FAQs | Wind River Built | Luxury Tiny Homes, Modular Homes & ADUs

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Get Started FAQs.

Where are you located?

We are proud to be located in Cleveland, TN, just outside of Chattanooga, but we have clients living in Wind River homes all throughout the country.
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For Tiny Homes: We are happy to coordinate delivery of your new tiny home anywhere in the continental U.S. If you live outside of the continental U.S., we can deliver your tiny house to the nearest border for your freight forwarder.

Can I remove the wheels off my tiny home? What type of foundation is needed?

We get this question a lot and first it's important for us to understand if you are asking because of aesthetic reasons or because of the local ordinances where you plan to place the home. Our homes are certainly meant for full-time living.

Our Tiny Homes on Wheels (THOW) that are certified as Park Model RVs. They are built directly onto our custom trailers and can ship across the country. Most customers are placing their homes in permanent or semi-permanent setups. The wheels can be removed and stored, and the home skirted/decked on site to give it the appearance of a foundation build. Here is more detail on what that looks like. In short: you don’t need to pour a slab for your tiny home to park on, it will perform well on a level gravel area. However, it does need to be leveled and supported. We recommend concrete block piers for stabilizing and leveling the home.

If you are asking about foundations due to your local ordinances/restrictions on park models, it's important to understand what this means as far as the kind of building you will be looking for. Regardless of whether you leave the wheels on or remove them, the code to which the home is built still classifies it as an RV (see the next FAQ). If you're looking for something without a trailer frame, this would be off-site modular construction. There are different codes for this class of building. Make sure you check out our modular offerings!

If you’re looking into a specific city/county that you want to stay within, and they are requiring the home be on a "permanent foundation," it's worth asking them to define what this means, as they may find block/pier foundation acceptable. Here is an additional resource on Navigating Zoning Ordinances.

To what code do you build your tiny homes on wheels?

Without getting overly technical, we know that some people have to dive deep in order to get answers about tiny home legality and quality standards. Wind River’s tiny homes are certified as Park Model Recreational Vehicles (RV’s) by Pacific West Associates, an accredited RV engineering firm. Our tiny homes are required to be built to codes and standards set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). These codes deal with structural integrity, fire safety, and various other precautions and quality standards. These are the same standards that the RV Industry Association (RVIA) uses (RVIA is not a separate certification, only a different certifying agent).

What’s the difference between an RV and a Park Model RV?

Within the previously mentioned RV building codes, Park Model RV’s are distinguished from typical RV’s in that they are oversized for traveling on public roads and/or are meant to be hardwired into an electric grid rather than with an RV plug. Park Model RV’s are meant for long-term stays and are less likely to be moved. Some local jurisdictions only allow tiny homes with Park Model RV certifications, so it’s important to know your local ordinances.

What’s the difference between a modular home and a manufactured home or mobile home?

There are very important differences between modular homes and manufactured or mobile homes. Modular homes are residential homes that are built off-site. Manufactured/mobile homes refer to homes that are built to HUD code and manufactured on a moveable chassis. The primary advantages of modular homes is that they can be placed in any location that a traditional home would be, and there are significant differences in quality due to modular homes passing more stringent regulations and inspections. Modular homes are built to the same or better standards as traditionally built homes. Wind River homes are built to last a lifetime, using only high-quality, trusted materials and high standards for craftsmanship.

Are you still doing school bus conversions?

We love our Skoolie projects from the early Wind River days, but our growth has taken us in other directions.

Financing FAQs.

What financing options are there for tiny homes?

We have various lending partners available to help fund your tiny home project. The lender we will recommend for you will depend on your budget and plan for placement. It’s best to talk with us about your project before applying for financing so we can guide you in the right direction. First, you’ll need to have a clear plan for where the home will be headed. Get in touch with us to start the process and we’ll send you additional information about financing options.

What financing options are there for modular homes?

Completed modular homes finance the same way as traditional homes. They are eligible for conventional financing, as well as FHA, USDA, and VA loans. The application process and loan terms will be the same as any other home. If your project needs a construction loan, that is possible by traditional means as well, your loan officer and underwriter will just need to understand the different timeline and construction method.

Do you offer in-house financing?

