Just because a tiny home is called that doesn't mean it can't compete with or even best a regular brick-and-mortar construction while also providing some degree of freedom to move around. Park model tiny homes are a good example of a "have your cake and eat it" kind of situation.
Mobile homes are far more popular today than ever before due to the perfect storm of several factors, including a heightened awareness of environmental issues, the rising costs of living and the housing crisis, and the desire to live a more untethered, nomad life. Tiny houses, in particular, are promising to be the all-in-one solution to this complex modern problem, and the higher interest in them has sparked a proportionate diversification of models.
At the opposite end of DIY (do-it-yourself), cheap and very small units are park models. Think of a park model tiny house as of the best tiny living has to offer: an incredibly generous footprint, all the creature comforts of home, very little compromising in terms of space, and even super-fancy features.
A park tiny is a family home that sits on a trailer so it can be relocated and doesn't require a foundation to set up. It's basically the compromise solution for those looking to downsize in comfort. Park model tiny homes are what happens to tiny living when you add just a drop of luxury to it, and The Cumberland wants to be a good example in this sense.
Photo: Wind River Tiny Homes
The Cumberland is one of the flagship models from Wind River Tiny Homes, a Chattanooga, TN-based builder that got started with skoolie conversions before switching to tinies. It's an oversize, 45-foot (13.7-meter) long family home sitting on a four-axle trailer and offering all the comforts of a proper home without having to resort to lofted spaces, ladders or staircases, or even multi-functional spaces.
The Cumberland is the closest thing to a brick-and-mortar, non-mobile home in that it features a linear layout and a single floor with clearly defined spaces. It has a living room that could double as a guest room if need be, an open-plan kitchen, a home office, a large bathroom, and a large main bedroom.
Depending on how you option it, it can comfortably accommodate four people, or as many as six, if your budget and your idea of comfort allow for a loft.
Photo: Wind River Tiny Homes
The unit showcased in the video below is specced for a couple, with a home office and a spacious living area designed for entertaining. The covered terrace at one end of the house also helps with that, offering a place to hang out with friends, outside but sheltered, and regardless of where the home itself might be parked.
Most tinies work against spatial limitations to craft a cozy and self-sufficient space, so that translates into multi-functional areas and pieces of furniture, and a layout reduced to the basics. At almost 400 square feet (37 square meters), The Cumberland is less restricted by the layout, so spaces, furniture, and appliances are almost residential in size.
For example, the kitchen features an electric range with a hood, a dishwasher, and a residential fridge and freezer. There's even space for a stackable washer and dryer in a special cupboard for maximum comfort and convenience.
Photo: Wind River Tiny Homes
The bathroom is also full-size if you compare it to what you might find in a city apartment. It has a tile shower and gravity flush toilet, a sink with vanity, and enough room to move around without bumping elbows or other sensitive body parts.
The Cumberland is made of ZIP System water-resistant structural panels with board and batten siding on the bump-outs, with double-pane windows and all-around insulation to render it comfy for year-round use. Like the other models from Wind River Tiny Homes, it can be rendered off-grid on demand, but it's provided with grid connections as standard.
As is, The Cumberland is the perfect family home that offers all the comfort of one while retaining some degree of mobility. Remember, park model tinies can only be moved with special permits and special towing vehicles due to their size exceeding road limitations. That is to say, this kind of tiny mansion is not the kind of towable you can haul around the country as you embrace your nomadic existence.
The standard Cumberland unit can be further customized, with construction typically lasting between eight and 12 weeks.
Photo: Wind River Tiny Homes
As with everything else in life, the higher the number of options, the higher the price tag – and, since we're on the topic, The Cumberland is high-priced already. Originally listed at $152,100, the unit is now asking $142,000 – a price that puts it in the premium category, where you will find most park models. We did mention the word "luxury" at least once, didn't we? Well, it reflects in the price.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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