Tarleton
117 square feet  Ready made: $46,997 Build it yourself: $21,000 |
slideshow |
| House width: | 8′ | Porch: | 7 ½’ x 3′ |
| House length: | 19′ | Main Room: | 6 ½’ x 6 ½’ |
Trailer Size:  |
7′ x 18′ | Kitchen: | 6 ½’ x 4′ |
| Road Height: | 13′ 5″ | Bathroom: | 3′ x 6′ |
| Dry Weight: |
5400 lbs | Ceiling height: | 6′ 3″ |
| all measurements are approximate | Loft height: | 3′ 8″ | |
The Tarleton features the largest kitchen of the teeny houses on wheels. The great room has vaulted ceilings which are accented by the pine interior finishing. Stainless steel counters show off the kitchen, and the bathroom has a full shower, toilet and sink. The sleeping loft is upstairs and accessible by a ladder. Two full size closets flank the front door on either side.
Learn more: Connecting to utilties, Purchasing a house, Building a house
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Comments
129 Responses to “Tarleton”
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Does this unit have to come with metal siding on the exterior ?
Are there other options for exterior finish ?
[Reply to this comment]
Steve with Tumbleweed reply on June 3rd, 2008 4:46 am:
There are 3 choices for siding:
1. Clapboard - Wood siding that runs horizontal
2. Board & Batton - Wood siding that has strips running up and down every 16 inches.
3. Metal siding.
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BJ reply on August 5th, 2008 8:03 pm:
Ok,
great plan thats defintley good for the environment, but one problem I encountered. I built a similar version and had a small housewarming party during football season, well needless to say after a few hours of chili dip things got pretty bad!!!
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Jay Shafer reply on August 20th, 2008 2:27 am:
It’s all about the cross venting and Beano shots.
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Are any of the older plans available for sale? I remember a 2-story wood house with about 500 sq. feet that had a flexible upper floor for as many as 3 bedrooms.
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on June 4th, 2008 7:10 pm:
The older floor plans are no longer for sale. Our new and updated plans for the larger houses are designed to meet the International Building Code. We have a couple models with 2 rooms on the top floor. We are designing 3 bedroom models currently, and the first one should be posted to our website within 1 week. Check back for it.
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Daniel reply on June 5th, 2008 3:47 pm:
I remember seeing the plans for the Rockport. I thought that would be great for something small but not transportable. I liked the open look to the plan and the loft looked to be situated very well too. Is that one unavailable too?
[Reply to this comment]
Steve with Tumbleweed reply on June 5th, 2008 4:04 pm:
The Rockport has been slightly modified and is now called the Bernhardt. The Bernhardt is smaller than the Rockport so that it squeezes under the 120 feet limit, but looks almost identical.
JR vanLienden reply on September 13th, 2008 8:21 pm:
I saw you talk about a 120 foot limit when discussing one of your models, what limit is this referring to and why?
Jay Shafer reply on September 15th, 2008 2:50 pm:
It sounds like you must be thinking of my reference to the fairly universal code that says you don’t need permits for anything under 120 s.f.
Is there a particular brand of trailer that is recommended as a platform? Like any home, a strong foundation can not be over-emphasized, especially when that home may be headed down a bumpy backroad. Also, for the largest trailer designs, would anyone have an approximate weight (without furniture, etc.)?
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on June 5th, 2008 6:50 pm:
The approximate weight is listed with the dimensions on this page. Just click on the text where the square footage is listed at the top of the page. We don’t have a recommended brand. A typical flatbed trailer is used. Usually, they come with sides rails that will need to be removed. Here’s an excellent sample picture.
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Nate reply on June 30th, 2008 5:49 pm:
On the topic of the houses on trailers… I currently live in a reasonably hilly county, and I’d probably stay in the area after I switch to a Tumbleweed home. How would a house like this fare in a Hilly area, or any land that has inclines, declines, etc?
Can you only Park and use a house in valleys or 100% flat area, or are there jacks you could use to level the house out if you’re on a hillside?
I looked around other comments on the site, and unless I missed it, I couldn’t find this topic covered elsewhere. If it ahs been covered elsewhere, you can send me the link and I’ll check it out.
Thanks a lot!
[Reply to this comment]
Steve with Tumbleweed reply on July 1st, 2008 3:41 pm:
You can level the house with jacks. In fact Jay lives on a slight incline now and has done that as well.
Just curious, but how do you come up with the names for your homes? I found you through a friend of mine, and was completely surprised to find that one of your houses shares its name with ME!:)
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on June 13th, 2008 3:28 pm:
They are named after people who have helped us in one way or another.
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Would it be possible to use a used travel trailer frame to build one of your houses? I’d rather recycle a used frame than order a new one. What Gross Trailer Weight Rating (GTWR) do you recommend? Thanks for designing such wonderful tiny houses!
