You built it, customized it, maybe even lived in it for years. Now you need to move your tiny house across state lines, and you’re wondering if it’ll survive the journey in one piece.
I get it. Your tiny home isn’t just 200 square feet of clever construction—it’s where you wake up every morning. The thought of watching it roll down the highway strapped to a trailer probably makes your stomach flip.
Here’s the truth: moving a tiny house is complicated, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. At Freedom Heavy Haul, we’ve transported thousands of tiny homes since 2010. We’ve seen every possible scenario, from pristine container homes to hand-built cottages with solar panels and composting toilets.
Why Tiny House Transport Isn’t Like Moving Furniture
Most people underestimate what’s involved in tiny home transport. You can’t just hitch your house to a pickup truck and hit the road.
First, there’s size. Even a “tiny” house typically measures 8.5 feet wide and 13.5 feet tall—right at the legal limit for non-permitted loads in most states. Add a few inches for your roofline or exterior trim, and suddenly you need oversize permits, route surveys, and pilot cars.
Then there’s weight. A fully built tiny house on wheels weighs 10,000 to 15,000 pounds. That’s not something your neighbor’s F-250 can handle, even if they insist they’ve “hauled heavier stuff before.”
Here’s what actually needs to happen:
Route Planning: We map every mile of your journey, checking bridge clearances, low-hanging power lines, and tight turns. One missed low bridge can destroy months of work.
Proper Equipment: Your tiny house rides on a specialized trailer—typically a lowboy, RGN, or double drop—designed to keep the center of gravity low and stable.
Securing the Load: We use industrial-grade straps and chains at multiple anchor points. Your house gets locked down so it barely shifts, even over rough roads.
Permits and Escorts: Depending on your route, we handle oversize permits for every state you’ll cross and arrange pilot cars when required.
The Real Cost of Moving a Tiny House
Let’s talk numbers because this is usually the first question.
Tiny house moving costs typically run $1.50 to $3.00 per mile, with a minimum charge of around $1,000 for short local moves. A cross-country haul from California to North Carolina? You’re looking at $5,000 to $8,000.
That might sound steep until you break down what’s included:
- Specialized trailer rental and transport
- All oversize load permits (these alone can cost $200-500 per state)
- Professional loading and securing
- Route survey and planning
- Pilot car escorts where required
- Transit insurance coverage
- Fuel, tolls, and driver expenses
Compare that to the cost of building a new tiny house from scratch—typically $30,000 to $100,000—and suddenly transport looks like a bargain.
| Tiny House Transport Cost Factors |
Details |
| Average Cost Per Mile |
$1.50 – $3.00 |
| Short-Distance Moves (Under 100 miles) |
$1,000 – $2,500 |
| Mid-Range Moves (100-500 miles) |
$2,500 – $4,500 |
| Long-Distance Moves (500-1,500 miles) |
$4,500 – $8,000 |
| Cross-Country Moves (1,500+ miles) |
$7,000 – $12,000 |
| Permit Costs Per State |
$200 – $500 |
| Average Transit Time |
3-5 days for most moves |
What Type of Tiny House Do You Have?
Not all tiny homes move the same way. Here’s how we handle the most common types:
Tiny Houses on Trailers: The easiest to transport. If your house is already built on a road-worthy trailer with proper axles and tires, we can often tow it directly. We’ll still inspect everything—tire pressure, brake lights, structural integrity—before hitting the road.
Shipping Container Homes: These are tough as hell but heavy and awkward. A 20-foot container weighs around 5,000 pounds empty, and that’s before you add insulation, framing, and finishes. We typically use a tilt-deck or RGN trailer to load these properly.
Park Model Tiny Homes: Built more like RVs than traditional houses, these move relatively easily. The challenge is width—many park models push 10 or even 12 feet wide, requiring special permits and routing.
Custom Built Tiny Homes: These are where things get interesting. If you built your tiny house without wheels or on a non-standard frame, we’ll evaluate whether it’s safer to transport as-is or temporarily remove sections like sleeping lofts, porches, or roof overhangs.
Houseboats and Yurts: Houseboats don’t get transported on trailers—they need specialized marine transport or barge services. Yurts can be disassembled and moved in pieces, though many owners prefer professional help to ensure proper reassembly.
Can You Move a Tiny House Without Wheels?
Yes, but it’s more involved.
Tiny homes without wheels need to be lifted onto a trailer using a crane or forklift. We’ll assess your house’s structural integrity first—particularly the floor joists and frame—to make sure it can handle the lifting process without damage.
Once loaded, we secure it the same way we would any other tiny house. The main difference is time and cost. Adding crane services and extra labor typically increases your transport bill by $1,000 to $2,500.
How Long Does Tiny House Transport Actually Take?
