Ahoy! Long time between posts and apologies for the radio-silence.
Shortly before completing the majority of our P2 guesthouse space and having guests stay in succession, I was contacted by the daughter of an elderly friend of Heidi’s who was a single woman looking to both downsize and give herself affordable living autonomy in this crazy real estate market (hell). I offered my services with the caveat that my skillset was limited to semi-trailer tiny homes and that was something she quickly agreed to. We were able to show her a couple of examples of semi-trailer tiny homes and it is easy to see the virtues.
Fast forward 11 months, and I am reminded at how much work is involved in building a house (especially when you do it all yourself!) and how little I have been updating my progress (hence the lack of posts on this blog!). It was somewhat liberating not to film everything I was doing this time around like when I built our place, but I’m sure I’ll miss seeing the evolution of all the work once it is done. I’ve included a little gallery of pics here to give you an idea and I’ll do a proper “tour” once it is done. Here is a walk-through I did about 75% of the way through:
The final Build episode in our second semi-trailer project (P2) is a progressive update looking at the evolution of the guesthouse bedroom and bathroom. Mike does the final major edits to the industrial space to reveal a beautiful view and an attractive space for him and Heidi to offer guests some comfortable hospitality!
Follow along to see how Mike achieves some of his affordable and creative solutions that you can apply to your own projects! This episode features the final touches on the bedroom space including a DIY murphy bed, some funky ceiling and detail finishing and a major overhaul of windows in the bathroom. All in time for some visitors!
The third episode in our second semi-trailer project (P2) is a progressive update looking at the evolution of the guesthouse bedroom. Mike aims to craft a space that belies the dark and unfriendly nature of this industrial container into a cozy guest quarters.
Follow along to see how he achieves some of his ideas with affordable and creative solutions that you can apply to your own projects! This episode features the completion of the overall bedroom space, some funky ceiling finishing, easy-to-DIY cabinet-making, lighting tips and ensuite bathroom progress.
Tips and Tricks: the Design Principles that we used for our semi-trailer home
To get the most out of your limited space in a tiny house, it pays to examine some specific design principles that will help you maximise the perception of your space. On the journey in building our semi-trailer tiny home, we focused on these main concepts. While our space is unique, there are many design principles that can apply to any tiny house or other small space. Let’s have a look at our Top 5!!
What sorts of things should you consider when thinking about building your tiny house out of an ex-refrigerated semi-trailer? It is a great way to build especially for DIYers, but there are things to watch out for as well. Mike looks at his top 5 pros and top 5 cons for going this route for your future tiny home.
Check out the video at the bottom of this post if you’d rather watch than read 🙂
The Surprising Pros and Cons of Building a Tiny House Inside a Semi-Trailer
If you’ve ever looked at a tiny house and thought, “I love it… but could I possibly have more space, more stability, and a little less anxiety?” — then let me welcome you into the peculiar, underrated world of the ex-refrigerated semi-trailer tiny house.
Heidi and I live in two of these gentle giants, and over time we’ve learned what works, what doesn’t, and what simply makes you smile and shake your head at your own life choices.
Here are the top pros and cons — the things you absolutely want to know before diving into one of these beasts.
The Pros: Why a Semi-Trailer Makes an Amazing Tiny Home
1. The Sheer Size (It’s Basically a Studio Apartment on Wheels)
It still surprises people when they step inside. A typical refrigerated trailer is around 12–13 metres long, 2.5 metres wide, and 2.7 metres high inside. That gives you a huge rectangular canvas — no odd angles, no quirky rooflines, no sloping ceilings designed for hobbits.
Just… space.
Space to design. Space to breathe. Space to spread out your tools and pretend you know exactly what you’re doing.
And when you’re building a tiny home, that simplicity is priceless.
2. The Price (Yes, Really)
This is where semi-trailers quietly destroy the competition.
Our two trailers cost $10,000 total — that’s 64 square metres of ready-made structural envelope for less than the price of a bare tiny house chassis.
Walls, roof, floor, frame — all done. Made from fibreglass, steel, and aluminium built for endurance.
In tiny-house-land, that’s a unicorn-level bargain.
