OnMackBayou said:It seems like common sense that assembling sections under controlled conditions would make them sturdier than a home pieced together under the crazy weather conditions we have around here.
Don't many site built homes use prefab trusses? If it's good enough for the roof I would assume it's good enough for the rest of the house. I've heard of some modulars that are built to withstand 170mph winds. Don't remember the name of the manufacturer.
I think the issue is really the necessity of the modular home to be transportable, and therefore constructed as several pieces that will be spliced together at the homesite.
Pre-manufactured roof or floor trusses are indeed quite strong; but any system is only as strong as its weakest link. It would depend on where, and how many of these splices were necessary.
Site built homes would, presumably, have an advatage when using pre-fab roof or floor trusses in that these can span the entire house.
That being said, I have no problem seeing a pre-fab structure being designed and built to withstand 170 mph wind loads.