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Ron asked in Home & GardenDo It Yourself (DIY) · 8 months ago

Bolting trailer to concrete pad?

Im having a tiny home built on a trailer and now the county is saying that the home needs to be bolted to a concrete pad. Can I let the air of the tires and bolt the trailer to the concrete pad? They said it was due to earthquake safety.

12 Answers

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  • 8 months ago

    Exact rules vary by jurisdiction.

    If they want it bolted to a foundation, I bet they require the wheels to be removed entirely.

    The ONE thing we can be sure of is whoever told you it needs bolted to concrete is the FIRST place you should ask for specific requirements.

  • 8 months ago

    do not let the tires down .  

    put blocks under the axle  

    Put stainless steel eye bolts into the concrete then  run stainless steel wire between the trailer chassis and the eye bolt 

  • elhigh
    Lv 7
    8 months ago

    Be aware that if you do that they may change your home's status.  Rigidly fixing it down may give them grounds to recategorize it as a permanent structure, or at least a prefab like a mobile home.  And if they do that, then your home may have to meet certain criteria to be permitted as a domicile, fail, and be condemned.

    Everyone else pointing out that you should get the tiny home's weight off the trailer's wheels for long term parking is right, and I won't add to that.

    A large portion of the point of building tiny homes on trailers is that they can be classified as RVs.  That way a lot of the usual requirements for homes go out the window and you can build the home without having to hit a lot of minimums.

    Bolt the house down, however, and you may actually open yourself up to a lot of unanticipated oversight which can result in your home being rendered unfit for human habitation.  Make sure that all the necessary governing bodies are aware that your tiny home is an RV.  You may need to get a vehicle registration for it that defines it as such; if so then do that immediate, before you spend more money on construction.  If the RV designation will be out of reach, you need to adapt your home plans for a much more stringent set of requirements.

  • 8 months ago

    NO!  without air, the tires will be ruined.  What you do is jack up the trailer and then tie it down.  look into tie down methods intended for mobile homes ...

  • Anonymous
    8 months ago

    You can chain it down to eye bolts. I would also raise it off the wheels which will deteriorate under load. 

  • 8 months ago

    ask them to give you a clear definition in writing or email so you dont do  all this for nothing. I would suggest that mobile home laws would apply (how to anchor) , but because its a tiny home, it might be a bit different. 

  • Edwena
    Lv 7
    8 months ago

    Ask them.  Bolting the frame to the concrete pad should work fine.  Getting holes in the frame and bolts into the concrete may be more difficult than you think.

  • Barry
    Lv 6
    8 months ago

    Drill holes in the concrete and fit rag eye bolts as required. Then use heavy chains and padlocks

  • 8 months ago

    I'm quite certain they have more codes than 'bolted to a concrete pad'.  The only wise thing to do is to check with them as to the exact requirements so that you don't have to do it over again when they come to inspect.

  • al
    Lv 5
    8 months ago

    It would be better if you put concrete blocks under it and level it. Then use chains or steel cable to bolt it from the frame to the concrete (lag bolts). this is more a precaution against strong strait winds or tornado's. Your home wouldn't look to great if it was upside down!

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