Pimp my trailer - zero budget edition!

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This old trailer cost me $500 last year. This week I put about $1000 of labor into it, and now it's got to be worth at least $550That's fine, it's not for sale. It's mine. I built it as a medium duty, general purpose trailer. It's going to clean up all the scrap I've got cluttering up my yard and my work area, and soon, It'll move me down to Texas.That being said, How does one go about getting a homebuilt trailer registered in TX? We don't do trailer registrations here in OK.Anyway, this was redone using exclusively materials I had lying around. Hence, "zero budget edition". I burned quite a few rods (6013), and went through a couple of packs of cut off wheels, but that's it.It's got a raised pipe top rail that allows for versatile load tie down, and there's also 8 new heavy duty d-dings around the bottom. I added walls and triangular supports. I added angle iron scraps around the shoddy old fenders to straighten them out and toughen them up a bit. I made new brackets to move the lights closer to the rear, but not close enough to break them when I back into something.The drop down (in or out) gate is recycled from the first two gates that I ever built.  They're from the folding truck ramp that was my first post on this forum. http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=40043 That actually worked well for me all summer, I just don't need it anymore.I'm happy to say that my welds are getting better, but they've still got a long way to go.Here are the pictures, thanks for checking it out!There's going to be a bunch of them, so it's going to take a few posts... Attached ImagesLast edited by HundredaireSocialite; 12-23-2010 at 08:27 PM.
Reply:Looks very useful to me, Dude!(Retired) Professional firefighter, amateur everything else I try to do...Oh yeah:  Go Big Red!   (You know: one of the 12 members of the Big 10 cuz we left the 10 members of the Big 12...)
Reply:One more after these... Attached Images
Reply:last one... Attached Images
Reply:Registering a trailer is based on the weight of the trailer.Q. How do I title a new manufactured trailer? A trailer must weigh at least 4001 pounds to be titled. You will need:Manufactured Certificate of Origin (MCO)Form 130-U Application for Texas Certificate of Title http://www.co.comal.tx.us/tax_office...icle/130-U.pdfMay need weight certificate if weight is not indicated on MCOQ. How do I register a homemade / shopmade trailer that does not meet the title requirements? You will need:Form http://www.co.comal.tx.us/tax_office...icle/130-U.pdf  Application for Texas Certificate of Title (Required even if not titled)Weight AffidavitQ. How do I title a homemade / shopmade trailer that is 4001 pounds or more? You will need:Form VTR-305-A - Statement of Fact for Ownership of Homemade/Shopmade Trailer ( http://www.co.comal.tx.us/tax_office.../VTR-305-A.pdf )Form 130-U Application for Texas Certificate of TitleWeight CertificateForm VTR-68-A - Application for Assigned or Reassigned Vehicle Identification NumberAlll from http://www.co.comal.tx.us/tax_office...e_requirementsLast edited by SRO1911; 12-23-2010 at 08:40 PM.Reason: added links
Reply:You think that horseshoe is going to get you in good graces with them Texicans? Nice work. I think I could just about move with one load in that trailer!StephenMillermatic 251Miller Syncrowave 200Miller 30A SpoolgunHypertherm Powermax 30Etc., etc., etc.............Cancer Sucks!
Reply:The longer I looked the more jealous I became...then realized probably don't have enough vehicle to pull it anyways. Looks well built, what's the empty weight?
Reply:Originally Posted by SRO1911Registering a trailer is based on the weight of the trailer.Alll from http://www.co.comal.tx.us/tax_office...e_requirements
Reply:I built a trailer from the ground up and registered it in Texas when I lived there.  All they did was ask me a few questions took my $$ and I was on my way.  I didn't need anything to verify weight or any vin number or anything like that.  That was about 3 years ago so I don't know if it has changed or what.
Reply:I see you've had a pair of inspectors checking up on ya. (pic #2) Looking good. City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:When I titled my 20' trailer I had to have every thing that SRO1911 said and pictures of the trailer both from the front and the side. I also had to have a state inspection done and an inspection from a DPS officer that construction was of quality.
Reply:here in louisiana we contact the state troopers to inspect the trailer,, they give form to take to the motor vehicle office..
Reply:Inspection is only required on over 4k lbs
Reply:You also have to have the weight of the empty trailer.When I built my first trailer I just wend down to the tax office with a photo and filled out the paperwork I was told to. The lady said; "When loaded to capacity is is less than 3500 pounds?" I said I am not sure it told her. She said "It IS under #3500 pounds, RIGHT?" I said sure it is. I got the plates and she smiled and said I got a good deal, have a nice day.Later I heard that over that the cost goes way up. That was a while back so 4001 pounds as suggested may be a newer number than back then.Either way, it is not difficult.Bob