The need for better financing options is an industry-wide issue. The list of lending partners continues to grow as more and more states pass tiny home friendly ordinances. We are proud to partner with banks that offer RV loans suited for tiny homes, with favorable terms and rates. We hope to offer in-house financing in the future, but for now we are happy to point our customers in the right direction for the current available options. Get in touch to find out how we can help guide you through the process.

Design FAQs.

How much can I customize?

Whatever your style, we have many creative ways to help your home or development project stand out.

‍For multi-build development projects, we’ll create a fully custom, branded design that meets your vision and is unique to your brand.

‍For individual builds, we can help guide your inspirations through our design process to a cohesive design that’s a perfect fit. While our Wind River floor plans are fixed, the look and feel is customizable. Rooflines, exterior siding and accents, and color palettes all shape the look and feel of your home. The interior aesthetic can also be customized with our wide selection of material and color options—from farmhouse to modern and everywhere in-between. Check out our Wind River Catalog to learn more.

Which of your homes are off-grid capable? Do you do solar?

Any of our tiny home on wheels models can be built with off-grid capabilities. Talk with us about your site’s utility requirements early on, as we’re able to be flexible with appliances, alternative toilets, etc. If you’re considering solar power, we strongly recommend reading our blog post on tiny home solar best practices and recommendations. Any of our homes can be connected to a solar system; however, panels, batteries, and other solar components are not within our scope. See also our FAQ regarding alternative toilet options. While most of our clients are connecting to conventional water supplies, off-grid water solutions are also compatible with the home’s standard connections. Get in touch with us to go over your off-grid questions in more depth.

Can you build tiny homes on wheels for tough winter conditions?

Yes we can. We’ve shipped homes as far north as Alaska and Maine, as well as the high-wind-zone mountains of Colorado. We use closed cell spray foam insulation (which is the highest R-value for our application) on the walls, ceiling, and underbelly of the trailer. In conjunction with our Tuff Rib metal roofing, we use extra reinforcements in our framing to handle heavy snow loads. We also use ZIP System sheathing in combination with Marvin brand fiberglass windows to create an airtight envelope for our homes. We may also recommend a winter upgrade package depending on your tiny home destination, including auxiliary heat solutions. And finally, get in touch to ask us about the different seasonal energy efficiency ratios (SEER) of our air conditioning systems.

What are the options for toilets for my tiny home on wheels?

Our homes can be equipped with different kinds of toilets depending on your site plan. Our standard is a gravity-flush toilet for septic connection. We also have options for a Nature’s Head composting toilet or Cinderella incinerating toilet. So whether you’re hooking up to septic or going off-grid, we can use systems that suit your needs and comfort level.

Do you have a showroom?

Our production facility and design studio are our showroom! Our homes are built-to-order at our 92,000 sq ft production facility in Cleveland, TN. Tours can be scheduled by appointment for current and potential clients. Can’t make it out for a visit? You can also see more of our beautiful homes on our social media accounts. Some of our clients have their Wind River homes available for short-term rentals on various booking platforms. Get in touch with us if you’d like more information.

Developer FAQs.

Do you have a showroom?

How do I get into your build schedule?

We’re honored you’re considering Wind River as your tiny home builder!

Tiny Homes on Wheels: The first step to getting into our schedule is making sure you have a place to park and have your funding secured. If you plan to finance, you’ll likely need a quote from us to complete your loan application. When these key items are solidified or in motion, we can move forward with quoting your build.

Modular Homes: Our client experience is very important to us. In order to assist you, you’ll want to first achieve project viability for your modular home. You’ll need the survey for the property where the modular home will be installed, as well as a clear understanding of your budget.

In the discovery phase, we speak with you one-on-one to understand your unique wants and needs and walk you through our quoting process and what to expect once you’re officially in our build schedule. Get in touch and tell us about your plans and one of our sales representatives will reach out.

How much can I customize?

Whatever your style, we have many creative ways to help your home or development project stand out.

For multi-build development projects, we’ll create a fully custom, branded design that meets your vision and is unique to your brand.

For individual builds, we can help guide your inspirations through our design process to a cohesive design that’s a perfect fit. While our Wind River floor plans are fixed, the look and feel is customizable. Rooflines, exterior siding and accents, and color palettes all shape the look and feel of your home. The interior aesthetic can also be customized with our wide selection of material and color options—from farmhouse to modern and everywhere in-between. Check out our Wind River Catalog to learn more.

How long does it take to build with you?

The answer to this is always, “It depends!” We strive to have inventory builds available for purchase. For our build-to-order pathway, it’s common for us to have a backlog of builds that is always fluctuating. Turnaround time for delivery of your home will depend on where you are in our build schedule. Construction itself typically lasts 30 days, depending on the size of the house and number of upgrades. Get in touch with us about when we can start your project.

Do you build tiny home shells?

At the moment, we are only building fully completed homes. This allows us to cover the certification process for you. We also include a 1-year limited warranty on the workmanship in our hand-crafted homes. We do, however, sell our Wind River custom chassis. If you’re interested in purchasing one of our trailers to get your DIY project off on the right foot, get in touch!

Do you ship outside of the United States?

Tiny Homes on Wheels: It is possible! We can help arrange mainland shipping to the appropriate port on the border. From there, you will need to secure a freight forwarder to get your home the rest of the way. We’ve had clients outside of the continental US, so it is certainly possible with a little work.

Modular Homes: Currently we cannot serve modular clients outside of the United States.

Dweller FAQs.

What are the steps to going tiny?

We’re glad you asked. First, check out our Get Ready to Go Tiny tips for planning and financing. Then pick a Wind River model that best suits you and get in touch with us to see how we can custom-configure and design your home to be a perfect fit. We’re always happy to discuss any questions or concerns you have along the way. After a contract is signed and your spot in our build timeline is secured, we’ll dig into the finer design details. Everything will be finalized with your approval before construction on your home begins. From there, you can sit back and relax as we build your home—we’ll send you weekly photo updates so you can see it all come together. The final step is arranging delivery, which we’ll walk you through. From there, it’s up to you to move in, make it yours, and start enjoying the freedom of tiny living.

What kind of vehicle do I need to move my tiny home?

We recommend using a 3rd-party professional mover when transporting your tiny home, especially if it’s only moved on rare occasions. The tiny homes weigh between 11,000 and 21,000+ lbs and can be towed by a ¾-ton or 1-ton pickup truck. The GVWR ranges from 14,000–28,000 lbs, meaning a CDL license is required. For more information on the ins and outs of tiny home shipping, read our behind the scenes blog post here.

To what code do you build?

Can you tell me if tiny homes are allowed where I live?

We ship our tiny homes all across the country, and zoning ordinances vary too widely for us to be able to answer this clearly. However, we’re happy to offer guidance on the process. Most municipalities have online GIS systems that make it easy to look up the zoning of a property. You can then look at your city or county zoning code to determine what the permissible land uses are for that zoning category. You can also call your local planning department directly and ask them to help you understand the possibilities for a particular parcel. When doing so, it’s important to refer to the tiny home as a Park Model RV, built to ANSI code 119.5. For longer-term parking, the wheels can be removed and stored and the home can be set up on blocks or a pier foundation, if desired.

Searching for private land for your tiny home? Most of our customers find success outside of city limits. For instance, land that is zoned agricultural tends to have fewer restrictions. A realtor should be able to provide insight here. Check out our resource blog on navigating your local ordinances, as well as this post on Living Legally in a Tiny Home for more helpful info.

Can you tell me if modular homes are allowed where I live?

Modular homes are allowed anywhere that traditional construction of single family homes and/or ADUs are allowed. This is because modular homes abide by the same compliance requirements and are built to state residential building code. However, you will need to abide by any and all local regulations in your area. Primarily, this includes setback requirements and minimum square footage requirements, if there are any. Setbacks will be listed on the site survey for your property, and minimum square footage requirements will be listed in the local zoning laws. As part of your due diligence, a feasibility study should be performed to outline the building parameters for your particular lot.

Tiny Homes FAQs.

Where are you located?

We are proud to be located in Cleveland, TN, but we are happy to coordinate delivery of your new tiny home anywhere in the continental U.S. (If you live outside of the continental U.S., we can deliver your tiny house to the nearest border for your freight forwarder.)

Do you have a showroom?

What are the steps to going tiny?

How do I get into your build schedule?

