Tiny House family built a 225 sq ft home to travel the world

Summary

In this week's episode, we tour a unique tiny house built by Greg, Hannah, and their daughter Taylor. The family shares their journey of designing and constructing a mobile home that allows them to travel across the country. With a focus on functionality, safety, and comfort, they discuss their choices of materials, innovative systems, and custom features. From their solar-powered setup to the space-saving kitchen and loft, the tiny house reflects their values of flexibility, minimalism, and adventure, enabling them to live freely and explore the world. Their story proves that living small can lead to big possibilities.

Takeaways

• 😀 The family, consisting of Greg, Hannah, their daughter, and Welsh Corgi Ladybell, built a tiny house to live and travel full-time across the U.S.
• 🏠 Greg, a former construction worker, designed and built the tiny house himself, with a focus on creating a lightweight, durable, and safe home for cross-country travel.
• 💰 The total cost of building the tiny house was just shy of $40,000, with most labor done by Greg. Including materials and labor, the overall cost was around $100,000.
• 🌍 The family travels primarily in state parks and Hipcamp locations, staying in places with water and power hookups, while occasionally staying on family property.
• 🔧 The tiny house features a steel tube frame for durability, and while the roof was designed with a 3/4 pitch, Greg later wished for a higher pitch to avoid leaks.
• 💡 To ensure sufficient HVAC, the air conditioning unit was placed in the back of the house, and propane was used for heating and cooking to minimize electrical demand.
• 🌞 The interior design of the tiny house maximizes natural light, with large windows and a sliding glass door, creating an open, airy feel despite the small space.
• 🍽️ The kitchen features butcher block countertops, a convection oven, a two-burner gas stove, and a deep sink, all selected to balance function with aesthetic warmth.
• 🚿 The bathroom is compact but functional, with a composting toilet and a large walk-in shower, designed to accommodate Greg's height (6'3") and ensure comfort during travel.
• 🛏️ The loft serves as the bedroom and office space, with a queen-sized bed and a custom desk for both work and leisure. A gate was installed to keep their daughter safe from falling during their travels.
• 🌟 Living in the tiny house has allowed the family to prioritize experiences over possessions, enabling them to travel the world—including reaching their goal of visiting all seven continents, including Antarctica.

Q & A

What inspired Greg and Hannah to build a tiny house and travel full-time?

In 2015, Greg, who was working as a construction worker, wanted to leave his job. He and Hannah decided to start their own business and work remotely. They saw owning a traditional home as a burden and thought about selling it and traveling full-time, which led them to the idea of building a tiny house.

How long did it take Greg to build the tiny house?

Greg spent about six months building the frame of the tiny house, and after that, the remaining construction took around four months, bringing the total construction time to about 10 months.

What challenges did Greg face when designing the tiny house for travel?

Greg had to ensure the tiny house was both functional for living and durable enough for travel. He faced challenges with weight, stability, and materials. His father advised against using wood due to weight concerns and suggested using a welded tube steel frame, which ultimately provided the necessary sturdiness for cross-country travel.

How much did it cost to build the tiny house?

The total build cost was just shy of $40,000, with Greg doing about 80% of the labor himself. Including materials and labor, the full cost came close to $100,000.

Where did Greg and Hannah park their tiny house while traveling across the country?

While traveling, they stayed almost exclusively at hip camps or state parks. They also occasionally parked at their current lot where they have access to water and power, though they are looking to buy their own property.

What was the key reason for choosing corrugated decking for the exterior?

The decision to use corrugated decking was mainly for cost-effectiveness, light weight, and Greg's experience with sheet metal, which made it easier for him to work with and install.

What HVAC system did they install, and why was it chosen?

They chose to install a propane-powered system for heating, including a stove and water heater. They also have a backup generator and a mini-split air conditioner, which is powered by the 30-amp electrical system. The propane system was selected to minimize load on the electrical system.

How do Greg and Hannah handle water usage in their tiny house while traveling?

They have a 40-gallon water tank that lasts around 3-4 days for a family of three. This setup allows them to be self-sufficient, especially when staying at places without hookups.

What challenges did they face regarding the kitchen design?

One challenge was balancing counter space with the limited weight capacity of the tiny house. They chose butcher block for its warmth, though it's heavier, and compensated by creating more shelves and a thinner cubby area to save weight.

What safety feature did they include for their daughter in the loft area?

To ensure safety for their daughter, they installed a gate at the top of the stairs leading to the loft. This gate prevented her from falling, and over time, they taught her to avoid leaning on it.