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Robin Bobula reply on July 5th, 2008 1:16 pm:
Recycling an old travel trailer frame is a great idea. There are sure plenty of older, dilapidated camping trailers around. Does anyone know if those frames are heavy enough to work well?
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i’m looking at the Tarleton and i wonder if the front porch is actually sitting on the trailer bed or is it a seperate entity, and if so can the porch be attached to the house while driving it down the road or is built after the house reaches it’s destination…
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Kim reply on December 19th, 2008 11:20 pm:
I have the same question. If it is seperate, I think I would consider a different model. If it is attached this would be nearest to perfection for my needs. Could someone from tumbleweed please respond.
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Jay Shafer reply on December 20th, 2008 5:07 pm:
It’s all connected except for the 25 pound steps which can be easily set on the porch for travel.
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I am looking at the beautiful trailers in awe. I live in a tiny holiday trailer right now and hope to have a Tumbleweed in the future.
Questions:
I would like to know if the houses can be designed with a pointy front /sloped roof to be more aerodynamic?
I would like to know if the interior design could be tweeked a bit so that the kitchen isn’t directly under the access to the loft; I don’t want to sleep with my cooking smells.
I also have a cat and would like to know if the stairs could be made more easy for my him to walk up as he is a terrible climber.
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on June 24th, 2008 11:18 am:
The Lusby model has the kitchen in the main room, so it’s not directly under the loft. I don’t know about other options for stairs. Maybe someone else has a good suggestion. Perhaps some climbing furniture for the cat can be used to help it get up to the loft. We’ve never designed the houses with an aero-dynamic roof, and they travel just fine as they are. It’s something you could modify on your own, however, it will really reduce the loft space.
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M Groesbeck reply on November 16th, 2008 12:56 am:
I’m also a cat person, so I’ve been thinking about the same issue — it might be possible to design a series of shelves/bookcases which could double as a “cat staircase” without taking up so much floor space. One of my cats is a climber; I keep my housetruck arranged so that the jumps from couch to dresser to short bookcase to tall bookcase are manageable even for an older cat — and that’s in a less-well-designed space than the Tumbleweeds.
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Ryan reply on June 25th, 2008 5:57 pm:
Hey I don’t know if you could find narow enough spirail stair cases but those would be easier for your cat and not take up to much room.
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joe nichols reply on July 7th, 2008 5:24 am:
How about a basket with comparable rope or cloth material to pull your cat up. maybe a pully would make it easier.
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Crystal Heshmat reply on July 19th, 2008 2:54 am:
From the pictures, I think you could slip a few shelves in along the wall and around the window to create more comfortable steps for your cat.
In fact, you might want to put a shelf by the window anyway so that kitty will have a pleasant place to sit in the sun or just look out the window. You will probably want to make it big enough to hold an enclosed cat carrier and add a safety strap to be used while the vehicle is in motion.
Thanks for the question! I hadn’t thought about how I would transport my two kitties!
~ Crystal
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What would it cost aprox to build this unit on my own?
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on June 26th, 2008 10:21 am:
The materials are approximately in the range of $18,000 to $23,000. We also suggest hiring a professional to install the electric and plumbing.
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The idea of extending the sleeping loft over the front porch in the Lusby or Tarleton is wonderful — something I’ve been thinking a lot about. I would be very interested in a supplemental design along those lines for the Tarleton, especially. It would even make sense, from a storage perspective, to have a full loft, as in the smaller houses on wheels, with the square loft opening in the center of the house, and the side loft closets forming partial dividers upstairs. A curtain could be hung across the foot of each bed, separating the two loft areas for a bit of privacy. Let’s face it, sometimes you might need to have someone stay over, and this would give them some space that was their own. The only drawback would be losing the cathedral ceiling effect. But you can’t have everything…
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gerrie r. reply on July 27th, 2008 3:29 am:
Hi Robin, You might be able to have everything! I love your double loft ideas. Scroll down and check out my ideas.
Gerrie
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Is the cost on your website how much it would cost for someone else to build one of your homes?
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on June 26th, 2008 6:34 pm:
The price of $46,997 for the Tarleton (for exmample) is the cost for us to build it. When people build it themselves we suggest estimating about 40%-50% of the cost for building materials.
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I’m thinking about building the Tarlelton. I’d like to use salvage materials. Are the doors and windows standard size?
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on July 1st, 2008 3:39 pm:
The windows are standard sizes. The front door is hand made using a standard window.
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Robert Averill reply on November 5th, 2008 11:08 pm:
What are the window sizes and are they bought locally in case of failure????
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Jay Shafer reply on November 6th, 2008 2:54 pm:
They’re all standard factory built sizes that can be ordered and repaired at Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc.
Dave reply on December 10th, 2008 2:28 am:
Do you cover the windows with a plexi insert or something like a storm window during travel? It seems like a window would be easily broken by road debris.
