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Semi Trailer?

topic posted Tue, March 8, 2005 - 10:37 PM by  Keith 		Share/Save/Bookmark
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Curiosity may have killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.

I was curious if anyone has ever converted a semi trailer before. It seems like an ideally large size, with a solid frame. It would seem that it would require a lot of work (like windows), but you probably would not have to 'tear down' hardly anything.

Ok, it is not the normal, driveable home. I also know that busses are the norm. That being said, wouldn't it be cheaper to get the trailer? Insulation would be easier at that stage also.

The major issues, would be getting someone to 'move' your home, and finding places to set up. Still, it sounds intriguing. You could even get a double wide. *grinning*
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Keith
offline Keith
Raleigh
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    Re: Semi Trailer?

    Wed, March 9, 2005 - 5:59 AM
    Welcome Keith,
    I've often thought of that myself.
    You can pick up a used 48' trailer for a grand or a little more. With it you'll have 384 square feet with almost 8' ceilings. You'd have square corners instead of the rounded roof of a bus and flat walls for large windows.
    It sounds great. Only problem is that you'd have to have a semi tractor to move it and a special license to drive that. Still I wonder why I don't see it happening.
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    • Keith
      Keith
      offline 6

      Re: Semi Trailer?

      Wed, March 9, 2005 - 6:39 AM
      I hadn't realized you could find trailers for that low a price. Not a bad start. I had not thought about the license, but finding someone to move your house does not sound difficult. Of course you can't just pick up and go when you want, and stop anywhere you want, like with the bus.

      Pros
      Minimal tearing down. It would all be building up.
      Don't have to work around existing 'fixtures'.
      Would be easier to work underneath for generator, storage, electical, plumbing and heating.
      Transportation is separate from home.
      Might consider a toilet, which can function internally and externally (when the room is desired).
      Would be very easy to include Solar Panels on the roof.
      Cheaper!!!!
      Could easily include ways to 'extend' the trailer in all 4 directions.

      Cons
      Not sure about issues of flammability and/or hazardous smoke (if on fire).
      Not as mobile or as easy to find locations.
      Transportation is separate from home.
      Would have to add windows (and sky lights).
      Possible problem in heavy wind storms.

      Any other thoughts or maybe ideas compared to busses?
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      • philip
        philip
        offline 258

        Re: Semi Trailer?

        Tue, May 3, 2005 - 11:30 PM
        i've done a lot of thinking about this one, and the best idea seemed to be buying a steel shipping container (www.containersales.com/dry_cargo.html), and use a plasma cutter and a mig welder to create windows/skylights/doors. if you add a stowable railing, the top of the container could be used as an outdoor deck, doubling your sq footage.

        a pop-out extension would be difficult to do with a shipping container due to the loss of structural stability you'd get from cutting out a large area of the corrugated steel, but it could be done.

        containers can be shipped anywhere in the world quite easily, either by semi truck or cargo ship, which would make it the ultimate mobile home. :-)

        i mean no disrespect to truckers, as it's not an easy profession - but it's not THAT difficult to get the license.

        here are a few links to give you some ideas:

        www.fabprefab.com/fabfiles/...ayhome.htm
        www.addis.co.nz/buildings/...ecture.html


        i figure i'll give the shipping container project a shot at some point in the future, but i'm currently in bus-purchasing mode (a 1986 MCI 102a3), and will have my hands full with that one for a few years at least...

        prettier than a shipping container, i think:
        www.mcicoach.com/PreOwnedC...d102A3.htm
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          Re: Semi Trailer?

          Wed, May 4, 2005 - 6:38 AM
          That's some great stuff Philip.
          There's so many uses for old containers. This one gets the gears truning.
          But I must finish one project before I start another.
          BTW... That's a beautiful bus you're looking at.
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