anyone in NY build a teradrop?

[stonykill]

my wife and I are going to build our 1st Teardrop to camp in. I am a self employed woodworker, so it will be a fun shop project. Here is why I am asking. A neighbor, who is ALWAYS negative about everything, told us it is a real hassle to register a homemade trailer in NY. Now I have registered several homemades years ago, and needed a weight slip from a scale, and the proper paperwork. That's it. She is describing a inspection system that is insane. All before you can even get your registration.
So the NYSDMV website tells me nothing has changed. Any homemade needs what I described above. A weight slip and paperwork. And a Teardrop will be far below the weight limit. I'll be sure of that.
Is there something I don't know about that happens in NY?

[parnold]

Here's a possible option for you.. check out this thread.


http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=43004&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=title+maine

[Oldragbaggers]

+1 what Paul said.

I live in MD and have had some people (mostly those trying to sell me an untitled trailer) tell me that I just have the trailer inspected (they look at the lights, coupler, safety chain and fenders) and then get it weighed and go tell them it's a home built trailer and they're going to hand me a plate and wish me well.

I've had other folks say not so fast and not so easy....

I am going to do everything Maryland tells me to do, exactly the way they tell me to do it, in the hopes they will give me a registration. (Start now, saving all receipts, especially those for trailer parts and any welding work you might have done, it supports the fact that the part of the trailer they care about, the chassis, is homebuilt.)

But if they don't, my next call will be to the Maine DMV.

Becky

[parnold]

By the way, I bought a Harbor Freight trailer. It came with a certificate of origin. I took this to NJ Motor Vehicle and registered it without any problem. NJ doesn't care that I put a box with a bed on top of the trailer as long as it stays under 2000lbs I'm good.

[stonykill]

thanks. If for some reason NYS gives me an issue, Maine it is!

[fast freddy]

homemade no problem,need receipts for parts for making trailer,and need to get it weighed,or tell them you had all the parts "in stock",and then a weight slip,do all this before your build then you will have no problem with weights and so on....or use a camper frame,one that has papers,take the papers down and register.....inspection is only lights and tires and reflecters...do this part after build.....hope this helps

[mary and bob]

What weight limit are you refering to? I was recently researching NY DMV for a weight limit in reference to a trailer needing brakes to pass inspection. I should know that as I have a NY inspection license but only did heavy duty vehicles that of course had brakes. Anyway, the only info I found was that if the trailer had brakes, the inspector had to check them, but there was no weight specified. I know years ago there was as we had to put brakes on a couple popup campers that came from another state. I thought the weight limit was that over 1000 pounds the trailer had to have brakes but that doesn't seem to be the case now. I was checking into this as we just bought a '84 Uhaul camper that is 1250lb. Our teardrop is 650 and is registered as "LT trailer" or light trailer. It had no paperwork when we got it so I took it to our local transfer station [dump] and had them weigh it and got a weight slip, then went to Motor Vehicle and registered it. Didn't get it inspected for a year or so afterward. Did the same years ago with a homemade trailer. Bob

[vreihen]

http://www.towingworld.com/articles/TowingLaws.htm

NYS law is strange in that it seems to be written more for cargo trailers than campers. Brakes are required on any trailer that's over 1,000 pounds empty, or more than 3,000 pounds loaded. So, if you take a 999 pound flatbed trailer and throw 2,000 pounds of cargo on it, you don't need brakes. If you build a 1,001 pound camper, you do need brakes. Makes about as much sense as an 8-foot tall Wookie on the planet Endor with 2-foot tall Ewoks.

But, as a licensed inspector, I'm sure you'll shake your head about how many times I've been to various inspection shops and had to explain to the inspector that (1) yes, trailers *do* need to be inspected, and (2) that you hand the customer a regular car windshield decal (un-stuck) with three extra holes punched across the top as proof of inspection. Why DMV does not use the motorcycle inspection sticker for trailers has stumped me for 25+ years.....

[Larry C]

Much simpler than you think. I have all the required paper work, and have discussed the procedure with the NYS DOT. If the weight of your trailer does not exceed 1000# you are "Golden" If you exceed the 1000 limit, you will need brakes, and the process is more complex.

However, what you have to realize is the 1000# limit is referring to the actual chassis, not what you have sitting on it. You are just building a utility trailer with a removeable box sitting on it..right

Once you you have the chassis built, you will need to get it weighed. The state will send you a list of commercial weigh stations in your area if you ask. These are just just certified commerce scales, such as a quarry, etc. call around to see how much they will charge. It should be nothing to $5 or so.

Bring your weight slip along with receipts for all materials in the chassis so the state can charge sales tax on whatever you haven't already paid tax on, such as out of state purchases. Licence the weight limit so you won't need brakes.

That's it, you will be issued plates, and will receive a title in the mail. Of course there will be fees for plates, title, etc. You will still need to have the annual safety inspection required for all trailers. You will be issued a 10 day waiver, but you can probably wait till your trailer is complete before doing the inspection.

Now... go build your TD to mount it on your newly licensed utility trailer

[mary and bob]

Like I said, my recent search on NY DMV site I could not find a weight figure for requiring brakes. I believe it said brakes were not required on a trailer, but if it had them they had to be inspected. Can you point me to where this info is as NY changes the rules ocassionly. My Uhaul has no brakes, had a NY title when we bought it, but as far as previous inspections who knows how it was done. "Lights work, tires are good, here's your sticker, that'll be $6 please, go away so I can make some real money on some repair work".

[Larry C]

Like I said, my recent search on NY DMV site I could not find a weight figure for requiring brakes. I believe it said brakes were not required on a trailer, but if it had them they had to be inspected. Can you point me to where this info is as NY changes the rules ocassionly. My Uhaul has no brakes, had a NY title when we bought it, but as far as previous inspections who knows how it was done. "Lights work, tires are good, here's your sticker, that'll be $6 please, go away so I can make some real money on some repair work".

Bob,


EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FOR TRAILER
MV-529C

"Trailers weighing over 1,000 pounds unladen, and trailers having a maximum gross weight in excess of
3,000 pounds, must be equipped with brakes"

http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/forms/mv529c.pdf

Some more forms required for home built trailers in NY:
MV272, and VS105

http://www.dmv.ny.gov/forms/vs105.pdf


http://nysdmv.custhelp.com/app/answers/ ... NktMRGs%3D


Hope this helps,

Larry C

[stonykill]

thanks for all of the replies! I figured it was just my negative neighbor being herself. Now for the hard decision, a TD, A tiny house on wheels, or both.....

[Larry C]

we just bought a '84 Uhaul camper that is 1250lb. Bob

It looks like this trailer is required to have brakes in NYS, unless it is grand fathered some way. but, I doubt it.

Larry C

[EffieRover]

Existing campers are grandfathered, or at least that's what the clerk told me when I registered my '66 Shasta - 1300# and no brakes. New builds have to follow the current rules; hope that helps.

[stonykill]

Like I said, my recent search on NY DMV site I could not find a weight figure for requiring brakes. I believe it said brakes were not required on a trailer, but if it had them they had to be inspected. Can you point me to where this info is as NY changes the rules ocassionly. My Uhaul has no brakes, had a NY title when we bought it, but as far as previous inspections who knows how it was done. "Lights work, tires are good, here's your sticker, that'll be $6 please, go away so I can make some real money on some repair work".

ok, I know this is an old post of mine. But I have to ask, .... do you live near the Middle school? I have admired a Teardrop there for a number of years.

FINALLY building my camper. Chassis registered. Building the Vardo body now.