Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Ohhh Happy Day Folks

If you remember last week I went for my 1st long ride to have the Towbar Exchanged...To EU Standards..The place is about 1 hour drive away..



Well its 08:55 here in Finland and a morning cup of coffee is tasting good.
Im getting ready to drive again to get our Voyager back home..

Also with the fenders fitted into place... So now to get the Voyager home and off to the paint shop to purchase paint for the fenders. Easy to match it since the vinyl is here..

We,ll catch up with you this evening with a few pics..what a great feeling it is..

Classic Finn

Just got safely back home with the Voyager...in rush hour traffic as it is at this time at 16:45 here in Reindeerland.. New Towbar with all Eu stamps and papers...

The Voyager tows like a dream. I,ll get some photos of the towbar and what it looks like now.. what a waste...of money..all in all.

But thats the way it is here in the land of the EU...

Classic Finn

It's good to hear you have your baby back!!!

Did people on the road stare and point at you??

Mk

Mary K wrote::clapping hands:

It's good to hear you have your baby back!!!

Did people on the road stare and point at you??

Mk

Mary K it sure is nice to have our tear back...for sure..felt real lost without it..

Does that mean Im in love with it so much?

Yes there were some that stopped into the cafe parking lot I stopped at on the way home just to check all lights and blinkers since it was rush hour..Some wanted to see inside so I did show it with a little embarrassment since its not done ... but in any case people said its cute and asked where they can get one like it...

I said well this is the 1st and if you like I can give you the Forum Adress so we,ll see if they sign on ...

I also told them I can even build one after I get set up.. to do so..but the interest was there and these folks were not spring chickens anymore..

I,ll take photos of the paperwork that is involved here to do this..teardrop building and registering...that is... but Im going to go eat dinner and then I,ll start...

No Police around anywhere..on this trip either...

But all in all Im about to win this beauracratic sheeeeeeet..
And boy am I glad..

Regards
Heikki

Ok Ive got photos and paperwork to show you folks and from what I learned from being with the gentleman all day today registering a tear from USA or Homemade is not bad and I,ll show you how .. and I know it dont pertain to many of you but to show what its like to do this here.

But what Ive been thru and learned Ive learned the hard way.. and also my tear is registered as a Home Built Mini Caravan...
I,ll tell you folks more...in a few minutes after coffee and photo uploading.

Ohh and the Model number and name is to follow...

Classic Finn...Be back in a bit..

Congratulations on getting past that hurdle.

Is there anything else on the build that requires some bureaucrat's approval?

tonyj wrote:Congratulations on getting past that hurdle.

Is there anything else on the build that requires some bureaucrat's approval?

Tony my friend... Im so happy at this monent that I cant sit still..

All Red Tape has been gone thru and passed Pre Inspection....The gentleman that is the Head of Safety for the Only Finnish Caravan Club here came over this evening.. and he is also the Head of Vehicle Inspections and Approval Director in the same office that inspects vehicles, caravans, utility trailers and other vehicles...Deptartment of Motor Vehicle Inspections I guess is the Official Name..

So now I have this gentleman that came over this evening after I called him .. and he was more than excited, also I am now a member of the Finnish Caravan Club here because of his help and coming over so I thought why not play my cards right in case I ever need his help with any future tears or anything else..

He gave me the entire scoop and schooling.. about the Red Tape that has been and much of the wrong data that I was given...from different Normal Inspectors and icluding Police..

All for one reason: This type of Caravan has never been registered or seen here Officially Registered as mine now is..

So All Red Tape that has been is now overcome and I turned out the persistent ornary Finn that never gave in to the rumors, wrong info and whatever came with it..

There are a couple of things that I need to do but nothing major..

It wont pass the Main Inspection yet due to the hatch not fully in place and the triangular reflector...

I,ll tell you folks in a bit..

But yes Im done and all is ok..

Classic Finn

Ok Here we go with picks and I,ll explain this entire EU Garbage ..

Ok here is the Voyager safe back home again after being gone for a few days... seemed like the longest days of my life to wait for the weekend to go by..





Below you will see the trnsfer plate or permit... which must be purchased each way and a form filled out with the precise route to be taken..Name of the place to be taken to.. and from where it will be leaving (adress) and for how long of a time period it will take to travel.. each way is valid for one day. A charge of 13 Euro each way for this permit.



Below you will see the top of the Towbar and the Eu Id..and the Eu Directive which is to be followed.. Weight 750 Kilo



Ok Below is 1 Page out of 7 pages containg the EU Towbar Description
and the Tests done to it and .... Towbar Model and Classification ... The tear is an 01 class which means brakeless and under 750 Kilo.. Class 2 is with brakes and up to ... 3500 kilo.. if I remember correctly..

Also if the total weight of the tow vehicle and tear exceeds 3500 kilo I have to have another class of License which here is called Little E Class.



Last Pic contains the info..of

The Tear which is Homemade, Production Number which is the long Id which yet needs to be stamped to the frame of the Tear.

