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”.