There’s No Place Like Home but RV, THOW or THOL?

So once you decide to go tiny, the first step is to determine the type of home you want to live in?  An RV?  (Which for these purposes we will put large vans, actual motorized camping RVs and travel trailers)  A THOW?  (tiny house on wheels) Or a THOL? or (tiny house on land)  Ultimately, we would like to end up on a THOL but first we want to decide where exactly that may be.  I mean if you are going to say ultimately, our dream would be to have 2 THOL.  One in a cooler area and one in a warmer area so we could swap out areas as weather dictated.  Snowbirds if you will but working snowbirds.  We are not ready by any means for retirement and since we have many skills between us, we believe we can find work that still allows us to swap locations with the season change.  Working remotely seems to be the easiest way to do this but even in 2015 this is still a battle against old school thoughts that you must “report to an office” to effectively do your job.  Of course there are pluses and minuses for each of the above choices and while I cannot speak as technically about them as my husband can, I can tell you, with my limited knowledge, how each one differ for my lifestyle so you may find these helpful.  I am not saying any one is better than the other and everyone chooses based on their needs, wants, etc. 

 

RV type structures:

Pluses

A good used RV is fairly affordable

If you are mechanical/handy they are not too expensive to fix up or redecorate

They are normally prebuilt J  unless you have to gut yours and rebuild

They have the generator and amenities to be able to live on or off grid using a generator or solar

They are designed to be moved often

They normally come preloaded with furniture, appliances, bathrooms, etc.

You can find camp grounds or others willing to let you camp in your RV for extended periods

Many have heat and AC built in

You can take your house virtually ANYWHERE you can drive!

If you are in a drivable unit, you can utilize most of your homes amenities while going down the road!

 

Negatives

Many areas have limits on how long you can live in one (if at all) fulltime

Most do not get good gas mileage

Unless you tow a vehicle (or use your tow vehicle) once you get to where you are going you have no choice but to drive your “house” around to the store, etc.

They are not well insulated so heating costs can be expensive

Being prebuilt, most are not “green” and have a lot of chemicals used in their making (if that is important to you)

Finding and paying for somewhere to drop your gray and black tanks

Limits on sizes unless you are willing to obtain your CDL and even then there are limits

 

THOW

Pluses

Normally made more sturdy than an RV

You can go green or personalize your THOW much easier than a pre-built RV

Like an RV can be built for on grid or off grid use

So much cheaper than a standard sized home so less mortgage payments

Your design ideas other than size, weight and need are endless!

They are ADORABLE!

 

Negatives

Depending on how you register it, there can be limits on how long you can live in it

Some areas will only allow you to park in designated RV parks, etc.

Many of the items while building will have to be special ordered or made including windows and doors

Since THOW is a newer concept, they are harder to find new and used and therefore can be pricey

Unlike a drivable RV, like a travel trailer, you cannot enjoy your home while driving as you will remain in your tow vehicle

You need to be very handy or pay for someone else to build

There have maximum size restrictions for transporting

Depending on the size, you may have to have a CDL
If you are going to move it often, you must plan accordingly during your build (e.g. no drywall or other easily cracked material)

While building, weight of all materials has to be in the fore front of your plan

 

THOL

Pluses

You could put a basement under it if you wished

Many areas have minimum size requirements for homes on a foundation

Many companies and the Amish will deliver or make your shell on site for an affordable price

If you are handy you can do most of the work yourself

You can design for on grid or off grid use

Weight does not become an issue so you can use heavier materials and more insulation or reclaimed as you wouldn’t have to be as picky

It’s easier to use standard sized windows and doors as you’re not limited by height restrictions

You can build really tiny then add on as you go

If you need a stable place to call home this could be it!

You can customize your yard or add a deck if you are staying long term

 

Negatives

You cannot take it with you easily

Hard to find prebuilt (other than the shell)

Real Estate Taxes (nuff said)

Requires owning land and staying put for the most part

You don’t have the luxuries that it affords during your travels away from your THOL