Transporting Mobile Homes: Costs and Procedures

May 12, 2020
 By Joe Weaver
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Transporting Mobile Homes: Costs and Procedures
Last Modified: February 2, 2024
Discover the real costs of transporting a mobile home. We've got your guide to transporting mobile homes, breaking down processes, and costs for a smooth transition. Get the facts, make your move.

Transporting a mobile home is no easy feat. If you think you can simply hitch up your home to a pickup and hit the road, it’s not that simple. From pulling the right permits to planning the route, there’s a lot to consider when moving a home. Safe and professional transport of a mobile home presents unique challenges, including navigating the structure through tight spaces, managing varying road conditions, and meeting stringent safety requirements.

  • The type of mobile home you’re moving
  • If it’s a single-wide or double-wide home
  • Pickup and delivery locations
  • Dimensions and weight of the home

Per the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA), transporting mobile homes presents unique logistical challenges. Before you arrange transport, some of the information you’ll need to know includes:

  • Type of mobile home
  • Pickup and delivery locations
  • Dimensions and weight of the home

Providing your mobile home transportation company with the information above will help make for an easy move.

The experts at  Heavy Haul and Oversized  can help make transporting a mobile home a simple process. We’ll break down the process for you and provide insight into mobile home movers. we have the expertise, experience, and services required to meet you heavy haul needs.

What is a Mobile Home?

A mobile home is a housing structure built in a factory. Interest in mobile homes is on the rise thanks to their safety and affordability. In fact, reports indicate that the number of new manufactured homes being shipped increased by 15% from 2015 to 2016. 

Manufactured homes are safe thanks to HUD codes. Fires in manufactured homes have decreased by ⅔ since 1980 thanks to these regulations.

The states with the most new manufactured and mobile homes are Texas, Florida, Michigan, Alabama, and Louisiana.

There are three common mobile home configurations:

  1. Single wide
  2. Double wide
  3. Triple wide

Even with the common configurations, sizes can vary. The width of your mobile home might need to meet regulations set by your state’s department of transportation.

New single wide mobile homes might be 14-18 feet wide. Older mobile homes are usually between 8-12 feet. Both new and old single wide mobile homes might be 66 to 90 feet long. This means single wide mobile homes can vary from about 750 to 1,050 square feet in total size.

Double wide mobile homes are bigger. They might be between 20-36 feet wide and 32-80 feet long. It is important to know that double wide mobile homes are transported in two halves. They usually travel on their own wheels and chassis. 

Triple wide mobile homes consist of three separate units that travel to the home site on their own chassis and wheels. Each unit or piece of the home is about the size of a single wide home. The pieces are then joined together at the home site. 

Triple wide mobile homes often look like site built homes. Their overall dimensions are 30 to 54 feet wide and 32 to 80 feet long.

If you need to move a smaller structure for storage purposes, read our article on shed transportation.

Is It Hard to Move a Mobile Home?

Mobile home transportation doesn’t come without challenges. Things that can make it difficult to move a mobile home include:

  • Finding the manufactured home moving company
  • Determining the cost to move a mobile home
  • Getting the right move permit(s) for transporting a mobile home
  • Planning a heavy haul route

Remember, a single wide mobile home can be moved in one shipment. A double wide mobile home requires two shipments. A triple wide or multi wide mobile home might require three or more shipments. Usually, double wide and triple wide  homes are shipped concurrently via multiple trucks. It’s safe to say that the size of the mobile home is a big factor in how difficult the shipping process will be.

The right transportation partner can help you find solutions to all of the challenges associated with moving a mobile home. From getting a mobile home shipping quote to pulling the right permits to planning the route, we’re ready to be your ally. We know the manufactured housing industry and can tailor a solution for you. 

Whether you’re moving a mobile office to a construction job site or delivering homes from a manufacturer to a mobile home park, we have the services you need.

A semi truck transporting a mobile home

How Much Does it Cost to Transport A Mobile Home?

The cost of moving a mobile home mostly depends on  the size of the home in question. Weight and distance traveled are also major considerations when calculating the cost when transporting a mobile home. 

Mobile home moving costs can differ by carrier, and you can expect the price to vary based on the size of your home. In the following table, we lay out how much you can expect professional movers to charge when hauling the most common mobile home sizes over a distance of 100 miles.

