Homebuilt trailer inspection

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Homebuilt trailer inspection

Postby whiteheadfisher » Thu Mar 25, 2010 8:43 pm

Here in TN I just found out that a homebuilt trailer has to be inspected by the THP. Can anyone here give me a rundown of the procedure?
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Re: Homebuilt trailer inspection

Postby sid » Fri Mar 26, 2010 10:37 am

whiteheadfisher wrote:Here in TN I just found out that a homebuilt trailer has to be inspected by the THP. Can anyone here give me a rundown of the procedure?


Hey, just down the road from you in Smyrna......

Call the TN Dept of Safety and tell them you need to get a homebuilt trailer inspected.

http://www.state.tn.us/safety/

There is a form to fill out and mail in (I can't find the form OR get there web site to work very well.) I think the fee is $25.00.

EDIT... Here's the Form http://www.tennessee.gov/safety/forms/h ... cation.pdf


After they receive your application a State Trooper will contact you and set up an appointment (mine was from the weigh station in Robertson County).

It's really not a hassle at all. He will stamp a serial number on the tongue and then you can go get your tags.


Homemade Trailers Download Homemade Trailer Inspection Requirements Document ... highways of Tennessee,
unless the department certifies that the trailer, semi-trailer or pole ...
www.tennessee.gov/safety/CVE/homemadetrailer.html - Cached - Similar
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Postby Arne » Fri Mar 26, 2010 11:03 am

yes, have it inspected before you build the t/d on the frame. much simpler.
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Postby sid » Fri Mar 26, 2010 11:19 am

Arne wrote:yes, have it inspected before you build the t/d on the frame. much simpler.


Actually, Arne, we had ours done after the build.... didn't seem make any difference to the inspector.

He just checked the trailer, but seemed more interested in the teardrop on top of it. He didn't even check the lights. :lol:

When I registered our 1947 Modernistic, the lady asked me why I wanted tags for it since they were not required. I told her I planned on taking it out of state. She said I still didn't need them because they were not required in Tennessee that other states had to honor the law from the state it was registered in. I got them anyway just to be safe.....
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Postby Arne » Fri Mar 26, 2010 11:39 am

I pay taxes on my trailer in my state. If I had it inspected after the build, I would have had to bring a list of materials used, with prices, and would be taxed on the whole amount...

by doing it on the bare trailer, it only cost me $12.00/yr.. I assume with another 2k of 'stuff' in the build, the taxes would be around 75/yr...

but, these things vary by state.. and CT is big on taxing 'personal property'.
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Trailer inspection

Postby whiteheadfisher » Fri Mar 26, 2010 9:01 pm

Thanks folks. We got the wheels on, the tail lights working and reflectors on today so I believe we are good to go for the inspection.

Sid, how long between the time you filled out your application and the visit from the THP? Did they come to your home or did you have to meet him somewhere?

We plan on creating some sawdust tomorrow by cutting the floor boards and building the underfloor storage bins.
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