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Jay Shafer reply on December 12th, 2008 3:56 pm:
I order only windows with tempered glass and have never had a problem with one breaking. Best not to drive in a hail storm though.
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I LOVE these mini houses! I hope to own the Tarleton one day soon!
It would be really neat if there were a few themed ones. Like a mini Gothic style with a mansard roof and a mini Castle with a turret! You could be Green and super whimsical at the same time. ^_^
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Douglas Scott Haight reply on November 6th, 2008 11:48 pm:
YES! Exactly what I was thinking: I have been sketching a Gothic monastery/hermitage on wheels. Maybe a flip-over or hydraulic bell tower to make the profile a bit more extreme. What do you think, Steve, has anyone tried anything along these lines?
I’ve been a fan for a couple years, but this is my first post. Keep up the excellent work!
Douglas
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Plumbing?
Are there holding tanks like an RV, or a mobile home type hookup?
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on July 6th, 2008 6:25 pm:
Yes, you can put a tank on the house. However if you’re going to keep it stationary, it’s far more convenient to hook it up to the sewer.
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These houses have really inspired me! I am just now entering college and my dorm room is smaller and definetely not as good looking than these houses and i will be living in a dorm room for at least 1 year, maybe 2. This would be a far more cheaper way to live the rest of my college and early adult life.
I have a question though, is it possible to have custom plans made?
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on July 7th, 2008 5:13 pm:
We can make small modifications to plans such as adding a skylight. Jay’s been too busy to do custom plans, and therefore has stopped taking on new orders.
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These look great!
However I have not seen any information on water heating. Do you use a propane on demand RV water heater?
How does water heating work?
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On your newsletter you said that the new house the Fencl is a combo between the tarleton and the weebee…Is it merging the designs together or is it really adding the sq ft of one to the sq ft of the other? I love your houses and my fiance and I are planning on building one in the fall!
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on July 11th, 2008 3:41 pm:
It’s a combo, but it’s larger than the rest of the tiny houses. It totals 130 square feet.
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Tom reply on July 12th, 2008 1:37 pm:
When will there be a layout available for the fencl,really interested in what it looks like but I can not find it on your website.
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The description for the Tarleton says “the bathroom has a full shower, toilet and sink”. I can’t determine from the photographs or the plan drawing where the sink in the bathroom is located.
Thanks!
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jl reply on July 15th, 2008 11:55 pm:
http://www.boingboing.net/2006/04/04/toilet-tank-sinks.html
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Ahhh….nifty! The model in the link requires a flush toilet. I suppose if one chose to outfit a Tumbleweed house with a composting toilet, one would just need to use the kitchen sink. Is this so or are there other options?
Thanks for the reply!
-D.
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You’re asking $46,000 dollars for a tag-along trailer with a shed on it??? Dude, I could build that thing without your “plans” or your “help” for under five grand… Where do you get off asking anywhere near the number you have advertised?
Want some advice? I’ll tellya like your my own brother… DON’T go out on the road telling people you want $46,000 dollars for this thing okay? Don’t even tell em you want $20,000 dollars for it. Believe me if you do you might wind up with a fist in your mouth!
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on July 18th, 2008 9:06 pm:
Hi Bill, well we haven’t been punched yet. Ouch! I think most people understand that these homes are a quality product, and we don’t cut corners for the sake of a couple thousand dollars. If you were to cost out the materials, you’d find that for $5000 you can buy the trailer and the fireplace. Of course, you’d still need the house… Actually, the material cost on this house is about $20-$22K. It takes approximately 500-800 hours to build. Keep in mind this is a fully insulated and functional home with running water and electricity.
If you take a look at new Airstream trailers, you’ll find our prices to be very comprable.
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I love these efficient homes! I currently rent a 300 square foot apartment and after viewing your homes I constantly think about all the wasted space there is, even though most Americans would consider 300 feet a very small space. God willing, I would love for my first home to be a teeny tiny one. Kudos!
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I want to know if the price on these houses includes sales tax or not and aslo I wondered if extending the roof out to make another bed out of the loft storage space is possible. I would rather buy it pre built since I don’t really trust myself to build it.
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These houses are great, but where do you put them if you live in an urban area? Most cities have zoning ordinances that are slanted against “mobile homes,” clustering them into ratty little parks. It’s just not possible to purchase a vacant lot in a city and park a tiny home on it in this way. What do you do, then? Do you find someone willing to let you park in their back yard? Do you settle on a trailer park (even those places have minimum size requirements, usually)? Do you just keep moving?
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on July 22nd, 2008 12:43 am:
That a great question. Backyards are a great place to try. In most cities, these houses won’t meet code on a permanent foundation. That’s why they are on wheels. Many cities don’t allow people to “live” in an RV, but they do allow people to “camp out” in an RV. It’s a fine distinction, and you’ll have to interpret it yourself. Some cities require that you move the RV every month. Jay encountered this in Iowa, and he would take his house on the road each month.
