering with your schedule (or waking up at all hours so workers can get home).

They can also be moved around easily, which makes them the perfect house option for those who want to travel or live in a semi-permanent location.

You’ll have more financial freedom because it doesn’t take much to set yourself up with things like appliances, furniture, etc., not to mention saving expenses on rent or mortgage payments each.

For some people, living in a tiny house trailer may be worth it because they want an alternative lifestyle with lower costs but still want access to things like public transit or internet connections.

Benefits of living in a tiny house trailer

Living in a tiny house trailer means that you will save money on housing. For example, if the person wanted to buy their own mobile home for $25,000 but instead they bought an Airstream and renovated it themselves with about $500 worth of supplies then they would have saved over 80%.

Another benefit is that living in a tiny house trailer can be cheaper than renting as well. The cost of rent may not even cover what utilities are used which means there are no savings overall on rental costs.

With owning your own tiny house trailer you only need to pay for water, electricity, propane, or gas for heating or cooking and internet access (if necessary). If you’re planning to live long term, you’ll need to have a place you can legally “park” your home. This usually means you’ll either need to own or lease a piece of land.

In summary, the pros of living in a tiny house trailer are:

  • Low cost, low upkeep – the cons being that homes will require more money to heat and cool;
  • Say goodbye to homeowners’ association fees!;
  • You can live anywhere your tiny house is permitted (rural areas not included);
  • An alternative lifestyle for those wanting something different than what most people choose.

Downsides to living in a tiny house trailer

Tiny house trailers may not be legal in some areas. They are more expensive than a regular home (though this is offset by cheaper mortgages). There are fewer jobs for people who live in them, and it becomes harder to find work nearby.

Living spaces can often feel cramped. Larger homes typically have higher ceilings which make the space seem less crowded. This feeling of living in a small space could impact your mental health if you’re someone that needs peace and quiet or has anxiety issues due to being very introverted as well.

Other cons of living in a tiny house trailer include:

  • Some utility companies may charge twice as much because there’s no extra square footage on their grid or they don’t offer expanded service to rural areas where tiny houses often end up residing;
  • Moving into an area with limited public transit such as Washington DC means you’ll need a car to get around and running water means you’ll have to pay for your own septic tank disposal service;
  • For some people, the low cost of living in a tiny house trailer is just not enough when there are other factors that must also be considered such as limited transportation options or no access to basic utilities like electricity and water.

Another argument against living in a tiny house trailer would be that it’s not enough for people who have children or want to buy things like furniture and large appliances because they are limited by the size of their home.

How much does it cost to live in a tiny house trailer

The cost of building a tiny house trailer can vary considerably, but the average price is $35,000.

A tiny house or trailer itself will range between $30-60K depending on size and features. For instance, insulation is often an expensive add-on that costs around $500 per wall for example (plus installation labor).

Some tiny houses can cost up to $150K and that makes them very expensive when considering you’ll need at least two incomes (one from each spouse) just maintain your mortgage payments.

That being said, there is an upside: because of their size, this means less money will go towards utilities like electricity or water which might make taking out loans easier on some households as well!

##Tips for living in a tiny house trailer  

If you’re new to this, you should know that living in a tiny house trailer (especially long term) will be wildly different than living in a conventional city apartment or the usual 3-bedroom suburban house.

So, how to live in a tiny house trailer? Here are some tips:

Get solar power (or make do with a generator)

The first thing you’ll need to do is figure out how to stay powered up. In tiny house trailers, running your electricity can be an expensive endeavor if you’re not careful and don’t take advantage of the sun’s natural light in order to generate enough energy for your home.

Solar panels or generators may seem like they will cost too much at first but it doesn’t have to be that way! Don’t let this get in the way of living in a tiny house trailer because there are plenty of options available. 

Use small appliances only

Don’t try cooking eggs on the stovetop when boiling water takes just as long and uses less energy.

Don’t use A/C

Stay cool with fans and take a dip in the pool, lake or ocean! Tiny house trailers don’t have air conditioning so you’ll need to be creative when it comes to staying cool on hot days.

If you want to install an A/C system then make sure that your tiny house trailer also has sufficient insulation because cold air travels through walls easier than warm.

Consider group living

One downside of tiny houses is they are typically quite small which makes them less suitable for families who live together (there’s not enough room!). Living vicariously this way allows those around you some extra space while still getting all the benefits of being close-knit without having to worry about everything you do or say.

Take care of your belongings

While tiny houses are great for those who want to live simply, a lack of storage space can cause a lot of problems and make living in them quite difficult!

One way to solve this problem is by adding shelving on the walls which will help you keep everything organized. You can also use hooks and pegs (e.g., pendant lights) to hang things from the ceiling like coats, hats, scarves, and others.

Consider all factors before deciding. If you’ve found that it’s not easy being so close with others then maybe trying out different arrangements might be more suitable. Some people have been known to try communal living where they share one house and manage.

Final thoughts on living in a tiny house trailer

The tiny house trailers may not be for everyone as there are some drawbacks to living in them. For those who don’t like the idea of having so little room, you can consider a different arrangement where communal living is possible or even trying out tiny houses which offer more space!

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to home arrangements – what works well for someone else might not work well with your own lifestyle and personal preferences.

You have several options available to find an affordable solution that will suit your needs best without breaking the bank, but be sure to carefully weigh all factors before deciding on a final decision!