Improved Push-Cart Micro Shelter

Prototype V2 was created as the next step after the original pedal-powered micro shelter. The goal was to take everything learned from the first build and improve safety, durability, and usability while keeping the same commitment to mobility and off-grid independence.

Refining the Size for Smarter Construction

The footprint of the second prototype was slightly increased. The first unit measured 4 ft by 7 ft, but building at 7 ft created unnecessary material waste. Since most of the construction material came in 8 ft lengths, the new version was updated to use the full sheet.

This resulted in a cleaner build, better structural efficiency, and a more sustainable use of resources.

A Safer Way to Move: From Bicycle to Push Cart

One of the biggest changes in Prototype V2 was the decision to abandon the 700-lb bicycle system. Riding a home of that size and weight on public roads raised clear safety and legal issues.
Turning the unit into a manual push cart solved these concerns and also reduced the overall build cost by nearly $1,000.

The push-cart design remained mobile, but was far safer and far more practical.

Improved Interior Layout and Bed Design

The interior kept the same survival-focused features as Prototype V1 but became much easier to use:

• The bed was widened for better comfort
• The new bed platform was split into two lift-up storage boxes, allowing easier access to the space underneath
• The layout remained compact but more functional for real, daily use

These small refinements made a noticeable difference in how the unit lived.

Increased Solar Power and Off-Grid Capability

Prototype V2 doubled its solar capacity from 200 watts to 400 watts.
This upgrade made the electrical system more reliable, especially for lighting, small devices, and general day-to-day functionality.

The unit kept the same essential features as the first prototype:

• Solar power
• Diesel furnace
• Running water
• Sleeping area
• Interior desk/work surface

Although still experimental, V2 represented a more realistic version of what an ultra-mobile emergency shelter could become.

What Prototype V2 Represented

This unit marked a turning point in the early days of Tiny Tiny Homes.
It took the lessons from the original pedal-powered model and used them to create something safer, more efficient, and more practical.
While no longer produced, Prototype V2 helped set the stage for the larger, trailer-based designs that came afterward.

It shows how the project grew out of humble beginnings: experimenting, improving, and always trying to do better for people in need.

A Radical First Step in Tiny Tiny Homes’ Journey

The first prototype ever created by Tiny Tiny Homes was built on a custom bicycle frame, designed to be pedaled through city streets and positioned wherever shelter was needed. Inspired by Shift Trike, a delivery service in Vancouver that used cube-van cargo tricycles, this early model explored what true mobility could look like in emergency housing.

With only 28 square feet of interior space (4 ft by 7 ft), the goal was simple: build the smallest possible functional living unit that still offered safety, warmth, and independence.

Ultra-Mobile Design

• Built directly onto a reinforced bicycle trailer frame
• Designed to be pedal-powered, allowing it to move without a vehicle
• Light, compact footprint suitable for urban environments
• A concept exploring mobility, autonomy, and off-grid survival

This prototype asked an important question: What if a person could move their home with them, safely and legally, without relying on city infrastructure or vehicles?

Packed With Essentials Inside

Despite its size, the first Tiny Tiny Homes prototype included everything required for survival:

• Solar power to run lighting and small electrical needs
• A compact diesel furnace for reliable heat
• Running water via an integrated, manually supplied system
• A small desk and workspace
• A built-in sleeping area

Every inch had a purpose. The goal wasn’t comfort, but self-sufficiency.

A Look at the First Prototype in Action

To document this early experiment, creator Johnny Strides filmed a detailed walkthrough of the pedal-powered micro-shelter. The video shows the full interior layout, the bicycle-frame mobility system, and how the 28 sq ft unit packs in essential survival features like a diesel furnace, solar power, and a sleeping area.

What This Prototype Taught Us

This early experiment became the foundation for everything built afterward. Even though later models evolved into fully insulated, trailer-based homes, the lessons from the pedal-powered prototype remained important:

• Mobility creates opportunity
• Small spaces can be highly functional
• Independence and dignity matter, even in 28 sq ft
• Off-grid power and heating systems are essential for safety

Most importantly, the prototype showed that a tiny home doesn’t need to be large to make a meaningful impact—it simply needs to be safe, warm, and built with intention.

A Starting Point for Big Ideas

While no longer produced, the bicycle-frame prototype remains a symbol of what Tiny Tiny Homes stands for: experimentation, practicality, and a commitment to finding new ways to house people quickly and creatively. It paved the way for the larger, more refined models used today.