Mobile Home Transportation Costs

Trailer SizeCost Per MileTotal Per Hundred Miles
Single Wide$16.67$1667.00
Double Wide$41.67$4167.00
Triple Wide$58.33$5833.00

Prices averaged from costhelper.com

It’s also important to keep a few other costs in mind when considering transporting a mobile home:

  • How Long has Your Home Been in Place? If your home has been in the same place for a long time, you might need to make repairs to the chassis and wheels before it’s safe to go on the road.
  • Will You Need Set Up Services? Many heavy haul transporters do not offer these services, so this will be an additional cost.
  • Are You Responsible for Moving Skirting, Decking, and Landscaping? These costs might add up, too.

The best way to determine the cost of transporting a mobile home is to look into companies that may work with mobile home sellers in your area.  Heavy Haul and Oversized has freight experts you can speak with to make it easier to narrow down your options. . 

Read our article to learn how to transport a modular building.

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How to Transport a Mobile Home

So, just how are mobile homes moved? Transporting a mobile home takes some heavy lifting. It definitely isn’t a DIY job, and it should be left to the professionals. Moving a mobile home takes careful planning and preparation.

There are two options to move a trailer home: towing and trailering. 

When you hire a heavy haul transportation partner to tow a mobile home, the ground attachments are removed. Axles with wheels are installed. A powerful truck and experienced driver move your mobile home to the delivery location. Towing is best for short-distance moves.

Trailering a mobile home is almost as simple and is best reserved for long distance moves. Your mobile home will still have wheels and axles installed, but it will then be lifted onto a trailer designed to carry this kind of load. 

Heavy Haul and Oversized can help you with the necessary connections to get your home on the road, regardless of whether you need towing or trailering. We work with the best carriers in the business, which means you can count on us to ensure your valuable mobile home is treated with care from pickup to final delivery. 

You’ll need to provide your mobile home moving company with some specific information before you can get on the road. This includes:

  • Type of Mobile Home: Are you moving a manufactured house, park model home, tiny house or mobile office? 
  • Mobile Home Configurations: Are you moving a single wide, double wide or triple wide?
  • Pickup and Delivery Locations: Where is the mobile home going? Is it leaving a dealer, distributor, or manufacturer? Is it going to a mobile home park, a piece of rural property, or a job site? 
  • Route Planning: Heavy haul items can’t always take a direct route. Route planning is essential to protect infrastructure. 
  • Can the Home be Towed or Does it Need to be Trailered: Is your home oversize or legal? Are the wheels and chassis road-ready?
  • Necessary Permits: If your mobile home is an oversize load, your transport partner will need the right permits and moving materials. Is it an in-town move? Local permits might be needed. Crossing state lines? You might need permits in the states you’ll be passing through.
  • Set-up Services: If you’re working with a heavy haul trucking company to move your mobile home, you’ll likely need another party to set up your new digs. A licensed electrician might be needed. You might need a plumber. You also might need someone to attach wheels.

Whether you need to move a trailer home across state lines or just a few miles down the road, it's essential to hire a professional moving company with experience in this specialized field.

Read our article to learn how to transport a fiberglass pool.

How to Transport a Double Wide Mobile Home

A double wide mobile home is moved in two shipments. This means you’ll either need twotrucks or to make two trips. 

Just like with a single wide mobile home, a double wide can be towed or trailered. The method of moving you use depends on the distance you are transporting the home. Towing might work if the move is less than 100 miles; trailering is recommended for longer hauls. 

A triple wide mobile home will require three trucks or three trips to move. Just like with other mobile home sizes, towing each piece might work for a short move. Trailering each piece is recommended for a long move.

Regardless of whether you’re moving a single wide in one trip or a mult-wide in several trips, we’re ready to help you find the right services. 

Get professional advice for logistics that involve:

  • Determining load and lane widths
  • Arranging overpass clearance
  • Avoiding road construction
  • Dodging heavy traffic
  • Following state and local rules, like day-of-the-week and time restrictions

Leave the footwork to the experts,  and rest assured your home will arrive on time and in great shape.

Mobile home being transported through a mountain valley

Can You Transport a Mobile Home to Another State?

Mobile homes can be transported from state to state. In fact, Heavy Haul and Oversized can provide you with a list of providers during a consultation session with one of our heavy freight specialists. . 