3. The Ease of Building (A First-Time Builder’s Dream)
The joy of building inside a semi-trailer is that the structure is already doing the heavy lifting.
Want a door? Cut the hole, weatherproof it, pop the door in.
No structural framing. No load-bearing walls. No engineering anxiety about whether that cute light fixture secretly weighs as much as a small goat.
Inside, weight restrictions vanish. Marble benchtops? Concrete floors? Go wild.
It’s the closest thing a DIY builder will ever get to playing a life-sized version of The Sims.
4. Road Safety and Stability (A Heavy Beast Is a Safe Beast)
A semi-trailer is built to carry 35 tons at full load, cruising down highways like it’s nothing.
So your tiny house ends up with:
Airbag suspension
Massive wheels
A bulletproof steel chassis
Remarkable stability in all weather
Compared to towing a lightweight tiny house, this thing is a zen monk rolling down the freeway.
5. No Loft Living (Depending on Who You Are, This Is Glorious)
Some people love lofts. Some people love not smacking their head at 2am because they forgot to duck.
We chose single-level living: high ceilings, no ladders, no crawling into bed like a tired cat.
We even installed a lift bed to reclaim floor space when needed.
Bonus: Giving Industrial Waste a Second Life
Each trailer is around 15 tons of metal and fibreglass. Most end up rusting in paddocks.
Repurposing one is an act of quiet environmental kindness — rescuing literal tonnes of material from landfill and turning it into a home.
The Cons: What You Need to Know Before Buying One
1. You’re Building Inside an Old Vehicle
Let’s be honest — these things spent their lives hauling frozen goods across Australia.
Expect rust, dents, roof repairs, bowed walls, and strange angles that test your patience.
The cheaper the trailer, the more quirks you inherit. You’re buying character… sometimes more than you bargained for.
2. It’s… a Big Box
If you dream of a tiny cottage with a pitched roof and storybook charm, this may not scratch that itch.
Semi-trailers are functional rectangles. You can beautify them, but they’ll still be rectangles with a very practical past.
3. Flat Roof = No Easy Rainwater Harvesting
The flat roof simplifies building but complicates water collection.
If you’re off-grid, you’ll need a false roof, angled structure, or separate catchment setup. Skylights can add another layer of complexity.
4. The Monster Tires
Six per trailer. Twelve total. Each one is $1,000 new or about $100 used.
They elevate the house beautifully and give great under-floor access, but they also age, crack, and occasionally explode at inopportune times.
5. Moving Isn’t Something You Do on a Whim
To move a semi-trailer tiny house, you need:
A heavy-duty truck
A driver
Scheduling
A little luck
You can’t just hitch it to your family ute and head off. If you ever need to move quickly — bushfires, land issues — it takes planning.
Final Thoughts
Semi-trailer tiny houses aren’t for everyone, but they’re incredible for the right person.
If you value space, stability, affordability, and the satisfaction of upcycling a multi-tonne industrial relic into a cosy home… this might be the path for you.
I hope this guide helps you think through your options. If you want to explore your own ideas or run designs by someone who’s made all the mistakes already, I’m always happy to help.
Progress of the transformation of our second semi-trailer has happened in fits and starts, but I’ve seen some real transformation with our bedroom and bathroom areas. Slowed by factors like economic issues, the silly season and focusing on other business ideas, things haven’t been chugging along as I’d like, but sometimes the foundational work appears to be slow. Slap a coat of paint on something, implement a final component and suddenly you can gain inspiration and motivation with where the project is going.
My second video instalment in the building update of this second semi-trailer attachment (P2) to our main home (P1) (whose build I covered in an extensive video series between 2019-2022) shows some significant aesthetic changes from the original tour video I did of P2 in which I had already jumped ahead with some of the work I had done to form the basis of this new phase of building. In that sense, this video series will be far less comprehensive than the original P1 series as I started this project with no interest in filming it and then of course regretted that when I decided it would be a cool idea. Lesson learned: just film some stuff anyway…you can always just ignore/delete it if you don’t need it.
Anyway, here’s Episode 2! Thanks for watching and being a part of the journey ☺️💚✌🏼
It was a pleasure to be asked to join tiny house expert and aficionado Ethan Waldman on his The Tiny House podcast recently while I was in Canada (Ethan is based in Vermont). He has done hundreds of episodes and has a great blog and channel interviewing tiny house owners from all over and diving into all-things tiny living.
Throughout this episode, Ethan and I chatted about the lifestyle and building journey that Heidi and I have done, exploring not just the practical aspects of the build like custom cabinetry and space-saving features like our innovative elevator bed, but also the sustainable lifestyle that drives us. We got into the nitty-gritty of what converting a semi-trailer entails, creating a comfortable and functional living space, as well as addressing the challenges and rewards such a project brings. I appreciated being asked to come onto the programme and the smart questions and curious nature of Ethan. Thanks for the opportunity and I hope you had some interested listeners!
I am thrilled to introduce our guest, Mike Crowhurst, a seasoned tiny house dweller and the creative mind behind one of the most unique tiny homes I’ve seen in a while! Mike and his wife Heidi spent three years crafting a 45-foot ex-refrigerated semi-trailer into a gorgeous tiny home. Throughout this episode, we'll dive into Mike's journey of tiny house living, exploring not just the practical aspects like custom cabinetry and space-saving features like an innovative elevator bed, but also the sustainable lifestyle that drives him. We'll also get into the nitty-gritty of converting a semi-trailer into a comfortable and functional living space, addressing the challenges and rewards such a project brings. So buckle up as we get a tour of Mike’s impressive tiny house and learn how he has optimized every inch of his home for maximum living.In This Episode:🚚 Tiny House Towing Challenges: The intricacies involved in transporting a tiny house safely, including the type of vehicle required and the importance of professional trucking expertise to avoid potential hazards.🏠 Semi-Trailer Conversion Journey: Mike's personal adventure of converting a 45-foot refrigerated semi-trailer into a sustainable and innovative tiny home.❄️☀️ Insulation and Climate Adaptation: The insulation options used in the semi-trailer, Mike's additional insulation efforts, and adaptation to the Adelaide climate.💡 Procuring a Trailer: Insight into the process of acquiring a semi-trailer, highlighting considerations like checking for rust, maintenance history, and tips on where to find decommissioned trailers.🗄️ Tiny House Storage Solutions: Mike outlines the storage enhancements in his tiny home, describing various built-in options that maximize space without creating a cramped feeling.🛏️ Elevator Bed Innovation: The unique design and functionality of the elevator bed in the tiny house are explained, showcasing how space-saving features contribute to the minimalist lifestyle.🤝 Online and Real-Life Communities: Encouragement for listeners to seek advice and share experiences within the tiny house community, both in-person and online, to foster collective wisdom and support.Send us a textSupport the showListen. Subscribe. Rate. Review. Apple Podcasts Spotify More… Follow Ethan. Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Facebook Want to say 'thank you' for the show? Buy me a coffee!
Do tiny house tyres explode? Unlike some tiny houses which live on small trailers and get propped up off their tiny wheels when parked, it’s a bit different with our semi-trailer home.
In this short video, we respond to questions of how durable our tiny home tyres are and how we have prepared for their support and maintenance. Enjoy and thanks for watching! 💚
We recently squeaked into the 2023 line-up of tiny house featured on Bryce Langston’s Living Big In A Tiny House series and that now includes the Christmas round-up. There are some amazing homes this year and the video features a holiday messages from their owners. We are lucky to be included in this collection as there are some exceptional designs and stories from other tiny home builders. Have a look at this spirited video and have a fantastic Christmas season! 🎄🍾🥳 🎉
If you missed the original video tour of our tiny house, you can find it here…
the.semitrailer.project.P2 : : Build update – Dec 2023
A new chapter with a new semi-trailer project! This overview tour gives you a sneak peek at progress to date of the second half of our semi-trailer tiny home. Mike discusses what we’ve completed and future plans to come for this guest space, storage area and fancy bathtub room ☺️
With this new chapter, we hope that you find inspiration and creativity for your own project and minimalist vision. Enjoy and thanks for watching! 💚
Big Tiny Adventure 