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Post by thetreeplanter on Oct 6, 2011 22:55:23 GMT -5
I'm so frustrated today.  So I went to register my trailer at the California DMV today. It is currently registered in Washington till August 2012. With the licence and the Vin on the registration paperwork. Apparently they want to see the VIN in two locations before they will licence it. But of course they will take my money now. The one place I think the VIN is located (on the hitch) is millions of layers of paint away from being readable. And I don't thing there is a second location? So they sent me to the Highway Patrol office. But the CHP can't see me till December, they are all booked up. Oh and the woman in the DMV when I asked why she thought my trailer was a coach and not eligible for Permanent Trailer Tags said well "it was because of it's shape." What? I had read all about it before hand and knew that since mine was 19' I didn't qualify. When I asked her what do you mean the shape? She said "well you have a kitchen sink so it's like you can live in it so it's a coach trailer. " What? How lame are these people? |
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Post by Redwings on Oct 7, 2011 1:12:27 GMT -5
Huh? No way!! DMV's can be---uh----suckie.
My 13' Compact had a sink in it too, but I can't see how that makes it a coach???
I had to use a paint stripper and a stiff metal brush to unearth a VIN or two on the tongues of old trailers.
My compact had a plaque to the left of the door that had its VIN on it...it was the manufacturer's tag.
Hopefully more members can pop in here to help you find other places!
Good luck.
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Bob
250 Post Member
Pictures are still on my blog: thisoldcamper.com
Posts: 375
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Post by Bob on Oct 7, 2011 4:49:46 GMT -5
Go to a trophy shop, get them to engrave a small metal tag with your vin on it, bury it in the dirt (for patina) until you have to go to CHP, attach to camper.
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Post by thetreeplanter on Oct 7, 2011 9:58:31 GMT -5
That's funny potomac30. Thanks for helping me not take this so seriously  and thanks to the forum for providing me a place to vent when I have a bad day! Can't say a word to the hubby cause he predicted all of these troubles when I first announced I wanted to buy a vintage trailer |
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Post by LittleVintageTrailer on Oct 7, 2011 10:54:48 GMT -5
And I bet what Potomac30 said would work too LOL!
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Gone Kayaking
1K Post Member
long live the Vintage Shasta Trailer Forum....we're gone but you are not forgotten!
Posts: 1,600 
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Post by Gone Kayaking on Oct 7, 2011 14:32:42 GMT -5
They only needed one place on the trailer at my DMV in Oakland. Slap some stripper on the one on your hitch to get rid of the paint layers. There is NOTHING in the code that says two places. I would just go to a different DMV office. I would also encourage you to charm the dmv person with your cute trailer...isn't it funny how these old trailers are so different from ones today etc.... As for trailer classification, the law is pretty clear. Size is the only determinant. dmv.ca.gov/pubs/reg_hdbk_pdf/ch14_permanent_trailer_id.pdfIf your trailer is under 16' in length and under and under 96 inches in width is a camp trailer (sink etc.... doesn't matter) bigger than that it is a trailer coach and needs to be registered every year. THere are 3rd party registration services that can deal with the whole mess for you...might be worth it. |
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Post by thetreeplanter on Oct 7, 2011 17:12:22 GMT -5
Talked to an amazingly nice CHP officer and have an appointment with him November 1. I'll let everyone know how it goes.
And Gone Kayaking you are correct he said only one place is fine and confirmed that the law doesn't say anything about two places.
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Gone Kayaking
1K Post Member
long live the Vintage Shasta Trailer Forum....we're gone but you are not forgotten!
Posts: 1,600
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Post by Gone Kayaking on Oct 7, 2011 17:32:00 GMT -5
cool!
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Post by '59PinkDeluxe on Oct 7, 2011 21:16:10 GMT -5
Treeplanter... I have the same model as you do. The VIN is only in ONE location (believe me... I've inspected my entire trailer in miniscule detail!). I was lucky to find mine right away. It is on the tongue (not the hitch which is the ball part). If you face the trailer from the front, you will find it on the inside of the tongue on the right. As I recall, it is on a little plaque. Fortunately, I had to just rub the dirt off! Good luck  |
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vikx
3K Post Member
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Post by vikx on Oct 8, 2011 0:21:00 GMT -5
Horse manure is quicker than dirt for patina... overnight. Glad you found a nice cop.
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Post by 65callie on Oct 9, 2011 11:03:30 GMT -5
I'm in Georgia and they said mine is a "coach" because you can sleep in it. It is a 14' or 16' 1965 (don't know which model).
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Post by thetreeplanter on Oct 9, 2011 22:02:04 GMT -5
I found it just were you described 59PinkDeluxe thanks. I can feel the plate and rubbed off enough paint with a steel brush to read two numbers. I think I'll invest in some paint stripper.
Thanks again!
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Post by '59PinkDeluxe on Oct 10, 2011 12:16:04 GMT -5
treeplanter... you are sooo welcome! Glad I was able to help. Wasn't sure if my description was going to steer you in the right direction. Good luck once again with DMV!
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Post by thetreeplanter on Oct 12, 2011 20:12:35 GMT -5
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