MOA Building Safety Codes require mobile homes to be tied to the ground. There are different tie-down systems.  Which one you use will depend on your soil.  All tie downs are required  to be 4’ in length. The number of tie-downs required will vary by size & year of the home.

There are three tie down system available.  They are Cross Drive, Duckbill and Earth Auger.

The Cross Drive is 4' long and driven with a hammer. For rocky soil, the Cross Drive has more load capacity than the Duckbill M-88.  The Cross Drive is less expensive than the Duckbill.

Duckbill Anchors can be used in any soil.  It is a cable with a "duckbill" that is driven into the ground with a long shaft and hammer.  When the cable is pulled, the "duckbill" swivels and locks the cable in place.  There are two sizes of Duckbill Anchors and they are model 88 that is 3 1/2' long and does not meet municipal code and model 138 that is 5 1/2' long.  Both Duckbill Anchors cost more than Cross Drive Anchors. Click here to see a detailed description.

  The Earth Auger is 4' long and easy to install with the available Auger Driver.  It is not suitable for real rocky soil.  The Earth Auger is less expensive than both the Cross Drive and Duckbill systems.

Tie downs are not good for earth quakes.  They can pull your home apart.  Tie downs are for wind.  Alaska has high winds and tie downs can save your investment .  Alaska gets wind storms that can damage a home that is not tied down more frequently than earth quakes of a magnitude strong enough to damage your home. So tie downs just make sense.

Tie downs are installed under the outside edge of the home about eight to twelve inches  inside leaving room for insulation.  

A steel strap is wrapped around the I-Beam and fed through a split bolt in the head of the tie down and then twisted and locked into place.  The tie downs should NOT be tight.  Remember we also have frost heave and you don't want the strap pulling your home apart.  How many tie downs will depend on the size of your home. 

Here's what the Municipal chart above states:

Length of Mobile Home    Tie downs per side    Tie downs over top (All homes prior to 1976).

Up to 48'                                    4                                2                    

49' to 57'                                    5                                2

58' to 70'                                    6                                3

Doublewide's do not require over the top tie downs regardless of the year manufactured.