Relocating a park model home is no small task. While these compact homes offer flexibility and charm, getting them from one property to another takes more than a truck and trailer. Whether you’re moving a seasonal cabin to a new lot, clearing land for a sale, or relocating a newly purchased park model, success depends on careful planning, reliable equipment, and a skilled team. At Outback Transport LLC, we’ve helped customers throughout North Idaho and Eastern Washington relocate park model homes with precision, safety, and peace of mind.
What Makes Park Models Unique to Move
Designed to Stay Put—But Still Moveable
Park model homes are built to meet recreational standards, typically measuring under 400 square feet. Though they sit on a steel frame with wheels, many are installed with skirting, porches, and utility hookups that make them feel more like permanent dwellings than RVs. Their size places them in a unique category—too big for light-duty trailers, yet not regulated like manufactured homes.
The challenge lies in the balance: they’re technically moveable, but only with the right tools and expertise. Attempting to move one without proper preparation can result in damage to the structure—or worse, serious safety hazards during transport.
Transporting One Requires More Than Just Muscle
Moving a park model home involves far more than hitching it to a vehicle. These homes are considered oversize loads, requiring permits, route approvals, and often pilot cars to ensure safe navigation. The structure itself may have weakened over time due to exposure, added weight, or modifications. Without stabilization and lifting support, damage to siding, roofing, or framing is common. That’s why experience and professional-grade equipment are crucial.
How We Manage Park Model Moves at Outback Transport
A Site Evaluation Sets the Stage
Every relocation starts with a visit—or a detailed review—of the current and future sites. We look at access roads, slope, trees, overhead wires, and obstacles that could complicate the process. Tight driveways, rural roads, or soft terrain can all present challenges that need a clear solution before move day.
This upfront preparation helps us determine the safest route and the equipment needed. It also gives our clients peace of mind knowing we’ve considered every factor before we even arrive.
Specialized Equipment, Seasoned Hands
Park model homes fall in a transport sweet spot: heavier than most backyard sheds, but not quite a full mobile home. To accommodate them, we use custom skids and lifting tools that protect the frame while enabling smooth loading and unloading. Our trucks are equipped for secure hauling, and we coordinate with licensed pilot car drivers when oversized loads require escorts.
From Spokane to Coeur d’Alene and beyond, we’re familiar with the permitting process across the Northwest. Our role is to handle the heavy lifting—literally and logistically.
Getting the Home Ready for the Journey
Prepping the Inside and Out
The safety of the structure begins with proper prep. All interior items must be secured or removed. Loose cabinets, lamps, decor, and appliances can shift during travel, potentially causing internal damage. On the outside, elements like steps, skirting, and patio attachments need to be taken off before we lift the building.
Even if the park model was originally placed with mobility in mind, over time additions like porches, sunrooms, or tie-down systems often complicate the process. We guide homeowners through what needs to be detached—and what should be moved separately—to protect their investment.
Handling Utility Disconnection
Power lines, water pipes, sewer connections, and propane tanks all need to be properly shut down before a move. In most cases, licensed professionals are required to ensure disconnection is safe and up to code. We work with you to schedule these services ahead of time, helping prevent last-minute delays.
We also provide direction on how to prepare the home so that utilities can be easily reconnected at the new location—another reason why good prep saves time and hassle.
What to Expect the Day of the Move
A Step-by-Step Relocation Process
Once we’re on-site and the structure is ready, our team positions the skids and begins lifting. Each move is different—some locations require narrow-angle turns, others involve off-road terrain. Regardless of the layout, our crew has the experience to get your park model safely loaded and ready for transport.
We stay in communication during the entire trip, updating our arrival time and ensuring all stakeholders are aligned on the next steps.
Setting It Down Right
At the delivery site, we lower the home onto its new base, aligning it as directed and stabilizing it for the contractor or utility professionals who will handle reconnection. While we don’t offer hookup services ourselves, we make sure the building is positioned properly so follow-up work can be done without delays or extra costs.
Our goal is to make the hand-off as smooth as the journey, leaving clients with a secure structure in its new location, ready for use.
Regional Moves with a Personal Touch
Local Knowledge That Makes a Difference
We’re based in North Idaho and regularly serve clients throughout Bonners Ferry, Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene, St. Maries, and Lewiston. Our coverage extends into Eastern Washington—including Spokane and Clarkston—and we often accept jobs that dip into Oregon and neighboring regions, depending on feasibility.
Each area comes with its own set of permitting and logistical quirks. Whether we’re navigating back roads in Kamiah or crossing state lines into Washington, we know how to keep things on track.
Real Stories from the Field
From cozy cabins hauled out of vacation spots near Priest Lake to seasonal park models moved between properties in Grangeville, we’ve completed hundreds of successful moves. Each project brings its own terrain, timing, and coordination needs—and that’s exactly what we love about this work. There’s no one-size-fits-all, but there is always a right way to do it.
Why Trust Outback Transport with Your Park Model
It might be tempting to move a park model with a few strong friends and a borrowed trailer, but too often, we’re called after things go wrong—cracked siding, twisted frames, or unbalanced loads that could’ve been prevented. Even if you’re mechanically inclined, this type of move involves risk and liability.
Our Experience Is Your Advantage
We started this business after years in agriculture, where hard work and attention to detail are non-negotiable. We’ve built our transport service with the same mindset—showing up prepared, doing things right the first time, and making sure your structure arrives in the same condition it left.
At Outback Transport, we don’t just move buildings—we move your peace of mind with them. Whether you’re relocating across the county or crossing into a neighboring state, we’re here to make the process simple, safe, and completely handled. Make sure to give us a call at 208.490.1482, and we can help you start the moving process today!
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