Thor Forums

[bevedfelker]

How you use an object does not necessarily define what that object is. An RV was build to a set of standards and codes to be a recreational VEHICLE. It was not built to a set of codes to make it a permanent abode. Does your RV toilet have a trap? Would the "stinky slinky" pass housing sewerage codes? Does the AC distribution part of the converter equate to a houses electrical service panel? Do you think the electrical wiring in your RV meets housing building codes? Et cetera, et cetera.

Granted, we have full timers that are living full time in their RVs. But they are basically full time camping or RVing. That's not the same as sticking your RV on a vacant lot and making it a quasi-house.

Look at how most tiny houses are built. The floors have wooden joists. The walls are studded with 2 X 4s. Outside is sheathed with plywood or the same sheathing used on a house. The electrical service is built to a housing standard not that of an RV.

If you were to build a house, what do you suppose would happen if you used walls built just like Thor's laminated wall structure. Then you built a roof on it like Thor puts on an RV. Then you plumb the waste system with a stinky slinky. And the electrical service uses a WFCO converter and not a standard house electrical service panel. You never intended this house to be an RV -- you didn't put and engine or tires on it. You always intended it to be your permanent home -- you just built it like RVs are built. Would it pass the city, county, or state building code?

Building codes are designed for a purpose -- standard safe building practice. The codes for a house, modular home, manufactured home (mobile home), park home, and RV all have completely different sets of codes. You compromise safety trying to substitute one set of codes in a manner for which the object was not designed.

And I have to disagree -- an RV in no way could be construed as safer than living in a stick built home built to code. The last house we built had double 2 X 6 top and bottom plates, 2 X 6 studs, 5/8" exterior sheathing, R20 insulation in wall, 2 X 12 floor and roof joists, had a 50 year shingled roof, and walls had hurricane anchors required by the code in the area we lived. There is no way the code to which my Vegas was built could be safer than to which this house was built.