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The DOUBLE LOFT idea:
Don’t build inward and lose floor space and ceiling height! Build outward and increase the front porch space.
If you added an additional 12” to 18”, extending the depth of the front porch, you could have an extra, full, sleeping loft (or for storage) and have a usable porch that would accommodate two chairs or rockers, comfortably, and extend the outdoor living space, which, to me, is as important as the inside! The porches on some models are very narrow and I am a porch lover! Extra support would have to be added to the porch to support the new loft but it probably wouldn’t add to much weight, I don’t think.
This idea is for the TARLETON and the LUSBY models.
Another idea:
The LADDER! If you look at the photos of both of the models, that ladder takes up a lot of floor space (I am estimating close to 3’)! Especially, if you have two sleeping lofts with two ladders or WORSE sharing one ladder at night, this could be hard, OR WAR!
Suggestions: Both models have an interior wall (similar in both designs, the TARLETON has a large wall separating the kitchen/bath from the main room and the LUSBY has a tiny, interior wall separating the lower bed and bath from the main room).
These walls could be used to support a permanent, fixed ladder (like the kind that some office buildings attach to the wall for access to the roof) to get to the original lofts. If supported properly and given adequate, larger rungs, one could do away with ladders altogether and gain more permanent floor space. The bookshelf area, on both models, could be strengthened to support a similar ladder to the new, second, “guest loft” side.
These Permanent ladders, that I suggest, take more arm strength and coordination to climb so a portable ladder could always be on hand if needed.
Gerrie
… Your comments?
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Still nothing on the water heating?
how does it heat water? or does it?
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Jay Shafer reply on August 20th, 2008 3:24 am:
We use an RV water heater or, sometimes, an on demand unit.
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I wanted to know if you could put a ‘bump out’ on the Tarleton like the Weebee or is the porch is non load bearing.
Thanks
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Nicole Marie reply on July 29th, 2008 3:49 am:
You’ve got to get the new portfolio. I just got mine and what you are describing is the new FENCEL. It looks really nice!
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Has anyone considered using 20′ shipping containers (they’re roughly 8′ tall, 8′ wide, 20′ long) as a base? Recycled materials are ideal for living “green” and many shipping containers just sit around, which you can pick up for around $2,000-3,000. There is a growing number of people using shipping containers for homes and using one for a Tumbleweed-like house might save a person some money and construction time. Perhaps Tumbleweed could make a design based on the usage of one?
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69WestyLife reply on September 30th, 2008 8:40 am:
David good idea for a shipping container for a home. They are doing it in Rotterdam, Holland. However, shipping containers cold in winter and hot in summer months. I converted a Bread Truck (metal) that was used in Oakland a few years back. Winters were unbearable under 30 degrees. My 69 VW Westfallia is perfect and I have been living in it for 5 years now with no rent. But some day I would like something bigger, maybe.
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Two questions:
1) has anyone ever thought to add gables to the loft area for additional space upstairs?
2) What is the R value of these puppies (walls, floors, ceiling)
Thanks! Just back from a year living in a Chevy van with my husband and two BIG dogs while traveling in Central America.
Look for a slightly bigger and better insulated option after we sell the house at home…1200 square is tooooo big!
Thanks! Lisa
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Jay Shafer reply on September 15th, 2008 2:47 pm:
I lived in my truck for years before building my Epu. One hundred insulated sq. ft. feels opulent by comparison.
1. My original plan for my first house incl. a gable on each side, but budgetary concerns at the time changed my mind. I’d love to see it done. It would feel relatively huge up there.
2. 15 Rs all over plus insulated windows. No condensation problems here.
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Lisa reply on September 15th, 2008 4:00 pm:
Thanks for the reply Jay!
Two other thoughts:
1) what about a collapsible porch/roof over porch so more space inside, and
2) My concerns about space about because this structure would be for a couple…not just a single person…has anyone else done this? Would love to hear how they are faring
Great work! Lisa
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Jay Shafer reply on September 20th, 2008 4:15 pm:
It hasn’t happened yet, but I see no reason why not. One could also just buy a longer trailer and add on that way as well.
Is there any reason that you couldn’t make the trailer longer I have 3 dogs and need floor space. About 4 or 5 more feet would make so much more space for them and their accessories.
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Jay Shafer reply on September 30th, 2008 5:36 pm:
No problem. Just be sure to keep the weight at the front and back ends fairly equal.
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It would really be nice if this web site was updated on a regular basis. I just wanted to see a plan for the fencel and some of the other new plans.I purchesed the 3 books over a year ago but they didn’t have those plans. Is there anyone who can help me w/this
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Jay Shafer reply on September 30th, 2008 5:35 pm:
I am as eager as anyone to see that new material posted . I am currently searching for someone to teach me web construction so that I can get those new houses up along with a gazillion other updates I’ve been wanting to implement for some time now. That said, don’t hold your breath. Steve and I still have a lot of emails to answer before much else can happen.
