Mobile homes are living units built on their own chassis with axles and wheels, so they can be towed to a plot and moved again later. In South Africa they are used on farms, holiday plots, smallholdings and work sites, and as a first home while a permanent house goes up. They range from caravan-sized units to longer homes that need a truck to tow. Tell us the size, new or used, and where it must go, and independent sellers and builders who serve your area will send free quotes, with no obligation.
Mobile homes for sale: the main types
Mobile homes for sale in South Africa fall into three groups:
- Towable units: a home body on a braked trailer chassis that a strong vehicle can tow, close to a tiny house on wheels.
- Large mobile homes: longer, wider units on a heavy chassis that need a truck and often a permit to move.
- Used units: local and imported homes resold by owners and dealers.
If the unit will stay in one place for years, a park home on blocks or a slab may suit you better, because it can be wider and better insulated.
How to choose a mobile home
Look at the chassis first: the axles, brakes, tyres, coupling and lights all have to be sound for the road. Then the body: a dry floor with no soft patches, a roof that does not leak, windows that close, and wiring and gas fittings done properly. Ask for the empty weight and check the towing limit of your vehicle. For living full time, check the insulation, the bathroom and the size of the water and waste tanks, or plan to connect to mains water and a septic tank. Solar panels and a battery help on an off-grid plot.
Rules, registration and setting up
A unit towed on public roads usually has to be registered, licensed and roadworthy like any trailer, and a large one may need an abnormal load permit and an escort. Once it is parked, the council may treat it as a building if people live in it, so ask about plans and land use before you settle. Set it up on firm, level ground, chock the wheels, lower the support legs and run power through a proper connection with an electrician's certificate. Common mistakes: buying a unit too heavy for your vehicle and parking on soft ground before the rains.
What affects the price and what to ask
Mobile homes are priced per unit, and prices vary widely with the length, the age, the chassis, the fit-out and whether the unit is new, used or imported. Asking prices cover such a wide spread that we do not quote a range here. Ask each seller:
- the year, length, weight and number of axles
- whether the papers and licence are in order
- what is included: furniture, appliances, gas, solar, tanks
- who delivers it, and the cost of delivery and set-up
What to put in your request
- Length, axles and sleeping space
- New, used or imported
- Tow it yourself or have it delivered
- Bathroom, kitchen, water and waste tanks
- Where it will stand and the ground there
Mobile Homes for different clients
- Homeowners: a first home on a new plot while the permanent house is planned and built
- Backyard landlords and families: a towable unit let to a single tenant and moved off when no longer needed
- Farms and smallholdings: a unit for a manager at a remote camp, towed elsewhere when the work moves
- Lodges, guest farms and resorts: extra sleeping units for busy seasons at a campsite or guest farm
- Schools and creches: a mobile sick bay or office for an outreach programme in rural areas
- Contractors and mines: a supervisor's home on a long road or pipeline job that moves along the route
- Shops, offices and small businesses: a towable shop, office or clinic unit taken to markets and events
- Municipalities, churches and NGOs: mobile clinic or relief housing units moved to where they are needed most
Frequently asked questions
How much is a mobile home in South Africa?
Where can I find used mobile homes for sale in South Africa?
Can I live in a mobile home on my own plot?
Mobile home or park home: which is better?
Mobile Homes by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg