A double wide home or a mobile home is like a caravan, trailer home. It is prefabricated and is movable. It is built in a factory and can be transported as it has a chassis which can be attached to a truck or car. They make up for permanent homes for many people or holiday homes or temporary accommodations. They can be moved and are parked permanently or semi-permanently in a particular place for legal reasons.

They are like the caravan trailers and come in two sizes having axles, wheels, two hitches and strong frames these are covered by various installations. It is good as a vacation home, long travels, and temporary homes. It was originally marketed for those whose jobs required them to be mobile. It was in the 1950s that it was being sold as an inexpensive home. This could be installed permanently on a stone foundation. It was only eight feet wide only in 1956 that it was made 10 feet wide.

They were rectangular and created from aluminum panels, already painted and ready. This created a difference between these and travel/home trailers. The earlier versions could be moved by car but the ten feet required the help of trucking companies and required a state highway department permit.

History

In the 1960s and 70s became wider making their movement difficult. Now the ready to install, factory built is moved to the place where it is to be installed. The movement of such homes has reduced completely. Some states tax these homes as a part of the personal property if the wheels are attached and as real estate of the wheels is removed, also the removal of axles and tongue.

It was in 1976 that these mobile homes came to be called manufactured homes. Those who could not afford a traditional home or did not want to spend a large sum on a home started to see these factory-built houses as an alternative. And they were sold as an alternative home.

Build

They come in two sizes single and double wide homes. A single wide home is 18 feet wide and 90 feet in length. Double wide homes are 20 feet or wider and 90 feet long. It is towed to a site as two separate units and then joined. Triple wide units; having four, five or more units are also made. The homes built site is not moved but they can be sold to a dealer and a new home bought. Used homes are resold to different owners or sold to park owners who use them as rental units. Only five percent of the double wide homes will be moved.

They are parked in trailer parks or mobile home parks. The owners rent the space where they place their trailers. The home site provides utilities like water, electricity, gas, with garbage removal, pools, playgrounds, etc.

There are 38,000 parks in the USA, and many of them specialize in housing needs, retirement communities, many restrict residents to age 55 years and over, seasonal homes, vacation homes etc.

Double wide homes are built stronger and with high standards, and meet the codes for building in the area of location. This helps reduce the depreciation of the mobile homes. The number of double wide homes sold is more than single wides. They are sold more because they are very spacious. Single wides are popular in rural areas and have few restrictions. They are mostly used as temporary residents in a storm or natural disaster-hit areas.

Recent trends

A recent trend is a homeowner owning the land where the trailer is parked. Many operate them like club homes with pools, meeting rooms, etc. These homes are constructed under strict US specifications of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and federal code. The floor plan is available from 500 to 2300 sq ft. The single or multi-unit homes are affordable and available according to your needs and requirements.

Additions can be made to double wide homes, such as modular kitchens, steel appliances, bedrooms, closets etc. they have many amenities and floor plans available. They also have vaulted ceilings, tray ceilings, recessed lightings, cabinets, family rooms and entertainment rooms.

Modular homes are constructed in factories and transported to the sites by trucks. The homes are built under strict quality and conditions. They come as blocks which are put together. No construction delays happen because of rains and winds. They conform to all regulations and codes, banks recognize them as homes and can be refinanced, market trends are followed, the structure is approved by the inspectors, these homes are sturdy, custom built on site it takes 8 to 14 weeks to construct and the foundation is dug at the same time. The material is very resilient more so than on-site constructed homes.