Model Name is Voyager 1

Weight and so on.. Tire size.. and now ..Frame Material - Galvanized Steel - Manufacturer of towbar is Paku . Builder Id number

If I want to change tires to other size tires or wheels than what is on the tear.. It has to be Remodification Inspected...Cant just go and change tires or wheels as I want..



Ok the pic below contains info on the different tests that have been done to the towbar and the calculation formulas that go with it..



So on the back of the tear hatch are the triangular reflectors.. they are to be on all utility trailers and caravans here ..

And mine are installed wrong.. I was told that they have to be 40 centimeters from the outer wall... but no.. its 40 centimeters from the VERY EDGE of the farthest side.. which is from the edge of the fenders..

Also about the door handles.. I was told that I cant have the handles pointing forward (open end )... Weeeeeeeell.. that I also have to have them sunken in the door.. Not in my case since the door handles are within the inside area of the fenders..

Have you folks had enough of this yet? I know I went thru Hell and Back with all this.. Ive got paper about 10 pages in total that I have to show yet..

Also funny thing is my trailer is just 5 centimeters within the limit that I was going to have to add side lights due to that fact if it exceeded the width of what my tear is from the outer side of the fender to the other side of the other fender..

Whew I dont have to.. I was spared by 5 centimeters,,

Now do you folks understand the PITA that this has been.. it has driven me insane a few times.. Finland has not ratified the principle laws of the EU that was voted on before.. thats why

Now.. this is inside info that I received..If a tear is a lets say 1945 or 1937 or whatever.. Here they will go by the law of that specific year.. which means I dont have to do a thing..

However if it is a Home Built as ours here.. Towbar has to be EU Approved with Id and Lighting has to have an E1 approval stamp in it.

Thats it...Now I know the Law of this jungle.. and how it works but again I say Ive learned the hard way..but I survived... Now does the Eu stink in my opinion and this countries Laws...

There you have the scoop of poop - Im glad its over..


Classic Finn

750 kilos would be no problem if you could shed the additional EU lights, reflectors and inspection stickers. Those have to add about 150 kilos!

Sounds like you made a good contact that can help on your next go around. It is always good to be buddies with the powers that be.

tonyj wrote:750 kilos would be no problem if you could shed the additional EU lights, reflectors and inspection stickers. Those have to add about 150 kilos!

Sounds like you made a good contact that can help on your next go around. It is always good to be buddies with the powers that be.

Tony that was my exact thoughts too.. yes the gentleman that came over told me immediately that my tear can be registered as a covered canopy utility trailer or miniature caravan under 750 kilo... if I can show that it will be installed with sleeping quarters and a gas stove..
now if that aint the easy part to do...

So as it is its a Caravan .. Model Name Voyager 1

Thats the story of this entire red tape and garbage.. Do you have anything to this strict or idiotic.. ??

Classic Finn

What a load of horse manure. If we had to put up with all that, we would probably declare independence and start a new nation, but that's just us.

It's those months and months of no night and no sun. It's making you all insane!

I guess it boils down to this--the difference between a well built trailer that is safe and "close enough," and one that is built to strict standards is guaranteed employment for pencil pushing bureaucrats!

The Voyager1 name is perfect, because your are the voyager for all the EU folk (or just Finnish folk) who follow the trail you are blazing. It sucks to be the first one to have to cross all the obstacles. You'll be making it a lot easier for the next builders.

Heikki

I don't want to make you upset but this is what I have to do.
(nothing)!

This is the Wisconsin trailer registration:

MOBILEHOMES - CAMPING TRAILERS OVER 3,000 LBS (MBH). Annual Registration Expires in April. $15.00
Length no longer required for mobile homes or camping trailers

For trailers less than 3000 LBS registration is not required.

Chuck

Heikki.
Congratulations!!
Classic Finn 1
European Union 0

By the way, where is Kalkomet Kentucky?

Scott F.

Chuck Craven wrote:Heikki

I don't want to make you upset but this is what I have to do.
(nothing)!

This is the Wisconsin trailer registration:

MOBILEHOMES - CAMPING TRAILERS OVER 3,000 LBS (MBH). Annual Registration Expires in April. $15.00
Length no longer required for mobile homes or camping trailers

For trailers less than 3000 LBS registration is not required.

Chuck

Hi Chuck

No Im not upset ... Im jealous as ... well gee I dont know what.. Yes I could go for somthing easier such as the Laws here..but ok I came thru it all even though I thought to toss in the towel several times but now Im glad I didnt..

Ohh after the Inspection I dont ever have to have it inspected again unless I change somthing to the tear..and after all this I dont think I will want to... now why do you suppose that is...

But ok I learned a heck of a lot through trial and error.. and is it all for safety I ask myself - no not all..

Regardless though our tear is "Safe " if thats what it all means.."

Classic Finn

s4son wrote:Heikki.
Congratulations!!
Classic Finn 1
European Union 0

By the way, where is Kalkomet Kentucky?

Scott F.

Thank You Scott...It feels sooooooooo good..Ohh Kalkomet is the name of the Company and Ky means Limited or Corporation. Business Type...The company that made the Towbar.. And Model name of the Towbar is Paku 750.

Ha! Classic Finn 1 and Eu 0...


Great to hear from you
Heikki