Whether it’s about moving your brand new (to you) tiny to its base or relocating to a new spot, transporting a tiny home requires some planning. One of the big questions you have to answer is whether you can (and want) to move the tiny yourself or call in the experts to do it for you.
When faced with that decision, there are a few key things you need to consider...
What’s legal?
Firstly, it’s essential to understand what you legally can and can’t do. After all, getting it wrong can result in fines of up to $10,000.
The most significant consideration here is weight. If your tiny weighs more than 3500kg, it cannot legally be towed on its own trailer. Instead, it will need to be lifted off its trailer onto a truck for transport, and back onto its own trailer once at the destination. That means, unless you happen to own a truck with a crane, moving a tiny that weighs more than 3500kg is usually a job for the experts.
To add complexity to this, unless your tiny home is brand new from a professional builder, knowing its weight can be tricky. After all, you can’t just pop it on the kitchen scale.
Some of the professional tiny house transport companies offer a convenient weighing service where they come to you with specialised equipment to weight your tiny house.
Alternatively you could weigh it yourself by taking it to a vehicle weigh station. But to get there, you'd need to transport it – and that requires having at least a good idea of how much it weighs. If in doubt, you have to assume your tiny is heavier than you think. Therefore, to be on the safe side, you might decide to let the experts handle the job.
Furthermore, weight isn’t the only thing that matters. If your tiny weighs less than 3500kg but exceeds any of the other light simple trailer specifications, you will likely need to display hazard signs, obtain a permit or might even need to be accompanied by a pilot vehicle.
Professional transport businesses are usually very familiar with these rules, which might be a reason to engage them, even if you could technically tow it yourself. If you do plan to move your tiny yourself, make sure you understand the NZTA guidance on oversized loads to avoid fines.
How far and how tricky?
The distance your tiny needs to travel and how accessible the current and new locations are can significantly impact whether you can do it yourself – and who best to ask for help should you need it. If you’re just moving down the road and there is relatively easy access at both ends of the trip, you might be more inclined to do it yourself or ask a friendly farmer and their tractor for help.
On the other hand, if your tiny needs to travel a long distance or if access is tricky at either the old or new location, calling in the experts is often the better option.
Do you have the right skills and vehicle?
Towing a tiny house, even a relatively small one, is no joke. They are heavy and offer a lot of surface area for wind to cause issues. In addition, it’s your home, and damaging it during transport will often result in emotional and financial stress – not to mention that people could get hurt. Therefore, only people with significant experience towing large, heavy loads should transport tiny houses. If that’s not you, it’s better to call in the experts.
In addition, you can’t tow a tiny with just any vehicle. Even small tiny homes will often weigh 3000kgs and more, so you need a vehicle that can safely handle that load. Check the manufacturers tow rating online for your vehicle if you're unsure. If your vehicle is rated to carry less than your tiny house weigh's, it might be best to get the experts involved.
Can you get transport insurance?
No matter how experienced you or the experts you engage are, moving a tiny house is always risky – and if it goes wrong, the impact can be devastating. As such, you do not want to move a tiny home without proper transport insurance. It’s important to note that the insurance you have for your tiny house while parked up might not cover it while in transport. Make sure you check your policy and ask the provider if it’s unclear. If you need additional insurance to protect your tiny during transport, you might find this is easier to come by if you enlist professionals. Transport providers often have insurance that might cover your tiny on its journey. However, it’s important to check and get complete clarity around what is and isn’t covered so you can address any gaps yourself. If you need to organise your own transport insurance, you might find that it’s easier (and cheaper) to do so if it will be moved by professionals rather than yourself or a friend with a truck.
Learn more about moving your tiny home.
Whether you decide to tow your tiny yourself or get transport experts involved, there are several other things to consider when moving your tiny. Luckily, The Tiny House Hub has you covered. Jump online and check out our How to Guides, especially these three:
Preparing to move your tiny house
Engaging a transport company to move your tiny house
