Do people look at you odd when you tell them you have your trailer inspected?

[hostage]

I have had this happen a few times. If I recall correctly the sticker is not attached to the trailer but carried with you.

 

[RIDEPATE]

Re: Do people look at you odd when you tell them you have your trailer inspected?

Around here in the south. They don't care. You could build a PVC trailer and get away with it...............

 

[Steve J.]

Re: Do people look at you odd when you tell them you have your trailer inspected?

In South Carolina you don't even have to register your trailer.

 

[Cannondale]

Re: Do people look at you odd when you tell them you have your trailer inspected?

In South Carolina you don't even have to register your trailer.

Yeah, I never understood that one. But we in GA, while we have to register our trailers, have no titles for our boats or outboards....and you can sell either with only a witnessed bill of sale.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Do people look at you odd when you tell them you have your trailer inspected?

in Virginia they have to be licensed, and inspected but I don't recall how often. every state is different

 

[burp]

Re: Do people look at you odd when you tell them you have your trailer inspected?

in Virginia they have to be licensed, and inspected but I don't recall how often. every state is different

Trailer inspection is required every year in Virginia.

One would think that trailer inspection would be required if the trailer was hauling several thousand pounds and was equipped with brakes and lights. Just because you maintain your trailer doesn't mean everyone does.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Do people look at you odd when you tell them you have your trailer inspected?

Ayuh,... Of course every state is different,...
Here in NYState, inspections are Required,...
Yet, in the last 40 years, I've NEVER once been asked by a Cop for the trailer inspection sticker...
So,...
Nobody has 'em inspected....
I don't either...

Commercial trailers over 10,000lbs is different, they have stick-on stickers, 'n the Cops actually Look for 'em...

 

[hostage]

Re: Do people look at you odd when you tell them you have your trailer inspected?

Ayuh,... Of course every state is different,...
Here in NYState, inspections are Required,...
Yet, in the last 40 years, I've NEVER once been asked by a Cop for the trailer inspection sticker...
So,...
Nobody has 'em inspected....
I don't either...

Commercial trailers over 10,000lbs is different, they have stick-on stickers, 'n the Cops actually Look for 'em...

I know at some public launches people do check to see if the trailer is registered and from what I heard from a mechanic; some police have cameras mounted on cars that scan plates to see if they have been properly inspected, registered, and etc. I wonder if they do this for boats as well, I know they could ding a lot of people on them. As I am someone who launches my boat every time, even though I store it across the road as well as trailer to another lake. I do prefer to have piece of mind that everything properly functions and if I get an accident they can't view that as a fault. If I recall correctly, it is only $7 to get a trailer inspected.

 

[jzellers]

Re: Do people look at you odd when you tell them you have your trailer inspected?

Here in Illinois, you're supposed to have all trailers over 5000# inspected, but it's really un-enforced, at least for recreational trailers. Commercial is another story. In our area, there's only one place that does trailer inspections. I went to talk to him and asked about it and he said 2 things - first, he couldn't look at any trailer that didn't have brakes on all axles, and second, in all the years he had inspected trailers, he inspected one boat trailer, only because a state trooper told the owner he needed to have it inspected.

The issue with brakes is arguable because from what I could find Illinois law does not mandate brakes on all axles - just that you can stop from 20MPH within 30'.

So basically, it's not average people that look at us funny about the inspections, it's the inspectors themselves

 

[Tim Wagner]

Re: Do people look at you odd when you tell them you have your trailer inspected?

In PA over 3000 lbs, the trailer needs inspected.
Plus if it has brakes, it needs inspected.
And if it has a tandem axle, both axles are required to have brakes on them.
This is all new to me and I need to have this taken care of for my new boat.
Its still in the backyard on blocks. I did take the big blue tarp off of it though.
The wheels are off of it too so it will be easy to service the drums and bleed the the fluid while the wheels are off since its perched on blocks.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Do people look at you odd when you tell them you have your trailer inspected?

Hey bondo---I've never been asked either, but my brother was stopped by the SP a couple years ago and got a ticket for no inspection. It was an 8' utility trailer.

