How big can a tiny house on wheels be?
In Australia, tiny houses on wheels vary a lot in size. There are different categories for different sizes of tiny house on wheels:
Weight: The tiny house on wheels cannot exceed the weight rating of the trailer. If the final product of the tiny house on wheels does exceed the weight rating of the trailer (ATM) by any amount, it cannot be towed on its own wheels because it is not road worthy.
There is a national legal limit of 4500kgs for using electric braking systems on your tiny house trailer. That means that if you want a tiny house trailer rated to more than 4500kgs, your trailer will be classified as a medium or heavy rig vehicle. Trailers rated over 4500kgs will need air over hydraulic braking systems, and that can cost between $30K $40K for a trailer alone. Most people choose to make their tiny house under the 4500kg rating because it is more cost effective to remain in the light vehicle category, and use an electric braking system.
Since weight is a massive consideration for all tiny house builders, we make trailers that are extremely light weight.
Length: The trailer, including the draw-bar, can be up to 12.5 meters long. However, given the weight limit of your chosen trailer, it can be tricky to make an 11 meter long tiny house come in at a final weight of under 4500kgs including the weight of the trailer. Generally speaking, if a tiny house is built to 8 meters long using timber or steel framing methods, and has 2 lofts and is kitted out for full time living, it is more realistic for getting it under the 4500kg weight limit.
Height: The height of a registrable vehicle is 4.3 meters high.
Width: The width of a registrable trailer needs to be no wider than 2.5 meters wide. If you wish to build a three meter wide tiny house on wheels, then you can by following specific rules. When you build a tiny house on a 3 meter wide frame that is removable from the existing registered trailer, then you can tow the tiny house on wheels using a special permit. However, weight limits still need to be respected. And if the 3 meter wide tiny house is welded or bolted onto the tiny house trailer, it is considered not removable and is illegal. Engineer approved clip down systems between the tiny house and the trailer are the only legal way of achieving the 3 meter wide tiny house on wheels. Talk to us about our clip down systems for 3 meter wide tiny house extension frames today.
Is it cheaper to build a tiny house myself?
Yes, building a tiny house yourself can save on labor costs, making it cheaper.
A guide to understanding how much a tiny house costs in labor is: The cost of the labor will generally be the same as the cost of the materials and then some. So, for example, if the cost of tiny house materials is $50K then a professional build in labor cost would be approximately $60K – $70K in addition to the materials.
Therefore if you are able to provide all the labor yourself or for free, you can potentially build a tiny house for as little as $50K.
However, consider that DIY building a tiny house typically takes one to two years. When you are learning on the job, things take longer. You may also need to consider the opportunity costs of DIY building, in that while you are building your tiny house, you are not earning money at your waged work.
Some people choose a hybrid option, where they engage professional builders for parts of their build in order to speed up the building process. For example, you might pay a professional builder to build the tiny house to lock up, which may add an additional $25K to your overall cost, but may save you many months on your construction time. For interesting interviews with people who have DIY built their tiny houses on wheels in Australia, check out Candid Tiny House Podcast, Season 1.
For comprehensive training on DIY building a tiny house on wheels in Australia, check out our in-person workshops and our online course.
Deciding whether to take on a DIY tiny house project is a matter of weighing up your time and money limits, as well as assessing your existing resources, like how much help and equipment you can access within your community for free or low cost.
How much does a tiny house cost?
The cost of a tiny house can range from $20,000 to $250,000, depending on factors like size, materials, foundation and whether it’s DIY or professionally built. When considering the value or cost of a tiny house, think about these things:
- A tiny house trailer is a more expensive foundation than a tiny house on skids/frame base and the type of foundation also changes the legal classification of tiny house as a vehicle or a building. See FAQs on tiny house regulations.
- Timber or steel framed tiny houses are more expensive than a plastic fold-out product.
- Well-finished tiny houses with fine carpentry are more expensive than rough work.
- Off-grid appliances and capabilities usually add an additional $20k to a tiny house value/cost, so a composting toilet is more expensive than a standard flushing toilet; solar pannels and batteries are more expensive than a plug-in-to-mains-power option and the appliances that a suitable for off-grid power sources are more expensive than standard, off the shelf appliances.
What is the difference between a tiny house on wheels and a caravan?
Legally they are the same thing. They are both measured under the federal Road Vehicle Standards Act.
However, tiny houses on wheels are typically made using traditional building materials and are designed for long periods of staying in one place; whereas caravans are typically built out of plastics and fiberglass and are designed for touring.
Importantly, tiny houses on wheels are made to shed water properly and to be properly insulated. This increases the tiny house’s lifespan, comfort levels for living in it and allows it to be appropriate for full time living, year round.
Caravans on the other hand, are not built to shed water, but frequently rely on rubber seals and glues to shed water, which eventually degrade over time and allow water to seep into the caravan, leaving it moldy, unhealthy to live in and inappropriate to live in full time and year round.
So, Fred Schultz is often quoted saying ‘The difference between a tiny house on wheels and a caravan… is the smell in ten years time”.
How do I find out if I can live in my tiny house on wheels in my local area?
First, check this National Council Regulations Database to see if anyone has done the research for you. Next, visit your local council website and search for their published ‘By Laws’ or their ‘Local Laws’. Use the finder function to search for the term ‘caravan’ or ‘camping’ and read about the local laws that pertain to camping on private property. That will be the local laws that will apply to anyone living in a tiny house on wheels in that council area.
Do I need council approval to live in a tiny house?
Council regulations for tiny houses vary across Australia. See our Council Regulations Database to see more about your local council rules. Most councils allow people to live in a tiny house on wheels without a permit for six weeks or less. It is considered ‘camping on private property’ and it is up to each local council to determine how long that can go for, and what the conditions are. There are some local councils around Australia that have made progressive law changes to allow people to live in a tiny house on wheels without a permit or a time limit. For example:
- Mount Alexander Shire VIC (We have made a Candid Tiny House Podcast season about this particular local law change and how it happened, and how you can instigate the same changes in your area.)
- Esperance WA
- Brisbane QLD
- Surf Coast Shire (trail for allowing tiny house on wheels living for 2 years)
- Yarra Ranges VIC (although they have made their laws more restrictive in recent months).
What is a tiny house on wheels?
A tiny house on wheels is a vehicle with a liveable space. It’s technically a caravan. Tiny houses on wheels are usually built using traditional building materials and methods (like timber and steel) and can include all the essentials for living in, on a small footprint, like a place to sleep, eat, cook and clean.