Mobile Home Tie-Downs & Anchors

Tie-downs are the steel straps and ground anchors that hold a manufactured home to the ground in high winds. In Polk County, which sits in HUD Wind Zone II, they're the most important safety system under your home. Over time straps loosen and rust, and anchors can pull in soft or flooded ground.

What does a tie-down check involve?

Counting straps and anchors and checking their spacing
Checking tension on every strap
Looking for rust, fraying and damaged connectors
Checking whether anchors have pulled or loosened in the soil
Checking stabilizer plates and anchor heads
Re-tensioning loose straps and replacing damaged parts

What are the signs tie-downs need attention?

Straps you can move by hand
Rusted or broken straps and buckles
Anchor heads sitting above the ground or tilted
The home shifting or moving after a storm
Straps disconnected after other work under the home

Why does this matter so much in Polk County?

Hurricanes have crossed the county in recent years. During Hurricane Milton in October 2024, gusts across Polk generally ran 80 to 90 mph, with 87 mph measured at Winter Haven's Gilbert Airport. Western parts of the county got 10 to 15 inches of rain, which softens the ground anchors rely on. Checking anchors before hurricane season, and again after a big storm, is one of the most useful things a mobile home owner can do.

Who should do tie-down work?

Anchoring is part of setting up a home, which Florida limits to licensed mobile home installers. Ask the company for its FLHSMV installer license number, and ask what anchors and straps it uses, since installation components in Florida must be state-certified.

What affects the cost of tie-down work?

Home size. Larger homes have more anchors.
Re-tension or replace. Tightening is quicker than installing new anchors.
Soil. Soft or wet ground may need different anchors or more of them.
Access. Low clearance and skirting removal.
Timing. Crews get busy right before storms.

Prices come from the company after they've looked under the home. We don't quote prices ourselves.

Where we connect you with help

Common questions

How often should mobile home tie-downs be checked?

Many owners have them checked every few years, before hurricane season, after any major storm, and after any other work under the home that might have disturbed them.

What wind zone is Polk County in?

Polk County is in HUD Wind Zone II. Coastal counties such as Pinellas, Sarasota and Lee are Wind Zone III.

Can I tighten my own tie-down straps?

Florida limits installation work, including anchoring, to licensed installers. A licensed installer can also spot rusted parts and failed anchors that aren't obvious.

Related services

More background: Polk County mobile home owner's guide.

Mobile home tie-downs and anchors