Most tiny home moves take 3 to 5 days from pickup to delivery, assuming you’re moving within a 1,500-mile radius.
That timeline includes:
- Pre-transport inspection and securing (2-4 hours)
- Actual driving time (heavy haul trucks average 400-500 miles per day)
- Mandatory rest stops for drivers
- Weather delays or route adjustments
- Final delivery and placement
For longer cross-country moves, add another 2 to 3 days. We don’t rush because rushing causes damage.
What Happens Before Your Tiny House Hits the Road
Here’s our process once you book with Freedom Heavy Haul:
- Initial Consultation and Quote: We’ll ask about your tiny house dimensions, weight, construction type, current location, and destination. This helps us give you an accurate quote instead of a ballpark guess.
- Route Survey: Our team maps your entire route, checking for obstacles like low bridges, narrow roads, or sharp turns that could cause problems.
- Permit Acquisition: We file for all necessary oversize load permits. This can take 3 to 7 business days depending on which states you’re crossing.
- Pre-Move Preparation: We’ll send you a checklist of things to do before transport day—securing loose items inside, disconnecting utilities, removing exterior accessories that might catch wind.
- Transport Day: Our driver arrives with the appropriate trailer, inspects your tiny house, and secures it properly. You’ll get photos and documentation of the entire loading process.
- In-Transit Updates: Your dedicated transport manager keeps you informed throughout the journey. No radio silence while your home is somewhere on I-80.
- Delivery and Placement: We deliver to your specified location and can help position the house on your property if site conditions allow.
The Permit Situation (Yes, It’s Annoying)
Every state has different rules about oversize loads. Some require advance notice, others need pilot cars, and a few have restricted travel times (no weekends or rush hours).
This is where most DIY tiny house moves fall apart. Miss one permit or get your dimensions wrong on the application, and you’re looking at fines, delays, and potential impoundment.
We handle all of this. Our team knows the regulations in all 50 states and maintains relationships with permitting offices nationwide. When rules change—and they do—we stay current.
What Could Go Wrong (And How We Prevent It)
I won’t sugarcoat it. Tiny house transport has risks:
Structural Damage: Road vibrations and bumps can crack walls, shift framing, or damage roofing if the house isn’t secured properly.
Low Clearance Strikes: Hitting a bridge or overpass is catastrophic. This is why route surveys matter.
Tire Blowouts: If your tiny house is on its own trailer with old or underinflated tires, they can fail mid-journey.
Permit Violations: Getting stopped without proper permits creates expensive delays and legal headaches.
We mitigate these risks through obsessive attention to detail. Every load gets inspected before departure. Every route gets surveyed in advance. Every permit gets filed correctly.
Why Choose Freedom Heavy Haul for Tiny Home Moving
We’ve been doing this since 2010. That’s over 250,000 shipments across all types of Heavy Equipment Hauling services, including thousands of tiny homes.
Here’s what that experience means for you:
A+ BBB Rating: We’re accredited and rated by the Better Business Bureau because we do what we say we’ll do.
100+ Years Combined Experience: Our team has been moving oversized loads longer than tiny houses have been trendy.
Dedicated Transport Manager: You get one point of contact throughout your move, not a call center.
Transit Insurance: Your tiny house is covered during transport. If something goes wrong, you’re protected.
Specialized Equipment: We own and operate the exact trailers needed for tiny house transport—lowboys, RGNs, double drops, and tilt decks.
Tiny House Transport Near Me: Why Location Matters Less Than You Think
Searching for “tiny house movers near me” makes sense. You want someone local who understands your area.
But here’s the thing: tiny house transport is inherently long-distance. You’re not moving across town—you’re probably relocating to a different state or even across the country.
What matters more than proximity is nationwide experience. We operate in all 50 states. Whether you’re in Oregon or Florida, we know your local regulations, road conditions, and potential obstacles.
Common Tiny House Transport Questions
Can I ride in my tiny house during transport?
No. It’s illegal and extremely dangerous to ride in a vehicle being towed or hauled.
Do I need to empty my tiny house before transport?
Yes. Remove or secure all loose items, furniture, and appliances. Anything that can shift or fall should be taken out.
What if my tiny house is wider than 8.5 feet?
We can still transport it, but you’ll need oversize permits for every state on your route, and the cost will be higher.
Can you transport a tiny house in winter?
Yes, though weather conditions can cause delays. We monitor forecasts closely and won’t move your house in unsafe conditions.
How much notice do you need?
Ideally 2-3 weeks to handle permits and scheduling, though we can sometimes accommodate rush jobs.
What happens if my tiny house gets damaged during transport?
Our transit insurance covers damage that occurs while in our care. We document the condition before and after transport.
