Author: Cassandra Hui

Living in and building off-grid tiny homes

What’s it Like Living in a Tiny House Years Later?

This article has been reviewed in accordance with our editorial policy.

A popular question is what it is like to live in a tiny house, years later. Let’s look more into the durability and living quality of tiny houses.

So, what’s it like living in a tiny house years later? Tiny houses are meant to last 10-15 years with the correct upkeep. They can last 20 years if built properly. But there some important factors that can effect their longevity. The living quality in a tiny house years later shouldn’t change unless your family size has changed.

My husband and I have been living in a tiny house for several years and I would like to give more insight into what it’s like years after going tiny.

Tiny House Durability

Tiny houses are built to last 10-15 years with proper maintenance. Of course the durability of your tiny house depends on it’s construction as well. It is best to buy a tiny house from a quality company.

When tiny houses first grew in popularity many people where interested in making some quick money off of this movement. There were several tiny house companies that built low quality tiny homes just for a profit, some of them didn’t even work.

If you look around on the internet you can find some horror stories about tiny house purchases. However, as time has passed and tiny houses have grown in popularity those companies who didn’t produce quality homes have been weeded out.

Those companies have gone out of business or been bought out by a quality company. Almost every tiny house company uses quality builders now. You can still request a tour of their facility.

One quote I read from a tiny houser that stood out to me said, I shouldn’t have bought a tiny house from someone who doesn’t live in a tiny house. Someone who believes in what they build will always produce superior quality.

Specialized Tinys, LLC, is currently the only tiny house company who’s owners actually do live in a tiny house.

Cassandra hui

Specialized Tinys, LLC, is currently the only tiny house company who’s owners actually do live in a tiny house. We started this business so that others could experience the freedom we have. My husband has built three of our own tiny houses and hundreds for other companies.

Most tiny house companies now produce very quality homes, they have a lot more experience than when the hype first started. If you are careful to take care of you tiny house it should last for years to come..

Tiny House Maintenance

Maintaining a tiny house is similar to maintaining a regular home. But there are a few major differences for upkeep on a tiny house to ensure it will last for years to come. This all depends on what type of tiny house you have.

If you have a tiny house on wheels (THOW), you will need to maintain the wheels for travel and when staying somewhere. Before moving the house you will need to be sure the lug nuts are tight, axles are greased, and all your lights work.

You will also need to check the quality of your tires. Be sure they have the proper air pressure, tire tread depth, and no dry rot. When necessary you will need to replace your tires, they are wearable parts.

When you are stopped for a while you will need to keep up with your tires as well. You will need to take the weight off of the wheels by lifting the trailer up on piers and use wheel covers. You do not need to take the wheels off, but you can if you prefer that.

Another major component you need to maintain in a tiny house is wood. Real wood needs to be sealed once every 3-5 years depending on the type of sealant and wood, and the climate you live in.

Many people use real wood for their siding, this will need the regular upkeep. But also, there can be wood inside your house that will also need to be sealed or painted. We actually have a shower made out of wood in our current house. And this we will need to reseal annually.

Additionally, if you have a tiny house that is off-grid there will be more maintenance. You will need to clean your holding tanks annually. And keep up with any solar or your other power source.

Solar is the easiest off-grid system to maintain. Besides cleaning solar panels they don’t require much else. Some people reposition their panels when the seasons change. You also need some keep up with your other solar components.

Keeping your computers clean of dust is important for your system. You also need to be sure the system is running properly. If you use too much power when you’ve had too many cloudy days and your batteries die or get extremely low, you can damage them.

If you have another power source it can require more maintenance. For example, our current house has solar and a wind turbine. A wind turbine needs to be cleaned and checked for cracks, you may even need to grease them depending on what type motor you have.

Tiny House Lifestyle after Years

One concern people have is if they will be happy years after living in a tiny house. I have been living tiny for four years now and I still love it. This answer obviously depends on the individual.

Going tiny is about making room for the things you love and getting rid of the things that get in your way. The more time you have to live the life you love should only make your happier.

Going tiny is about making room for the things you love and getting rid of the things that get in your way.

cassandra hui

Living in a tiny house has given me a closer relationship with my husband and the freedom to live how we want. We went tiny so we could own a home to save money and be able to constantly move. And we have accomplished both of those things.

