State Restrictions legal width / height 4 house on wheels

[Myke]

I've been trying to locate state laws for building a tiny house trailer to no avail. I've checked DOT and DMV, but nobody seems to be able to help me. I need to know width and height restrictions. Also I've seen mobile office trailers 8x28-32 on a single axle. I only plan on moving this tiny house on wheels one time, so if I could get away with a single axle, that would save money. Does anybody know of a site that would give the trailer restrictions, or who to call to get the information?
Thanks
Myke

 

[bg-TNT]

Basic rundown is:

No more than: 13'6" tall
No more than: 8'6" wide (Including fenders/etc)

USDOT Limits to 10 tons per axle, but a big heavy single axle trailer can be a bear to tow.

 

[Myke]

Thanks bg, a friend told me something similar, but wasn't positive. Now I can start my autoCAD planning. I agree about the towing being a problem, but I may tow the trailer with just the floor on it and build the rest on my acre of mountain property. Worst case I build it here and tow it one time to the property.

 

[MOKI SEAKER]

I'm not sure but I think Colorado is 14'6" tall. but if you are planing to go i-70 you will have to go over loveland pass. Eisenhower tunnel is 13'6". Jim G

 

[sdtripper2]

Myke:

You may choose to use the resources at TumbleWeed Tiny House Company Clicky
as they seem to tout that they will answer basic questions over the phone.
Having a company that sells plans and or makes the homes, seems like a
good source if they are willing to talk to you as they seem willing to do.

The above website seems to have links that may be of interest.

Basic rundown is:

No more than: 13'6" tall
No more than: 8'6" wide (Including fenders/etc)

USDOT Limits to 10 tons per axle, but a big heavy single axle trailer can be a bear to tow.

The above measurements are for a house without a permit. You could in
theory build different with a permit.

*The link below answers your question exactly:*
This discussion webpage on trailers for the platform of the tiny house
will confirm the data bg has given with more information
that might help you decide on a trailer. Clicky

Here is a site on codes Clicky that may or may not help you.

Steve

 

[Myke]

Thanks for the help. My design is under the limits, so I should be fine. Check me out, less than 10 posts and I got a sticky thread.

 

[jeff0520]

Myke:


No more than: 13'6" tall
No more than: 8'6" wide (Including fenders/etc)

USDOT Limits to 10 tons per axle, but a big heavy single axle trailer can be a bear to tow.

The above measurements are for a house without a permit. You could in
theory build different with a permit.
[/quote]

I'm a trucker, and I move oversized loads. As far as I know, the only permits issued are "trip permits" specifying the dates of the move, and what routes are permitted. Travel before sunrise, or after civil twilight (a vague term if I ever heard one) is prohibited. Moving under an oversize permit is also a gold plated invitation for every bored cop to pull you over and check you out. Many state permits are required to be signed by the driver in a certain color ink, and the wrong color voids the permit. The permits are pricey, restrictive, and overall, a total "pain in the drain." Best limit it to 102 inches wide and 13'6" tall.
Jeff

 

[PirateJohn]

I used to have a company that moved oversized boats. Recently I chatted with Texas about building and moving my own park model trailer or modular home. Sooooooo ...

Up to 8'6" wide and 13'6" tall you should be fine legally and logistically as long as you don't encounter unusually low bridges, which can be an issue in the Northeast.

Beyond that your individual states dictate their rules and those vary dramatically from state to state and often from road to road within the state. Also be aware that most states have different rules for mobile homes, modular homes, sometimes park trailers, and sometimes whether a really wide load is moving interstate or intrastate.

Mobile home movers have the permits and are fairly inexpensive. Your best bet for an oversized load is probably to contact them.

 

[PirateJohn]

I'm a trucker, and I move oversized loads. As far as I know, the only permits issued are "trip permits" specifying the dates of the move, and what routes are permitted. Travel before sunrise, or after civil twilight (a vague term if I ever heard one) is prohibited.
Jeff

Florida used to issue "blanket permits" that were good for moving boats at will up to certain sizes, during specified hours, and not valid in certain areas (Florida Keys as I recall, which had other restrictions).

More relevant to this discussion I am pretty sure that most states issue blanket permits for mobile home movers.

As I recall Texas quoted me $1,000 per year but the catcher was that I had to post a bond (probably since I didn't have commercial liability insurance).

Just FYI. For my project I keep going back to sizes that are wider than 8'6".

 

[rebapuck]

I watch all the tiny house shows on HGTV and DIY. I am struck by how many (virtually all) have protrusions on the sides. Lamps, eaves, folding decks. Surely these builders are not reducing the interior width to accommodate. That porch light counts in the 8'6" doesn't it?

 

[bobhenry-TNT]

" TO THE WIDEST POINT " what ever it is

 

[Andrew Herrick]

The RVIA has already answered this question for you! Hurray!

See the link here: https://www.rvia.org/standards-regulati ... egulations

Scroll through and select the hyperlinks to see maximum RV size allowed by state laws. And yes, most mainstream commercial Tiny House builders (aka Tumbleweed) sell their products as some type of RV.

The wise commentary by the professional driver and mover below summarized my thoughts pretty well. Unless you have money to burn, stay within regular (non-permitted) vehicle sizes.

 

[Andrew Herrick]

Just one more thought: There are situations or states where towing loads greater than 10,000 pounds may require a CDL. So if you plan to move your house on occasion, it is wise to keep its curb weight below 10,000 lbs.

 

[Tomterrific-TNT]

It seems easy enough to me that the base house could be made and everything that would make it too wide, too tall could be designed modular and installed on site.

Although I am interested in the tiny house movement, I keep thinking it would be best just building the tiny house on site and using the trailer to move the materials.

Tt

 

[bobhenry-TNT]

I have been court order to move mine. It has been in 4 counties and is currently hiding out in the fourth. Indiana is anal about tiny houses and you better be able to ROLL with the punches. Thank God mine had wheels !