Our last web master was hired to transform the site into something an idiot could manage. I shall soon be going in to evaluate how successful she was.
Thanks for your enthusiasm.
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Hi - I currently live in Hudson WI, My husband and I are looking to leave the cold and the hustle of the cities. We are interested in looking at siplifying our world. Is there a certain “area” where these homes are more common? How could I learn more about this?? And also my husband is not a building type a guy - how far back is production of these homes?
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Jay Shafer reply on September 30th, 2008 4:59 pm:
Personally, I’d like to see all tiny house people move out to my neck of the woods, band together, and then, if all goes well, start our own environmentally, socially and financially sustainable nation… with liberty and wee housing for all.
Personal feelings aside, it does seem that most small house interest in the U.S. is on the coasts (East, West and Gulf). We get tons of interest from the Seattle Area. From a broader perspective, the best place to find small houses seems to be almost anywhere but the U.S.. On average, his country has the biggest houses in the world, thanks largely to minimum size standards introduced into our building codes by the housing industry back in the 70s and 80s.
In our country there will be no such laws.
Oh, and in answer to your second question… 8 to 12 weeks production time at this point.
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Matthew Vedder reply on October 8th, 2008 11:08 pm:
About the comment of “starting a nation of small houses….. I was wondering if any thought had been given to building these in a park like setting with environmental ammenities and herbal themes. Also maybe using an alternative medicine theme i.e. herbal therapies, yoga, meditation, TCM, REAL organic eating, hypnotic therapy. My name is Matthew. I live in Florida. I am earning a degree in alternative medicine and would be very interested in beginning a community of dwellings in my area that revolved around the principles of cleaner organic living.
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Jay Shafer reply on September 30th, 2008 5:03 pm:
Personally, I’d like to see all tiny house people move out to my neck of the woods, band together, and then, if all goes well, start our own environmentally, socially and financially sustainable nation… with liberty and wee housing for all.
Personal feelings aside, it does seem that most small house interest in the U.S. is on the coasts (East, West and Gulf). We get tons of interest from the Seattle Area. From a broader perspective, the best place to find small houses seems to be almost anywhere but the U.S.. On average, his country has the biggest houses in the world, thanks largely to minimum size standards introduced into our building codes by the housing industry back in the 70s and 80s.
In our tiny house country there will be no such laws.
Oh, and in answer to your second question… 8 to 12 weeks production time at this point.
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Reply to All above: If we are seriously wanting to live like Native Americans, let us go ALL-THE-WAY>>>> Tee-Pees! Yes, the area where these homes are more common to be placed on cheap enough land would be: Siberia, Antarctica, Southern Tibet, Northern Greenland, the South Bronx, or possibly Peoria, Illinois (where most anything plays once)…..Reply to Jay Shafer: For further research/target marketing, advise research the commune movement of the late 60’s (see Dharma’s parents, see East Woodstock, NY) where everyone shared everything: tin roofs, lean-tos, weekly wash basins, needles, wives and/or reuseable diapers, porta-potties and/or latrines…..I’m quite certain that you can obtain land grant money from the State of Californicate upon which to place the various new models from your brochure: for instance, of particular interest would be the Teeny Barack O’Model, 169 sq. ft. of upside-down living, kind of like a multiple-layered pizza oven, with various levels of earnings and tax-rates;. For instance, the richer inhabitants would be relegated to the crawl space, since they should be trickled down on; the middle class would inhabit the exterior and roof, since they should always be on the outside looking in; and the homeless poor should have the run of the house, all 169 sq ft. of it…..Seriously, do apply for all the future grants — this is literally a new cottage industry.
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Ann_Chanted reply on October 8th, 2008 6:10 pm:
It’s okay Mr. Crazy Old White Dude, nobody is asking you to give up your probably horrendously spoiled lifestyle to go out into the woods and live like God intended. You can stay in your suburbian, overly complicated, facade of a house that costs more to heat and cool every month than some people in other countries make in a lifetime. You can continue to dusty and clean and heat and cool and stretch your legs out and become one with money, as I’m sure that’s the only thing you have going in your life. As my husband tells me, “RICH PEOPLE HAVE NO VALUE!” You are not being asked to change your lifestyle and if others want to change their own lifestyle (like myself), I and others like me would really enjoy a little peace and quiet from the almighty status quo, shoving etiquette and formality down our throats since the time of Jesus.
In other words, nobody asked for your opinion. Oh yeah, and BTW, I really wish subdivisions (like the one I’m sure you live in) would find a way to hide their ugly, a**hole-to-bellybutton living quarters from the public eye. I’m really tired of looking at all those cookie-cutter POS houses.
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Jamie reply on November 16th, 2008 7:42 am:
Oh I hate those subdivisions! I wish they would all burn to the ground.
