Transport new frame to California

[roymeo]

We're planning on building our Frame, complete with lights, etc., in one location and finishing the build in another. Can anyone point me to any documentation via the California DMV about towing an as-yet-unlicensed frame into and around California?

Slap "In Transit" on the back of it?

Rent a car-dolly and strap the trailer-frame on to it?

roymeo

[Kevin A]

Rent/borrow a car trailer to transport the frame.

[Dale M.]

Calif does not allow any "unlicensed" anything on paved roadways....

At one time the used to issue temporary 1 day permits to move things but not sure anymore...

Dale

[S. Heisley]

Borrow the license plate off your existing teardrop and nobody will know the difference...or probably care.

[S. Heisley]

Another thing that you can do is check to see if the state that you are transporting from has a 10-day tag (temporary) system. Some states do.

[Redneck Teepee]

My trailer came from Az. but was already licensed in Az....they kept the plates and issued a 45 day temporary AZ. permit for me to get into Ca. and transfer the title. I had no Ca. DMV issues with the transfer it went smooth for once.

[nevadatear]

Hmm. Roy we will check with NV DMV.

[doug hodder]

Roy, I picked up a transit permit from DMV so that I can just fill in the date that I'm going to move it on, it's free. Some DMV's may want the specific date, mine just gave me a blank but had their official stamp on it. Doug

[nevadatear]

They ended up getting a small open bed uhaul. Decided to wait to install the axeless axle and wheels, so they went that way. Frame is on its's way back to SF! Another teardrop has begun!

[roymeo]

Thanks for the info, Doug...maybe it'll help the next person.

After some thought, we decided to rent a trailer from U-Haul. Originally we were going to get a car-tow one, but they'll only rent to you if the vehicle you want to put on it is in the pull-down menu (web, web-chat, or phone) and their widget says your car can pull the trailer+car. We could have lied and said "uh...mini cooper, yeah, that's lighter than a VWbug, right?" but ended up going with the cheaper 12'x6' open-top trailer for $20-25 cheaper at only 30/day. (and they didn't have that so we ended up with the 12'x6' with loading ramp.

Man, towing a 2000 lb double axle cargo trailer is a lot more noticeable than a 841 lb tear.

The best reason for taking the cargo trailer: we didn't have to have the entire thing street-legal before we could leave. So we didn't have to rush anything, or put a bunch of stuff on (lights, suspension) and then take it all off to paint later. (Or overstay our welcome.)

And once we had the UHaul order reserved online and called to check on timing and were directed to another location for pickup, they didn't give Mercy any guff when she went to pick it up.