by Jay Oistead
I wanted to familiarize you with our company, Ragsdale Homes. About six months ago, we introduced a short demo on YouTube, featuring our first design, the Prius model. Our first home pushes the envelope in livable square footage within the parameters of a specific trailer size. At 380 square feet, made possible with our patent pending Room Roll Outs. When RROs are installed opposite one another there is a distance of 16 feet. When installed without being opposite there is still a distance of 12 feet. In tiny homes this available living space has yet to be achieved. But now it is a reality.
Attached are links to the three videos. Hope you have the time to view these videos. We feel that this technology is revolutionary and will change the future of tiny homes on wheels. All of a sudden, tiny is not so tiny anymore.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF7X-y4xaCI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRypAKRJjKg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMDUyy84T2c
The interest in Houston, Texas on Tiny Homes is not exactly at warp speed.
I am sending you some information on our company in hopes that we can somehow network. At this particular time, we are still in the research and development stage of business, inventing, designing, innovative concepts that we feel are relative to the future of the tiny home industry. Furthermore, we are not building homes, selling plans, etc., focusing on specific areas where we feel the need for improvement is greatest.
We are a small blip on the tiny house radar; however, we have created some game changing techniques in current tiny house construction. We would welcome the opportunity to network with like-minded tiny house people.
As I said, it gets lonely in Houston having few with which to collaborate.
Our current projects are:
1) Square Footage: We think outside the box, therefore, we build outside the box, resulting in an increase in usable square footage within the parameters of a specific trailer size. Our current model, The Prius, pushes the envelope of a 8? by 20? trailer with over 380 square feet. Additionally, this model features approximately 275 square feet of wooden decking. Our newest model, a classic Mediterranean model is nearing completion, built on a trailer which is 8? by 28?, offering approximately 480 square feet.
2) Water: Our on board, proprietary, Nano Technology, Tropospheric Water Precipitation water generator. Not to be confused with out of date, AWG technology, using a compressor and Freon to make water. Our system will create 30 gallons of 99.8% pure water in a 24 hour period. Additionally, we have developed a recyclable shower, operating through a reverse osmosis and filtration system located in a sub floor below the shower floor. A typical 10 minute shower uses 150 liters of water. Ours uses only 5 liters this is a huge savings in water consumption.
3) Hybrid construction: Our space age SIP panel technology now being tested, utilizing NanoPure thermal tested insulation in the form of a vacuum insulation panel or VIP integrated and sandwiched in between foam and 2 layers of aluminum or steel skins. These panels will have an insulation factor up to R60. The overall width will be a net of 4 inches and will be 60% lighter and 35% stronger than conventional wood construction.
4) AC: Our home will be cooled with a, 12,000 BTU, 12 volt, solar powered air conditioner, resulting in the need for less solar panel surface being used today. A battery is installed inside the cabinet and it runs off it’s own solar panel, separate from the rest of the home.
5) Solar: We are in negotiations with Dow Chemical to partner with us to use the revolutionary Dow Powerhouse Solar Shingles. We are also working with US Tile who has partnered with SRS Energy to use their Mission Profile Tiles(Faux clay tiles) named Sole’ Power Tiles on our Mediterranean model.
For more information forward your email address to ragsdalehomes@gmail.com.
Ive often wondered why people havn’t made use of pop outs on previous tiny homes as a way of increasing space.
I also love the fact you can have 2 seperate sleeping lofts in the one space as it opens this up to a small family living the tiny house dream
Thank you for your interest in Ragsdale Homes. In our ” Prius ” model we have two lofts, one larger than the other. However, did you know that in the rear ” Room Roll Out ” there is a desk featured with a laptop and picture on the wall. This makes into a twin bed when you have the need for more sleeping area. Or, this is available in a convertible desk/love seat combo. The larger ” Room Roll Out,” in the front of the house is a love seat which converts into a full size bed if needed. So, our home has the ability to sleep up to seven people. Please let me know if you have any more questions. With your permission, I will send you additional still shots and some recent articles featured recently on the internet. We are now building our first prototype, a 1900’s Sunday House. Thank You!! Ciao Jay
Who is M. Ragsdale III ?
Love the roof-as-deck concept. How will the design prevent leaks? Oh… and one more suggestion. Place a combined washer/dryer next to the bathroom sink. Then people who wear makeup will have a place to put their paraphernalia.
It is lonely whatever you are doing ‘outside the box.’
That is were things are changed by people willing to take risk and follow visions.
This design you are offering is a step towards making small house more livable by being more open.
If you have a mailing list please put me on it.
Ron Nicholas
Suddenly, I am not so lonely after hearing from you. So refreshing, listening to what you have said. I consider it an honor to put you on our mailing list. With your permission, I’ll forward some other still shots and include some articles published recently. Ciao Jay
Who is M Ragsdale III ?
Love this. Am missing how you get up to the loft beds – can you point it out to me? What kind of toilet is being used? Thanks!
Our home with all the bells and whistles will feature an incinerator toilet, ignited by a 12 volt battery and the use of propane. The cost of these toilets are now coming down in price because of Asian manufactures. Competitors will drop their prices and, demand is on the rise. For those on a budget, we will use a less expensive, quality composite toilet. Also, some prefer more conventional low water consumption toilets. Our home will be equipped just like an RV with holding tanks and hook ups for those not wanting to live completely off the grid. If you like, I’ll put you on our mailing list. We do have additional still shots of our innovations, not seen before on the internet. Please forward an email. Ciao Jay
Who is M Ragsdale III ?
Love the look and makes tiny house living a little move possible with the extra space, especially if you are someone that may have company from time to time. One thing that has drawn me to tiny house living is the ability to live less expensively. What will the cost of something like this be?
The cost of a tiny house can vary a lot, depending on various factors:
1.) Quality of trailer including weight capacity
2.) Type of materials used to build your house.
3.) Quality and quantity of appliances used in your home. For example: Do you want a washer/dryer, nice counter tops, etc. Depends on whether you want a bare bones house or fully equipped with high quality, energy saving appliances.
4.) Insulation is an important factor. R “14” or
R “60.” Big difference over time in the cost operating you home with regards to utilities.
5.) Do you want built in convertible furniture such as our love seat/desk or love seat/bed?
6.) Solar?
7.) Water generator?
8.) Type of air conditioning and heat?
9.) Windows and doors….single, double, or triple insulated glass?
So, as you can see, we can go on and on.
Therefore, make a list of what you want in a tiny house. Cost per square foot can vary from $100.00 to $150.00 per square foot. This is your cost and does not include Labor. The two together can almost double the price or more. For example: A Tumblweed house that is about 160 square feet can cost $ 16,000.00 to $ 20,000.00 for materials. For them to build this same house, the final price can be upwards of $ 38,000.00 or more. Tiny homes, completed, can be anywhere from $ 200.00 to $ 600.00 a foot, However, the larger the square footage, the less per square foot. I am currently pricing my house and if some one wants just a shell, then that is the best bang for the buck, however, as I fine tune our home, we want to create a kit that can be assembled by someone with average skill sets. Just think of IKEA furniture.
Our house just snaps together and is secured with stainless steel bolts or self tapping screws. Our pricing on our home will be completed in about two weeks. Additionally, we intend on selling our patent pending ” Room Roll Outs ” in a kit for a retro fit into an existing home or for a future build for any builders home. We will offer three sizes and several elevations. Ciao Jay
Who is M Ragsdale III ?
I especially like the ceiling fan/vegetable dicer/guillotine inches over your bed when you awaken in the morning.
I’m glad you liked our ceiling fan. Thanks Ciao Jay
Lots of GREAT ideas here. The cost information, for example, the cost to transport the unit by train to Seattle, and the cost breakouts WOULD BE SO HELPFUL. I can’t make a rational business decision without them. It would be crazy to install one as an Accessory Dwelling Unit unless it a) meets Seattle building code (can anyone say “foundation work to secure the unit in the event of an earthquake?”) and b)it’s possible to sell the property with the unit installed and at least break EVEN on my investment.
FYI – I vote for pop-up roofs which match an existing structure’s roof line AND turret sleeping areas with standing headroom AND stairs I can navigate when I’m half asleep 🙂 Also, if we want to maneuver these units into place in a dense urban area like Seattle, we’ll probably need shorter snap-together units (for example,a main unit and a turret unit).
Interesting concept: its bringing RV technology to a tiny home. Could be great. I’d love to see actual photos when one is built.
If you like, I can forward you additional still shots of our first home, Additionally, in about two weeks, we’ll introduce our new mediterranean model with just under 500 square feet. Also, we have begun construction on our 1900s Sunday House. We have been taking pictures of the progress and will put them on a special blog. Our Sunday House is a prototype home to facilitate obtaining our patent. This home is only 8′ by 8′, however it will push the envelope at just under 140 square feet….the most in the industry. This home will feature just one ” Room Roll Out ” which measures 4′ by 7′ or 28 square feet, one loft, 4,500 btu solar conditioner, and our first collapsible roof. When uprighted, our high pitch roof becomes a 1 and 1/2 story house. Ciao Jay
Who is M Ragsdale III ?
Please forward your email address so that we may send actual photos of our first home being built.
Thanks, Jay Olstead
You had me until you mentioned that you are using nanotechnology in your water systems. Thanks but no thanks.
If you have a problem with nano technology, as it applies to a water generator, we offer a state of the art AWG Atmospheric Water Generator, however this unit is 30% larger and produces only 20 gallons of water per 24 hour period. However, with a 30 gallon holding tank, you will be able to maintain enough water for daily usage for two people. In our video, you can see it on the rear deck of our home. Perhaps I can send you some still shots of the unit situated on the deck. If more water is required, we can plumb in tamdem a water barrel on the deck to collect rain water from our built in gutters with the AWG unit. Of course, if water is available, then the AWG should be enough. Ciao Jay
Who is M Ragsdale III ?
In January I responded to your comments on the tiny house blog. I suggested a water system not using nano technology. If you forward your email, I’ll send you some photos of our designs and information on the awg technology. Thanks Jay
Leave it to Texas to make tiny homes bigger…
This goes against all that is a tiny house for me.
Lots of money behind this campaign but not a lot of soul.
The conceptualizations are all well and good, but give me nuts and bolts, nails and wood. I’ve been a builder long enough to know that all of the great planning and ideas in the world are just that until someone puts in the sweat equity to make it a reality.
Even then, if you want a larger tiny home, maybe you’re not needing a tiny home.
I can assure you that my heart and soul is in this project. Remember. Progress is change and without change there can be no progress. I love stick construction, nails, screws, etc. Although we use few nails, we do use plenty of bolts and screws. Our mind set is that we want to produce a kit where a person with average skill sets can assemble our home. The other problem is weight, strength, and most important is insulation. So you build a house with 2 by 4 studs and a floor with 2 by 4 or 2 by 6 floor joists. What is the net insulation “R” factor of that wall? Perhaps R 14 or mayby R 19. Well, in our wall which has a net width of 4 inches we can have an insulation factor of up to “R” 60. Our foor goes down in two sections of approx 4′ by 20′ and snaps together in the middle…no thermal bridging. And, these panels have no floor joists, however an elephant can stand on the floor without breaking. No wrap is needed, no barrier, no bugs, no floor joists, etc. Ceiling has no rafters except for the middle support which can be wood. Hard wood floors can be attached on top of the SIP floor panels. Lighter and stronger than wood. Let me send you some information explaining our hybrid construction process. Not trying to change your mind….just food for thought Ciao Jay
Who is M Ragsdale III ?
Thank you for your comments in the tiny house blog in January. I responded to your comments and I hope we can become friends. I have a favor to ask.
Please forward your e mail so that we can send you some info on our hybrid construction system. Additionally, I’ll send you some photos of our prototype home which is being built with wood studs, sip floors….it’s 1 1900’s Sunday House with wash board siding and high pitch roof. Thanks, Jay
Jay Oistead, it’s good to see someone thinking “outside the box”. I’m really interested in the water generator and 12V cooler. Both of my sons are thinking “small” for their own homes. I’ve been off grid for 31 years, and I capture all household water. This is in NM where we’re in the middle of a drought. Will the “water generator” work in low humidity? In Houston you can probably hang up a towel and wring the water out of it!
Let me send you some additional information. Please follow up after you receive the information.
Ciao Jay
Thanks you for your comments on the tiny house blog. Ready to send you some info requested. Please forward your email Thanks Jay
Congratulations on your progress! I am wondering what price point you are aiming for? Also, what clearance do you expect for the trailer while towing? I see applications for back country living where county building code costs prohibit you to build nice living quarters but a temporary structure like yours makes possible. I have an area at 11,500 feet in CO that this would be perfect for.
Thank you for your inquiry. Our home has interior ceiling height of 11’4″. However, from the ground to the top of the roof(highest point) is 13’6″. Our plan is not to be in the business of building complete Houses. Instead, we prefer to build a shell, however, our passion is to offer kits strapped to our trailer, ready for assembly for a person with average skill sets and with the use of low tech tools. This way you can save more than 50%. I have been in conversation with some local businneses that manufacture sheds, garages, and pre-fab houses. I may partner with one of them to allow for pre-fab manufacturing to keep costs down. Right now my main concern is to fine tune some of our concepts, complete our first prototype, and seek what others want. Let me send you some additional information. Ciao Jay
Who is M Ragsdale III ?
Please send your e mail so we can send some info and photos to you. Thanks Jay
pLEASE ADD ME TO YOUR E-MAIL LIST.
THANKS
I really like that rooftop deck and some of the other innovative ideas.
Thank you for your kind thoughts. May I send you some additional information? Ciao Jay
Absolutely LOVE the virtual pics and video! Great job, Great design work! Nice modern design for the people who love modern (ME!) Great job! Are these available to purchase? Do you have a manufacturing facility, or are there plans only. I’m very interested to see what the 480 sq ft plan will look like.
Thank you for your comments in January on tiny house blog. Please forward your email and we’ll send you additional photos and information. Thanks Jay
ragsdalehomes@gmail.com
I too love the concept. My biggest issue with tiny houses is that I plan on working at home. Not at a computer but at a sewing machine. I need a space to store my finished dresses and room for my supplies. The slide outs would be perfect for me.
However, these look very expensive and most likely out of my frail budget.
When you say frail budget….tell me more. I could design a home just for you and make the upstairs a sewing room with lots of storage. You could sleep in the other loft, or to keep expenses down, you could sleep downstairs. We could eliminate the other loft to keep costs down. Please forward your e mail and I’ll send you some additional info and photos.
Simply lovely design but other than the loft bedrooms, I can’t really see what’s gained v/s RV’s currently on the market. Unless this type of home costs less, why would someone choose this type of unit v/s a well equipped 40 foot RV? I do see some great design elements RV’s never considered such as the fold out decks but while I love the office (I can’t live without one), I find this additional slide out on your unit as simply adding cost but not really adding that much more livability. You’re certainly on the right track:)
Thank you for responding to Ragsdale Homes. Comparing our home to an RV is an interesting observation. First, our home is built on a trailer measuring only 8′ by 20′, however we feature the same square footage as a 40 foot RV, eliminating the space occupied by the front captain chairs. I don’t recall walking through an RV with a ceiling height of 11’6″. Also, a full kitchen with a gourmet island, sleeps 7, 12 volt ac, no need for water, or sewer. Completely sustainable without the need for water , electricity, or sewer. The ” Room Roll Out ” in the rear of our home features a desk, however, when uprighted, the twin bed comes out of the wall. Optional desk/love seat is also available. The “RRO” in the front features a larger which converts into a full size bed. When did you last price a high end travel trailer with 380 square feet of livable space. Easily, 200.00 to 300.00 per square foot. The insulation factor of the RV is probably “R” 6 or less. Most better quality tiny houses are build like high end houses. Our featured model has an observation deck, front deck, rear deck, side deck, offering 275 square feet of wood decking. Re-cycled glass counter tops, stainless appliances, washer/dryer. Let me send you more information on our homes. Ciaop Jay
Who is M Ragsdale III ?
Thank you for your comments in January on the tiny house blog. Please foprward your e mail and I’ll forward some additional info and photos. Thanks Jay ragsdalehomes@gmail.com
many interesting ideas, but at this level of cost and technology, it just feels like joining back in the race to be bigger and better that tiny homes were (for me) invented to be free from.
Thank you for your comments in January on the tiny house blog. Working on a model, resulting in keeping costs down….more affordable. Please forward your e mail and we’ll send additional info and photos. Thanks Jay
ragsdalehomes@gmail.com
Nice concept, but therein lies the problem. Currently you’re trafficking in vaporware, and until there’s an actual real-world product, a lot of these ideas remain untested.
FYI having the box suspended up on wheels and posts like in the first picture might look cool, but that house is gonna lose a LOT of heat through the floor with the wind blowing underneath. A good side-skirt to reduce airflow under the floor is a common solution employed by a lot of tiny house on wheels people.
VIPs are good, but if you puncture them (e.g. hanging a picture) they lose their insulating properties. They’re more expensive than SIPs which are in turn already more expensive than regular stud wall construction.
Solar powered AC, all good but sounds expensive. And if there’s a deck up top then where do the solar panels go? (also aren’t decks, even composite material, really heavy?)
Nanotech’ recycling shower, sounds expensive and not necessary if you use a low flow head and limit shower to 5 min. Also using electricity to make water is a fool’s game (presuming that’s what “compressor and freon” is referring to).
The fundamental issue here, is that for many people the tiny house movement is about a return to the simple life, to doing things using age-old tried and tested methods, and being less reliant on technology. A lot of your ideas go in the opposite direction. Shoving a bunch of tech’ and a big-screen TV might appeal to your local Texas demographic, but will be a big turn off to what might potentially be a bigger long term customer base.
Thank you for your comments in January on the tiny house blog. Soon, I will respond to your questions. I was ill with the flu, then my wife had the flu….get the picture. Will write you soon. Please forward your email and i’ll send you some additional information and photos. Plus answer your questions thanks Jay
ragsdalehomes@gmail.com
I love the whole Idea. It’s perfect. All I want is a pull down staircase. Love it!
I’m glad that you mentioned the staircase. Back when I began the desigh and build a scale model, the stairs bothered me. Most middle aged or senior individuals have difficulty with a typical bunk bed type ladder. For months I’ve been working on a new design in alternating spiral tred design stairs which are multi-directional. In our first demo video, you can actually see the first prototype. It was removed on the longer second video. In a few weeks I will add the new stair design which goes from the ground to the master bedroom loft landing and continues to the roof. The smaller loft will have a generic style ladder. On the first floor, the rear ” Room Roll Out” features a desk that converts into a twin bed. The front ” RRO” converts from a sofa to a full size bed. Our homes sleeps 7. Let me send you a picture of our stairs and some other information. Ciao Jay
Who is M Ragsdale III ?
Previously, I sent you a quick reply from the article on our home featured on the tiny house blog. Our new model, nearing completion, will have a conventional, but special staircase. Please forward your email and I’ll send you some information and photos. Thanks Jay
ragsdalehomes@gmail.com
It would be nice to see an estimated price of the model shown in order to see if it is competitive with simply buying a name brand RV. It sounds very expensive so a realistic estimate of it’s cost would be helpful.
AC = around 1100 watts, H2O generator around 800+ watts, so this high tech design will need a lot of solar panels and quite a large battery storage system. Keep in mind that H2O generators condensing water for use don’t function below 25% humidity or so, meaning they are of no use in much of the west for most of the year. If you have a water source evaporative coolers use a fraction of the energy that AC does.
One of the things that turned the average person off with solar and alternative housing technologies in the 1960’s and 70’s was very unrealistic projections of efficiency, cost, etc. When that happens it is hard to get people behind the changes in the building codes necessary to allow more unfamiliar types of living.
This is referred to as a ‘new’ model and a ‘reality’, yet is simply a collection of theoreticals. I feel that the tinyhouseblog should have a brainstorming section where people could throw out designs using models, drawings, etc. for inspiration for all of us, have a section of works actually in progress to help us all understand the possibilities of building a house, and keep a seperate section for those homes with a track record of actually being built and lived in.
Thank you for your comments posted with regards to Ragsdale Homes. I’ve been up for hours responding to other questions and comments. I’m just about brain dead, however, your questions were good and deserved being answered.
In a few weeks we will an estimate for the costs for our first model of tiny home. Our plan is to sell a shell which can be completed by the owner. Likewise, we want to sell kits that come strapped to our specially designed trailer. Just like IKEA, we want our home to be assembled by individuals with average skill sets, using tools that are not expensive. Read about other homes being built with wood or metal studs. They spend days and days just building the floor. Our floor goes down in one day. Lighter and stronger than wood. Our walls and roof goes up in 3 days, not months. And Yes, we are building our first prototype, a 1900s Sunday House which features our first collapsible roof, one ” Room Roll Out”, 4,500 btu solar air conditioner, one loft, solar shingles, etc. I will send you some additional information in the next few days. Our solar air conditioner which is 16,000 btu on our larger home operates with it’s own stand alone solar 12 volt system, seperate from the other needs of the home. In the ac cabinet is the battery for the unit. Our Prius model has only a slight pitch to the roof, resulting in the need to place the solar panels on the roof, however, we intend on using a trailered single wheel small trailer with a portable solar system with enough juice to operate the rest of our home which is mostly 12 volt. Everything else in the home works off propane. Our water generator uses only 275 watts because it does not have a compressor/freon to convert air to water. We don’t use out dated AWG technology. However, our first prototype of AWG water generator used only 450 watts. And, they are now enginerred to operate on less than 25% humidity. Sorry!!MY eyes are gone. My brain is dead. Let me send you some info. Our prototype will be placed on a special ragsdale blog soon. Ciao Jay
Who is M. Ragsdale III ?
Thank you for your comments and questions in January on the tiny house blog. Trying to get caught up and I’ll send you a response to your questions. Please forward your e mail and We’ll send you some additional info and photos. Thanks Jay
ragsdalehomes@gmail.com
HOW I LOVE LOOKING AT THIS BLOG! SUCH WONDERFUL IDEAS!
Hi Gloria, Please forward your email and we’ll send you some additional info and photos. Thanks Jay
ragsdalehomes@gmail.com
where are the closets?
Where are the closets? Good question. I will send you some still shots showing the closet downstairs just to the left of the bathroom sink. In the longer video, the closet can be seen if you know that it is mirrored. You will see it flickering and reflecting light. In the upstars master bedroom, the king size bed mattress is on top of a multi drawer platform storage unit. Lots of storage for clothes, shoes, socks, etc. I will send you a picture of the bed platform, showing all the variations for storage. It will blow you away. Additionally, the small loft has a full size bed mattress on a platform for storage. For those who want more storage, our downstairs rear room ” ROLL OUT ” currently shows a desk. The desk folds up and the entire wall converts into a twin size bed. However, if you sleep downstairs, then you could convert the small loft into a large closet/storage area. Or sleep up stairs and convert rear room ” ROLL OUT” into a second closet. There are so many possibilities. Ciao Jay
Who is M Ragsdale III.
From a trademark standpoint, Toyota is already using the name Prius. You may need to rename that design.
Please forward your email and we’ll send you some additional infomation and photos. Thanks Jay
ragsdalehomes@gmail.com
Prius is a Latin word which is roughly translates to “prior.” Toyota picked the word for its hybrid car to indicate that it’s a predecessor of cars to come. One thing the automaker should have done was register the Prius trademark worldwide. What happened instead was that an automotive company in India called Prius Auto Industries popped up and registered its own trademark six years before Toyota thought about it.
The court in New Delhi denied Toyota’s request for exclusive rights to the Prius trademark, citing the long delay. Also dismissed by the court was Toyota’s claim that having two automotive claims to the Prius name could confuse buyers into thinking that any parts with the Prius Auto Industries branding could be misconstrued as originating from Toyota. The high income group typical of the Toyota buyer in India puts that person in the position to understand what it is they’re paying for.
Sooner or later, there has to be a cash infusion and a model built.
Is this the run up to a social media fund program ?
We are already building our first prototype. Our prototype is a 1900s Sunday House complete with clap board siding, enormous windows, one Kitchen 4′ by 7′ patent pending room “ROLL OUT”, two folding decks, one loft, R 60 insulated walls, 12 volt solar air conditioner, on board water precipitation generator, and our first collapsible roof when transporting down the highway. When arriving at it’s destination, the uprighted roof makes the home a 1 and 1/2 story home. This home is being built primarily to facilitate securing a patent on our “ROOM ROLL OUTS” Since this is a prototype, the size is only 8′ by 8′. However, this tiny tiny home pushes the envelope with approx. 140 square feet….the most in the industry. It’s small footprint, allows for towing by a 1/2 ton truck or SUV. We will be able to take this home to conventions, work shops, and other venues. Let me send you some additional information. Our prototype will be featured on a special Ragsdale Homes Bloq soon. Photos are available now on request.
I have already built a home with a slide out totaling 594sqft on 2 trailers. I am the first with a slide out in a tiny house. Check it out on YouTube transformer tiny house on wheels. It was a lot of work, believe me. I wish you luck on your build.
It’s interesting but way too sterile and high-tech looking for me.
HI I’m sorry that our first model is too sterile and high-tech looking for you. Some people like contemporary. However, we are now finishing our second design which is a beautiful mediterranean complete with stucco/stone exterior, fireplace, awnings, georgous heavy clad doors, extended railings, and solar powered faux clay tile roof. This design will blow you away if you like classic, time tested, bold design….lots of heavy wood trim, hardwood plank floors. Pictures will be available in two weeks. Additionally, we are now building our first prototype, a 1900s Sunday House. Resembles a small church( no disrespect intended)with high pitch roof, washboard siding, enourmous windows, double french door entryway. This is very refreshing for me to design this home. Just bring the Angels!! Let me send you some additional information. Ciao Jay
Who is M Ragsdale III ?
I really like the look of your model. A tiny house is my goal for when we retire in a few years. The price is a concern for me since we will have a small cash budget. To me, one of the advantages of going tiny is to get a livable space for a reasonable cash price.
I am looking at lots of different photographs and plans to pick one that is right for us. Do you foresee a tiny house without a loft type bedroom? After 2 knee replacements, I don’t want to climb up and down stairs to go to bed.
Please add me to your list.
Jay, I love the innovative thinking, also interested in any additional photos you can send, and would definitely love to be added to your mailing list.
Pop-outs are a great way to gain space, but the house needs to still be usable when the pop-outs are not popped out. We had a fifth wheel with pop-outs and they were great, but when not in use, they blocked access to certain parts of the trailer. From the video, it looks like the kitchen/living area would be pretty useless when collapsed, but the bathroom and at one sleeping loft seems to be accessible, so not totally a loss.
Great idea and nice design! With a little more refinement, this could be the best thing since the McMansion was invented.
Very interested in your work and best tiny home for family by far. Been following tiny homes since i myself live in a very small home with many people the challanges of finding storage and functioning.Would love to find a way of introducing building these tiny homes for the homeless in our area and more space opens this up to families please check us out online and get back with me if you are interested in helping .
Very innovative concept. I love it. So many new ideas.
What software did you use for the animation?
Please add me to your mailing list.
Well Jay I have been building tiny houses in San Marcos TX somewhat under the radar for about 2 years now so if you ever wanted to meet up or need some assistance on anything let me know at my email tinyhouseask@yahoo.com I have been hoping that another house group would pop up in the area (I know we arent too close but in a Texas sense Houston and San Marcos arent too far. Hope to hear from you.
-Ethan
Great ideas- love the pop-out rooms, the idea of the water generator and the low-water shower. Also, the ability to use the roof! It would be great for sunbathing!
How does one get to the loft and the roof? There are no ladders in the video.
I was sad to see no evidence of green construction. When I say green, I don’t merely mean energy-efficient due to the use of SIPs and it being such a small living area. I mean not using toxic foam insulation or insulated panels, choosing a natural alternative like wool or recycled denim insulation. In addition, what type of glues, adhesives, finishes, and paints would you use? Using no or low VOC products, all natural woods/bamboo/cork flooring and considering indoor air quality would make this a truly revolutionary tiny house.
Solving the problem of air and water leakage around the joints between the rollouts and the main trailer will be major hurdle.
All the other techno gizmos seem like window dressing.
So good to see someone in Houston tackling this. If you can focus on making this doable in a hot, humid climate, I think success is in your future. I spent 6+ years in Houston and never needed more than 1200 square feet, contrary to the trend, with 3 Texas-sized adults! Trust me, it’s a huge and diverse town. I don’t think you have to convert all 4 million, but look what’s happened in the Heights, Montrose, White Oak. Wow, miss that town! Not to mention all the surrounding area.
I’m really interested in the Mediterranean model. One of my gripes about tiny homes is that so many of them lack charm. I’d love a tiny Tudor home (and one with a turret would be irresistible!)
I’m very intrigued by the concept of tiny homes and hope to some day build, help build or purchase one. Your design is especially of interest to me. Please send me more information and keep me posted on your new designs, etc. Thank you!
Please put me on the mailing list, I would love to see more!!!
Wow. Fantastic ideas.
Can you make this to live off the grid and stay warm? In North Dakota it gets really cold.
Also height ok for pulling down the road? Estimated cost?
Thanks. Good work.
Bob
I would like all the info and pictures you can send to me as well as updates. Your idea of a small home and not Tiny or Micro appeals to me since I am considering my 1st step down from my 2400 sq ft home. Tiny & Micro don’t always fit everyone depending on their location, career, climate, and family size. Yes, we are all on a budget, but some of the tiny homes I see are so packed with exposed junk in full view that it’s a real turn off. I couldn’t live feeling that unorganized & seeing everything out in the open. Thank you for your new ideas and hard work to bring them to us!
This is very exciting! Kudos to you. Please put me on any mailing lists you have! I am a new green builder and would love to be kept up to date on your endevors! Best of Luck!k????
Wow those homes look pretty lovely.
Could you provide some information about your “Roll Out Room” .
Has this actually been granted a patent ?
From information you gave on other articles, it was understood that you would be selling an item called the Roll Out Room that was just a kit and basically a bolt on or customer attached addition to any current structure.
Is the Roll Out Room able to fit with into the shell of the main build and extend itself and also compact itself within that shell ?
Your proposed insulation is actually NanoPore, which is now Kevothermal in the United States.
NanoPure is another entity altogether.
This release here seems to be a rewrite of earlier releases and company introduction material that has been posted on other sites several months ago.
There are variations in the product and various technologies being offered in all the articles and posts about these “products”.
Please put me on your mailing list and if at all possible please include a few more photos. I am absolutely in love with your tiny house.
Our on board, proprietary, Nano Technology, Tropospheric Water Precipitation water generator…
Seeing those words, particularly “propietary, nanotechnology” leaves me somewhat skeptical that this isn’t just vaporware. Do you actually have a manufacturing facility making a water precipitation device that uses microscopic machines as part of the water generation process? Or is the “Nano Technology” part a cool sounding buzzword, like “High Definition Sunglasses?”
I’m not trying to be combative. It’s just that you’re claiming that you (or your company) have developed an atmospheric water generator that’s 50% more productive than existing technology, but then you start throwing around terms like troposphere (which is just the part of the atmosphere that we live in) and nanotechnology.
Actual nano-tech manufacturing would require millions of dollars in hardware to even begin prototyping your device. So, just curious.
Please put me on your mailing list; I want to watch how this develops.
Have you thought about making all of this modular? Say someone wants to start with a “bare bones” platform, but then wants to begin “remodeling” and adding in those things that make life comfortable such as under-counter mini dishwasher or a pop-out wall; upgrades. Can your system accommodate this with just the turn of a few screws?
Also, are you going to only have modern available? What if someone wants a more “homey” look?
And, have you considered beds that lower from the ceiling instead of Seniors trying to climb ladders?
All food for thought.
I’m very interested in what you’re doing. Just try and keep it all affordable. Some people are downsize in the pursuit of affordability.
Thanks for sharing.
I have a daughter who is hanicapped and, as for my self, February 4, 2014 was my birthday. I’ve hit the big 60. For that reason, i’m designing a single story with no lofts, resulting in a floorplan just under 350 square feet. This particular floor plan will be available with several options. One will even have a small garage built into the house. Another option will be a His and Her office, media room, large island kitchen for a gourmet cook. I’m also building a man cave sort of a house for a single man interested in hunting and or fishing, and off grid ammenties. Please forward your email and we’ll stay in touch.
I am intrigued. We are in the initial phase of building our own tiny house for a family of four. We are seasoned DIY’ers and have been researching this movement for three years before beginning. A few concerns in your model are:
Vapor transfer – small homes build up vapor faster and can reside in the walls resulting in mold. How are you dealing with this, especially in geographic areas with deep cold (-40 F with windchill) to high humidity (110F with heat index and 90% humidity)?
Toxic building materials or potential thereof from multiple sources (e.g. Glues, vinyl, treated wood, stains, insulation) can greatly affect indoor air quality. How are you addressing this in your materials?
How are you Securing flooring, tile, and walls in such a way as to not crack from temp fluctuation and winds in a geo area and when on the road moving to a new location?
What are the maintenance and repairs on a pre-fab unit and who would be licensed to service it without invalidating the warranty?
Do you have, or will have, a rv manufacturing license in order for a buyer to insure and get financing under this category?
Thank you for inviting us to comment. Very clever to have the THM community test your theories/product so you better know your audience and can address/market to their needs/concerns.
Please include me on your mailing list. There is room for all in this new endeavor to live simpler and no two will see it the same, yet there are foundational principles that bind us all: Less is best, getting outside, spending time with friends/family, balanced life, meaningful work and a beautiful home.
Best to you.
Hello there. I’m an extremely practical sort of person with a background in building and transportation logistics. I’ve been moving trailers and camps all over British Columbia for many years on the toughest gnarliest logging roads on the continent. Got a couple quick ideas for you, first thing I see in your trailer is that its backwards. Your already set up to install a fifth wheel hitch which would greatly increase your load capacity, stability and maneuverability. Part of the concept of mobile home is taking it places, so if its designed to go anywhere, its a better design in my opinion.
Then, r60 vacuum insulation is great and all but r20 foam insulation is likely much simpler and cheaper. Its easy to find and fix if necessary and totally adequate to heat or cool a small space such as this. As I live in Canada we’re more concerned with heating than cooling so if it were my trailer I’d install a tiny airtight woodstove for heat and open a window for cooling.
I am so very interested in your project. Will these homes stand up to a COLD Canadian winter? (-30*C)
Also could you please add me to your mailing list, Id love to see any additional information, pics etc.
Thanks and Keep on Building. Reach for the Stars!
Mark
Wow! Cannot decide whether i love the rooftop or side outs more. Great look. Please send more info.
Thank you
Jim
What a perfect guest house this would be. I was mesmerized. Greatest tiny home I’ve seen. Loved the videos, especially the last one. Had to pin your site on Pinterest.
HinkingPlease add me to your mail list. We will be building a small home on wheels soon. This as a kit would give me a giant jump start on my project. Seems to have all the things I’ve been thinking of for years. Thank you.
Please forward your email and I’ll send some info and pictures.
please add me to your mailing list
Please add me to your mailing list. Thanks.
Please add me to your mail list. I would like more info and pics sent. Beautiful. Thank-you.
Are you still in development or are you building homes now?
Add me to your email
Thanks
Bob
Please add me to your website . We want to have a home similar to this but we are in Nova Scotia Canada. So excited to see your ideas!
I am so in love with these models!!! We arelooking into building a tiny home and would love some more information. Thank you!!!
Please add me to your mailing list. I’d also be interested in more information about your trailers (pricing, specs, length options). The tiny community is growing everyday. I heard about you from a fellow enthusiast who posted your link on Facebook. Might want to contact Tiny Texas Houses in Luling or Texas Tiny Homes in Granbury (both on Facebook) for more networking. Thanks! And Good Luck!
Please add me to your mailing list. I’d love to see more!
Love the rooftop design, hybrid design, solar, ac, etc. Currently living in a 414 sq ft apt and have designed it so I have everything I need and soo much more. Please put me on your list … I have lots of design ideas, but these structural additions would be terrific!! Thanks.
Please add me to your mailing list for any info on your most interesting design!
I am curious to learn more about the “roll outs” my husband and I are doing something similiar and would be great to colaborate with you on this. Please add me to your mailing list and hopefully we can connect.
Please add me to your mailing list. We also will be building a small home on wheels. I would also like to see plans and RRO kits available. Thank you.
This looks amazing. We are in the beginning stages of our tiny house and would love to see more of your work! Please add me to your email list! Thank you!
Please add me to your list as well love what I am seeing so far I am in early stages of figuring out what tiny will work for myself and two kids full time and additional older child part time summer I need my bedroom downstairs as well
Please add me to your email list, I’d like to stay in touch with you. Thanks!
Please add me to your email list! Thanks!
Love it.. Would definitely be interested in something like this. Please add me to your mailing contact list and keep me updated as to how things are progressing. Best of luck…Scott…
I love the concept. I’d prefer for the room roll out to be one long unit, without the window/door. Is it interchangeable?
Please add me to your mailing list too!!! I’d love to see everything you have in mind when it comes to building a tiny house on wheels.
Thank you
Todd
Please add us to your email list. We currently own a 900 sq ft loft in downtown Houston. My husband’s work requires us to move almost every year. Instead of renting places around Texas, it occurred to us, why not take the house with us?
Your concept may be perfect for us.
Best regards
Pls add me to your mailing list. Definitely interested in your th. Pls contact me!
I was going look into this tiny house,but all that room from sliders,you don”t have a bed down on the main floor.I am going some where else.
Looking for places to park, rent lots in the houston area. Can you provide any information?
Thank you.
Could you send me a photo of the home that would have a downstairs bedroom as well as one loft. I cannot go up and down stairs. also show me the ones with the most square footage or pop outs.
thank you and I love your homes
Jennifer