Mobile or Mini?
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 12:45 pm
I think the distinction between mobile & mini homes is vague, and the line is a but blurred when talking about different things on this site, so I'm wondering what the differences are, if any.
Take my place for example. It's a 1987 3 bedroom 66' x 16'. It has a full steel frame, with lugs for 4 axles and the hitch. However, the rest of the home is built with regular house stuff; normal wiring & switches, fixtures, doors, etc. The walls are 2" x 4" studs, 16" o.c. The roof is a normal 4/12 built with regular looking trusses. It came with standard copper plumbing (now replaced with pex), never heard of this grey stuff people sometimes talk about. In other words, it's basically a regular modular home on a frame.
However, I know people in "mini" homes, difference being there's no steel frame. The home movers referred to mine as a "mobile" because of the frame. Then again, I see on this site people talking about mobile specific stuff, like different light switches, doors, bath tubs and so on.
Part of this might be regional differences; I live in Atlantic Canada. Nobody around here makes "trailers" any more, they make mini homes like mine, at least since the '80s. Double-wides are almost unheard of. You either buy a "mini" home (frame or not I assume), or a modular which I call a double-wide on a basement. There are no mini homes for less than about $75k new anywhere.
Do they still make "mobile" homes AND "mini" homes in the USA? Sometimes I think we're discussing different things.
Take my place for example. It's a 1987 3 bedroom 66' x 16'. It has a full steel frame, with lugs for 4 axles and the hitch. However, the rest of the home is built with regular house stuff; normal wiring & switches, fixtures, doors, etc. The walls are 2" x 4" studs, 16" o.c. The roof is a normal 4/12 built with regular looking trusses. It came with standard copper plumbing (now replaced with pex), never heard of this grey stuff people sometimes talk about. In other words, it's basically a regular modular home on a frame.
However, I know people in "mini" homes, difference being there's no steel frame. The home movers referred to mine as a "mobile" because of the frame. Then again, I see on this site people talking about mobile specific stuff, like different light switches, doors, bath tubs and so on.
Part of this might be regional differences; I live in Atlantic Canada. Nobody around here makes "trailers" any more, they make mini homes like mine, at least since the '80s. Double-wides are almost unheard of. You either buy a "mini" home (frame or not I assume), or a modular which I call a double-wide on a basement. There are no mini homes for less than about $75k new anywhere.
Do they still make "mobile" homes AND "mini" homes in the USA? Sometimes I think we're discussing different things.