Pre-Manufactured Home Installation Details

One of the best home purchase values today is a pre-manufactured home such as this one.  This 1780  sq. ft.  home is well made and will last over 60 years with little maintenance. The two  features that make this home a premiere addition to our compound are the handicapped ramp and porch and the steel skirting all around the base.  This was my design and I purchased all material and supervised the installation. 

This home originally listed on the lot for $75,000.00. We were able to purchase this new home, (the demo model on the lot), for $51,000.00 including all the furniture and furnishings.  The purchase price also included range, refrigerator, and dishwasher. In addition the home delivery to the site was included. It was my responsibility to provide the material and equipment to place the home on the foundation. I designed and constructed a special structural concrete foundation with torqued tie down fasteners in (28) places. The home was lifted in sections in place with a 70 ton crane. Each section weighed 13,500 lbs. and was picked up and placed as shown below. 

Below you will see the transporters moving the sections of the home on site in preparation for  placement. A pre-manufactured home must be very strong to withstand a road trip, be moved over ditches, and lifted and placed on a structural foundation such as this one. Each half has (2) 8 x 12" steel I beams that run the length of the home.

Most of the placement strategy is done by the crane rigger who oversees crane placement and final positioning of the home sections. 

The rigging process involves hanging counterweights on the back of the crane to equal the load to be lifted. These weights plus the weight of the crane aft the pivot point must be greater than the load or the crane would tip over trying to lift the section.  

The crane is then positioned at the exact pivot point on site for the lift. The outriggers are extended to stabilize the crane prior to swinging the home onto the foundation.

The wind was blowing that day and it became difficult to exactly position the home on top of the foundation.  This crane was barely able to accomplish the job. Notice the transport wheels and axles were detached and left in the ditch as the home is lifted. Workers on the far end are getting ready to help rotate and control the angle of the home as the crane rotates the load to placement.  Notice how the spreader bars keep the straps away from the sides of the home.  .

The men have to make sure the home clears the foundation as the crane continues to swing it to its final destination.  

By this stage the crane has rotated the first half of the home almost 180 degrees. It is approaching its maximum lift capability and very near the tip point. That is why this is dangerous business. 

Near the final positioning on the structural foundation, the wind is wreaking havoc with the alignment. Due to the 4 x 4" skirting posts on each end of the foundation much consideration is taken not to break these posts.  With the best of care still one was broken. 

The crane can no longer completely suspend the section over the foundation. It is dragging the left end in this view.

This view shows the locations of the two buildings with the final position of the pre-manufactured home in place. 

Notice the placement of the underground hose bibs for the watering system. There are (9) of them. Note also there is one at the left side of the red building. 

Our sidewalk supervisors for the project.