how to register homemade trailer - Diesel Forum

cdacaraudio · 11-05-2009, 03:43 PM

hi guys i bought a trailer that a guy had built and it had been registered. when i got it he has taken all the lights off it and all the decking and he had cut some stuff off of it because he was going to scrap it. i replaced all the supports that he had taken out and put a new deck and all new lights. it has 2 new Dexter axles under it that are for a total rate of 7000lb's. he didn't have the old registration so i was just going to do it as a new homemade trailer. what do i need to do or have when i go to register in rhode island

**Believer45** · 11-05-2009, 05:53 PM

I would call Rhode Island BMV and ask them.

Here in Ohio you need a weight ticket from a certified scale.

Dave / Believer45

**SmokeyWren** · 11-05-2009, 07:47 PM

Yeah, every state is different, but for most you'd go to the local office where you buy your license plates, and ask them. Most will require a "safety" inspection sticker that proves it has properly-operating lights, reflectors, tires, brakes (if required), hitch, breakaway chains, etc. Then maybe a certification from a local LEO to be sure it's not stolen and that the VIN or other ID matches the title application paperwork. That's about it.

I have one homemade trailer that began life as a 1937 Chevy rear axle and leaf springs. Add a 4' x 8' x 3/16" plate steel floor and 4' plywood sideboards surrounded by 2" angle iron, and ramp tailgate also made of plywood and angle iron, and I have a great little trash hauler. I first registered it in Colorado, and with just a safety inspection and a county sheriff deputy's inspection and I soon had a title and plates. I moved to Texas 15 years ago, and they accepted the Colorado title and transferred it to a Texas title with no questions.

Premier Kirby · 11-26-2009, 10:26 AM

I know Minnesota is very easy for doing something like this. Very far from you I know. But if your home state makes it hard to do business try other states around you for one that has simple rules.

In MN all you do is take 4 pictures of your trailer & make a parts list of what it cost to build & you pay tax based on cost to build. NO visiting the DOT folks. In Wisconsin they make you get it inspected so i dont deal with them

sbsbw · 12-01-2009, 10:41 AM

In vt you apply for a VIN from the DOT. after that you just need to get the trailer inspected by any inspection station and your good to go.

lap1lot · 01-02-2010, 02:46 PM

I noticed that you state it is rated at 7000lbs. I had a trailer custom built for me in Arizona. Arizona (and probably other states as well) has ball size/coupling vs. weight rating restrictions (at that weight it probably requires trailer brakes too!) My trailer was made to hold and carry 10,000lbs with one exception. It would have required a 2-3/8” ball/coupling setup for anything 7000lbs and up. I have other trailers and all the other trailers that I tow have a 2’ ball/coupling. I wanted to keep to that so I requested it be made with a 2” coupling and licensed it with a rating up to 6999lbs. I know it can really hold a lot more but that was ADOT requirements. Also, Most states require trailer brakes after about 3500lbs.

cdacaraudio · 01-04-2010, 11:55 AM

the trailer has brand new dexter axles with brakes on both axles and it also has a 2 5/16 hitch

lap1lot · 01-13-2010, 07:21 PM

My number of a 2-3/8 ball/coupling might have been wrong. It might have been a 2-5/16? I just remember it was bigger than the rest of my trailers so I down sized the ball/coupling and registered it as 6999lbs. It worked for me.

cdacaraudio · 01-18-2010, 11:26 AM

we will find out shortly i talked to a person over the week end that told me all he had to do was show pics of the trailer and a list of what it was built of and they will most likely put it through for me so worst comes to worse after going to the reg place i will know what i have to do