redkow97 Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 I searched, and found quite a few answers, but still have some questions:- I gather that trailers only need to be registered and plated in OH. No title, or insurance. Hopefully that's a correct conclusion. correct me if i'm wrong though.- do all trailers need lights (brake and turn-signal. I assume plate illumination is required), or only if they're a certain size? (i'm looking at 4x7, so it wouldn't obstruct my truck's lights)- my ranger has the step-bumper, with a hole to accept a ball. Am i cool to just buy a ball for a few bucks, or is it smarter to spent $100 on a class III hitch? (or find one used on CL for $50)i recall reading that the max tongue weight for the bumper is 200 lbs. the Class III should put me at more like 450 lbs tongue weight, adn 4500 lbs. towingthanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Punk Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 No title or insurance required. My vehicle insurance follows my vehicle so damage done to other property by me towing is covered. Contents of the trailer and the value of the trailer are not. I have a trailer policy for the trailer but can't seem to find a policy to cover its contents. I'm not certain about the lights issue but as a matter of CYOA I'd say it's a good idea. Your decision on which hitch to use is determined by what you are towing and how much it weighs. I would recommend the receiver type hitch, this will give you the option of several different ball heights to match the trailer so it is being towed at its proper ride height. A fixed bumper ball height can cause you problems with a single axle trailer if it's not at the correct height. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e-flores Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 most insurance policies will cover damage done to the trailer as long as its full coverage, that pretty much goes without saying. and the light issue, i am pretty sure you have to have lights on anything that sticks out more than 2 feet off the bumper. and i would spend the extra $'s and get a reciever hitch, uhaul sells them and installs them for a pretty good price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad324 Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 and the light issue, i am pretty sure you have to have lights on anything that sticks out more than 2 feet off the bumper. and i would spend the extra $'s and get a reciever hitch, uhaul sells them and installs them for a pretty good price.I can almost guarantee any trailer needs properly working lights and signals. I also agree to go ahead and get a receiver as its better in the long run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 (edited) +1 on the lights. You have to have at least 1 working tail/brake light IIRC.If you dont have a manufacturers letter of origin, you need to go to the local feed mill, have it weighed empty and get a weight slip. It usually costs about $5. Take that to the BMV to get it titled as a homebuilt. They wont inspect or even look at it, but the popo will notice if you are running without lights. Edited December 4, 2009 by max power Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Likwid Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 On insurance... what kind of trailer? I assume MCMake sure to check your policy contract for both your auto and sl policy... it's not default coverage.I'm not an agent so you'll want to speak to your agent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidgetTodd Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 I always use a weight slip instead of title for a trailer , you dont have to pay sales tax and title fees that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldschoolsdime92 Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 get the trailer weighed. get a trailer weight slip. take it to the bmv. They will ask what kind of trailer it is, just tell them home built. sometimes they ask, sometimes they dont.I can garentee you, that you need to have lights. As far as class 3. Id say theres no other way to go, becuase you never know what may arrise when you need to haul somthing heavier than the 200 lbs tounge weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gump Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 Don't use that bumper hitch to pull anything more than a lawn mower on very small trailer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkow97 Posted December 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 well i picked up the trailer this afternoon. the guy was nice enough to sign my bill of sale, and give me his registration, which i'm hoping allows me to avoid getting the thing weighed (clearly states the weight on the old registration).there's also a section for "sold to" on the title, which i'm going to sign, and hope that helps me get through the BMV faster.lights will go on over hte winter. the kits are $25-$40, so I can't really justify NOT doing it. the only 'hard' part will be getting the plug-in part wired on my truck.the $7 ball-hitch I bought got the trailer home just fine, but I think i'll go wtih the class III hitch before putting hte bike on the trailer. just makes sense.the trailer actually IS 'home-made,' so I won't be lying when I tell that to the BMV. it used to be a boat trailer, and as a result, it's semi V-shaped. it's 4 feet at the back, and more like 3 feet at the front. Full 8 feet long though, so room for the Pit-Bull trailer restraint system it's lame how excited i am about that...all in all though, i feel like i got a good deal. "four" by 8 foot trailer, trailer jack, 3 wheels/tires, all in decent shape, tool box on the front of the trailer, and it tracked perfectly straight past 70mph. total cost: $200. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 congrats!I get the light kits at Wally world and TSC for $20. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJC1000rr Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 (edited) http://www.etrailer.com/ is your friend.I ordered the Class 3 hitch/drawbar/hitch for my old 04 colorado and installed it pretty easy. Just put in your vehicle/yr etc and they will tell you what you can get and link other parts so you can see the prices. They also have plug-n-play devices for the electrical lights or clip-on/in styles I believe. Should make live easy for you and look online for coupons, I found one for like 5 or 10% off online. Edited December 7, 2009 by SJC1000rr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Since we are talking trailers, heres some trailer porn:Home made, sorta. I bought the frame wood and rims from a kid for $80.Add $4 worth of sand for the blaster, $10 worth of flat black rustoleum, $10 or $15 worth of hardware, $20 set of lights, a $40 set of barely used 12" radials (kinda hard to find these days) and a case of beer and you get this:I can fit 2 sport quads on it, but 4x4's get kinda tightThen there is the big boy Gump built monster. 880#'s of sexy:the trailer, not the wife, although she is kinda hot all muddy.This one will hold 3 quads and all our gear, but is one heavy mofo. Has a 4000# mobile home axle.Sorry to jack your thread, I just have a thing for trailers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gump Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Them is sexy trailers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkow97 Posted December 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 hey, my questions were answered, so I don't consider it a threadjack at all. Good info for someone else to find in a year or two.I'm still undecided on how i feel about the rails on my trailer. they're at least 12" high, which is great for carrying 'stuff,' but makes storing the trailer on its side more difficult.I also don't know how much weight i can carry on this thing, but the previous owner took a Sportster to Sturgis on it, and used it to move his Goldwing earlier this yaer. a goldwing is like 800-900 lbs, no? So there's no way 1 sportbike and a bunch of 'stuff' could possibly weigh more... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Yeah, you should be fine. Wheres your pics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.