Would this work?

[NealLauderman]

Hey yall,

I am sorry to bother ya with such a dumb question but I want to make sure I do the right thing!

I just bought a 17' Bass boat not too long ago and I have been working on restoring it. Well when I got it, the guy didnt have the title for the trailer so I am having all kinds of problems trying to make the trailer legal so I have been looking for another trailer just to save the hassle. I found a good deal on one and am not 100% sure if it will fit what I need and its 3 hours away.

Basically the boat I have is a 1978 Lucraft 17' bass boat. You can see it below...

The trailer I am looking at buying is a Magic Tilt trailer. The fella I am buying it from used it to tow around his 16' Scout. He said that I would just need to adjust the bunks since mine is a 17ft boat. Im not sure what a scout boat looks like whether its a deep v-hull or if its a bass boat like mine or if any of that even matters. Do yall by chance know if it would work? The trailer can be seen below...

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Would this work?

It's hard to tell from the photo but the other trailer looks small--like for a jet ski or small boat.
If it's cheap enough, buy the other trailer and switch name and numbers to the one the boat is on. Just don't say anything to the DMV. Then do what you want with the other trailer--junk it, give it away , or keep it just in case--parts etc.
It's difficult to tell one small trailer from another and in my part of the country after the trailer is registered and titled, no one ever checks.
Not strictly legal, but you are not stealing anything and it avoids a lot of hassle.

 

[troypolla]

Re: Would this work?

looks like his are angled different than yours, hmm might be iffy. Ask if you can bring it back to your house and launch and reload on the newer one

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Would this work?

You know the person that sold you the boat and trailer. He should be able get a duplicate title. That is unless he never registered it either.

 

[NealLauderman]

Re: Would this work?

Silver, he never registered it either. The story is weird and long but basically the guy who has the title in his name has passed away. The power of attorney could not find it. Since then, the trailer has had 3 owners... me being the third. I have tried and tried following all the leads and what not but have come to dead ends everywhere and have just given up. I could shave the numbers from the trailer and all that stuff and claim it was home-made but im trying to go the legal route Good guys never win, lol.

I was thinking the trailer looked small also, but I think it may have just been the angle. Id hate to drive 3 hours and buy it... then it not work for me. But I also dont want to be driving down the road without tags on my trailer. grrrr what should I do?

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Would this work?

Just register it as homemade. They don't even have to look at it. We are doing that to our second trailer....
Course we are installing new tongue, crossbars, wheels, lights, bunks, rollers. But still. Say the one you have is homemade and don't waste time and money on another.

 

[NealLauderman]

Re: Would this work?

bassboy, I need to call them and find out what exactly needs to be done.

I know for sure it has to be inspected and they come out and take a look at it to make sure it is safe for the road. Of course before they came I would have to grind the numbers off and then somehow neatly cover it up so they couldnt tell.

It does need a few things first though. I will need to re-do the bunks, re-wire it and add new lights, convert it from 1 7/8 ball to a 2" ball, then I need to sand it down and re-paint it as it is flaking. It also needs new tires. I reckon after doing all that I can pretty much say its home-made but I was reading another states rules online as I couldn't find my states... and they said that you actually need to have a parts list and receipts? thats just crazy...

I really need to call them. I just dont want to do all that work then them tell me they need a parts list.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Would this work?

Neal, what state are you in? Florida and a lot of other states, don't title boat trailers, just register them for the license plate. all we have to do to get a tag is have the empty trailer weighed, and take the slip to the tag agency. take a minute, and talk to a supervisor, at the tag office. there is a way to get around this. the trailer you hae is a much better fit for your boat, and much stronger. i don't think the little one would handle the load. The Lu Craft, is a heavy boat for it's size. by the way i looked for my Lu Craft pictures, but can't find them. these are the first full pictures i've seen of your boat. very nice, good find.

 

[NealLauderman]

Re: Would this work?

Tashasdaddy, thanks for the info. I have a bunch more boat pictures if you want to see them. I have really started working on her lately so it doesnt look like that anymore. They need to have a section of the forum dedicated to just showing your project and keeping a log of it. That way people can comment and all that. Rather than having to goto shareaproject.

Thanks for the info on the trailer. I agree this trailer is better but unfortunately in the state of North Carolina, you need a title before you can tag it. I know its so stupid and alot of people disagree with it. But I cant afford the ticket that I will get when riding around with an un-tagged trailer. The only real way to go about it is to go the illegal route and shave the numbers. I reckon I could cut that piece off and weld a new bar on... then it kind of is a home-made trailer.

