Mobile Home Transport

The lure of building moveable housing has a fascinating history. For example, in 1936, the travel trailer industry became the fastest growing industry in US history. Of course, many people credit small cottages on the Outer Banks of North Carolina as the first mobile homes.

Constructed in the 1870s, these little beach homes could be moved a few feet each day using horses. The reason? To avoid changing tides.

Before these beach cottages, others claim the first mobile homes were Conestoga wagons, the American version of European Gypsy wagons. Like their fascinating forebearers, mobile home transport remains an attractive way to maintain your freedom while maintaining one “hearth”.

But how easy is it to move a contemporary mobile home? It involves more than a few horses Outer Banks-style. Keep reading to learn about the cost to move a mobile home to another state and more.

For those with a travel trailer, mobile home units are not able to be pulled like RVs. While some people get RVs (and motor homes) and mobile homes confused, there are very different housing situations. An RV can be pulled by a travel trailer with the help of a car or truck. A motor home can move under its power, provided it's in running condition.

If you have a travel trailer, mobile home units aren’t able to be hauled with them. For mobile home transport, flatbed trucking services by a licensed professional are the way to go.

Approximately 18 million Americans (5.6 percent of the population) live in mobile homes. As a result, they represent the largest source of affordable, unsubsidized housing in the country.

There are many factors to consider when it comes to moving a mobile home. So, don’t assume you can just unhook it and haul it away.

For starters, you likely won’t be able to move your mobile home in one piece. Why? Because your entire house must be able to fit onto one licensed trailer. The only units with the potential of achieving this are single-wide residences.

How do you move double-wide and larger homes? You’ll need to deconstruct them and move your mobile home in separate parts, piece-by-piece. The cost to move a mobile home goes up with the square footage of the unit.

At the same time, you must ensure your mobile home can stand up to a move’s rigors. Each piece should prove capable of remaining intact and in good condition. During mobile home transport, flatbed trucking perils can end up damaging low-quality or well-aged home materials. As a result, many older mobile homes are deemed unmoveable.

How do you find out whether or not your trailer is a good candidate for a move? Professional movershave home inspectors who can help with the process of assessing your home’s condition.

After you’ve determined whether your mobile home can handle a move, there’s one question you’re likely to ask yourself before you move your mobile home --

How much does it cost to transport a trailer home?

After all, you’ll need to budget for a move of this magnitude. What should you set aside for a relocation?

To get a rough estimate of the cost to move a mobile home, start with your intended move’s mileage. Multiply this mileage by between $5 and $10.

How much to move a mobile home? In most cases, this comes out to between $1,000 and $5,000 over a short distance.

As for longer trips? Be prepared to set aside $15,000 or more for an extended journey. Why such a vast difference in the price range? Because of a variety of factors. What’s more, you must remember that this figure doesn’t cover other expenses such as permits and setup fees.

If you’ve never moved a mobile home before, you may not know about the set-up costs you’re likely to incur for a mobile home.

As we stated before, mobile home transport can set you back upwards of $15,000 for shipping alone. Yet when you move a mobile home, it’s not just as simple as paying the mobile home transport costs and moving on.

So with mobile home transport and set-up costs factored in, the overall cost to move a mobile home can range anywhere from $3,000 to upwards of $20,000.

It’s a pretty penny, to be sure. But for those who’ve yet to relocate a mobile home before, such expenditures pale in comparison to the security that professional mobile home moving services provide.

Whether you own a manufactured home built after 1976 or a mobile home that was built beforehand, the process of moving a manufactured home or mobile home is an extensive one.

(For this answer, we'll refer to mobile homes only. The terms are interchangeable, although manufactured homes are technically newer.)

When movers arrive at your mobile home for pickup, it can take 3-10 hours for a complete teardown. This depends on the size and type of mobile home you have.

After the pieces of your mobile home are loaded onto the truck or trucks, the length of the mobile home transport process varies based on the distance the drivers need to travel. It can take just a day or two to move a mobile home a short distance. But, it can take up to two weeks to move a mobile home across the country.

Once they’ve moved your mobile home to its new site, set-up times can range from 4 to 15 hours or so. For a 15-hour job, the work might have to be split into two days. To sum this up, mobile home transport is an involved process. It can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks or so to completely move a mobile home and set it up.

While distance plays a vital role in your final price tag for mobile home transport, it’s far from your only concern. After all, roadways and access to different regions of the country vary greatly. The more challenging the conditions, the more you’ll get billed.

As you explore the route your home will need to travel, bear in mind factors such as steep inclines and narrow roadways. Also, will your house need to go over any mountain passes?

Your driver must compensate for these obstacles and challenges when they move a mobile home.

While distance plays a vital role in your final price tag for mobile home transport, it’s far from your only concern. After all, roadways and access to different regions of the country vary greatly. The more challenging the conditions, the more you’ll get billed.

The size determines whether your home can be moved on a single trailer or in pieces. Moving it in pieces costs more as you’ll need to pay for each part’s trip.

What’s more, if your home proves extra wide, it may require traffic redirection along the route. All of these possibilities add up.

How do mobile units vary in size? Let’s break them down based on general dimensions and features.

Single-wide mobile homes average between 600 and 1,300 square feet. A single-wide mobile home typically has one to two bedrooms and one to two bathrooms. On average, a single-wide mobile home is less than 18 feet wide and 90 feet long.

