Trailer Registration and VIN

[Bandit]

I had a TN State Trooper (DOT Inspector) come and look at my trailer Friday. He told me the trailer was well build and would pass, easily, as a utility trailer. But, all the WeekEnder build components are laying everywhere, so I told him about the Travel Trailer that I am building with the trailer. This kind of peaked his interest and he started asking a lot of questions. So, now I will have him return, when the build is complete to finish signing off on my trailer. I think he is more interested in seeing the finished product then he is in verifying if my trailer is acceptable. Oh well, I think we have another TD interested recruit.

[duggae]

I recently registered a utility trailer in MO. It had started life as a small, poorly built boat trailer. The inspector only checked that it had no previous VIN stamped on the frame. He did not even care if the lights worked or not. He wrote out an inspection slip, I took it to the DMV, paid the fee and received a plate and an aluminum tag with the assigned VIN. My TD will also be registered as a utility trailer. Im going to tell them I'll haul my lawnmower on it.

[cracker39]

I am hoping my TTT will get registered by Jun 1. I know I'll be in for a hard time as the people at my local DMV have no clue how to register a home-built trailer. If I have too much hassle from them, I'll just go to another DMV office in the county and try again.

[Todah Tear]

Speaking of VINs and Registrations...

My neighbor, who is a police, suggested that I scratch the last 4 digits of my SS# or put my license # on the frame somewhere. If the trailer is every stolen and the police pull over a trailer that might be yours, the numbers will verify the ownership of the trailer.

[cracker39]

Putting your ID on the frame somewhere is a very good idea. I have a cheap metal stamping set I got at HD for about 5 bucks and it works. I'm going to stamp my VIN (if FL gives me one) on my chassis. And, whether or not I have a VIN, I'll stamp some personal ID on it someplace.

[KA]

Hi,
I've been researching the registration of my future homebuilt teardrop. It seems that there are different requirements in different states. Might be a good idea to save your build receipts in case you want to someday sell your teardrop to someone in a state where receipt for materials is a requirement. I called the Department of Licensing here in Washington State and was told that I need to show my receipts during inspection to get licensed.
Kris

[cracker39]

I think that is the case here in Florida. With the receipts I can prove I paid state tax on materials and parts. Without the receipts, they could make me pay the state tax again on the trailer's value. I wonder if they will really want to wade through 5 or 6 dozen recepits to add them all up. I doubt it.