Where can you park a Tiny House?

There are many different ways to answer this question, but the simple answer is that you can park your tiny abode wherever it is legal to park a regular RV. Laws differ regarding RVs in every county, so you’ll need to research your preferred parking location.

If you plan on traveling with your Tiny House RV, like we do, you can park in campgrounds, National Parks, State Parks, overnight parking lots, rest stops, etc. Always read signage to make sure that “RV overnight parking” is allowed before setting up your Tiny House. If you are visiting a friend or family member, you might park on their private land or residential driveway (assuming it is legal to park RVs on private land in that county). There are many options out there, just ask any RVer!

You can design your Tiny House for “off-grid” or “on-grid” parking. Your future parking location may depend on your choice of utilities. It’s a good idea to plan ahead and determine how flexible you’d like to be with parking and utility maintenance.

Ask yourself: Will I always have access to water and electricity? If you’d prefer to have off-grid electricity, consider designing your Tiny House with propane appliances to limit your electrical needs. If water will not always be available, you’ll need  a fresh water storage tank. The same goes for grey water and black water tanks if a sewer hook up is not available in your future parking spot.

Ask yourself: How hands on do I want to be with my utilities? Being off-grid might mean physically emptying your compost toilet, rotating your solar panels and filling your fresh water tank. If this does not appeal to you, perhaps a parking spot with full connections is more suitable to your particular needs.

10 Steps for Tiny House Parking and Set Up

If you are interested in the products used in this video, here are details (in order of appearance):

Step 1: Level Left & Right

Before detaching your tiny home from the tow vehicle, you’ll need to level left and right. Do this by driving onto wheel levelers on the side of your house that requires lift. After you are level right and left, secure your lifted wheels with wheel chocks.

Featured products:

• Andersen Levelers and Chocks
• Graduated Bubble Levels

Step 2: Detach 

Now you may detached your tow vehicle. This will require detaching your chains and cable(s). You will then lift your tongue jack until you can detach your trailer from your hitch.

Featured product:

• Andersen No-Sway No-Bounce Weight Distributions System

Step 3: Level Front & Back

Next you will level your tiny house front and back by lifting (or lowering) the tongue jack until your bubble levelers for front and back read level. If you need extra lift, try placing wood blocks under your tongue jack by carefully adjusting your scissor jacks to lift the tongue side of the house.

Step 4: Stabilize 

Stabilize your house by lowering your scissor jacks. Place tough pads under your jacks to protect the ground / pavement. Only lower your scissor jacks until they reach the ground and then one extra inch for good measure. This will help take the weight off of your tongue jack.

Featured product:

• Andersen Tough Pads
• Milwaukee Drill

Step 5: Connect Grey Water

Connect your RV sewer hose and run it either to the black water dump at your campsite, or a portable greywater tank.

Featured products:

• 15 Gal Thin Grey Water Tank
• 3′ Sewer Hose
• 15′ Sewer Hose
• Sewer Blade Valve
• Nature’s Head Toilet

Step 6: Connect Electricity

Connect electricity to the amp service at your campsite, a 110 outlet or to your external generator or solar system.

Featured products:

• Marinco 30 Amp Inlet
• Marinco 30 Amp / 15 Amp Pigtail Adapter 
• Heavy Duty 15 Amp Extension Cord
• Goal Zero Yeti 1250 Solar Generator
• Two 100W Renogy Solar Panels

Step 7: Connect Water

Connect your RV drinking water hose to a flowing water spigot. You can also fill your internal water tank using the same RV hose (or water jugs)  and then detach the hose for an off-grid water option. Make sure to turn on your water pump if you are using the water from your tank.

Featured products:

• 50′ Drinking Water Hose
• Hose Caps
• Water Inlet
• Stainless Steel Regulator
• Water Filter
• 46 Gal Water Tank
• Water Pump

Step 8: Exterior Set Up

For safety, lock your trailer with a receiver lock and pack away any external items in your tow vehicle or under the trailer.

Featured products:

• Receiver Lock

Step 9: Interior Set Up

Return your tiny home to its “liveable state.” Unpack any items that were stored for travel.

Featured products:

• Curtain Tension Rods
• Propane Cooktop
• Low Flow Showerhead
• Shower Diverter
• Chrome Shower Hose
• Chrome Shower Bracket
• Dometic 3 Way Fridge
• Sliding Storage
• Ottomans (modified)

Step 10: Relax!

I’ll let you write your own instructions for this one! Enjoy your tiny home in its new location.

*This post was originally written for and featured on Tumbleweedhouses.com