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Servius reply on December 15th, 2008 11:34 pm:
What’s with the hate? Freedom isn’t just for sex you know.
I live in an evil subdivision and would consider building several units to lease out as affordable housing. If there’s a profit to be made.
Lori reply on October 25th, 2008 10:45 am:
You got to be kidding!!! Nothing plays in Peoria Illinois, including your stereo! They have a noise band. Please if your thinking of moving a tiny home here, FORGET IT! Im from Peoria and I am looking at these tiny homes but trust me, the codes will not allow them to play in Peoria.
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Anonimouse reply on October 26th, 2008 4:15 am:
I’m from Peoria too. I second that. Don’t go to Peoria, IL
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hey what’s with the neg.- at…I feel like a scaled down house is the way to go ….I am currently building a 20×16 foot 1bedroom home…I’m not rich but some where in the middle of the economy…and whent threw a nasty divorce where my 4 bedroom home and 21/2 stall garage we’re taken from me ….thats when I rented a small 1 bedroom apt. and found scaled back live’n was so much better than the old house cut my monthly bills and got rid of alot of things that I forgot I had so they must of not been nessary for life…and I plan on building a EPU as soon as I find my piece of dirt in the woods along a river….you don’t need alot of things tobe happy just enough to be confurtable.In this world of excess we call the USA…waste is going to be our down fall if we don’t change our ways and jay is showing alot of us that smaller is a way to lessen our foot print not only in use’n less energy but in use’n less of everything…trees and space for mother nature to rome…I don’t know what you need but small was perfect for me…If you want to go off the grid it is better to be small than live in excess….I have more money than ever and can spend more time doing the things I enjoy because of live’n small…besides I’m only there maybe 6 to 10 hours a day and half that time I’m sleeping…Thank you Jay for your for site in life and I will spread the news of your web site to who or whom ever will listen….Mr.B
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My husband and I were speaking last night about your design, which is very well thought out, but we think we may have an improvement for you. Firstly, if I chose the Tarleton model, which is the one I am most in love with, I would want the entire back wall of the kitchen (the wall opposite the countertop) to be full, floor to ceiling, of small shelves, just wide enough for canned goods or one-pound bag of sugar. Essentially that entire wall could be made into one large pantry without sacrificing too much space needed to move around the kitchen. That would really help out by way of food storage. However, that leaves the problem of where to put the bathroom door. So, why not move the bathroom door to the other wall, where it opens into the main room area and, instead of a ladder, have a set of attic steps installed into the ceiling of the kitchen that pull down and can be pushed back up into the ceiling when not in use? That would eliminate the extra space needed for the ladder, and it would make allowances for those who would have a hard time climbing the ladder, but can use steps. Of course, there would have to be adjustments made to the size of the sleeping loft. Just food for thought.
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Living large reply on October 23rd, 2008 3:44 am:
pick up a simple CAD program and create your won design!
I saw all this entrepreneurial endeavor and have a ton of ideas. As a engineer I am looking at how to make these life simplification dwellings make the most of our current & future technology. Solar power for electricity and hot water… Battery banks, power transformers (small - underneath the floor) and the like for stored electrical power - LED llighting. Everything state of the art fuel/energy efficient. Gas for back up power and heat. Super efficient insulation…
So costs will go up but I just found my retirement calling!
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Emily reply on October 26th, 2008 7:10 am:
These are so great. I currently live in about a 900 square foot apartment and probably only really “live” in about 300 square feet of it. one room is just full of junk that I don’t feel like dealing with. what a waste of money and energy. The Tarleton is my favorite and I love the idea of that Ann-enchanted made about the ladder. I used to live in loft beds, and getting out of the them half asleep in the middle of the night can be down right dangerous, if you are somewhat clumsy at all. Me and a couple friends are dreaming of starting our own little tiny houses community…think of all the time and freedom not having to pay rent or a mortage would. I could travel!
This is are absolutely amazing, not only are they efficient but they are beautiful and inventive. Great job all the way around!
Would like to hear feed back about the stairs? Is there a reason it wouldn’t work? Loft space? Thanks!
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Jay Shafer reply on October 27th, 2008 9:19 pm:
I’m sorry,but I’m having a hard time finding Ann Chanted’s comment and, thus, responding in full to yours. Long story short, you can have a ladder or a staggered ladder like Ross Chapin likes to use in his designs or even a stairway or elevator shaft (most likely attached to the outside).
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do yall know if any of em come pre-built or maybe a starter project?
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I live in Vermont and it gets below zero quite a bit in the winter. Would that little heater keep it warm enough and is it insulated well?
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Usually I use the best file searcher- http://newfileengine.com/
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Does anybody know the dimensions of the two front closets?
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Jay Shafer reply on November 1st, 2008 4:38 pm:
They’re 2′x2′.
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Do you do customizations? like make a home more green and maybe some way to make the roof into solar pannels to provide some free energy?
