Trailer licenseing in PA

[toypusher]

I am wondering wether to try to get my Harbor Freight trailer licensed first or build the teardropn on it before trying to license it. Any other PA builders have information on this. Seems that I should be able to license it as a utility trailer and put anything on it that I want. Just hoping that some else has been through this and can give me some insight.

Kerry

[exminnesotaboy]

Kerry,
Here are some questions I had ready for when I called the licensing/title office in my state:

- do I need proof of insurance?
- is there a penalty for registering it much later than the purchase date on the title? *make sure you tell them it is a "kit/assembly required" unit
- do I need to have a state inspection?
- what forms/documentation do I need to bring along with the title
- if I build a "camper" on it, will this change the titling process?
- how long are the trailer license good for?

I was lucky and they didn't require much of anything(no insurance, no inspection) and they didn't give a hoot what I built on it. As as side note, State Farm will insure my tear for up to $4500 for $14 every six months - I was really surprised how cheap it was to insure it - if I left it as a utility trailer, they recommended I didn't insure it at all as it would be covered under my car.

I know it will be different in your state, but this may give you some ideas of what to inquire about if you call them.

[GeorgeT]

Pretty much the same here in Texas. Just needed my title that came with the HF trailer. The folks at the HF store signed the title and made sure it was ready to register when I bought it. State didn't care what I put on the trailer or hauled with it as it is taxed according to the weight rating of the trailer. Cost me 58 bucks to register.

[len19070]

Len from Pa. here. Go to your local tag place. Ask them what to do with a cirtificate of origin. They will tell you Exactly what to do. I generaly sell my trailers with the HF cirtificate of origin and not a title.

Len

[toypusher]

Len,

Yah, I already got all the paperwork, but don't know if the rules are different if I put the teardrop on the trailer or if the trailer is just a trailer. None of the paperwork covers this and I just wondered what other folks in PA have done with theirs. I know that I have to have it inspected and weighed. (how to do that when it is not licensed, I'm not sure) Have to have pictures too. My regular mechanic said that he will come to my house and do the inspection, but I have to have it 'officially' weighed somewhere. The tag place said to 'just chance getting a ticket and tow it'

Kerry

[len19070]

Kerry
Sounds like the same procedure to get a reconstructed title. Its kind of like blood letting. and loosing the blood a lot. Pa. is a mess. My trailer is on a HF frame and I just use the tags from an old pop-up I had. I'm not sugesting you do that but I think your on the right track. I would first try to just get the trailer without the box titled first. Don't give them a chance to ask questions. Every question by them takes 6-8 weeks. Inspection-weight-4 photos signed by the inspection guy. Send it to Harrisburg, say 3 hail Marys-2 our fathers and wait. Not much help.

Len

[Arne]

Me, I'd keep it simple.. register the trailer first.....

[anonymous2]

Hello all,

Well after battling PennDot for 6 months{yes 6 months!!} I finally got the title,and sticker for my Camp Inn. We had to go to our state senator{wife had contacted him through PD where she works} to get PennDot to acknowlege the fact Camp INN's are not kit tears. We just got appology letter from PennDot's chief. WE also got copy of state senator's letter to the PennDot chief. They wanted to have teardrop inspected as a home built simply because they failed to recognize CI as a manfactured teardrop. We had to get Cary involved{thanks Cary} to explain to them that they were legit manfacturers. The CLOWNS even suspended our tag ,and never notified us ,and we took our tear the whole way to SC. I don't know what to tell you guys with home builts,but we were told the reason we were given a hard time ,as they are cracking down on kits & homebuilts because of safety reasons??? If any of you guys need help,just E-mail me. Hey Kerry ,Just my 2 cents ,build it take pictures inside,and out to cover yourself for PennDot,and insurance company. If my teardrop was home built my insurance company needed photos,but being factory built they gave me no hassle. Good Luck Folks!!

pateardropper

[Nitetimes]

Definitely register the trailer first, the last thing you want to do is send anything to Harrisburg that might confuse them. Once it is registered you are free to do as you please with it. When I build my frame I'll register it then put the TD on top.
If you aren't close to a scale just borrow a plate from someone with a light trailer and throw it on to take it and get it weighed. As long as it looks good and the lights are working you aren't likely to get stopped. Small trailers aren't much of a concern since there is no insp. on them there's not much money in stopping you. I've towed my several times with no plate at all, forgot to take it off the other trailer. Never had a problem.
Mine are pretty much the same as len19070 off an old popup camper, they just bounce from trailer to trailer.
I am however considering getting a title and plate when I do the TD just in case I decide I want to build a different one and sell it, that it will already have a title of it's own.

[toypusher]

Nitetimes

That's what I was thinking, but wanted to get a second opinion. I definitely don't want to confuse Harrisburg like pateardropper did.

pateardropper,

I was out to see your CampInn and at the time you had just got back from SC. I guess you did not know about the suspension of the tags then? Well, I'm going with Nitetimes advise and try to get the trailer registered as a utility trailer and not say a word abou the tear when it goes on.

Kerry

[anonymous2]

Hi Kerry,

We found out the second week of December,that PennDot suspended our tag. We were far passed the 45 day waiting period,and called our notary service,who applied for the license. They informed us the next day of the suspension. Penndot refused to look at CI's web page to confirm build status,and claimed they weren't on their manfacturers list. We told them we are the first CI owners in Pa,and we wouldn't be on their list. The state senators aid got them to look at the web page,but got rejected again by a supervisor of licensing department. We got supervisors phone # from the senator's aid,and the wife got him to look at web page,explain all the serial #'s details,and told him she would go all the way to the governor if she had to. She got him to recognize CI,but they wanted reconstructed title,and visual inspection,for RV dealer to verify.State senator interviened,said NO,and we got title,and sticker.We paved the way for future CI owners,because they are now on PennDots manfactures list. According to the licensing supervisor ,there have been safety issues with home builts,and kits,and this is why the inspection. I guess depending where you apply,and how they go about it. You may get away with it,but sooner or later,knowing PennDot they will catch on. This comes from the wife: depending how old the VIN # of an an old trailer frame comes back on state computer cross reference system for VIN's as doubled registered,you will be in for one rocky ride. Kerry, I know your frame is new ,but if registered a ulitility,and an officer sees a camper ,if you get stopped for any reason,he/she may red flag it. Contact a Notary service for best information on what to do.DO NOT CONTACT PENNDOT'S HELP LINE{they are stupid and gave us all wrong info} Have fun building it ,I just hope PennDot won't spoil your fun.

pateardropper

[gardenwood]

To all PA residents... You're welcome to join us in Texas. Sounds like we'll have an easier time when we get our trailer licensed. And there's still a lot of room in TX for more teardroppers.

Roger and Lois

[asianflava]

I haven't done it yet but, I've heard that you don't even need to bring it to the office. Any confirmation on this?

As far as the topic at hand, I found this:
[url]http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/fact_sheets/fs-reco.pdf
[/url]

[SteveH]

asianflava,

As far as registering a "camper trailer" in Texas, I don't know, but what I do know is you can go down and buy a lisence plate for a homemade trailer with nothing but a checkbook, a drivers lisence, and proof of insurance on your vehicle. You will also have to TELL them the weight capacity of the trailer.

[Dee Bee]

PA Builiders

I talked with my local town COP. Told him what I wanted to do with a HF trailer and asked for advgise. He said register the trailer as a trailer first. Once it is reistered as a PA trailer you can put anything you want on it and haul it around as long as you comply with weight, brake and turn signals etc.

My local mechanic said the same thing!!!

I haven't completed my project yet, but I am going to register the HF first as a trialer....

Hope it helps,

DEE