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.