Here in NY, once a year is the rule, $6 or $10 or something like that for smaller ones. If you tow it with more than one vehicle, you can carry a xerox copy of the sticker in the second vehicle and not have to remember to mess around with keeping track of it, I leave mine in the car all the time. It's pretty easy to get them inspected, not much to go over. IMO, more of a PIA and another way for the state to get its grubby little paws into your wallet.

 

[fisherguy123]

Re: Do people look at you odd when you tell them you have your trailer inspected?

So basically, it's not average people that look at us funny about the inspections, it's the inspectors themselves

and I`m one of those inspectors here up the "Great White North".........we look for inspection stickers on any trailer over 4500 Kgs or about 10,000 pds........$600 minumum fine if not inspected yearly. I personally would want to know if my trailer was safe to tow and hope any other that heavy is safe on the roads I have to share.

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: Do people look at you odd when you tell them you have your trailer inspected?

Sucks to be you guys. Here in Texas...we only have to tag our trailers, not title or inspection. It's up to the trailer owners to make sure the trailers are in DOT compliance, not some government agency looking to take your money. It's all about personal responsibility in God's country.

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: Do people look at you odd when you tell them you have your trailer inspected?

and I`m one of those inspectors here up the "Great White North".........we look for inspection stickers on any trailer over 4500 Kgs or about 10,000 pds........$600 minumum fine if not inspected yearly. I personally would want to know if my trailer was safe to tow and hope any other that heavy is safe on the roads I have to share.

That's all fine and dandy for the commercial guys.....but for small boat and utility trailers? That's a little overboard, don't ya think?

 

[fisherguy123]

Re: Do people look at you odd when you tell them you have your trailer inspected?

That's all fine and dandy for the commercial guys.....but for small boat and utility trailers? That's a little overboard, don't ya think?

less than 4500kgs just need license stickers........that covers a lot of weight for a small boat and utility trailer

 

[DJ]

Re: Do people look at you odd when you tell them you have your trailer inspected?

I bought my current rig in California and transported it to Arizona.

AZ does not require trailer inspections unless they are a "new register" to the State. The DMV inspected it and passed it.

I think they were more interested in checking to see if the VIN came back as "hot/stolen".

Every State is different.

 

[One November]

Re: Do people look at you odd when you tell them you have your trailer inspected?

Absolutely right. Here in VA you register it and then inspect it every year, just like your car. HOWEVER, I have heard many times that it is not enforced very well. Personally, I rather spend the $12 and not having to deal with an LE agent on my way to the ramp.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Do people look at you odd when you tell them you have your trailer inspected?

Ayuh,... Here in NYState, inspections are Required,...
Yet, in the last 40 years, I've NEVER once been asked by a Cop for the trailer inspection sticker...
So,...
Nobody has 'em inspected....
I don't either...

...

Well, not nobody, somebody does. (like me)

Some people wait till May to get the trailers registered, and do it by phone. That way they save a few $ cause its prorated. The registrations are all Jan-Dec. I hate fiddling around and I'll never remember, so I just renew in December when I get the paperwork in the mail, and pay the fuill year. If you do that approach, you have to fill in the inspection number on the form or they won't renew it.

I have 4 boat trailers so its a PITA. Back in the 1960's when it first became law, my gas station told me to stick it to the backside of a piece of plexiglass and screw it to the tongue. I've done that ever since on all of them. Keeping them in your wallet is another pita.

My 2 sons have 1 boat each and neither has been inspected in many years. They renew in May. Several times over the years I have gone thru a State Police checkpoint on the way to a particular lake. They have always asked to see the insp. sticker. That's why I do it.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Do people look at you odd when you tell them you have your trailer inspected?

That's all fine and dandy for the commercial guys.....but for small boat and utility trailers? That's a little overboard, don't ya think?

No I don't.

Small boat and utility trailers are the ONLY ones I ever see broken down along the road. And most of them don't look too safe either.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Do people look at you odd when you tell them you have your trailer inspected?

No trailer inspections here in ND... I'm with RIDEPATE, you could probably make a PVC trailer and nobody would care! Licensing is an interesting matter though. For small trailers like a boat, no plate/license is required, but... minnesota and South Dakota both will stop ND vehicles pretty much at the border and give them tickets for unlicensed trailer. So ND has a trailer plate that you can get for $3. It isn't even tied to a registration or particular trailer, its as simple as give them $3, they give you a plate that is good for a year. Use it for whatever trailer you want.