Of course dealing with the legality of living in a tiny house gets old. But if you have a solid place to keep your tiny house and live in it, than you will not have that stress. Many laws are changing to make living tiny more attainable.

Of course if your family size changes it may be hard to continue to live in your current house. If you need another bedroom you may need a larger house. I think it is important to analyse this as much as possible before going tiny. But sometimes things happen out of your control.

Besides family growth, living in a tiny house years later shouldn’t be any different than when you first move in. You do have to continue to downsize, going through you things regularly and getting rid of anything you don’t need.

We still go through our stuff every six months to a year and downsize. There may be clothes that have holes, or items we just don’t use anymore. It is inevitable that you will collect things along your life, so downsizing is something you will do consistently.

It is much easier if you keep up with this as you go. When I get something I know I won’t use, I get rid of it. When I am organizing my cabinets, I get rid of anything I no longer use. I have honed this skill since I have been living tiny.

I constantly go through my things, the fridge, or anything else. Of course it is much easier when you have less stuff! After all these years of living tiny I have developed and grown in many areas, organizing, being healthier, and more.

The longer I have lived in a tiny house the more I have grown into a better person.

Related Questions

What is the required maintenance for a tiny house? If your tiny house is on wheels, you will need to maintain the tires and check everything before transport. If you have wood in your house you will need to seal it every few years. The type of maintenance your tiny house needs will vary based on how it was built.

How long do tiny houses last? Tiny houses are built to last about 10-15 years, if it is maintained properly. However, as long as you take good care of your home they can last 20 years or more. There are may factors that go into the longevity of a tiny house including the original quality.

Holding Tank Options in Your Tiny House

This article has been reviewed in accordance with our editorial policy.

People often ask me if tiny houses can have holding tanks. I would like to give more information on this, based on the homes we have built and some research I have done.

So, can tiny houses have holding tanks? A tiny house can have holding tanks like RVs. Many tiny houses have composting toilets, if that’s the case they will not have a black water tank only fresh water and a grey water tank.

My husband and I have been living tiny for several years now and we want to share our experience. My husband has built us three homes and has helped build hundreds of tiny houses for other companies.

The Types of Holding Tanks You Put in Tiny Houses

Tiny houses on wheels (THOWs) can be set up similar to RVs. You can have holding tanks in your tiny house. You will need a freshwater tank, a grey water tank, and a black water tank if you have a normal flush toilet. Typically they get RV tanks.

If your THOW has a composting toilet then you will not need a black water tank, only a grey water one. I have written more information on toilet options in tiny houses here. You will still need a grey water tank for showers and sinks.

You will need enough storage in your grey and black water tanks to hold everything from your fresh water tank. If you have a 50-gallon fresh water tank, your grey and black water tanks should equal 50 gallons total.

The used water tanks should equal out to be 70% for the grey water and 30% for the black. For this example, if you have 50 gallons of fresh water you should have a 35-gallon tank for grey water and a 15-gallon tank for black.

That would mean you should have room for 100 gallons of water storage.

What Size Holding Tanks Should You Get

Most people go with 40 gallons of fresh water storage. This is great for backup. If you are living off-grid, this is not a lot of water. We have found that 40 gallons will only last us a day or two.

A better option would be 70-100 gallons of fresh water storage. If this will be your main source of water than a bigger tank will last you longer and cause less hassle than having to fill up every two days.

When buying an RV water tank you should calculate the actual water storage. On average the tank will hold 7 gallons less than the actual size because you will need an air pocket to keep it from pressurizing or running out of the burp tube.

We bought an RV tank that was advertised as 42 gallons. And it does hold 42 gallons of air. But we can only put 36 gallons of water in it. RV tanks are the easiest options to use because they are already set up for the plumbing in your house.

There are other tanks you can buy that actually advertise the amount of water you can put in them. For example, we bought another tank that said it was 100 gallons of water storage. The tank size was about 115 gallons, but you could only put about 100 gallons of water in it.

However, these tanks are not set up for plumbing, only general storage. It would take someone skilled to tie one of these tanks into a normal plumbing system and do it correctly. That’s why it is usually best to go with an RV water tank.

