"By the Book" registering in Colorado

[RockyMountainTeardrops]

I decided to be completely legal when registering the JUSTINTIME. (registered as a "camper", not a "utility trailer".
I sent an email to my local county clerk to get a handle on all of the steps required, & here's what they said I needed to do.

I'll need to get forms Dr2697, Dr2409, & Dr2704
Dr2697 is a "Certificate of equipment compliance for trailers less then 2,000 lbs"
Dr2409 is a "Statement of assembly of homemade trailer & assignment of trailer I.D. number"
Dr2704 is the "Colorado Certified VIN Inspection"

The first two are available for download from the Colo Dept of Revenue website, the third (Dr2704) is supplied by the VIN inspector.

Dr2409 is a basic form, just "under penalty of perjury, I really made this thing and didn't steal it from somebody else".
There is a specific box on this form for "camper"

Dr2697 is a "this thing is legal to take on the roads", & requires these forms to be submitted at the same time:
- Completed Dr2704
- Proof of ownership (bill of sale or Dr2409)

Dr2697 notes two Colorado statutes for lamps and reflectors:
CRS 42-4-206 & CRS 42-4-208

CRS 42-4-206
(1) Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer and any other vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a train of vehicles shall be equipped with at least one tail lamp mounted on the rear, which, when lighted as required in section 42-4-204, shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear; except that, in the case of a train of vehicles, only the tail lamp on the rear-most vehicle need actually be seen from the distance specified, and except as provided in section 42-4-215.5. Furthermore, every such vehicle registered in this state and manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1958, shall be equipped with at least two tail lamps mounted on the rear, on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable, which, when lighted as required in section 42-4-204, shall comply with the provisions of this section.

(2) Every tail lamp upon every vehicle shall be located at a height of not more than seventy-two inches nor less than twenty inches, to be measured as set forth in section 42-4-204 (3).

(3) Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of fifty feet to the rear. Any tail lamp, together with any separate lamp for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be so wired as to be lighted whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted.

(4) Every motor vehicle operated on and after January 1, 1958, upon a highway in the state of Colorado shall carry on the rear, either as part of a tail lamp or separately, one red reflector meeting the requirements of this section; except that vehicles of the type mentioned in section 42-4-207 shall be equipped with reflectors as required in those sections applicable thereto and except as provided in section 42-4-215.5.

(5) Every new motor vehicle sold and operated on and after January 1, 1958, upon a highway shall carry on the rear, whether as a part of the tail lamps or separately, two red reflectors; except that every motorcycle shall carry at least one reflector meeting the requirements of this section, and vehicles of the type mentioned in section 42-4-207 shall be equipped with reflectors as required in those sections applicable thereto.

(6) Every reflector shall be mounted on the vehicle at a height of not less than twenty inches nor more than sixty inches, measured as set forth in section 42-4-204 (3) and shall be of such size and characteristics and so mounted as to be visible at night from all distances within three hundred fifty feet to one hundred feet from such vehicle when directly in front of lawful upper beams and head lamps; except that visibility from a greater distance is required by law of reflectors on certain types of vehicle


CRS 42-4-208
(1) Every motor vehicle or motor-drawn vehicle shall be equipped with a stop light in good working order at all times and shall meet the requirements of section 42-4-215 (1).

(2) No person shall sell or offer for sale or operate on the highways any motor vehicle registered in this state and manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1958, unless it is equipped with at least two stop lamps meeting the requirements of section 42-4-215 (1); except that a motorcycle manufactured or assembled after said date shall be equipped with at least one stop lamp meeting the requirements of section 42-4-215 (1).


So what this all boils down to is this:
I have to get a certified VIN inspector (my county sheriff in this case) to come out and fill out forms DR2697 & Dr2704. (I fill out Dr2409)
I must have lights and reflectors to meet the CRS statutes (interestingly, I can't find anything that says I need side markers...)
If the inspector thinks the trailer weighs more than 2,000 lbs, I will have to get it weighed at a certified weigh station and take the receipt to the county.

