Building my expedition trailer

[diablo_alex2777]

Here are a couple of pix of my trailer in progress.

Still have about 60% more work i have to do. almost half way finish.

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii203/diablo_alex2777/P1290062.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii203/diablo_alex2777/P1290061.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii203/diablo_alex2777/P1290060.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii203/diablo_alex2777/P1290059-1.jpg

Done with the top frame.

Still have to work on the rear gate. Build gas can holders for 3 cans 1 water.
install led lights. Build a tire holder for the spare tire. and lots more....

[Scuba]

You putting a RTT on top of that rack ?

Looks good so far Alex :)

[diablo_alex2777]

You putting a RTT on top of that rack ?

Looks good so far Alex :)

yes.

[SAR_Squid79]

That's gonna be very top heavy / tippy.

[diablo_alex2777]

That's gonna be very top heavy / tippy.

Im actually cutting off 8 in from the legs of the frame. Had it long so i can work on it better. Plus going to put side legs on the trailer for support when camping.

[TacoDell]

^ so where did you find that trailer ?
Does it have a brand name on it ?

I was thinking about picking up something similar and modding that into something useful off the road.

and so have been looking...

Found this baby made by IKEA... :D

http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp344/TTORADell/misc%20junk%20folder/teartrailer3.jpg

There's even music for the anal retentive during the demonstration. :p
http://www.adventuretrailers.com/teardrop.html

[proudrunner]

Looks good Alex can't wait to see the end result.

[diablo_alex2777]

^ so where did you find that trailer ?
Does it have a brand name on it ?

I was thinking about picking up something similar and modding that into something useful off the road.

and so have been looking...

Found this baby made by IKEA... :D

http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp344/TTORADell/misc%20junk%20folder/teartrailer3.jpg

There's even music for the anal retentive during the demonstration. :p
http://www.adventuretrailers.com/teardrop.html

The trailer is costum made. i got it half way done from a friend. No name brand.

[diablo_alex2777]

Looks good Alex can't wait to see the end result.

Thanks edwin. Hope its done in time for my camping trip to Utah.

[TacoDell]

The trailer is costum made. i got it half way done from a friend. No name brand.

well I'm gonna stay tuned in...

I wanna see how the CA. DMV process works on that...

[Mr Tacomi]

well I'm gonna stay tuned in...

I wanna see how the CA. DMV process works on that...

If he's smart, he'll get that done while it still looks like a simple utility trailer!

[diablo_alex2777]

If he's smart, he'll get that done while it still looks like a simple utility trailer!

Top frame comes off. only waiting on the led lights so i can take it to dmv.

[diablo_alex2777]

well I'm gonna stay tuned in...

I wanna see how the CA. DMV process works on that...

My friend had plate on it. But he keep it for another one he was working on. So its was already aprove by the dmv.

[TacoDell]

My friend had plate on it. But he keep it for another one he was working on. So its was already aprove by the dmv.

a Lic. plate issuing is specific to the registration title...

If he's using the plate... then your trailer has become title less... in the fact that your friends new trailer will illegally be represented as his old trailer when adorning the old license plate.

and that leaves you with out a title...

Both trailers cannot share the same title.

And a Bill of Sale don't and won't mean shit.

Maybe I just have no faith in the DMV of this state. :dunno:

I don't know all the laws pertaining...

so I could be wrong.

you can correct me where I've strayed. ;)

[SAR_Squid79]

CALIFORNIA Home Built Trailer Registration Requirements:

http://td.roughwheelers.com/DMV/index.html

I called the DMV before going, and they said that we needed to bring in the trailer, and that it would be ok to drive it on the streets w/o a plate to get there. Some people had told me that it might be ok to just bring photos of the trailer but that is not the case in southern Calif, at least not at the Hawthorne branch of the Calif DMV. (am I leaving out any searching "hit words"?)

A few tips bear mentioning:

* Bring someone with you. It takes one person to stay with the trailer outside in the inspection area, and one person to stand in line inside. If the inside line goes faster, that's ok but the clerk will say that they can't do anything until the inspection is done. If you're alone, you'll have to get the trailer inspected, THEN start standing in line for a window clerk. That may cost you an extra hour or more, in which case you ought to bring some snacks so you don't get so grumpy waiting.

* Bring walkie talkies. We used little Motorola TalkAbout FRS radios and they worked great. When Louise got up to the window she was able to tell the clerk that I was outside and the inspection was underway.