As for double-wide trailers? A double-wide mobile home averages between 2,000 and 2,500 square feet. At least 20 feet wide, double-wide mobile homes measure a maximum of 90 feet long. A double-wide mobile home usually includes two to three bedrooms and two to three bathrooms.

Many double-wide mobile homes also include layout features not seen in single-wide models, such as separate dining rooms.

Triple-wide or multi-wide mobile homes get substantial. We’re talking 4,500 square feet and a length of 50 feet. Width varies based on the model of the triple-wide or multi-wide mobile home and its specific features. As a result, layout customizations abound.

They typically have at least three bedrooms and two bathrooms, if not more. Of the three sizes, single-wide units have the most “trailer-like” appearance. As for double- and triple-wide units, they often mimic site-built homes in appearance.

For triple-wide and multi-wide mobile home transport, flatbed trucking services or professional freight truck services are simply a necessity.

How much your home weighs has a significant impact on the equipment needed during mobile home transport.

Older mobile homes usually weigh between 35 and 40 pounds per square foot, Newer models come in around 45 to 50 pounds per square foot. In other words, an 800 square-foot home could easily weigh in at a monstrous 40,000 pounds.

That's a lot of weight for a driver to handle! No wonder so many units need to be moved in pieces. Some also require traffic redirection during the move. These are massive and cumbersome moving parts, so you don't want to leave them to anybody but highly experienced mobile home moving companies.

To sum it up, be prepared for expenses to get adjusted once movers have a final weight on your home.

During mobile home transport, you’ll need to foot the bill for several different licenses. Set money aside for this aspect of your move to avoid unwanted surprises later.

When relocating your mobile home to a new county or state, permits may be required for each territory through which it travels. After arriving at your final destination, you’ll also need a “setup” permit to install your home.

Some states also require a mandatory inspection beforehand. A full-service mobile home moving company should be able to help you navigate the process of obtaining permits and dealing with inspections.

How much should you set aside for the cost of acquiring permits? For a single-wide home, we recommend between $5,000 and $8,000 for documents and hooking up utilities. For double-wide mobile homes, think more like $10,000 to $13,000.

As you can see, mobile home transport is a complicated process, involving the transport of large components. It should come as no surprise, then, that such moves necessitate tools and supplies.

A good moving company will provide a breakdown of the costs for these tools and equipment in your contract. When you move a mobile home, transparency is the mark of a good moving company.

Depending on your mobile home’s age and condition, it may require repairs before mobile home transport. Older mobile homes often need significant maintenance and repairs to ensure they remain structurally sound throughout the relocation process.

Movers may also need to alter your home to make it travel-worthy. Allot extra time and money for pre-travel repairs.

Knowing how much to move a mobile home also depends on other factors like setup services. These services encompass taking a mobile home apart in one location and then setting it up in another. A full-service mover may charge fees for:

These setup services typically run between $1,000 and $5,000. Some mobile home movers require customers to remove and reinstall their exterior features and skirting. So, inquire about what each company provides before signing a contract to move a mobile home.

Working with mobile home transporters takes much of the guesswork out of mobile home relocation. Yes, you’ll pay for these services, but they’ll prove well worth it when it comes to a successful and safe move.

That said, you’ll need to purchase liability coverage through the moving company for your move. You may also wish to add outside insurance to the mix.

What if you already own mobile home insurance? Check with your policyholder to find out if your mobile home will be covered while in transport.

Moving a mobile home requires a team of experienced professionals. They should be skilled in every aspect of the move. A great company will provide you with the following benefits:

Let’s face it, permits can be a pain to obtain. So, leave it to the professionals who deal with these requirements every single day. From state transportation permits to setup permits, a full-service moving company should handle the paperwork for you.

DIY doesn’t work for some things. This fact proves especially true with mobile home moving. Driving a large rental truck is hard enough without adding a mobile home into the mix. Unless you’re an experienced mobile home mover, you could hurt yourself and others.

With a complicated relocation involving massive moving parts, there’s plenty of room for error. Think everything from popped tires to permitting issues

When you hire trusted professionals to handle your move, they handle these headaches for you. A mobile home moving company can ensure a smooth and easy move, so don’t leave anything to chance with amateurs or DIYers.

Find out more about professional mobile homes moving companies and get a free, no-obligation quote for your upcoming relocation.

Where should you look to find mobile homes moving companies? Start with a Google search. Then, you’ll want to vet companies that come up carefully. Do this by pouring over online reviews as well as checking out sites such as:

The organizations above can provide you with information about mobile home transporters’ business and safety records. They can also confirm whether companies have the appropriate licensing to move your home.

You’ll also want to make sure that the company you choose to transport your home services both your origin and destination points. They should provide quality shipping for homes of various sizes, from single- to double-wide and beyond.

They should also employ experienced specialists who can provide the best solution for your unique home-moving needs. After all, different home sizes require different moving strategies.

Single-wide trailers are typically long and narrow, but such isn’t the case for double-, triple-, and multi-wide units. Many of these models tend to be shorter and wider. While this makes for a standard home appearance, it also means a more complicated move.

Fortunately, with the right mobile home transporters, you won’t have to worry about any of these things. Instead, you can rest assured your home is in competent hands.