Mobile home anchors or tie downs can help keep your mobile home save during severe weather. Mobile homes are typically set on piers and have a plastic skirting placed around them. This allows for air to move under the mobile home. During severe weather this can cause major problems. Here we will explore why mobile home anchors are important.
How to Install Mobile Home Anchors
If you find that your mobile home does not have any anchors you can always call a professional to install them. Typical charges to install mobile home anchors run from $1500 – $2500 roughly.
If you are moving a mobile to a new location or it is on private land you will want to consult with your local building code inspector to see what they require. Ground composition is different in each area and some areas may require that you set the mobile home anchors deeper than others.
For instance, if you have a sandy area, they may require that these be set deeper. Harder grounds such as clay and heavy dirt may not require that they be set as deep. You just want to ensure that these rods or mobile home anchors are set firmly in the ground.
Most mobile homes will be set on a concrete pad. This pad should have clips of metal sticking out from them. These clips are known as anchor heads or anchor stems. This is where you would hook on to the mobile home anchor to secure your mobile home. These stems which are part of the mobile home anchor run straight down into the ground typically anywhere from 3ft to 5ft.
Installing Mobile Home Anchors : Advanced
The best way to install a mobile home anchor is to run it at a 45-degree angle away from your mobile home (see diagram). Most people will install these vertically put that does not give you the staying power that a 45-degree angle will. When you anchor each side of the mobile home at a 45 this will also secure it, so it won’t rock off the piers in the event of high winds.
First, dig a hole at a 45-degree angle. Use a board to make sure you are headed at the right angle. Place the board in the hole and make sure it lines up with the I – Beam of your mobile home. Continuing to use the board will make sure you’re at the right angle so that the anchor lines up once you get the hole in place.
Mobile Home Ground Anchors
Here is an important tip when installing these mobile home ground anchors. Be sure to dig down at least 18 inches and 10 inches around to start these holes. Once you get the rod in place you will want to pour this area with cement to ensure that these are sound and in place. When the wind starts blowing you do not want the small rod to tear through the soil and become loose. Using a couple bags of cement will help to ensure the rod stays in place.
Many installers use a large drill once they have a hole established to power their way down into the heavy soil. This will help to ream a hole so that your mobile home anchor will go in easier. Consider the fact that you probably have 8 to 12 of these to install the easier you can make the job on yourself the better.
Once the anchor is placed in the ground then you can clamp on to it and hook it to the I Beam of your mobile home.
TIP: If you live near a mobile home park or your mobile home is in a mobile home park the park offices will sometimes rent equipment to you to install these anchors. The machine that installs these typically rents for around $50 per hour.
How Far Apart Do You Have to Space Mobile Home Anchors
The number of mobile home anchors that you will need really comes down to your wind zone area. Inside your mobile home you should be able to find a piece of paper that looks like the map of the United States. This paper known as a data plate will tell you the wind zone that your mobile home is built for. This will give you some basic information on your home. Here is some information if you are having issues locating your data plate.
You should consult with your local building inspector for more detailed information.
How Strong Are Mobile Home Anchors
Mobile home anchors are typically rated to withstand a total of 4,725 lbs. This is regulated by HUD code 3280. Strapped down correctly mobile homes should be able to withstand winds of 75 mph and above. However, these winds would likely be damaging to the home.
Some HUD regulations will require a strap to be placed over top of the mobile home to ensure that it does move these are called over the top tie downs and they are much more secure than the ground anchors that are discussed here.
Maintaining Your Anchors
If you live in a mobile home park, chances are the mobile home is already anchored to the concrete pad underneath the home. It is best to check these anchors annually as they are made from metal, and they can rust and break. A mobile home crawl space is typically a damp place that wreaks havoc on metal fixtures under your mobile home. Inspecting these mobile home anchors will ensure that your mobile home is save when bad weather hits.
How To Remove Mobile Home Anchors
Mobile home anchors are made to stay in the ground so when trying to remove them you might find this a difficult task. If you have access to a tractor that is your best bet for removing these mobile home anchors quickly. If you do take this route, be careful if you are hooking onto old rusty mobile home anchors. Sometimes under pressure these anchors will snap apart and send pieces flying.
TIP: If there isn’t a lot of area to hook on to the mobile home anchor hook a set of vice grips to the top of the rod. The vice grips will lock into place and give you more of a pulling surface.
If you are looking for a cheap and easy way to remove them and you don’t have a tractor, try this. Set an old tire up on the ground next to the mobile home anchor. Hook the chain to the anchor then run the chain over the tire tread and hook it to the back of your truck (so the tire is standing up as it would be on a vehicle). Give it a pull this will cause the anchor to be pulled upwards rather than pulled away at an angle.
Mobile Home Tie Down Anchors
If you do decide to install mobile home tie down anchors yourself, you will want to make sure they are HUD complaint. HUD sets standards for mobile home tie downs to make sure they can withstand heavy winds. You do not want to install a tie down that isn’t going to do its job when the time comes.
Anchors at Home Depot or Lowes
Mobile home anchors can be purchased at most large department stores. Lowes and Home Depot typically carry these types of items. Before driving into town be sure to call ahead and make sure they have the number of mobile home anchors that you need for your job. If you find they have them in stock they can typically order more in and have them within days for you to pick up.
Another great option is to order them online and have them shipped directly to your home. Prices online are competitive with local hardware’s and may save you money and travel time.
Tie Down Anchors
When ordering these online or in a store tie down anchors is sometimes what they are referred to as. Be sure to read the fine print and confirm that they are good to secure a mobile home down.
National Weather Service
According to the National Weather Service the United States has approximately 10,000 thunderstorms each year with nearly 1,300 tornados. You never know where these storms will pop up. You would probably be better off trying to win the lottery than predicting these storms. That is why it is important to be prepared.
Mobile Home Hurricane Anchors
If you live in an area prone to hurricanes having mobile home anchors is a must. Building code inspectors will require that these be installed on your home for safety reasons. Hurricanes produce high winds, and you want to have these installed prior to this season.
Mobile Home Anchors for Carport
When you know bad weather is headed your way there are other items you want to make sure are secure around your home. One such item that takes some planning way before the storms get there are carports. Carports are amazing for protecting your vehicle from the sun, rain and snow but during high winds these buildings can turn into a disaster. If left with no anchors attached carports will quickly pick up in the wind and be hurdled around effortlessly.
At the base of the carports there are holes to hook anchors to simply place a screw through the carport and hook into these anchors. These anchors should be placed a few feet into the ground to secure it.
Mobile Home Earth Anchors
No matter what terms you use to describe a mobile home anchor they are necessary. Mobile homes are not as secure to the ground as a regular stick-built home. Its important to take the necessary steps to make sure your family and investment is secure when bad weather hits. I hope this information provided you with steps you can take today.