* Start to finish, about 2 hours. We didn't have an appointment, but we got there at 7:30am, on a day when they open earlier than usual. There were still about 40 people ahead of us, but it went fairly fast. We were the 1st in line for the inspection, and #30 for the inside window. Those came out pretty even because the inspector doesn't open early, so our timing was just as good as it could be.

* Make sure to say that your trailer is under 1400 pounds. I said that ours was "about 1000 lbs, definitely under 1500 lbs." The inspector wrote down 1500 lbs, just under the legal limit for needing brakes. I do have brakes, but I didn't want to Have To have brakes.

* I was disappointed that the inspector didn't even want to see the inside at all. He also didn't look underneath.

* The inspector will give you a metallic VIN number sticker. He warned me that the glue isn't all that great, and if I wanted to rivet it down that would be a good idea. What I did do was while he went inside to get the VIN sticker, I squirted some drinking water on a nice frame spot & rubbed it clean with a rag so there was a good place to stick the VIN sticker.

* I plan to later engrave or pound the VIN number into the frame.

* It was sort of difficult to find a good parking place for a trailer at the DMV. You might want to have a 3rd partner holding a spot for you until you're finished with the inspection.

* You are registering a "Homebuilt Utility Trailer". Memorize that. Say it to yourself while in line. It's a utility trailer because "House Trailers" are not eligible for a PTI (Permanent Trailer Identification) license plate. This should not be an issue, however.... I read & reread the CA auto laws as posted by the DMV, and they keep referring you to a different section of the code for a definition of trailer & house trailer, but they never actually define it. This could be bad if the DMV clerk you get thinks that all camping trailers are "House Trailers" like the big RV trailers. So play it safe, and say "utility trailer".

* Forms you need in California: 343 (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/reg/reg343.htm), 4017 (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/reg/reg4017.htm), 5036 (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/reg/reg5036.htm) & They gave us a 124 during the proceedure. "Application for Assigned Vehicle Identification Number Plate".

* Bring receipts showing approximately how much you spent. Be sure to bring receipts for the major stuff; plywood, frame, and axle if you bought it. Other stuff may not matter. I recommend bringing copies of receipts, in case they get lost or filed. Leave your originals at home (or in the car if you expect that they will require the originals). If the DMV wants copies, you can just give them your extra set, which would have saved me almost 15 minutes of waiting while the DMV clerk slowly pulled out the staple, made one copy of each receipt, then slowly re-stapled my stack....

* They will want to know how much you paid for the trailer. You can't answer that, because you didn't buy it. You just showed them receipts for parts. Then they say; "Oh, ok, so how much was the kit?" Again, a bad question. You didn't buy it as a kit. The other possible choice on Form 343 is how much it's market value is (if it was a trade or a gift). Yet another bad question, as it's neither a gift nor a trade. It's a home built utility trailer made from raw materials. As it turns out, the reason they are so interested in the amount you paid is that they want to charge you Sales Tax! So be sure to point out that you paid sales tax on the materials when you bought them. Oh boy! That really confused them!!!

After some consulting, the DMV clerk came back and told me to write the amount we spent on materials in the blank labeled "I paid ___ in sales tax to a state other than California". Well that still doesn't make a lot of sense, but it's what they wanted, & I didn't have to pay any sales tax on stuff I already paid sales tax on, so I didn't try to make trouble about it.

* We paid a grand total of $30 for 5 years registration & a PTI license plate. The PTI plate does not need any yearly stickers. Personal check was ok, but they wanted to see ID. Our drivers licenses were acceptable forms of ID. Louise & I both wanted to be on title, and that was perfectly ok with everyone.

* The clerk's computer issued the license plate number, and we picked up the plate at a different desk on the way out. Luckily we were already set up for a license plate and brought mounting screws. We installed it before leaving the DMV.

* The registration says we are supposed to keep a copy of it with the trailer, at least when we are towing & using it.

The DMV mailed us a Certificate of Title (pink slip) in a week or 2.

Hooray! !!!

INSURANCE:
I asked my (state farm) insurance agent what did I need to cover this beautiful little trailer. He said that liability is not necessary, as the towing vehicle's coverage will extend to the trailer too. I asked about what if the trailer is not connected to the Jeep, and it rolls downhill and smashes into someone's fully restored hot rod truck? He didn't like the sound of that any more than you do, but he called me back & said that the towing vehicle's liability still extends to cover the trailer. No extra charge.