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Jay Shafer reply on November 5th, 2008 3:26 pm:
Yes, I can do that.
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Is there some logic behind having wood paneling throughout the house? Could you just use sheetrock? I know you can make this completely portable by using tanks, but where would one put them. Finally how would you make sure the house is balanced on the trailer, for proper towing when you make it your self?
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Jay Shafer reply on November 6th, 2008 2:42 pm:
1) Using gypsum board will add weight, but not enough to matter if you prefer it.
2) Under the counter and in the loft.
3) The designs account for weight distribution.
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how big of a mattress can fit comfortable in the sleeping loft? what is the recommended height for the mattress?
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Jay Shafer reply on November 6th, 2008 2:29 pm:
A queen is best. I recommend a thickness of 6″ or less. Mine is 4″ high-density foam. It’s very nice.
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1)Can this be customized to have a full loft with a square access through the kitchen like some of the other teeny houses?
2)Is it advisable to have an electrical heater powered solely by solar power?
3)Can a hatch be made at the bathroom so that the porta potty can be removed for emptying directly from instead of walking through the main room and stuff. O.o
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Jay Shafer reply on November 27th, 2008 4:59 pm:
1) No problem.
2) Not unless you’re ready to drop a fairly large sum on lots of panels. Most solar powered houses use gas, wood, etc. to run their heat and often their fridge too.
3) Sure.
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it looks like a lot of house towards the front ,how much tongue weight is created for towing?is it less than 1000 lbs?also i noticed a gas water heater on one of the models,has anyone tried to put a camper gas/electric refridgerator in? if so any problems?how long does it take to get plans when ordered?
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Jay Shafer reply on November 27th, 2008 4:19 pm:
The tongue wt. is between 500 & 600 pounds. I hear the fridges work great.
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Hi,
Can the bathroom walls be made from water resistant cedar walls like what Martin House Company did instead of the metal sheets shown in your pictures.
Here’s a picture of the bathroom
http://www.lodge-on-wheels.com/images/LOW_Interior_web24.jpg
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Jay Shafer reply on November 27th, 2008 4:09 pm:
Yes. I actually came up with the idea and installed that cedar wall for Martin when I designed and built their first house.
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I found this and thought it was a great idea you could incorporate in your houses’ design. Hope it becomes a standard in all tumbleweed homes.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Solar-Heater/
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Jay Shafer reply on November 28th, 2008 5:55 pm:
Thanks for the great idea. I’ve bookmarked it as a resource.
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Hi Jay,
I’ve devoured the website, portfolio and book. Love them all! Was wondering if a slightly larger kitchen sink can be used and if there would be any reason you would recommend NOT using one?
I currently have a bar sink in my apartment and I just have a hard time washing my pots/pans and clothing in it. I end up wasting water by spilling it!
Was also wondering, if I bought plans and consulted with you would the minor changes we make be written into the plans for my builder to follow?
Thanks so much for everything you’ve created!
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Jay Shafer reply on December 1st, 2008 10:03 pm:
The sink is a great idea. We could make revisions to the drawings during your free consultation time.
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Can the kitchen be shrunk to accomodate a little storage space at the back for rain water collection barrels and solar electric stuff, e.g battery array, inverters etc?
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Jay Shafer reply on December 1st, 2008 10:01 pm:
When there’s a will… I would suggest just building out over the trailer tongue though.
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question: i spoke to cabelas a few days ago, who are selling a large traveling camper. the complete width on the exterior was 11.5 ft across, and he told me that anything under 12 feet across doesnt require extra permits, it only requires a “wide-load” sign. but according to this website under the “trailer” category, the trailers used on these tiny houses are the widest possible without extra permits, and these houses are much less wide. can someone please clarify for me, as i was thinking about a home with a slightly wider interior than these (8 ft. or so). thanks!
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Jay Shafer reply on December 4th, 2008 2:18 am:
My understanding is that in most states you do need a permit for loads wider than 8′-6″, but the rules do vary from state to state. If I’m wrong someone let me know so we can start delivering bigger houses.
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abby reply on December 5th, 2008 7:58 am:
okay, thanks Jay. do you know what sort of permits one needs to acquire before traveling the road with an “rv” that is over 8.6 ft. wide (roughly 10)? Also, the man i spoke with at Cabelas told me that an “rv” on wheels can be up to 399 sq. ft. before it is considered a mobile home, and would require no extra permits. Is this true? Because that seems VERY large to me. I spent some time in the camper they were selling and it was so large. It felt like several people could live in the space comfortably. I couldn’t believe that this could be considered a tiny house! Just trying to figure out all the rules and regulations. or if there are any general guidelines that i am unclear on.
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Jay Shafer reply on December 6th, 2008 5:43 pm:
It’s true. A “park rv” can be up to 399 s.f. at its roof line. I just learned about this recently, and am currently working to put all of our midsize houses on wheels to circumvent permitting and make things even easier.
