Modular/Singlewide - how safe with high winds?

[StormySar]

My dh is considering moving us into a newer trailerpark into a newer singlewide modular home. My biggest fear wiht these homes is tornadoes because when you see 'em on tv, they're like toothpicks all over the place.

So.... how safe are they? how strong of a tornado can they hold up to? Am I being paranoid? The area he's considering is not tornado area so chances of a big tornado coming are slim. And, well I know if it's my time to go.. it's my time to go. Just curious about this!

[nascarbebe]

I'm in the midwest and tornadoes don't care how new or old a modular home is. Even "regular" homes don't always stand up to them. Most trailer parks have tornado shelters. Do they have one there? I would mostly worry how close I was to one of those. I wouldn't count on staying in a trailer during a tornado. It should be ok for high winds, especially if you have wind protection around you. You might get a really bad storm every now and then but like I said, regular houses suffer from those too.

[Da WIC Lady]

Trailers are wind rated. This is mostly for hurricanes though. It has to do with how many tie downs, the roof design, and interior bracing. If a tornado were coming, I wouldn't even stay in a regular house. I'd go to a shelter.

Anna

[rabbithorns]

There's something about the magnetic field of trailers that attracts storms and in tornado country, that's a problem (they were like sheet metal or something). But current manufactured homes are NOT trailers and so a park is like any other suburban tract. Our manufactured home (here in AZ) was insulated better than any stick home and overall was built much better.

I grew up in the midwest and we had a basement. I always swore that if I ever lived in tornado country without a basement, I'd just build a storm cellar like the one you see in Wizard of Oz. All the farms around us had them. I didn't know housing parks had their own tornado cellars. That's a good idea.

[brittneyscott]

Well I'm not sure how well they will usually keep up in a storm. We live in one now only b/c its paid for and it has withstood some bad storms but I think that was just luck (or maybe my lack of it I hate this place). I've heard a lot about trailers being built better now and I think the modular homes are suppose to be slightly different and built a little better than a trailer. I'm not too sure though. We live in ours b/c DH's dad left it to him. If we had to pay a cent on the place I wouldn't live in it. Once a trailer starts going bad its all downhill. We've remodeled every rm in this place except the kitchen and its falling apart quickly. We're working on getting ready to build a house. I wouldn't pay for a new trailer. I just don't think they're worth it. Just my opinion though.

[nascarbebe]

Originally Posted by brittneyscott

I wouldn't pay for a new trailer. I just don't think they're worth it. Just my opinion though.

So true. Trailers are treated like automobiles, the older they are the more they depreciate, that's my understanding anyway. A house, however, is capable of gaining value over the years.

[StormySar]

Thanks guys.