We’re honored you’re considering Wind River as your tiny home builder! The first step to getting into our schedule is making sure you have a place to park and have your funding secured. If you plan to finance, you’ll likely need a quote from us to complete your loan application. When these key items are solidified or in motion, we can move forward with quoting your build. Our client experience is very important to us, so we speak with you one-on-one to understand your unique wants and needs and walk you through our quoting process and what to expect once you’re officially in our build schedule. Get in touch and tell us about your plans and one of our sales representatives will reach out.

What financing options are there?

Do you offer in-house financing?

How much can I customize?

Your home is a reflection of what matters to you. Whatever your style, we have many creative ways to help your home stand out. Through our design process, we can help guide your inspirations to a cohesive design that fits your vision. While our floor plans are fixed, the look and feel is customizable. The exterior photos and renderings on our website are just a few examples of how our homes can look. Rooflines, exterior siding and accents, and color palettes all shape the look and feel of your tiny home. The interior aesthetic can also be personalized with our wide selection of material and color options—from farmhouse to modern and everywhere in-between. Check out our Wind River Catalog to learn more.

How long does it take to build with you?

Can you tell me if tiny homes on wheels are allowed where I live?

Can you build tiny homes for tough winter conditions?

What kind of utility hook-ups do your homes have?

Depending on your desired model, the tiny home may be designed for 50 amp or 100 amp service. This will be listed in the specs of each model. For our 24–38 ft signature park model tiny homes, there is a 50 amp exterior plug that powers the entire house. This is an RV style plug and can connect to 50 amp service or power poles that you see at campgrounds and RV resorts. For our 45 ft park models, there is a direct conduit to the breaker box so your electrician can hard wire the home directly into the grid with 100 amp service. This extra amperage is necessary to power full size electric appliances like electric ranges, water heaters, and laundry machines. WATER IN: A pressurized water source, whether from a utility provider, well, or cistern, can provide water for the entire tiny home. The connection is standard for a potable water hose. A pressure regulator is already built into the house. WATER OUT: Our models do not come with onboard water storage tanks. Most of our clients are preparing for a more permanent setup and are plumbing into an existing septic or waste water system. We provide a PVC stub out that can be adapted to various connections. PROPANE: Our 24–38 ft park models utilize propane for powering an on-demand hot water supply. Propane ranges are a common upgrade in these models as well. It’s standard for us not to mount the propane tanks to the home. We mount a console for the regulator so that you can create a more permanent connection with larger ground-mounted tanks. Our 45 ft park models do not have propane unless requested.

What type of vapor barrier sheathing is used during construction?

We use ZIP System sheathing on all of our homes. This water-resistant and continuous air barrier eliminates the need for a house wrap and pairs well with our spray foam-insulated walls to weatherize our tiny homes and maximize their energy efficiency. For natural wood accents, we use a rainscreen application so that moisture does not get trapped behind the materials and passes freely away from the tiny home.

What kind of vehicle do I need to move my tiny home?

Do you ship outside of the United States?

It is possible! We can help arrange mainland shipping to the appropriate port on the border. From there, you will need to secure a freight forwarder to get your home the rest of the way. We’ve had clients outside of the continental US, so it is certainly possible with a little work.

What about the wheels? Can I remove them? What type of foundation is needed?

We get this question a lot and first it's important for us to understand if you are asking because of aesthetic reasons or because of the local ordinances where you plan to place the home. Our homes are certainly meant for full-time living.

Our Tiny Homes on Wheels (THOW) that are certified as Park Model RVs. They are built directly onto our custom trailers and can ship across the country. Most customers are placing their homes in permanent or semi-permanent setups. The wheels can be removed and stored, and the home skirted/decked on site to give it the appearance of a foundation build. Here is more detail on what that looks like. In short: you don’t need to pour a slab for your tiny home to park on, it will perform well on a level gravel area. However, it does need to be leveled and supported. We recommend concrete block piers for stabilizing and leveling the home.

If you are asking about foundations due to your local ordinances/restrictions on park models, it's important to understand what this means as far as the kind of building you will be looking for. Regardless of whether you leave the wheels on or remove them, the code to which the home is built still classifies it as an RV (see the next FAQ). If you're looking for something without a trailer frame, this would be off-site modular construction. There are different codes for this class of building. Make sure you check out our modular offerings!

If you’re looking into a specific city/county that you want to stay within, and they are requiring the home be on a "permanent foundation," it's worth asking them to define what this means, as they may find block/pier foundation acceptable.

Here is an additional resource on Navigating Zoning Ordinances.

To what code do you build?

What’s the difference between an RV and a Park Model RV?

Which of your homes are off-grid capable? Do you do solar?

Any of our models can be built with off-grid capabilities. Talk with us about your site’s utility requirements early on, as we’re able to be flexible with appliances, alternative toilets, etc. If you’re considering solar power, we strongly recommend reading our blog post on tiny home solar best practices and recommendations. Any of our homes can be connected to a solar system; however, panels, batteries, and other solar components are not within our scope. See also our FAQ regarding alternative toilet options. While most of our clients are connecting to conventional water supplies, off-grid water solutions are also compatible with the home’s standard connections. Get in touch with us to go over your off-grid questions in more depth.

What are my options for toilets?

Are you still doing school bus conversions?

We love our Skoolie projects from the early Wind River days, but our growth has taken us in other directions.

Do you build tiny home shells?

Do you sell your trailers?

Yes! Wind River is a licensed trailer manufacturer. Our trailers are specially designed for tiny homes, and we are happy to build custom dimensions if you have a floor plan in mind for your DIY tiny home. Get in touch to learn more!

Do you build any homes on foundations?

We have built a limited number of permanent foundation small homes in the past, but we now focus solely on off-site construction. That being said, check out our Wind River modular homes. These are built to residential code and installed permanently, making them eligible for traditional financing and allowing them to be placed in any residential zoning district.

Modular Homes FAQs.

Where are you located?

We are proud to be located in Cleveland, TN, just outside of Chattanooga, but we have clients living in Wind River homes all throughout the country.

Do you have a showroom?

What’s the difference between a modular home and a manufactured home or mobile home?

Can you tell me if modular homes are allowed where I live?

How do I get into your build schedule?

We’re honored you’re considering Wind River as your modular builder! Our client experience is very important to us. In order to assist you, you’ll want to first achieve project viability for your modular home. You’ll need the survey for the property where the modular home will be installed, as well as a clear understanding of your budget. In the discovery phase, we speak with you one-on-one to understand your unique wants and needs and walk you through our quoting process and what to expect once you’re officially in our build schedule. Get in touch and tell us about your plans and one of our sales representatives will reach out.

What financing options are there for modular homes?

Do you offer in-house financing?

We hope to offer in-house financing in the future, but for now we are happy to point our customers in the right direction for available options. Get in touch to learn how we can help guide you through the process.

How much can I customize?

Whatever your style, we have many creative ways to help your home or development project stand out. For multi-build development projects, we’ll create a fully custom, branded design that meets your vision and is unique to your brand. For individual builds, we can help guide your inspirations through our design process to a cohesive design that’s a perfect fit. While our Wind River floor plans are fixed, the look and feel is customizable. Rooflines, exterior siding and accents, and color palettes all shape the look and feel of your home. The interior aesthetic can also be customized with our wide selection of material and color options—from farmhouse to modern and everywhere in-between. Check out our Wind River Catalog to learn more.

How long does it take to build with you?

The answer to this is always, “It depends!” It’s common for us to have a backlog of builds that is always fluctuating. Turnaround time for delivery of your modular home will depend on where you are in our build schedule. Construction itself typically lasts 30 days, depending on the size of the house and number of upgrades. Get in touch with us about when we can start your project.

What states do you service?

Currently, we are a certified modular manufacturer in the state of Tennessee, and we are working toward expanding into Georgia and North Carolina. We are actively fielding inquiries for modular development projects across the country. If your development location is in a state that we are not certified in yet, we are happy to explore that with you. Get in touch to learn more about partnering with Wind River.

Do you handle shipping as well?

Yes, we are happy to coordinate with your modular installer on site to ship homes in coordination with their heavy machinery crew. The client is responsible for sourcing and hiring a certified modular installer.

Do you ship outside of the United States?

Currently we cannot serve modular clients outside of the United States.

What type of foundation is needed?

Modular homes are installed on permanent foundations. Your hired General Contractor will use our plans to prep your foundation.

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