Answered by Jenna Farmer
January 21, 2014
Hello! Welcome to Movers.com, I will be happy to address your question about moving an older mobile home.
Most mobile homes over 20 to 30 years old are considered too old to move safely.
Moving an older mobile home
Over the years, mobile homes have evolved in terms of quality and structure, and the age of your mobile home will certainly reflect that. However, the short answer to your question is: no, it is not necessarily true that moving companies don't move older mobile homes (although it may very well be the case with the specific moving company you contacted that told you that).
It really comes down to the structure--one home built in 1970 may be in better condition than one built in 1990.
Some moving companies may enforce a policy where they do not move any mobile home over 20 years old, whereas some companies may have no limit as long as the structure is sound for transport.
Mobile Home Age vs Move Feasibility
| Age of Mobile Home |
Can It Be Moved? |
Notes |
| Under 10 years |
Yes |
Usually safe and straightforward |
| 10-20 years |
Depends |
Requires inspection |
| 20-30 years |
Risky |
Structural concerns increase |
| Over 30 years |
Often not allowed |
Many movers and states restrict |
Here are some things you will need to consider in terms of moving your mobile home:
- If the tongue of the mobile home was cut off, or axels and wheels removed, these things would need to be replaced before relocation (which would drive the price up).
- Older mobile homes tend to have damage to the floor, walls and roof, which could further fall apart in transit.
- If your mobile home has vinyl siding or a shingled roof, these things may need to be removed in order to relocate (the county you will be moving to probably has some kind of regulation on this -- you can call county officials to find out). Again