Full time RV vs. tiny house

[RitaB]

I was just watching a show on Tiny houses and a couple with 3 young children are looking for a tiny house they can tow around and see the USA. To my understanding they would be better with an towable RV, than something that looks like a shack with a loft. I also don't like the safety factor with their children under 5 climbing a ladder to get to the loft. They ended up with something that I don't believe would be towable with their pickup. Weight was never mentioned when they talked about towing. What is your thoughts.

[Crusadernoob]

Well, weight is never an issue as long as they have a 1/2 ton!

I agree, do they not know what an RV is?

[The_Rhino]

I've seen shows where they build the tiny house onto a gooseneck construction trailer towed by a 1 ton dually... IMO they are more like mobile homes vs. travel trailers... If you take it slow you can move them from one permanent site to another but IMO it would be white knuckles (and low mpg) driving at highway speeds... Plus, without slide-outs they are actually much smaller than a 5er of the same length.

I've seen shows that claim tiny houses appreciate in value compared to RVs which depreciate... They are still a novelty item, so IMO only time will tell. Meanwhile, I would not get to close to one on the highway!

[tjm]

I don't believe the intent is to tow them around every weekend like an RV. Although it may be easier to buy a pre-built travel trailer or fifth wheel, I think part of the appeal is the look of a home and custom build. A lot of these people build these houses themselves.


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[tjm]

http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/tiny-...mping-trailer/


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[pacin]

I have to chuckle when they say they are going to park it on some land that a friend has until they know for sure what they are going to do. Nobody ever mentions about water, sewer and electric hookups either.

[n-e-d]

Just another facet of Reality TV

[ugaoki]

Yeah your right, they never mention sewer water or power. I want to tell these people"buy an rv".


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[raytwntrvlr]

Yes, the Millenniums are discovering the "tiny house". Back in the 70s, my wife and I lived in one we towed around the western USA following jobs. I think it was called a park model. 35 footer... no holding tanks. It was fun until our son needed to start school. Then we sold it and took a regular job. Some of our fondest memories.
It would be unthinkable to me now, but we towed it everywhere (even the mountains) with a 1965 1/2 ton Chevy 4x4.

[dahagen]

I live in two tiny houses. I have a motorhome for winter use and a 'park model' for the summer. My wife loves the 'Tiny Houses' show and we marvel at the expensive tiny, not practical, homes they show. One even didn't have a real toilet, just a chemical one like used in pop-ups. Those tiny house builders need to talk a look at how the RV industry does it. In a small space we have a real kitchen, bathroom, and bed that doesn't have to be stored every morning.

[DSQR]

"Marketing to Millennials"
1. Take a mostly impractical product.
2. Set a grossly inflated price on it.
3. Convince the target consumer it's the "in" thing to own
4. Don't ever mention its deficiencies
5. Sit back and collect your money

[oldsmasma]

Don't mention any building code/health/safety/zoning issues either!

[VizJedi]

Originally Posted by oldsmasma

Don't mention any building code/health/safety/zoning issues either!

But most of them are 20-somethings. Those things don't matter to them.

Actually my niece and a couple of my staff have considered a tiny house. Some of the attraction is the fad factor, but at least 2 of them talk about growing up with less (post 2008 crash era), appreciating minimalist things (i.e. living close to nature) and (more likely) having lots of student loans.

j

[twiggw]

I'm surprised it's taken this long for this subject to show up here. My wife and I watch the show sometimes and marvel at the short sightedness IMHO of these things and the people who have them built.

[mtnlvr]

I've watched these shows and have always wondered why they don't just buy an RV? They don't have any of slide outs which us RV 'ers know give us soooo much more living space.

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by raytwntrvlr

Yes, the Millenniums are discovering the "tiny house". Back in the 70s, my wife and I lived in one we towed around the western USA following jobs. I think it was called a park model. 35 footer... no holding tanks. It was fun until our son needed to start school. Then we sold it and took a regular job. Some of our fondest memories.
It would be unthinkable to me now, but we towed it everywhere (even the mountains) with a 1965 1/2 ton Chevy 4x4.

A real truck???? We towed a 30' camper with a Plymouth Fury in the 70s.

[KenHwy61]

I have wondered the same things as everybody else and it leads me to conclude that reality shows are far from real. In one Tiny House episode it appeared the bathroom sink hanging on the wall had no plumbing attached. I rewound the DVR and confirmed it did not water lines or drain piping. There is never any mention of water-sewer connections or other mechanical systems. Although they can be kind of cool, these houses seem nothing more than glorified playhouses.

[BandJCarm]

Reality Shows.....where almost naked beautiful people get flown to an island where they observe odd rituals like..........well, I don't know exactly, never actually watched such a show!

But that ain't reality. It ain't MY reality anyway.

I call that stuff "Unscripted TV", but not "reality tv". I do know they'll put dang near anything on TV. And I can only imagine the drugs passed around the table when Thinkers sit around and try to decide what type of show to come up with next!!!

[Mr Havercamp]

Originally Posted by KenHwy61

In one Tiny House episode it appeared the bathroom sink hanging on the wall had no plumbing attached.

You don't need to search very hard to find posts of a few new trailer at the campground episodes here where the plumbing wasn't connected either.

[Rvdixie]

We have been watching the growth and popularity of "tiny houses" for several years now and finally decided a way to make it work for us thus really simplifying our lifestyle. We live full time in a 502 square foot "tiny house" which is complete with full size bedroom, living room, kitchen large bathroom complete with washer and dryer. Park right alongside is our 32' Coachmen 5th wheel with three slides and of course all the other amenities. We purchased a lot in an RV resort where we site built our "tiny house" with enough room alongside to park our 5th wheel. For us this was the best solution as it allows to travel on a whim while having nothing to worry about when we leave. We simply flip a few electrical switches, shut the water off and hit the road. Other than a very minimal HOA fee and minor real estate taxes our living expenses are nil. It's a great life.