If you’re around my age, you’ve probably seen the dream of owning a house go from something that seemed achievable to almost impossible for the average person. But, I’m tired of letting that discourage me. In this video, I’m taking my first step toward moving out of my parents’ basement and building something I’ve been designing for years—a house with no fixed location but no compromise on quality, a place to finally call home.
I’m starting with a custom-built trailer for tiny homes, measuring 11×30 ft. I chose this size because I’m a big guy, and a smaller size would make it uncomfortable. Plus, the unit won’t be made for constant travel—it’ll just move when I do, so a wide-load permit isn’t a big deal. The trailer has 3 axles with a 7,000 lb capacity each and weighs about 3,000 lbs. This gives me 18,000 lbs to build my home, which is more than enough.
The first thing I’m doing is cutting off some stabilizer jack receivers at the front end of the trailer (where the door will be) and moving them to the side. I’m using a cut-off wheel on my angle grinder and welding them onto a section of square tubing, then welding it onto the frame. After applying rust primer and paint, it’s as good as new.
Next, I’m insulating the floor with 2-inch rigid foam. I cut the foam into pieces, used expanding foam to seal the edges, and hammered them into place. To ensure the floor is level, I raised up the ribs using 2×6 lumber cut into 2-inch sections, then added the subfloor. I secured everything with screws.
Before adding the ribs, I needed to install plumbing pipes for the kitchen, bathroom sink, and shower. I used ABS piping and cemented elbow fittings to extend the pipes so they protrude through the floor. I ensured they sloped toward the shower drain, then cut a hole through the belly pan for drainage. I attached the pipes with steel strapping.
After that, I drilled small holes in each section for water drainage and proceeded with additional insulation, making sure it fit snugly. The floor is now insulated with an R25 rating, which is slightly below the recommended R40 for houses, but that’s acceptable for a tiny home.
Finally, I laid down a ¾-inch chipboard subfloor, using foam construction adhesive to secure it to the steel frame to prevent creaks. The panel is in place, and I screwed it into the frame.
