Stage 1 Trailer

It is the builder’s responsibility to build a quality product, to the NOAH standard. These are minimum standards of life safety, construction for temporary or permanent living and energy efficiency. It is the inspector’s responsibility to do his best to “inspect the build” and confirm in his opinion the home appears to meet the minimums. Builders are welcomed and encouraged to exceed the minimums.

Each inspection begins with a close up of VIN label

The following is what to expect the inspector to look for.

Inspection tips for a THOW.

Trailers built by Trailer manufacturers are built based on the load rating on the axles; i.e. two 5200 pound axles will support 10400 pounds and the frame and tongue are engineered to support the same.

The center of the axles system is placed for even loading of the trailer. Without input from the builder most trailer manufacturers build the “utility trailer” with 60% of the trailer to the front of the center of the axle system. This means, the distance from the center of the axle system to the front of the frame, whether a single, dual or triple axle trailer, would be 60% of the total length, which leaves 40% to the rear of the center of the axle system.

If the home has the bath and kitchen and loft on the front (tongue side) the home would be tongue heavy and would not load the trailer properly. It is the responsibility of the builder to build a home that is evenly distributed or have the trailer builder build a trailer for more weight to the front or rear based on the builder’s specifications.

Trailers are also built with proper DOT lighting. If the builder covers a light it is his responsibility to bring that light out so it is visible or to install an equal new light.

Note: a utility trailer purchased from a trailer manufacturer does not have the required clearance and identification lights (see below)

Chapter 8 of NFPA 1192 deals with Vehicular Requirements

Couplers must be adequately welded, bolted or riveted to transfer the minimum breaking load. They need a manually operated connection mechanism to prevent disengagement and offer a means for a padlock. Most of our inspections will be for a 2 5/16” coupler.

Photo from NFPA 1192. The tongue must be 35” long. There must be clear turning area 40” high from the ground and 47” long so as to not hit any part of the home until at least 41 degrees from the centerline of the home.

Safety chains need to be welded steel, color coded (class 1 is silver) and long enough to not go into tension during the above turning radius. They can be welded to the tongue or other attachment that is as strong as the chains themselves.

Chains must be oriented to prevent the tongue from dropping to the ground if the primary connection fails.

The rear of every vehicle must have a minimum of 2 running lights, two brake lights, a right and left turn signal and a tag light. Also two clearance lamps go as high as possible on the rear of the finished home and separated apart as much as practical. Three identification lamps also go as high as possible on the rear of the finished home, these lights are red. On the front two clearance lamps and three identification lights go as high as practical on the finished home. These are amber.

This additional light circuit for clearance and identification lights needs to be connected to be the green running lights circuit. A true tiny house trailer may have a plug in on the front and rear to easily connect these lights to. Otherwise you will have to splice the wire for these lights into the green running lights circuit.

A break away must be on every home weighing over 2976 lbs. Electric brakes must be on vehicles weighing over 6008 lbs. Most Tiny Houses on Wheels are over these minimums.

Rule of thumb; 20’ with loft, 10,000 lbs., 24’ with loft, 15,000lbs.,

Color coding for wires: