Figure Out Your Mobile Home Transport Cost & Know Your Options

One thing many don’t people realize about modern mobile or manufactured homes is that they’re not really that mobile. However, sometimes there’s no other option and you just need to buckle down and do it. In this article, we’ll shine a light on all the mobile home transportation costs you can expect so that you can calculate what you might need to cough up.

Factors that affect mobile home transport cost

Distance

Because it is an inherently challenging task, movers usually have a minimum price no matter how local the move is. You can expect to pay $1,000 at the very least for a move, no matter where you are taking the home.

Generally speaking, transportation can cost between $1,000 to $13,000 for a move that is shorter than 100 miles. This number can vary from mover to mover. However, past a certain distance, you usually start paying per mile. This rate is usually around $10 but also depends on the home itself.

Size of the home

It only makes sense that the bigger and heavier a home is the harder it is to move, which directly affects the mobile home transport cost. The width of a manufactured home makes it particularly difficult as you have to navigate the roads meant for much narrower vehicles. A single-wide has a width of under 18 ft. while a double wide has a width of more than 20 ft. and is towed in two separate units.

This means that you will pay per section if you move a double-wide. You can expect to pay almost twice as much to move a double-wide. To move a single-wide should be around $1,000-$5,000 while a short double-wide move should be around $5,000 to $10,000. The same goes for the per mile rate.

Whether an escort is needed

Some moves may require escort cars to drive all the way with the home. This could be decided by the local authorities issuing the permit, be required by the size of the home or it might just be how the particular mover operates. Expect to pay another $1-$2 per escort car per mile.

The weight of the home

This is usually not such a big factor. However, more and more movers are taking it into account as manufactured homes are becoming heavier and heavier. This might come in to play as an extra flat rate cost or a per mile rate.

Possible additional costs

Preparation for transport

It’s not as easy as strapping a trailer to a truck and start pulling. Some movers include a preparation service or you might be forced to do this first if there is a problem with your mobile home. This service can cost around $1,000-$2,500 and includes:

• Disconnecting utilities.
• Separating the two sections in the case of a double-wide.
• Adding protective material to the outside of the home.
• Tying down loose appliances/furniture.
• Repairing/replacing the tires ($50 per tire), axle ($100-$200) or hitch ($200-$300).
• Loosening the home from its foundation.
• Removing items that need to be moved separately (skirting, outdoor features, etc.)

Setup at a new location

The home will also need to be set up at its new location. Because this is almost impossible for the average owner to do on their own, most moving services include this as an extra service. The typical cost is around $2,500 but can be anywhere from $1,000-$5,000. It could include:

• Placing the home on its new foundation, tying it down, and making sure it’s level.
• Connecting it to utilities.
• Reattaching anything that was removed for the move (skirting, outdoor features, etc.).

Permits

If your head is already spinning at all the costs involved, don’t worry! Any permits required by the local authorities across which states you move usually pale in comparison to the actual transportation costs (around $20). Most movers even include it in the quoted price. However, it’s best to make sure, since not having a permit can land you in legal trouble and void the insurance on your home.

What are your options?

Do it yourself?

Most manufactured homeowners aren’t scared of tackling any challenge on their own. However, we’d strongly advise against trying to move a mobile home by yourself. Moving a thousand square feet plus, 40-50 ton object is no walk in the park. Neither is all the preparation and setup services required before and after.

If not done properly, it could not only make the move extremely difficult and land you in “hot water” with the law, but it can jeopardize the integrity of your home. There is a very good reason that it becomes harder to finance a home the more times it has been moved – the chances of something going wrong and damaging the structure of the home is just too big.

The only way to tow the home by yourself would be to hire a truck, assuming you have a license. You will also need to hire some extra pairs of hands, rent a crane to lift and move the home, etc. Not to mention, you need to know how to disconnect and connect utilities, separate and join the sections of a manufactured home (if you have a double-wide), and check for any damage to the chassis.

See if it’s included in the price

If you either buy your home new or from a wholesaler/reseller, the chances are good that they will take care of all the transportation for you. Manufacturers often include the transportation at no extra cost when you buy the home. Wholesalers might require you to pay an extra fee to move the home to a specific area.

Helpful tips to get you moving

Reading this article, you already probably noticed why moving a mobile home is so hard and, as a result, so expensive. If you’re looking for a few ways to cut your mobile home transport costs when moving a home, we provide some budget-friendly tips here. It might also be worth finding out what the value of your home is to decide if moving it is worth it.