One of the latest crazes to sweep the nation involves abandoning materialistic large-scale living and switching to dwelling in a tiny house on wheels, which slashes housing costs drastically. While downsizing isn’t a new concept, since empty nesters and seniors have been doing it for years, some young singles and couples are choosing to start out their lives living this way.
According to Ryan Mitchell, managing editor of The Tiny Life, downsizing meant going off the grid, too. Ryan built his own tiny house in 2012 and in 2014 he installed a 4,000-watt solar array from which he draws electricity. He still lives in his tiny house and shares his experience with others.
Mitchell wrote that the typical American home averages 2,600 square feet. Tiny houses, whether on wheels or the ground, have just 100 to 400 square feet.
“In my own journey, I started out in an apartment that cost me $1,000 per month once you added in utilities, insurance, etc. Once I moved into my tiny house, my bills virtually disappeared, it now costs me $15 (yes, you read that right, $15!) per month. The cost of building my own tiny house was recouped in under two years’ time, allowing me to bank a lot of savings.”
The tiny house movement isn’t just happening in America. Mag Doerner of Ontario, Canada, bought a 1974 trailer fondly called Hank the Boler. The trailer definitely needed a lot of TLC when he bought it in 2017, especially to restore it to its former glory.
Boler trailers actually were one of the first lightweight trailers available weighing between 850 and 900 pounds, and were made in Canada from 1968 to 1988, according to SmallerLiving.org. Because of their shape, they were fondly called eggs on wheels.
Hank the Boler measures just 13.5 feet long and is sought after by campers and others like Mag who are interested in repurposing them. To bring Hank back to life and as close to its glory days from years ago, Mag had to realign the door that was damaged in an accident, sand off several layers of paint and give it a fresh coat.
He tore apart the interior and started over with new backsplash made of tin ceiling tiles, new cabinet hardware and a snazzy countertop to name just a few improvements. The bedroom boasts a cozy bed for two covered in fashionable pillows and Mag can glamp anywhere.
The tiny trailer also boasts a couch on the opposite end, that can be used for visitors who drop by. While small, it essentially has everything one would possibly need to relax, eat and live. The interior even has dark, wood floors making it easy to clean.
The Boler trailer celebrated its 50th anniversary in Winnipeg in 2018 with hundreds of Boler trailer owners descending upon the town from nine provinces and 20 states. Who knew there was such a huge fan base of this trailer?
Watch the video below and see just how much people love their Bolers and what neat projects owners have tackled to make these beloved trailers useful once again.
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