New From Pittsburgh

[TJinPgh]

Hi everyone!

Been lurking here for a while (did post once or twice a while back but anyway) and have been contemplating the notion of a teardrop.

For reference sake we have two vehicles in the household. Mine is a 2003 Pontiac Vibe. The other is a 2004 Ford Escape, 2wd with a 6 cyl which is accessible to me but not mine.

Both have hitches.

2 summers ago I bought a 1968 Red Dale trailer. 14'. Did a little work on it to make it campable. Weighed in at around 1800 pounds so, naturally, towing it with the Vibe was out.

I added an engine oil cooler to the Escape. First trip out took it to Erie and ended up blowing the seal in the cooler on the way back. Disastrous trip that I won't bore anybody on the details with. But, the long and the short of it is that I started thinking it might be better to consider something a tad lighter. Something that is capable of possibly being towed by both vehicles.

The tow capacity of the Vibe is around 1000 pounds. The tow capacity of the Escape, with out any kind of oil cooler is around 2000 pounds. At least, from all I've read, anyway.

I've towed a small trailer with a 500 pound motorcycle on it behind the Vibe with no issues. So, I figure a lighter teardrop should be doable.

So, I'd like to ask a couple of questions, possibly of somebody else from PA who has had to deal with PennDot.

In the course of dealing with titling issues for the Red Dale, I've learned what it takes to get a HF trailer licensed for road use in this state.

It requires taking it in for a special inspection, then taking all the necessary forms to a notary for processing. Not a HUGE issue but a nuisance and an expense, none the less.

I had thought about perhaps building one of the ultralight models described in the design library. Perhaps a Superleggera or even the PICO.

My question is about the legality of a simple A-Frame type setup here in PA.

A HF frame I can build, get it certified and then build the trailer on top of it. So long as it comes in under 2000 pounds and the axle rating remains below that no further inspections or titling would need to be necessary, so far as I can tell.

I'm wondering, with how strict PA is about nearly everything PennDot, if a simple A-Frame would ever meet their inspection requirements.

Has anybody built one here?

Just trying to assess my options up front.

Thanks

TJ

[mikeschn]

Len builds teardrops in PA all the time. But he always starts with the HF chassis, which comes with a piece of paper that makes registration really easy.

I'll wait for Len to chip in more...

Mike...

[len19070]

NOTHING WITH PENDOT IS EASY!

After 25 years of trying to fight these Knuckleheads....

What I have done is build the trailer for somebody close, brother, sister, uncle anybody. Then buy it from them, get a bill of sale, notarized and call these people below. In 6 days and $21 you will have a registration.

And if you want to transfer it to PA. its easy.

Believe me, this method was made for Pennsylvanians.

I'm having computer problems at the moment.

Go to General Discussions and in the "Stickeys" look for this Post... Easy, Painless and Cheap way to Register your Trailer

If anybody can post a direct link to this I would appreciate this.

Happy Trails

Len

[TJinPgh]

Thanks Mike and Len!

[mikeschn]

http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=43004

Go to General Discussions and in the "Stickeys" look for this Post... Easy, Painless and Cheap way to Register your Trailer

If anybody can post a direct link to this I would appreciate this.

[Kens]

TJ I have built 2 TDs in Pa. What most people do is register as a utility trailer before building. Tractor Supply has a nice 4x8 simple welded trailer that comes with a title and american sized bearings which is a plus. What side of Pgh are you on I am 25 miles north. Check out the Tearjerkers web site for close by gatherings this summer your more than welcome to
come . Ken PS. TDs pics are in my album

[TJinPgh]

Ken,
I'm on the West side of Pgh.

Thanks for the info. I'll check out that site and look into Tractor Supply. Will want to weigh the cost of getting one there vs. HF (with the added costs of registering it) or a place like Home Depot.

[Kens]

TJ Tractor Supply has a trailer that is 4x8 that is basic that is called a 4x8 no floor. Tearjerkers is having a gathering at Raccoon Creek in June which is close to you. Ken

[TJinPgh]

Yeah, I saw the one with no floor on their website. I was just under the impression that their trailers only came with a certificate of origin, not an actual title.

Is that not correct?

I'll have to check out the meeting at Raccoon. It's only about 25 minutes from me. I've tented there.

[len19070]

Yeah, I saw the one with no floor on their website. I was just under the impression that their trailers only came with a certificate of origin, not an actual title.

Is that not correct?

Actually a tractor supply trailer is a great way to go also. I've bought a few and you go directly from TS with a TS employee to a tag joint and get your title right there, or should I say they mail it to you from the tag place/Harrisburg.

You can even get the tags for it then too.

Cant do that with a Harbor Freight trailer because its a kit.

Personally I think the TS trailer is a better trailer than the HF. It has 1 small flaw that is usually corrected when the floor goes on. 5 lug wheels, Nicer fenders already mounted, the lights work ...Just build a box & bolt it on. And when I checked it was only about $50 more (look for sales...like Now on the 2011 models) And the ease of getting a title makes that $50 seem like nothing.

Happy Trails

Len

[Oldragbaggers]

Welcome to the forum. We're glad you are here.

I live in MD so I can't speak to PA registrations, but I am sweating bullets myself because I bought an old untitled pop up frame off of craigslist and am dreading trying to register it as a homebuilt. I am just hoping, with all the parts I have bought for it and the receipt I have from the welder that I will be able to make it fly.

But, as everyone else says, if all else fails call Maine department of motor vehicles and register it as a non-resident, then transfer it to PA at the end of the 2 year Maine registration. That will be my next call if MD MVA gives me a hard time.

I will say though, if I had it to do over I would go with a Harbor Freight or Northern Tool, or something that comes with a certificate of origin.

Whatever solution you decide on, please make a build journal and post lots of pictures so we can follow your build.

[TJinPgh]

Len,

Thanks for the info. And, you're right. If you can just go to a notary and get the titling done vs. all the run around with the HF kits, then the extra $50 through TS would certainly be the way to go.

Becky,

Thanks for the welcome. I can't really speak to the laws in MD. PA is a PITA about EVERYTHING when it comes to the Dept. of Transportation.

I had a signed title and a notarized bill of sale from the Red Dale trailer I bought and I STILL needed to get a special inspection.

Same issue with the motorcycle I bought.

They were both out of state purchases, though. And both had some other minor issues that I suppose contributed to it. That, and AAA goes over and above anything that the state requires just for purposes of CYA.

I had thought about buying a pop-up like you did. Frequently see them on CL without titles for cheap. Ultimately, decided against it because I couldn't even fathom what it would take to get something like that titled. Would probably require stripping it down to the frame, getting it titled that way and going from there.

If and when I do start building I'll be sure to post it here. There are a number of ideas I have floating around in my head... variations on existing designs and maybe one or two of my own. Mainly looking for ways to make the designs as light as possible.

Will need to post some of them in their respective forums to get some input. Not sure if designs go in the members designs forum and general questions someplace else or...

TJ