21414 NE Sandy Blvd, Fairview OR 97204 --- 503-667-9358
Frequently Asked Questions
What to look for in a trailer
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PAD Series™ - Tiny House Trailers
Standard Feature
Extra Wide Frame
We've maximized our standard frame width to the towable limit without needing special trip permits. The frame extensions are 100 inches wide with the fenders being at the legal highway limit of 102 inches. A little extra room makes a big difference inside a tiny house. When it comes to tiny houses, wider is better..
Standard Feature
Recessed Crossmembers
We attach the crossmembers underneath the frame which allows for six inches of floor insulation without having to elevate your subfloor at all. There's room for full size 2x6 lumber as floor joists so there's no need for steel support in contact with your subfloor.
Standard Feature
Anchor Holes
5/8 inch diameter anchor holes located about every 24 inches along the main frame to permanently attach your rim joist along the interior length of the main frame using 4 inch long bolts. You then use joist hangers to attach floor joists to the rim joist for an easy and very solid floor structure.
Standard Feature
Perimeter Flanges
Perimeter flange on all sides of the trailer, engineered to support and anchor your walls and roof. Made of 3/16 inch thick mild steel which you can easily drill through. Simply create anchoring bolt holes wherever your design requires for a rock solid foundation.
Standard Feature
All LED Lighting
LED lights are the only lights we use. They require less power and are brighter than incandescent lights. They're completely sealed and impervious to water and corrosion. And most importantly, they always work when you need them.
Standard Feature
Axle Placement
A significant reason to buy a dedicated tiny house trailer (whether it's an Iron Eagle or some other brand) is proper axle positon. We've positioned the axles of our tiny house trailers for optimal balance and towing characteristics. Tiny houses typically have a unique center of gravity and can pose balance and stability challenges when built on a trailer that's designed for hauling a car.
Optional Feature
Leveling Jacks
A set of four leveling jacks that are attached under the frame at each corner. They are used to stabilize the trailer frame during the construction of your home as well as leveling your home at its destination. We weld brackets to the frame then bolt the leveling jacks to the brackets easy future replacement if damaged. Most tiny house trailers we've seen have the leveling jacks permanently welded directly to the frame. This is fine unless a jack needs to be replaced.
Optional Feature
Fender Flashing
Fender flashing is a weather barrier that stops water from migrating across the top of the wheel fenders and into your house. The fender flashing follows the contour of the fender in line with the edge of the front and rear frame extensions. A typical tiny house build will have the siding extending down below the edges of the side extensions except at the fenders where it must butt up to the contour of the fenders.
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PAD Series™
Iron Eagle . . . The very best trailer for your tiny house and here's why
EXPERIENCE -- We built our first tiny house trailer in 2006 for one of the founding pioneers of the tiny house movement, the legendary Dee Williams. Since then, we have worked continuously with Dee and her organization PAD (Portland Alternative Dwellings) to improve the design of our tiny house trailers. We've become the absolute very best trailer you'll find.
SUPERIOR DESIGN -- Trailers designed and built specifically for tiny houses. Every detail of the frame is tailored for supporting a tiny house structure and its contents. For example, the crossmember supports are recessed six inches below the top of the frame to accommodate 2x6 floor joists and insulation to eliminate thermal bridging without sacrificing any floor height. The frame is pre-drilled to anchor your floor joist ledgers and wall bottom plates. The axles are positioned significantly forward compared to a typical flatbed trailer. A tiny house distributes its weight on a trailer frame much differently than typical cargo so we've determined the optimal axle offset that's best suited to accommodate a tiny house. Our design isn't simply a modified flatbed; it's designed from the ground up for one purpose only . . . to be the ultimate foundation for your tiny house.
WIDER -- When it comes to tiny living, every inch of extra space matters. The overall width of the fenders are at the maximum legal limit of 8'-6'' (102''). We've also extended the width of the frame ahead of and behind the fenders to 8'-4'' (100'') to maximize usable space. We've intentionally left the frame side extensions 2 inches narrower than the legal limit to accommodate the thickness of exterior siding and trim to remain within the legal highway width limit. If your plans require the frame to be narrower than the standard 100", no problem. We can build the trailer with frame extensions widths of 98", 96", 94", 92", 93", or 90" at your request without additional charge.
STRONGER -- Nearly 100% of the frame is constructed of square and rectangular tubing. There are many types of steel that can be used in the construction of a trailer frame. Tubing has the most resistance to twisting compared to other common types of steel. We've chosen tubing as the main component for the frame due to its superior ability to remain flat and rigid despite the inevitable uneven loads that your tiny house will impose on it.
LIGHTER -- The less your trailer weighs, the more your house can weigh, it's that simple. A standard flatbed car hauler type trailer is structurally built with far too much weight where it's not needed (between the fenders) as far as a tiny house is concerned. They're built well for their intended purpose - hauling cars & equipment - but not for a tiny house. The structural weight of our tiny house trailers is concentrated at the outside of the frame to support your walls and roof. The inside of the frame requires very little load bearing load bearing support so we install smaller and lighter cross members to minimize weight. Our 20' tiny house trailer weighs less than 1800lbs. A typical 20' equipment hauling flatbed trailer weighs in excess of 2300lbs and it's still much narrower than our dedicated tiny house trailer.
ENERGY EFFICIENT -- A tiny house built on a trailer that has not been designed to minimize the effect of thermal bridging will cost more to heat in the winter and cool in the summer. Steel is an excellent conductor of heat. Any metal framework that's in direct contact with your subfloor, no matter how much insulation is installed will reduce the energy efficiency of your tiny home. Our frame design significantly reduces the proximity of steel framework to your living space.
MORE SIZES -- We build an extensive selection of tiny house trailer sizes. All of our tiny house trailers have a standard frame width of 100 inches. The trailer lengths vary, ranging from 10ft to 30ft in 2 foot increments. Our 10' and 12' long trailer is equipped with a single 5000 Lb rated axle. The 14' through 20' trailers are equipped with tandem 5,000 Lb rated axles. The 22' through 26' trailers are equipped with tandem 7,000 Lb rated axles. Our 28' and 30' trailers are equipped with triple 7,000 Lb rated axles. Radial tires and all wheel brakes are standard features on every trailer we make. Even though we offer a wide range of sizes, we've made choosing the right trailer surprisingly easy. 95% of choosing the right tiny house trailer is simply letting us know what the length of your tiny house is.
SUPERIOR VALUE -- We're simply the best at what we do and we do it for less. We've seen a lot of tiny house trailers over the years so we know what's out there. We've talked to hundreds of tiny house builders about their needs and concerns. We've collaborated with experts in dozens of organizations dedicated to tiny house construction. All of which has helped us to create the best design available anywhere. In essence, we are the best choice for your tiny house trailer.
FREE TWEAKS -- No two tiny houses are the same. You may want french doors on the side of the trailer behind the wheels but the fenders are a little bit in the way. You might want larger overhanging eaves but the frame side extensions are too wide. No problem. If we're building your tiny house trailer and you need the wheels and fenders positioned forward or backwards a bit or the side extensions narrower than 100 inches, just let us know and that's all there is to it. If you need either or both of these tweaks for your tiny house, just let us know and consider it done! The best part of these tweaks is ... they're absolutely FREE!
Please call us with any questions you may have at 503-667-9358
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