Owning a mobile home can be a great way to avoid the usual hotel booking rigmarole at vacation time. However, mobile homes aren't nearly as mobile as their name would suggest, and relocating a mobile home can be an arduous process to say the least. 

However, you can take a lot of the stress and strain out of relocating a mobile home by hiring a heavy haulage transport service to move the building for you. These services have a great deal of experience when it comes to transporting heavy, outsized loads by road, and many haulage companies have dedicated vehicles and equipment for transporting relocatable homes. If you choose this transportation option, keep the following questions in mind during the planning process to ensure the move is executed as efficiently and safely as possible:

How much will transportation cost?

If you're arranging for your mobile home to be moved, one of your most pressing concerns will probably be how much transportation will cost. As such, it is hugely important to receive in-depth price quotes from a number of haulage companies, especially when arranging transportation over very long distances. A number of costs should be factored into your budget:

• Actual transportation costs: These costs are generally calculated per mile, although you may have to pay a surcharge for very short or brief journeys.
• Loading costs: Loading a mobile home onto a heavy haulage truck can be expensive, and unloading it again is no cheaper. Many haulage companies will include this in the price of their quote and will provide equipment and manpower to load and unload your home safely.
• Road permits: Certain permits are required before oversized trucks can be taken onto public roads, and you may be liable for the cost of purchasing these permits. These permits can be more expensive for interstate journeys.
• Insurance: You will also want to insure your mobile home against any accidents or damage it may meet with on the road. Some haulage companies offer their own insurance policies, which may be more cost-effective than third party offers.

Will escort vehicles be required?

If your mobile home is particularly large or wide, one or more escort vehicles may be legally required to accompany it on the road. However, escort vehicle regulations can differ from state to state, so make sure that you are familiar with escort vehicle requirements in every state your mobile home may pass through on its journey. Escort vehicle services may be provided by your chosen haulage company or can be hired from dedicated escort vehicle companies.

Will your mobile home survive the move?

Of course, all of these precautions aren't worth much if your home is too fragile to deal with road transportation. It is therefore wise to have your home inspected by a home inspector and the haulage company you choose before transportation. If a home is considered to be too fragile to move unprotected, reinforcing straps, protective coverings and other equipment may be used to safeguard it.