Hope this helps anybody who wants to follow the book on registering.

Lee

[TPMcGinty]

I'm glad mine is considered a utility trailer here in Minnesota! Easy registration and a lifetime trailer sticker. No plates. No annual tab fee. No hassle.

[asianflava]

Mine is registered as a camper too. Sounds like the same process I went thru in TX. Utility trailer is cheaper and easier, but having a titled camper would be easier in case I sold it or moved out of state (which I did).

My deputy was only checking to see that it was not stolen or used stolen parts. I wasn't even there when he did it, I worked nights and was asleep. My wife was getting ready for work when he knocked early in the morning. My appt wasn't for another week but he was in the area and decided to knock it out. She told me that all he did was look underneath, when he saw that it was a custom frame. He signed the paperwork and left. Didn't even ask for the axle receipt.

I also had to get a certified weight slip and picture to turn in with the paperwork. I was surprised that no one inspected the final product. When all the paperwork was satisified, they gave me a VIN number and told me where to stamp it. They didn't even check to see if I had stamped the correct VIN.

[RockyMountainTeardrops]

I'm glad mine is considered a utility trailer here in Minnesota! Easy registration and a lifetime trailer sticker. No plates. No annual tab fee. No hassle.

Funny thing is.....I can't find any "camper" specific requirements in these forms. If I'm reading them right......you have to get all of these forms done for ANY trailer.

In actuallity, these forms are pretty basic. Dr2409 took me about three minutes to fill out.
Dr2697 will take about two minutes to fill out, it just requires somebody official to check TWO boxes (does it have lights and reflectors?) and sign the paper.

I haven't seen Dr2704, but I can only assume that it is about as easy to fill out as the rest.

All total, I figure I'm going to spend more time showing the camper to the sheriff than it will take to fill the forms out.

Lee

[bdosborn]

Hmm, I'll be watching this thread, mine is registered as a home built trailer.

Bruce

[RockyMountainTeardrops]

Well, today was the day.

Called the sheriff's department for an appointment to get the trailer inspected. A deputy showed up, right on time, walked around the trailer, filled out the form (year, model, color, etc) signed the form, I payed him $20 for the inspection, and that part was done.

Took the paperwork to the county, the clerk looked at the forms, typed for a while, printed out the new title, gave me a ID plate, and that part was done.

All total, it was easy as pie.
The only thing that might make a guy lean toward "utility trailer" was the cost. The clerk asked about the value, and I was charged based on that. (about $136 for title & registration).

On the other hand....if it's stolen, I have a legitimate value to take to the insurance company.



YMMV
Lee

[RockyMountainTeardrops]

Mine is registered as a camper too. Sounds like the same process I went thru in TX. Utility trailer is cheaper and easier, but having a titled camper would be easier in case I sold it or moved out of state (which I did).

My deputy was only checking to see that it was not stolen or used stolen parts. I wasn't even there when he did it, I worked nights and was asleep. My wife was getting ready for work when he knocked early in the morning. My appt wasn't for another week but he was in the area and decided to knock it out. She told me that all he did was look underneath, when he saw that it was a custom frame. He signed the paperwork and left. Didn't even ask for the axle receipt.

I also had to get a certified weight slip and picture to turn in with the paperwork. I was surprised that no one inspected the final product. When all the paperwork was satisified, they gave me a VIN number and told me where to stamp it. They didn't even check to see if I had stamped the correct VIN.

Whoops,
Sorry I missed this reply...

Colorado was actually easier than TX.....the inspector didn't look at the frame at all. He just looked to see that it had tail-lights (didn't even care if they worked), and signed it off.
I had all the receipts for the axle and wheels, but nobody cared to see them. They were all satisfied with the Dr2409, where I just listed the parts I bought and where I bought them from.

Lee