The ultimate trailer test

Very scary.

They should have a title somewhere, or could obtain a replacement, right?

I once naively bought a boat with trailer for $120.

They did not have a title either (it was an estate sale). Clearly no foul play, but no title. Neither for boat nor the trailer.

That was a really dumb deal, in retrospect, though I was lucky and was able to recoup my cost by selling to someone else (my contractor). Getting titles for that stuff could cost big bucks and would have been a huge PITA and many frustrating hours. I hope that you will have it better.

i

Not right in MN. Not all trailers have titles. My utility trailer doesn't have one. I don't know if the title for my boat includes its trailer or not. Getting a replacement (or corrected) title in MN is a nightmare best avoided -- had to do that once with a car.

I think the DMV just cares about collecting sales tax on trailers, so bring your receipt or bill of sale and you should be good.

There may be some GVW above which the rules are different.

Yes I am in the US.

It may vary from state to state. They hassle you big time on homemade trailers now in Minnesota.

JW

Well, to answer the question...I've been pleased with trailerplans.com. Bill down in Tn. is a nice guy to talk to and their prices seem fair. The shipping warehouse was in Pa. and they put EVERYTHING but the tires and axle in one box. Ever see what a 1500# capacity leaf spring can do to a tail light? But Bill made it right and now I have all the parts. The kit (3500# axle w/brakes and 15" wheels/tires, fenders, springs, wiring, jack and the rest of the bits and pieces) was about $500. Now I'm about $200 into steel and that should be it minus labor. But I'm one that always needs a project or else I get uneasy BTW, I'm building this trailer to haul anthracite. My last project over the summer was installing a direct vent coal stove to battle the >$3 gallon oil prices. When the trailer's done I'll be able to pick up 2 tons + in one trip rather than the two trips for 1 ton it takes now. The stove should pay for itself in 10-20 years I figure by the time I get done with everything Nok

BTW: Where are you?

A friend of mine is selling off his 14' car trailer. It's a decent trailer. Not sure the price. Located in SE MN.

JW

It's a metal frame on which I'll build a wooden wagon.

Hmmm. I'll have to look into that.

Bear in mind, that not only is this a custom-purpose trailer, but part of the appeal is just the enjoyment of having a mig welder in my hand and something to point it at.

I'm in CA, with a 16' car trailer to get rid of.

wow. cool. good luck w/ your project! there was an article in either fine woodworking of fine homebuilding years ago about a... now i can't remember what they call them, caravan or gypsy wagon or something, can't remember, was BEAUTIFUL seeing the construction process. really made me want to build one. good luck w/ your project!

b.w.

On Wed, 21 Nov 2007 03:09:27 +0000 (UTC), with neither quill nor qualm, snipped-for-privacy@green.rahul.net (Edward A. Falk) quickly quoth:

Excellent. I love those gypsy wagons, especially the Orton type, with the curved roof and wider top than bottom (for elbow room?)and the short skylights.

Are you going to use spruce lumber for lightness? I'd love to see your progress. Will you be making a web page for it? I'll volunteer to help if you like.

Do you have an estimate of how much tongue weight you will get with this house all done and full of stuff?

Also, will the trailer flex enough to somehow or other disturb the house?

i

By the way, looks very cute!!!

i

On Wed, 21 Nov 2007 04:14:00 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm, "William Wixon" quickly quoth:

Fine Homebuilding link.

Good morning Iggy and any other interested parties. Sorry I didn't get back in here sooner but my 65 yo mother found out recently that she has A failing kidney and while her sister is busy taking her to doctors appointments I have been looking after my 89 yo father. ( Weldor at the Kaiser shipyards in Richmond CA during WWII) He's blind in one eye and the other one don't work so good either. I found out from MNDOT that it may be possible to license this trailer by getting A bonded title for it. I have to supply at least 2 in focus pictures ( A left and right view) and fill out A couple of forms. They will review my submission and than decide how much my bond should be. If A previous owner shows up, in the future, with A valid title I loose the trailer to the previous owner and the state revokes my bond.Not too likely as the ID plate has been nearly torn off and all that's left is the manufacturer (Miller Equipment) and the model (BT) and the place of manufacture (Milwaukee Wis.) the half with the serial number is long gone and there was no license plate on it. If MN gives me A hard time about it I'll run it over to Wisconsin to A consignment auction I patronise and resell it I live about 20 miles from the border so it's no big deal. Wisconsin trailer laws are almost non-existent.

Good Luck harleyron

And surprisingly, very little hassle in California

Gunner

Next to none in IL. I had to go to a currency exchange, fill an affidavit that the trailer really is made by myself, some other paperwork, and pay tax.

That was it.

i

Might that just be the person or place you visited? I had zero problems with that in Blaine, though it was a few years ago. I've found in other activites that something that was lookin' like a real headache at one deputy registrar's office was easy peasy at another office.

The hassle might be because you're trying to title it. Not all trailers are titled or need be. Just weld something on it so you can say it's "homemade" built on a purchased carcass, register it to get the little lifetime sticker, pay the tax and you might be done.

I added a couple more renderings. vardo3d.jpg shows how the wooden frame mates with the metal. I haven't quite figured out how to attach them.