Putting a mobile home on a basement?

Cygnet · #1 12/14/05, 02:56 PM

I've heard of this done, but never seen one.

How practical would it be to put a mobile home on a basement? I'm thinking drive-in basement garage with large attached shop and storage, so this would not be a "finished" basement -- just some electric & lights run in, concrete floor, block walls. Stick the mobile home on top. Stairs on the OUTSIDE.

I'm sick of no storage space. Any place I buy or build in the future will have tons of storage!!!

Leva

comfortablynumb · #2 12/14/05, 03:12 PM

lots of people do that.. it takes a crane to set the house in some settings, some places the roll it on the block wall foundation/basement.

I saw one set on a TWO STORY block "basement"... it loked pretty stupid but... thats a 3 story mobile home!!!

too cool... i'd do it.

Fire-Man · #3 12/14/05, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cygnet

I've heard of this done, but never seen one.

How practical would it be to put a mobile home on a basement? I'm thinking drive-in basement garage with large attached shop and storage, so this would not be a "finished" basement -- just some electric & lights run in, concrete floor, block walls. Stick the mobile home on top. Stairs on the OUTSIDE.

I'm sick of no storage space. Any place I buy or build in the future will have tons of storage!!!

Leva

I am sure it could be done, but it will not be simple!! To start with the mobile home would have to be set on something solid to hold it up, like pillers/blocks. The blocks have to be so close together it would not allow room for anything large to be put under it, but with some beams etc, sure you could come up with something that would give you some room. Good Luck!! Randy

bare · #4 12/14/05, 03:21 PM

These folks http://www.mobilehomerepair.com/ put out an excellent book on mobile home repair, and it contains a section on building basements. Well worth the price, I highly recommend it.

mink · #5 12/14/05, 03:49 PM

they jack them ...put some cribbing then 2 steel beams and roll them into place....works real slick

tiogacounty · #6 12/14/05, 03:56 PM

Actually, it's not difficult and it's a common occurance in our rural area. A lot of local townships are now requiring that they are installed on a masonary crawlspace, as a minimum. On a single wide you install beam pockets on the long walls to allow steel I-beams to be installed across the foundation, flush with the top of the wall. The trailer is then pulled alongside of the backfilled foundation. the wheels are removed, and the trailer is slid on to the foudation. The gap between the siding and the top of the foundation wall is filled with concrete block, then stuccoed. Double wides are done in a simular manner.

BrahmaMama · #7 12/14/05, 04:01 PM

Lots of people do it up here! I once was in a double that had the basement stairs set at the front door (beside the living room)- nice banisters etc. it was beautifull! It really gives the feel like your not in a "trailer". Pop a nice wood stove or fire place in the basement and build a rec. room, toasty warm! Plus loads of space to boot!

If you can swing it financially, you'll never regret it!

Cygnet · #8 12/14/05, 04:05 PM

Thanks guys. I figured it'd be feasible but basements generally aren't done in this area. We don't get many really really bad storms, so basements are rare out here.

Leva

JAK · #9 12/14/05, 05:35 PM

Here they will put in a basement with a woodstove.
Usually see it done with a newer mobile home on private land.
They will add rigid insulatation and parging down 4' on the outside also. Toasty.

It is a good way to add square footage without having something too long and narrow. Most new mobile homes now are 16' wide and can be as short as 32' so they end up looking like small home with full basements, which is what they are.