I asked about coverage against theft & damage to the trailer. That came to about $20 a year with a $500 deductible for about $6000 of coverage. Sounds affordable! They don't want to know hardly anything about the trailer now, it's up to me to document the loss should the time come. The contents of the trailer would not be covered by this policy, but probably covered by the homeowners policy (up to a limit). I will try to find some photos (!), and keep them with the receipts and a list of all reasons that this is a very special little trailer, and very difficult to replace.

[diablo_alex2777]

CALIFORNIA Home Built Trailer Registration Requirements:

http://td.roughwheelers.com/DMV/index.html

nice. thanks

[TacoDell]

^ thanks for sharing that Jeremey

tho' I still don't trust the DMV to know shit when I'm standing there.

since the inspector doesn't care much about the structural integrity.

Guess I could just booger weld something up...
as long as I call it a "Utility Trailer" :p

[diablo_alex2777]

a Lic. plate issuing is specific to the registration title...

If he's using the plate... then your trailer has become title less... in the fact that your friends new trailer will illegally be represented as his old trailer when adorning the old license plate.

and that leaves you with out a title...

Both trailers cannot share the same title.

And a Bill of Sale don't and won't mean shit.

Maybe I just have no faith in the DMV of this state. :dunno:

I don't know all the laws pertaining...

so I could be wrong.

you can correct me where I've strayed. ;)

my friend only took the plate and the vin sticker off. The only problem i have is that i dont have any receipts for the trailer.And my other problem is my wife:) she said no RTT. Because i have 3 camping tents already.WTF..

[Mr Tacomi]

my friend only took the plate and the vin sticker off. The only problem i have is that i dont have any receipts for the trailer.And my other problem is my wife:) she said no RTT. Because i have 3 camping tents already.WTF..

They will ask for a 'statement of facts' if you don't have a title. A 'bill of sale' from, say, a 'farm', out of state (family member?), where the trailer was used previously off road and was not registered there. I don't know for sure that this worked perfectly for someone I know, a few months back, and I'll, I mean 'he' will deny any understanding of how this works.

I believe they are very relaxed about utility trailers here for some reason; I've had no issues with the 3 separate 'new' title trailers I've run through locally.

Oh, and about the wife.... 'Yes, ma'am'. :cool:

[MrSammi]

I don't know for sure that this worked perfectly for someone I know, a few months back, and I'll, I mean 'he' will deny any understanding of how this works.

:rolleyes:

[diablo_alex2777]

Oh, and about the wife.... 'Yes, ma'am'. :cool:

Its ok. she wont get her new SUV next year. Until I get my RTT.:D
I've learn to choose my battles:D

[diablo_alex2777]

couple more pix. only need military tarp. and relocate the safety chains fuck up on those:D

New led tail lights

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii203/diablo_alex2777/DSC_0634.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii203/diablo_alex2777/DSC_0659.jpg

Framing the back swingin door

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii203/diablo_alex2777/DSC_0632.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii203/diablo_alex2777/DSC_0650.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii203/diablo_alex2777/DSC_0651.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii203/diablo_alex2777/DSC_0658.jpg

Gas can holders.(2)

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii203/diablo_alex2777/DSC_0653.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii203/diablo_alex2777/DSC_0654.jpg

Made a anti-mexican device:D anti-theft device

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii203/diablo_alex2777/DSC_0636.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii203/diablo_alex2777/DSC_0638.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii203/diablo_alex2777/DSC_0637.jpg


after some spray paint

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii203/diablo_alex2777/DSC_0660.jpg

[diablo_alex2777]

after i relocate the chains, Its time for DMV. Hope everything goes good.

[TacoDell]

Looks nice...
some canvas and ya got a covered wagon... there's yer tent :D

good luck with the dmv chit

[KamoKid]

Great job man! Really like the way it turned out. Hope you find a tarp soon for it. GL w/ DMV too.

Once I get my welder in, it'll be nice to start on my trailer. I first have to redo my current trailer since a lady decided to rear-end me when I was pulling it...:mad:

[diablo_alex2777]

Great job man! Really like the way it turned out. Hope you find a tarp soon for it. GL w/ DMV too.

Once I get my welder in, it'll be nice to start on my trailer. I first have to redo my current trailer since a lady decided to rear-end me when I was pulling it...:mad:

Thanks. and sorry about ur trailer.

[TacoDell]

so... is it registered yet ? http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c221/cbrRRman/waiting.gif

[diablo_alex2777]

so... is it registered yet ? http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c221/cbrRRman/waiting.gif

This week on thursday.