The Case for Trailer Parks

The Atlantic ^ | October 24, 2014 | Alana Semuels

[2ndDivisionVet]

We had a rather nice triple-wide that I’d sell to the snowbirds and salesmen and an even bigger double-wide that was popular for the locals. Sunken living rooms, gourmet kitchens, jetted tubs, etc., etc.

[suijuris]

I know. Just had to say it though. However, I should have read all the post prior to mine. The picutre in post #8 says it all!

[goldstategop]

Its mass manufacture brought to the home.

When you can do this, you can lower prices and increase quality.

You have to shop around for the best deal.

[2ndDivisionVet]

I never sold one in Southern Mississippi that was headed for a park. They were all going on to privately owned land.

[wrench]

They do not have to go to trailer parks. Many local building codes allow them, and most all allow “modular” homes that are factory built, trucked to site, and lifted off the trailer and installed on real foundations, some with basements.

The only item I do not like is the plumbing and electrical. I am sure these can be upgraded, for a price, during construction. The electric crossovers are scary to me (but they meet code) and the PEX piping is not what I would choose, but it is up to code, as well.

[BenLurkin]

Earthquakes are also particularly unkind to mobile homes.

[BenLurkin]

Nice!

[Responsibility2nd]

Yeah.

Oakwood handed us a spec sheet and said “Go crazy”.

We wanted hardwood floors, sliding patio door, textured walls, this, that and the other, blah, blah, blah and etc.

By the time we were done with our “wish list”, we had pushed the base price up by over $15,000.

But its no different than ordering options on a car.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Most manufacturers will modify any model with nearly any reasonable alternative. They can do so much more easily than on a stick-built home.

[virgil283]

I like this article. Whenever I hear a cry for afordable housing I think of MH's.

When I was a teen I worked for a sub-contractor making roof truss for MH's and it was very weak stuff. Today the materials are the same as regular house construction.

[freedomfiter2]

Just the ones containing women and children.

[goldstategop]

Sure, you can buy a plot of land, get the necessary permits and have a home trucked and installed on your land.

A consideration if you want something that is move-in ready.

[Timber Rattler]

I like the manufactured homes, but a lot of banks and mortgage companies won’t finance them.

[bert]

I was a Red Cross disaster damage assessment volunteer. Trailer parks are very often developed by rural slum lords in bottoms subject to 50 year floods. Some trailers float for very long distances. Others get smashed into trees or banks where they just disintegrate

[palmer]

And many come with 2x6’

They have to otherwise they would fall apart on the trip.

[Responsibility2nd]

We’re thinking retirement. Smaller is better. (And cheaper too!)

The Oakcreak model 302 is high on our list.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=oak+creek+model+302&qs=n&form=QBIRMH&pq=oak+creek+model+302&sc=4-18&sp=-1&sk=

[21twelve]

Our neighbor bought his house, and my wife somehow mentioned “Yeah - it’s really nice. Hard to believe it’s a pre-built house.” The new neighbor didn’t believe it until he did more looking and research. He sold a little while later. The next owner added on to it - pretty fancy now.

[Tupelo]

Looks a little like mine. Without the grass.
We traded our stick built on it's postage stamp lot for a few acres and a 2200 sq fr factory built house in the Sonoran Desert. I for one would never go back to the burbs where the neighbor complain about the smell when you fart er break wind.

[wrench]

I installed them for a few years, and have been on “the shop floor” when they were building them (didn’t work in the factory, just picking up parts).

Take one that is 2 story, wrapped in OSB AND Hardie plank, plus architectural shingles ,and you can not get enough axles under a fulls sized one to keep from blowing tires.

[palmer]

PEX piping

Mine was built with glued PVC, but I would rather have the PEX. When I replace pieces I am doing it with PEX. Rigid piping and a ride on a truck don't agree well.