Question about mobile homes?

Question

I have noticed that mobile homes have a few odd differences from houses.

1. The doors are different. Why are inside doors an inch or two off the floor?

2. Why are the locks different?

3. Why are there dividers on every wall about six inches apart? I am talking about on the outside of the wall.

some of the dividers are about 18 inches apart. Yet there are MANY that have far less inches between them.

Answer 1

The differences aren't as great as you think.
1 - the cold air return is floor level, there aren't return air ducts in the floor.
2 - the locks aren't different, except some makes may have a brand that isn't in your local hardware store. Any standard lockset fits the doors. My home is 30 years old, and I have standard locksets, as a matter of fact, I just changed them.
3 - I am not sure what the heck you mean. Older homes had specific sheet siding,. screwed at definite intervals, but six inches? Mine are 18 inches, but the only trim dividers are on the corners. I live in a mobile home, have for 30 years, and I don't know what you mean.
New mobile homes (the last 15 years or so) are sided with the same materials as a house.

Answer 2

I too live in one; and have in the past. I'm not at all sure if you've done a broad study or???

Most often there are thresholds at the exterior doors, if you mean that moves a door up an inch, it's because of the threshold. Not ALL interior doors are an inch off the floor; but some space is left to allow for various types of flooring.

Mine has all standard locksets. The usual difference in in the overall size and thickness of a door, not the locking hardware.

Also without knowing the model/brand I can'y equate dividers at any measurement. Mobiles today however are still being manufactured using aluminum embossed sheets approx. 4 feet wide by the height of the mobile. The "screws" are at intervals/measurements coordinating with the stud widths/separations.

Certainly as with stick built homes there have been upgrades in the evolution of a mobile...IE: Better insulation/thicker drywall/ various types of siding and roofing/ more upgraded electrical service/better plumbing/ etc.

One issue that may still remain is that a mobile is built from the interior perimeter wall... OUT. Mine is an 84 and all studs are at 16 in centers. The problem is an interior wall may not be put at a measurement of a perimeter stud, in a 16 inch multiple.

No matter what anyone says, not everyone can afford, nor can they submit to the outrageous market inflation of stick built, today. I've been on the planet a lot of years and I've seen construction of stick builts that I wouldn't pay $10 for.

Steven Wolf

Beyond all that; it's just a place,,,sigh

Yikes I read more. again mine is a 1984 has Central heat/ac and ducting/venting/return, in every room.....

Answer 3

1) The Doors are up off the floor to allow heated and/or cooled air to circulate and return. A lot of manufactured Homes do not have ductwork for cold air returns on the furnace.
AND
Just like travel trailers that people pull down the highway, they are built with a steel frame underneath and it is a design requirement to be able to go down the highway, hit a pothole, and have a certain degree of flexibilty built into the unit to avoid binding and breakage DURING TRANSPORT.

2) SOME locks are different from normal hardware you would purchase from a hardware store and some aren't. It really depends on the age, quality and manufacturer of the trailer. Older and smaller trailers use hardware on doors, cupboards, plumbing, and even light fixtures that is designed on a smaller scale than what is used in site-built housing. This is because trailers ARE smaller than houses, (general statement, based on older trailers) and clearances are tighter because there isn't as much square footage.
Also, a lot of it is cheaply manufactured. If you need replacement doorknobs that YOU think are unique, it would be BEST to take one with you and go to a camper supply that sells travel trailers and has a service dept.

3) I don't really know what you're talking about here, I can tell you I've NEVER seen 6" spacing on fasteners on a Moblie Home. Mobile Homes Construction Codes are NOT local building codes, there is a governing body of rules for construction and at the moment, I forget the name of the organization, but it is on a sticker inside the door of the Electric Panel Box.

Generally speaking, Moblie Homes are similar to cars in that there is a NADA book published on a quarterly basis that shows average retail, trade-in, and loan values for manufactured housing by manufacturer just like cars. Any reputable dealer in your area would be happy to discuss this with you.

Answer 4

1 The doors are short to allow air movement. Normal homes have a return ducks for heat/ac in most rooms. Mobile home have 1 air return most the time in the hall.
2 Locks are a hold over from when mobile homes were mobile. Like a camper
3 sorry I don't understand the question.

Answer 5

The doors are higher to allow return air from the heat and A/C to circulate the locks are different because they are cheap the strips on the walls are where the wall panels are nailed to the studs

Answer 6

RE: 1 The doors are 2" of the floor to allow circulation, To ease with construction and transport their central air systems only push air into the rooms. It then has to flow under the doors to return to the Air conditioner/ Furnace. Most Site built homes have separate ducting for "conditioned" and return Air.

Not sure why the use different locks

Answer 7

Mobile homes are not governed by any certain specs or standard housing codes. Therefore they can pretty much building them any size in anyway they choose. Suxs, doesn't it. I use to work on them and everything had to be modified and I do mean everything. Taught me alot about how to do things though.

Answer 8

To attract tornadoes.

Answer 9

cause there moblie homes, there not build as well as a solid home, there made alot cheaper