Now THAT'S downsizing! Couple swap their three-bedroom home for a 200sq ft house-on-wheels to travel across America

  • Patrick Howard and Lauren Kennedy from Kansas City, Missouri, have ditched their jobs to travel across the USA 
  • They sold a three-bedroom house and many of their possessions to trade down for a custom-made mobile home 
  • The couple plans to travel for six months, living off savings, but could end up living permanently in the small home 

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A couple have given a new meaning to downsizing by swapping their spacious three-bedroom home for a tiny house on wheels so they can travel across the United States.

Patrick Howard and Lauren Kennedy from Kansas City, Missouri, ditched their office jobs, sold most of their worldly possessions and their 2,000 sq ft home.

With the money from the sale, the husband and wife bought a miniscule 200 sq ft house, which can be towed alone by a pick-up truck.

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Patrick Howard and Lauren Kennedy from Kansas City, Missouri, have ditched their jobs to travel across the USA in a house-on-wheels 

Patrick Howard and Lauren Kennedy from Kansas City, Missouri, have ditched their jobs to travel across the USA in a house-on-wheels 

The couple had to sell their original three-bedroom house and many of their things to buy the 200sq ft mobile home (pictured above)

The couple had to sell their original three-bedroom house and many of their things to buy the 200sq ft mobile home (pictured above)

Well planned interior being constructed
An interior shot showing the upstairs and downstairs areas of their home

The building can be no higher than 13ft 6in to meet road requirements but the couple still managed to squeeze in two floors. Pictured above before and after the home is finished

The electrical engineers are now on a trip of a lifetime with their two dogs, Otis and Colbie.

They are part of the Tiny House Movement - a growing group of people who are buying small houses and enjoying simpler lives.

While many people have the tiny homes in their gardens for grown-up children or elderly parents, Patrick and Lauren decided to take theirs on the road.

Lauren, 28, said: 'About a year ago, Patrick and I were frustrated. We felt stuck in our office lives, working long hours at jobs we didn't find all that fulfilling just to make payments on our three-bedroom home and two cars.

'We discovered the Tiny House Movement and began following blogs and making plans.

'We got married in September last year and immediately after we put our house on the market.'

The electrical engineers are now on a trip of a lifetime with their two dogs, Otis and Colbie. Their journey started when they learnt about the Tiny House Movement

The electrical engineers are now on a trip of a lifetime with their two dogs, Otis and Colbie. Their journey started when they learnt about the Tiny House Movement

The mobile home might be small but the couple have brought their two dogs along for the ride. Pictured, Otis and Colbie on the bed

The mobile home might be small but the couple have brought their two dogs along for the ride. Pictured, Otis and Colbie on the bed

The highlights so far have been New Orleans, Louisiana and Austin, Texas, but the couple are still excited about visiting Yellowstone, Glacier, Zion and Banff national parks

The highlights so far have been New Orleans, Louisiana and Austin, Texas, but the couple are still excited about visiting Yellowstone, Glacier, Zion and Banff national parks

The couple wanted a tiny house rather than a campervan so they could build it to their exact specifications and create something more homely and stylish

The couple wanted a tiny house rather than a campervan so they could build it to their exact specifications and create something more homely and stylish

The couple set off in April to tour the country for six months with £12,000 in savings to cover their expenses.

Their new travelling house is 8ft wide by 20ft long, with the main floor 140sq ft and an extra 60 sq ft in the sleeping loft.

The building can be no higher than 13ft 6in to meet road requirements.

This meant that the main floor is 6ft 6in and they cannot stand in the loft space, which is only 4ft at its highest point.

The couple also traded in their electric Nissan Leaf for a Ford F-250 Lariat truck that can pull up to 12,500lbs.

They have all the home comforts they could want - a kitchen with a sink, fridge, hob and counter-top oven, foldaway table and chairs, seating area, bedroom and a bathroom with shower and composting toilet.

The house has regular caravan hookups for power and water, which means they can stay at campsites and have fresh tap water and 120v power for outlets and appliances.

