Comparing used campers and tiny house trailers for a budget build

[zayc08]

I’m planning to build a long term tiny home in a yard with permanent utility hookups and I am trying to decide between a cheap camper or a dedicated trailer. There are many free or low cost campers in my area but I am worried about hidden water damage and the effort it takes to gut them. I want to use salvaged wood and recycled materials to keep my costs down since I am on a very tight budget. It seems like rebuilding an old camper requires a different set of skills compared to starting fresh on a flat trailer. But buying a new tiny house trailer is a large upfront expense that might not fit my financial plan. Would you prefer a custom layout from the ground up or is the pre-existing shell of a camper more helpful for your timeline?

 

[Dieg$]

You should inspect the frame of any free camper for deep rust before you commit to the project.

 

[eDJ_]

I live in Appalachia and can tell you that there are lots of people who have found deals on old School Busses to fit out to live in.

At Gauley Bridge, WV on the Gauley River one person placed a bus on a rock island. Of course there isn't a lot of zoning and regulations here.

The island is just up above the falls. The power
generation sits at the left in the photo.

I made this sketch of an open shed building to serve for using a RV as a Tiny Home when I was first considering having two tiny homes and my Van Rig to serve as the living environment for both home places. I was thinking that a small storage booth could be used to stash the solar panels when I wasn't there to use them. Plastic tarps could be fastened to the post that support the roof for shade or to shield from rain etc.

 

[Alan]

I live in Appalachia and can tell you that there are lots of people who have found deals on old School Busses to fit out to live in.

At Gauley Bridge, WV on the Gauley River one person placed a bus on a rock island. Of course there isn't a lot of zoning and regulations here.

The island is just up above the falls. The power
generation sits at the left in the photo.

I made this sketch of an open shed building to serve for using a RV as a Tiny Home when I was first considering having two tiny homes and my Van Rig to serve as the living environment for both home places. I was thinking that a small storage booth could be used to stash the solar panels when I wasn't there to use them. Plastic tarps could be fastened to the post that support the roof for shade or to shield from rain etc.

View attachment 86

I really like this idea of yours. I hope to see more of this coming to life. But yeah, @zayc08 you have to make sure you inspect thoroughly before purchasing.

What you think you might've saved on might end up becoming more expensive to put up and a headache altogether.

 

[wifflesaffle]

@zayc08 It is better to find a heavyduty flatbed trailer that can actually support the weight of real lumber. Have you looked into the weight limits on the campers you're checking out?

 

[eDJ_]

Anyone wondering about the Bus on the island. It's a 1934 Greyhound with a screened porch built onto one side.

But I don't know how they got it on that island.

 

[i'm nobody]

Anyone wondering about the Bus on the island. It's a 1934 Greyhound with a screened porch built onto one side.

View attachment 90

View attachment 91

But I don't know how they got it on that island.

That's pretty amazing. If it were inhabitable, I'd probably stay there for a month.

 

[golden G00fy]

@zayc08 don't forget about the plumbing and electrical systems because campers use specific parts that are different from a standard house.

 

[bbq r1bs]

I’m planning to build a long term tiny home in a yard with permanent utility hookups and I am trying to decide between a cheap camper or a dedicated trailer. There are many free or low cost campers in my area but I am worried about hidden water damage and the effort it takes to gut them. I want to use salvaged wood and recycled materials to keep my costs down since I am on a very tight budget. It seems like rebuilding an old camper requires a different set of skills compared to starting fresh on a flat trailer. But buying a new tiny house trailer is a large upfront expense that might not fit my financial plan. Would you prefer a custom layout from the ground up or is the pre-existing shell of a camper more helpful for your timeline?

Just want to say that free campers are rarely free once you start stripping them. Gutting a water-damaged trailer is a nightmare of moldy insulation and staples.

If you have the time, it’s a cheap shell, but if you have a little extra cash, starting with a clean flatbed trailer will save you hundreds of hours of frustration and let you build with standard 2x4s rather than weird camper-specific dimensions