It just seems more hassle then anything else

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Would this work?

I don't know about where you live, but around here it is real simple to label as homeade.
We were going to register ours, but you have to get a cop to come certify that it is indeed a trailer and that it does have either a serial number or homeade trailer tag. Then you have to take in that certification and it is a lot of trouble.
Or, if you go in and request a homeade tag, they give you a tag, and a little plate to rivit on the tongue. Don't have to see it or anything. They just ask for drivers license and estimated value, and whether it is a boat, or utility trailer. The less you say the value, the less you have to pay annually for tag renewal. Took that route today, and were in and out in less than ten minutes.

They need to have a section of the forum dedicated to just showing your project and keeping a log of it. That way people can comment and all that. Rather than having to goto shareaproject.

You can have a link to a shareaproject in your sig, like I have, and anybody can look at it, anytime they see one of your posts.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Would this work?

Neal, find a junker, give the guy $100 for the title, and haul the trailer to the dump. then register it. how many times have you seen a cop check the id number on a vehicle. expecially a trailer. if you get stopped and get a ticket they use the car tag, on the ticket, not the trailer. or due like i do, keep the trailer for a utiliy trailer, and swap tags. some times they make it, that we just can't be totally honest.

Neal email ma your pictures: tashasdaddy@comcast.net

 

[NealLauderman]

Re: Would this work?

I have to goto DMV tomorrow so I am going to ask them about it. Might as well since I am there. I will let you know what they say in order to register it as a home-made here in North Carolina.

There is a fella down the street who makes utility trailers and them cooker trailers for the pigs... I think im gonna go knock on his door and see if he can extend the tongue part out more. If thats the case... ill just have him cut the pre-existing bar with the numbers stamped that you can barely read anyways and then in my opinion it is a homemade trailer due to the fact that with the modifications... the trailer maker wouldn't claim it as one of theirs We will see... Ill keep ya updated.

 

[jenoble01]

Re: Would this work?

I don't know how your state works but I'm sure there's something similar to here, has to be. I used to work in the towing business(in college) and whenever we would get an abandoned vehicle we could apply for a lost title after so many days. This was done on both vehicles and a couple of campers as well. May be something to check into. I think the fee was like 150 for a car and a little cheaper maybe 100 for the campers.

 

[NealLauderman]

Re: Would this work?

In order to get a lost title... wouldnt you have to be the original title holder? or last to register it?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Would this work?

it's and abandon title, set up by the state for towers to recover there cost of towing and abondom vehicle, they have to follow numerous steps to contact the owner.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Would this work?

You mentioned previously that when the original owner passed away, the power of attorney could not find the title. It doesn't matter how many times the rig has been sold in between, so if you know where he is, he should be obligated to apply for a duplicate title. If you ask the DMV for the paper work, and make as little work for the PA as possible, you may get this done properly and rather inexpensively. This exercise should be a example for anyone buying a rig from a private party. Before you say "I'll take it" the next statement you make should be "show me the titles for the boat, engine, and trailer (as applicable)". If they say "I'll mail it to you" you can be assured of trouble.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Would this work?

Forgot to add the most important part of this lesson. Since this rig was sold a couple of times and titles never transferred, what's to say the boat wasn't stolen in the first place. You have no proof of ownership.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Would this work?

I had a similar situation with a horse trailer that was from a state that had "no title" required for trailers. I am in California and the trailer was from Nebraska. Before I bought the trailer, I had them register it first before I gave them any money. They registered it in Nebraska and gave me the Nebraska title at time of sale.

Apparently even though they didn't have to get a title for the trailer, they could if they wanted to.

I have been looking for a Laser sailboat recently. Many have no titles for some reason. I wouldn't touch them with a 10 foot pole. Like Silvertip said, could easily be stolen.

 

[jimmer4444]

Re: Would this work?

I live in NY and I've been using the same registration for 20 years on my utility trailer that I originally registered as homemade.I;m on my third trailer now and I jjust keep using the same reg, and I never get it inspected,,maybe just lucky but I've never been asked for inspection proof any time I have ever been stipped..I think as long as it's registered the cops don't really care

 

[gewf631]

Re: Would this work?

I think as long as it's registered the cops don't really care

I'm sure it's like everything else. If it's got a plate, with current tags, and it doesn't appear hazardous (dangerous), why would an officer waste his/her time? They've got much bigger things to worry about.