We’ve been scouring the web for leads on a heavy duty equipment trailer since about the middle of December (2015). Let me tell you there are no lack of options, but just like making any well thought consumer decision, it can be challenging.

Starting in January, I had a string of correspondence with a guy I found on craigslist who builds custom trailers out of his backyard shop south of Portland. Understandably I had some hesitation about going this route, but it had its advantages too.

One of the challenges that we are facing is that we are going to be building on skids. The idea is that eventually we can pull the house off of the trailer and place it in its permanent home. To do that, we need the floor joists to clear the tires. Most dealer sold equipment trailers don’t accommodate that specific need. They are either too high, or there is not enough clearance from the decking to the top of the fender or wheel well.

So this morning at 7am we rented a U Haul truck and started the 4 and a half hour drive to Molalla, Oregon. Feeling like I needed to have my wits about me for the return trip, Amy made the drive down. And, to say we are inexperienced at driving with a trailer would be an understatement. I’ve driven a 200lb boat trailer a few times, but thats the extent of it.

On top of the idea that we are supporting a (somewhat) local small business, our entire experience with MS Metal Works went over without a hitch. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist!) And luckily there was in fact a hitch. Mike was finishing up wiring the trailer when we arrived, and entertained all of our questions while he deftly spliced wires and got us all squared away.

With only a few hiccups we arrived back in Port Townsend by about 8pm, and parked it out in front of the School of Woodworking. Drained but somewhat giddy, we’re going to bed knowing that this is really where it all starts.

Rewind to the middle of January of this year (2016). I didn’t think we could make it happen.

We had talked about building a house this year, but with the spring fast approaching we began to have our doubts as to if we could actually pull it off this summer. But then we struck some sort of luck.

Half way through my 12 week intensive Foundations of Woodworking course at the Port Townsend School of Woodworking, it came to my attention that the school was offering a class on tiny home timber frame construction. Even better, they were looking for a sponsor to take home one of the structures at the end of the course. Needless to say, we leaped at the opportunity.

Ill say this right off the bat. Neither of us has any experience timber framing. I’ve done my fair share of stick framing, but throwing in the additional challenge of learning a new trade, we needed some help if this is really going to happen.

Lets clarify a bit. We are not taking home a finished product. The class is going to be focusing on timber frame joinery techniques, with an emphasis on small structures or tiny homes. The goal of the class is to finish the frame and install wall and roof sheathing. The rest will be up to us.

With the motivation of a deadline fast approaching, we have been going full swing to make sure we have everything in order for this build. The most immediate challenge; awaiting the completion of our custom 20 foot trailer so that we can pick it up…. in Portland,OR.