You’ll need to keep a few things in mind when you transport a mobile home to another state. For example, you’ll need to do your homework when it comes to permits and inspections. You’ll likely need to get a permit for each county or state the home travels through. 

Thankfully, we can take care of this for you when you are transporting a mobile home. Making sure your heavy load has the right permits and travels the right route is part of our outstanding service. 

You may need a permit and inspection to move your mobile home to a new county, city, or state. Florida requires older mobile homes to be inspected before entering the state. This ensures that the home is safe and up to code.

Do you have small house you need to mover? Our article on transporting tiny homes will give you useful information on conducting this shipping service.

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What Is Needed to Move a Mobile Home?

It takes special equipment to transport a mobile home. Heavy loads like construction equipment, agricultural machinery and even mobile homes requires use of the right rig.

When you are trailering a mobile home, you’ll need a trailer that is designed to withstand the pressure of a heavy, oversize load. This means you’ll likely use a lowboy truck and trailer.

Specific trailer choices might include:

  • Step deck trailer
  • Double drop deck trailer
  • Removable gooseneck trailer (RGN)
  • Flatbed trailer

The right equipment and the right carrier can make transporting a mobile home an easy job. Why don’t you leave your next mobile home move to the experts at Heavy Haul and Oversized ? From cabs and trucks to support equipment, we’re here to help every mile of the journey. 

Count on us to know the right documents and permits, find the right equipment, and advise on operators to make sense of applicable fees and more.

Parts of a mobile home in a warehouse

Does a Mobile Home Have to Be Empty to Move?

Most mobile home movers and logistics partners won’t transport your home or mobile office unless it is completely empty. This means all furniture, appliances, and fixtures will have to go before transport.

You’ll also have to clear the exterior of the home. Exterior attachments like flower boxes, awnings, decks, porches, and other accessories will have to go before transport.

While you’re at it, go ahead and make sure all utilities are disconnected prior to the move. This means water, electricity, cable, phone lines, and satellite dishes must be removed. 

Emptying your mobile home goes hand-in-hand with essential tear down procedures. Before you move your mobile home, you’ll want to ensure that it is empty. You’ll likely need to raise and lower the home during transport. Doors and windows must be secured or removed before you hit the road, and the tongue and axles must be installed.

Benefits of Working with a Professional Heavy Hauler

Transporting a mobile home isn’t a DIY job. It takes careful planning, inspection, permits, route analysis, and more. You need a strong professional heavy hauler who is ready to go the extra mile and make sure everything is taken care of and correct. This adds up to a hassle-free experience for you.

Benefits of relying on Heavy Haul and Oversized for your professional heavy haul needs include:

  • An expansive carrier network
  • Family-owned company
  • Backed by financial strength
  • Years of experience in the heavy haul industry
  • Real-time freight visibility and tracking
  • 99.5% on-time delivery

There are many benefits to partnering with us. See how we’re ready to be your professional heavy haul trucking company.

Transporting a Mobile Home with Heavy Haul and Oversized

More than a heavy hauler, Heavy Haul and Oversized is a full-service 3PL. This means we’re here for you when you need help transporting mobile home and beyond. We can assist you with every link in your supply chain. Full truckload, LTL, expedited and even refrigerated freight services can be arranged. We also offer warehousing, distribution and fulfillment services. 

Our dedicated heavy hauling services include:

What sets us apart from the competition is our distinctive customer service. Our friendly freight agents understand you’re more than a number, and will go out of their way to suit your needs when you reach out for a quote. 

Let us show you how Heavy Haul and Oversized is different. Come to us when you need help transporting a mobile home. Reach out online or give us a call at (855) 490-2433 today.

4 comments on “Transporting Mobile Homes: Costs and Procedures”

  1. Hi, I am in Oahu Hawaii. I have property that I would like to put a single wide mobile home trailer on. I plan on purchasing a new mobile home in CA and having it shipped to Hawaii.

    Can you please give me a rough estimate of how much it would cost to have it delivered to MATSON, in CA?

    Any other info would be helpful thanks!

    1. Hi, Jayden! Please give us a call at (866) 353-7178 and one of our friendly agents would be happy to provide more information!

      Thanks,
      Laura
      USATruckloadShipping.com

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