But they also have propane tanks to run the water heater and cooker, solar panels and a water tank and pump, which will allow them to do off-grid camping too.

The couple wanted a tiny house rather than a campervan so they could build it to their exact specifications and create something more homely and stylish.

The couple traded in their electric Nissan Leaf for a Ford F-250 Lariat truck that can pull up to 12,500lbs so that it can drag their home behind them

The couple traded in their electric Nissan Leaf for a Ford F-250 Lariat truck that can pull up to 12,500lbs so that it can drag their home behind them

Although the house is a way for the couple to travel and still feel like home, there could be a possibility that the couple will continue to live in the home after they settle

Although the house is a way for the couple to travel and still feel like home, there could be a possibility that the couple will continue to live in the home after they settle

The sizeable kitchen area
The dining area with a breakfast bar

The house might be too small for guests but there's still a full kitchen (left) and a small dining area with a breakfast bar (right)

Right at home! Lauren in the kitchen area, having just cooked up a feast on the hob. The sizeable kitchen is easily comparable to those in a stationary house

Right at home! Lauren in the kitchen area, having just cooked up a feast on the hob. The sizeable kitchen is easily comparable to those in a stationary house

Patrick, 30, said: 'The house and truck are paid off and we saved about $18,000 (£12,000) to travel for six months.

'This covers all our food, gasoline, campsite fees, insurance and every other expense we incur. We are happily living debt free.

'We loved our regular house but we aren't people that tend to hold on to a lot of material items so selling the house and everything else wasn't too hard and actually felt quite liberating.

'You don't need as much as you might think you do.

'We have two dogs and neither of them are small. Otis weighs 120lbs and Colbie weighs 50lbs but we couldn't imagine leaving them behind.

'The house may be crowded, but the lifestyle in general is great for dogs.'

There are downsides to this kind of travel. 

Patrick explained: 'The trickiest parts of a tiny house would definitely include driving it. They aren't built to be aerodynamic like a travel trailer.

'We max out at about 60mph and if the road is particularly windy, bumpy or tight it's usually less than that.

'But having a home to return to no matter where we are and knowing we can eventually set it down and live full time makes up for that.'

One of the more tedious daily tasks is managing the waste water. Not having a permanent sewer connection means the couple needs to capture sink and shower water and dispose of properly

One of the more tedious daily tasks is managing the waste water. Not having a permanent sewer connection means the couple needs to capture sink and shower water and dispose of properly

Part of the kitchen and the storage area is under the stairs, which leads up into the sleeping space. Beyond, there's also a composting toilet and shower area

Part of the kitchen and the storage area is under the stairs, which leads up into the sleeping space. Beyond, there's also a composting toilet and shower area

He added: 'One of the more tedious daily tasks is managing our waste water. Not having a permanent sewer connection means we need to capture our sink and shower water and dispose of it properly. Not something you think much about in a regular house.'

But the couple are certainly enjoying their experience. 

Patrick said: 'Our trip has been amazing so far. We've seen so many places and met many new people.

'It's great being able to visit all the places we'd dreamed of going but never had the time to before.

'We're trying to see as much as we possibly can in six months. The highlights so far have been New Orleans, Louisiana and Austin, Texas.

'We're most excited to visit Yellowstone, Glacier, Zion and Banff national parks.'

While they are on the road, the couple are documenting their journey on a blog

If they enjoy the lifestyle they might live in the house permanently after they finish travelling. 

Although the Tiny House Movement is mainly an American trend, it is starting to take off in Britain.

A company called Abito has created intelligent living spaces apartments of 353 square feet in Manchester.

Meanwhile, Tiny House Scotland has created the prototype Nesthouse - a 250 sq ft moveable eco-house to explore the possibilities of sustainable small scale living. 

Patrick said: 'Our trip has been amazing so far. We've seen so many places and met many new people. It's great being able to visit all the places we'd dreamed of going but never had the time to before'

Patrick said: 'Our trip has been amazing so far. We've seen so many places and met many new people. It's great being able to visit all the places we'd dreamed of going but never had the time to before'

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