The reason most people go with a 40-gallon tank is to save space. If you are going to be living full-time in your home you need lots of storage. However, we have found that it is much more beneficial to have sufficient water storage and lose some space when living off-grid.

This also varies depending on how good your shower head and water faucet are at saving water. We try to get the most water-saving options possible. If you can find a shower head that is a gallon or less per minute that’s your best option!

Please note that if your tiny house has a drop axle trailer with black and grey water tanks, you will need to be careful when traveling. Given how low these trailers sit, your tanks are very close to the ground and you need to be cautious when pulling in and out of stops.

Hauling Water

If possible, it is best to have an additional outside tank, or two to haul water to your house instead of always moving your house to fill up. If you can keep a lot of water storage outside of your house and fill that up, it makes life much easier.

We lived in Utah for a while in our tiny house and we had an extra tank to fill up our holding tank. Be careful of winter. In winter the water in our tank froze and we couldn’t use that tank until the weather warmed up. There are ways you can keep an outside tank warm too.

Currently, we are living in our 112 sq ft converted cargo trailer and we have a 42-gallon RV tank, holding about 36 gallons of water. We bought a 275-gallon ICB tank where we can haul water.

Keep in mind that when you fill up 275 gallons of water it weighs over 2 thousand ponds! You will need a heavy-duty truck that can haul this, and you will not be able to move the tank or unload it until it is almost empty.

It is also a very bad idea to haul a tank like this when it is half full. You would have a thousand pounds of water sloshing from one side of the truck to the next. This is very dangerous and not easy.

Ideally, you should have two of these tanks. You can fill up the one and come back to pour that into the other one on the ground. Then you can remove the empty tank from your truck. Although it is best to have a gravity-fed method to fill your water tank since you will not have pressurized city water filling it. So you should still try to have the second tank elevated.

Can I Use Water While I am Traveling?

This depends on the type of electric system you have in your house. If you do not have solar and a battery system, then your house will not run unless you are plugged in. So you will not be able to use water while traveling down the road, because you will not have electricity to run the water pump.

RVs can still work when they pull over on the side of the road because they are running off of the battery tied to the motor. Tiny houses do not do this. If you will be traveling a lot with your tiny house then it would be ideal to get a solar system.

Otherwise, if your house is going to be stationary and you can plug into a power source, you would not need solar. If this is the case then anytime it is not plugged in you cannot use any power, which includes the water since you need a pump if you have a holding tank for it.

Where to Empty Your Tanks

You can empty your tanks at any RV dump station. These can be found at RV sites, some gas stations, and even some truck stops or outdoor sports shops. There is a small fee to dump, usually around $5-$10.

If you have your own land, some people set up a french drain for their grey water. But you would still need a sewage system or to take your house to a dump if you have a regular flush toilet.

Related Questions

What size water pump should I get for my tiny house? Most tiny houses use a 3.1 gallon per minute water pump. They can come in 12-volt or 120 VAC. If you have solar you should use the 12-volt option, or you can also use a 24 or 48-volt water pump, although they are harder to find and more expensive.

What plumping pipe size should I use in my tiny house? Typically tiny houses use a 1/2 inch pex plumbing pipe. Some people use a 3/4 inch main trunk and branch off to 1/2 inch, this will help maintain water pressure when multiple fixtures are on due to a higher volume of water in the pipe.

Titling and Registering Your Tiny House

This article has been reviewed in accordance with our editorial policy.

Titling and registering your tiny house on wheels (THOW), can be complicated. It varies by each state so please check your local state requirements, but here’s some help to get you started.

So, do tiny houses have titles? Tiny Houses on Wheels (THOWs) do have titles for the trailer. There are different ways you can register your tiny house and it varies depending on the use and if it is certified.

My husband and I have been living tiny for several years now and I know the legality of living tiny is complicated. We have had a tiny house in 5 different states (so far!) and they are all a little different. But here’s some information to get you started on your journey.

This information applies to what we have learned and researched in the United States of America, and it will likely be different if you live in another country.

I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice. Please consult a lawyer if you have concerns about the legality of your living situation.

Your Tiny House Title

Whether you are buying or building your tiny house the trailer will come with a title. This title is only for the trailer, thus the way you register it will dictate how the state sees it. This will act and transfer like a regular trailer title.

The title is what gives you ownership of the trailer and thus the house. You will buy and sell your tiny house based on the trailer’s title. If the title is lost, it is usually fairly easy to get a duplicate one.

For this, you will just need to go to your local DMV and fill out the necessary paperwork for a duplicate title. This can even be done through the mail. There will be a small fee and then they will either hand you a title or mail you one, depending on your state.

You can only do this if the original title is already in your name. If it is not in your name then the previous owner (whoever’s name it is in currently) would have to do this. Be cautious if you are buying a tiny house without a title. It may have a lien on it or be stolen.

I have more information about tiny house titles and how to get a new one here.

Registering Your Tiny House

Registering your THOW is very important. Depending on your state, it may be illegal to live in your tiny house if it is not registered as a certain option. Do your research on your state and make sure you are compliant.

For the most part, registering your trailer is like registering a car. We went into the DMV with our necessary paperwork and registered our trailer as a travel trailer. Some states can have different requirements.

For example, in the state of California, they require invoices, receipts, a Statement of Construction, and potentially more. This is if the trailer is not certified. If you have a certification this will eliminate most other requirements.

If you have built your own trailer (not just the house), the requirements are much different. It will need to be inspected and you will need to apply for a VIN. I would not recommend this unless building trailers is what you do for a living.

If your THOW is certified then you have to register your tiny house as an RV or a Travel Trailer. If it is not certified you can register it as a mobile home, travel trailer. camper, or just a trailer. Again, consult your state laws.

Most places do not allow full-time living in a RV or travel trailer. Most of the time you are not allowed to live in these for more than 6 months. There are exceptions, such as RV Parks. These restrictions fall under state, county, and zoning laws.

A Tiny House Certification

You can get an RVIA or NOAH certification on a THOW. Currently, these are the only recognized certifications in the USA. Having a certification can make your registration process much easier.

But you will have to register your THOW as an RV or a travel trailer. These are not supposed to be lived in full-time. So it will be important to know where you are going to live before buying your home.

As tiny houses grow in popularity, it will likely become easier to live in them. Oregon recently passed a law legalizing tiny houses. And many other states are working on the same thing. As of now, it can be difficult to find somewhere legally to live, and this can also be based on the way you register your THOW.

Moving States: Titling and Registering Your THOW

When you move states you are required to switch your registration and titles for all of your property including your tiny house. In order to legally transport your THOW, it must be up to date on registration.

It can be hard to remember to renew your registration if you live in your house full-time. We think of it as a home and not a trailer, so it can slip our minds to renew the registration on it. Be sure to mark this on your calendar and keep your title AND registration somewhere safe.

It can be extremely difficult to register your vehicle in a new state if your registration is expired or lost. So be sure to keep up with this. It will make all future moves much less stressful.

When you move it is important to switch over all of your information to that state. There are certain situations where you do not need to change your Driver’s License or vehicle registration.

For example, in America, if you are only in that state temporarily for work and you have a residence in another state then you are not legally required to switch any of your information. We have done this before, moved to another state for just a few months for work.

However, if you are relocating you will need to change everything over at the DMV. You will at least need your current state-issued ID, title, registration, and a filled-out DMV registration form. Most states will require additional documents such as a VIN inspection or proof of address.

Almost all states require proof of address with the exception of a few, like Utah. This can be one of the most difficult parts if you are traveling around or living off-grid. I wrote more information on addresses for tiny houses here.

Related Questions

Do I have to pay taxes on my tiny house? If your tiny house is on wheels, you would have to pay property tax on it if your state requires that. This may vary depending on the way you register your tiny house. If you have it registered as a travel trailer and your state charges personal property tax on those, then you would pay tax as well.

Do I need a Bill of Sale with my tiny house on wheels? In most states, it is not required to have a bill of sale to sell a tiny house as long as the title is signed over properly. If the trailer is new, and not used, then it will likely be required by the DMV. However, to avoid certain legal concerns it is highly recommended to always have one.