My husband and I have fallen in love with your Tumbleweed houses, and dream of eventually buying either the Tarleton or the Lusby. I just noticed, though, that the ceiling height on these houses is 6′3″ and my husband is 6′4″. Would it be possible to lift the ceiling by 2 inches, thus shrinking the height of the sleeping loft by 2 inches, or would the sleeping loft then be too small? Have you done any modifications like this before?
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Jay Shafer reply on December 6th, 2008 5:38 pm:
We’ve already done it. A set of taller Fencl plans will be sent out to a 6′-4″ gentleman today.
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Are there dif. colors and dif. materials you can order the house?
Another thing is it would be nice if yall could make a BUILD YOUR OWN TUMBLEWEED HOUSE kind of thing so you can go in and pick your house and build and look at the finished product and if it satisfies what you were looking for, and also a 360* thing would be nice so you can take a virtual tour in the house and look on the outside because the pictures only show so much.
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Jay Shafer reply on December 12th, 2008 4:14 pm:
We do tailor the houses, but we offer no tools for imagineering your home first. Good ides, Sean.
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I’m in love with the idea of living in a Tarleton. Now that I’ve spent a couple of hours imagining myself living in one, it occurred to me: what about ventilation in winter and cooling in summer? Would installing a kitchen and bathroom vent pose a problem? How about a ceiling fan? Have any of your customers found air conditioners that could fit the windows? Thanks!
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Jay Shafer reply on December 12th, 2008 3:51 pm:
We include a fan vent in the loft. It works very well for cooling and circulating. AC fits too.
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Have you ever put a dormer on one of these? The storage loft could then accomodate a cot-sized bed going side-to-side. Without hte dormer, your head would be jammed into the eve. A Dormer could also make for a more chlaustrophic-firendly sleeping loft if it stretched most of the building’s length.
As a single guy, I would definitely go for one of these, but I’m now a married guy and two little kids. The wife is open minded, but I imagine that a bit of extra space on the upper deck, some more light and extra spots for sleeping would be good tools for building enthusiasm. One thing I learned from my years of kicking around harbors is that you often find a couple, or family, on a boat that is the passion of one or the other spouse. The non-enthusiast can quickly become disenchanted if the enthusiast is too much of a purist about things, so these little compromises make all the difference in reaching out to the less fanatical audience.
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Jay Shafer reply on December 12th, 2008 3:45 pm:
I was going to put a dormer on my very first house, but changed plans to cut costs. It is a great idea.
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I noticed that none of your designs included a 20′ trailer… is there any specific reason for this?
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Jay Shafer reply on December 18th, 2008 4:42 pm:
Just my concerns about proportioning.
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I like the design, but as I have three kids, these present quite a challenge. I am wondering, though, if anyone has mergered two designs to incorporate family undertaking the minimalist movement — perhaps two designs with detachable walls? Just a thought.
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Jay Shafer reply on December 21st, 2008 6:45 pm:
Not yet, but I’d love to see it done. I like the idea of two separated by a dogtrot breezeway. Of course the two and three bedroom ones are also available.
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For those dreaming of a community of small houses, OG vegetarian, etc; check out http://www.breitenbush.com - great hotsprings worker owned co-op resort in the Oregon Cascade Mountains! They tap the abundant geothermal springs for heat (closed loop of river water thru old fashioned radiators, that drop into the wells & cycle through the community ~ 30 d above outside heat) & have a hydro-electric generator (about 2 ‘city households’ of electricity - for ~ 40 residents & up to 120 guests!!)
I lived & worked in the community for ~ 4 years, & in 5 homes: a ‘big’ 2 bedroom with bath & kitchen (Forest Service house model - most of these were built in the 20s or 30s).
Then a year in one a bit larger than the Tarlton, 9X19 with loft bed & wee stairs, great room with 2 burner propane & mini fridge - shared bath was about 20′ from my door;
Next, a year in an 8 sided house that was 17′ in diameter - 4 of these shared a central kitchen & bath (same size). Later I spent 3 months in a cloth yurt (similar to Pacific Yurt, but built by one of the resident gals!! The projects crew built the foundation, & that one had a sunken bath & great little kitchen. Maybe 19′ d?? She did all the woodworking, grommet fitting, etc.
The last house was similar to the first, larger yet, with full bath & kitchen, & lots of lofts - a 3 person house!
They employ various intriguing designs & alternative materials for current building projects - do take the systems tour if you have a chance to visit - & if you’re available, check out the job openings!
My current ‘town’ home is 950 sq ‘ - small for local standards, a mansion to me
& yes, more space for more stuff than I need, which tends to accumulate!
Kudos on these lovely homes - & the vision of living small but elegant.
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Jay Shafer reply on January 1st, 2009 1:53 am:
Beautiful!
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