Back from Michigan with teardrop camper..

[Willy]

I was at the local Tag office this morning to register the trailer in Tennessee, but that was a waste of time. I KNEW I should have gotten the Bill of Sale notorized in Michigan, but didn't. Although the State of Michigan provided me with one that is from their office, stamped, and signed; Tennessee will NOT accept it. So I emailed the seller, asking him to please write or type up another Bill of Sale, get it notarized, and mail it to me.

GRRRRRRRRRRRR......... Oh, and since it is a homemade trailer with no serial or VIN number, Tennessee will charge me an additional $10 to register it. That figures. Taxes and fees. It's going to kill this country.

NC

Is that something just for camper trailers or just an East Tennessee thing? Around here, trailers aren't registered and have no license plates. They are considered carried under the tow vehicle's registration. I've got a little single axle trailer to haul a ATV on and a small double axle trailer for two horses and neither one of those are tagged and they're legal around here.

BTW, how does the HHR do pulling it?

 

[Navy Chief]

Is that something just for camper trailers or just an East Tennessee thing? Around here, trailers aren't registered and have no license plates. They are considered carried under the tow vehicle's registration. I've got a little single axle trailer to haul a ATV on and a small double axle trailer for two horses and neither one of those are tagged and they're legal around here.

BTW, how does the HHR do pulling it?

Not sure about that. I thought it was statewide. All I know is I have to get a tag. But if I have any problems getting the notarized Bill of Sale, I think I can figure out a way to get the trailer registered in GA, and then transfer it here. Don't want to go through the hassle, but I need to get a tag. My HHR pulls it just fine; no problems. Gas mileage suffers a little, but no complaints.

NC

 

[AckAck]

In Tennessee, utility trailers (smaller ones not used for commercial activities), horse trailers, farm trailers, and boat trailers do not need tags. Neither do pop-up/fold-down camper trailers. However, permanent top and fifth wheel trailers DO need Trailer E tags, which is what NavyChief is running into.

Even worse - if the trailer is homemade, he has to contact the County Clerk for his county to see if there are any additional taxes. I guess where he is has another $10 fee. It may have to be inspected too - http://www.tennessee.gov/safety/forms/homemadetrailerapplication.pdf. Of course there is another fee for that... On the good side, I think it is a permanent license and doesn't have to be renewed annually.

Brian

 

[airfighterjohn]

Be advised also that Tennessee will make you pay the difference in sales tax if you have not owned it for more than 6 months before you brought it into the state. THAT's the real reason they want the other bill of sale. I don't know about your county, NC, but up here in Putnam County that amounts to a whopping 9-3/4%. I ran into a similar problem when we moved here from Washington State.

 

[GT182]

up here in Putnam County that amounts to a whopping 9-3/4%. I ran into a similar problem when we moved here from Washington State.

That rate would make me want to move back. I still say once you've owned a vehicle for over a year and move to another state, you shouldn't have to pay any tax on it... again.... anywhere.

Just think if they did that to anything you owned... Like Virgina used to with their Luxury Tax on everything you owned. Horse Hockey.... I'm movin on out.

 

[Willy]

Thanks for clearing up the TN trailer tag thing for me Brian. As a "immigrant" from Arkansas several years back, there's a few things I haven't got up to speed on yet. My little utility trailer still has the Arkansas permanent tag on it as we've made several trips to Texarkana with it since having moved up here and I didn't want to have to try to convince the cops in Arkansas about Tennessee not requiring a tag on it. They can be pretty hard headed about not having a tag at times.

I'm betting on them wanting the bill of sale from Navy Chief for tax purposes too.

 

[Navy Chief]

Am sure you are right, Willy. That's one reason why I never registered my pontoon boat when I bought it three years ago in NC. The boat was always on a lake in NC, and never paid TN taxes on it, which would have amounted to about $1100 bucks. I sold the boat a few weeks ago, so no more hassles with that.

I finally heard back from the guy I bought my teardrop camper from. He will get another copy of the Bill of Sale notarized for me this Friday, and mail it. With any luck, I will get this done by Thurs. of next week. The local tag office is only open Tues/Thurs. If I need it done sooner, I have to drive an hour to Benton, TN to do it.

NC

 

[AckAck]

Thanks for clearing up the TN trailer tag thing for me Brian. As a "immigrant" from Arkansas several years back, there's a few things I haven't got up to speed on yet. My little utility trailer still has the Arkansas permanent tag on it as we've made several trips to Texarkana with it since having moved up here and I didn't want to have to try to convince the cops in Arkansas about Tennessee not requiring a tag on it. They can be pretty hard headed about not having a tag at times.

Willy - leave the tags on it, because you DO have to have it registered if you take it out of state...

Brian

 

[Panther_99FS]

Chief,
The more I see that thing, the more I like it!

 

[Navy Chief]

Besides being lightweight for towing, it's aerodynamic too! If I can add more reliable sealing on the hatch, I will be ready to go camping. Still not sure how to proceed on the refinishing of the top yet though.

NC

 

[Lionheart]

NC,

You might find a book on refinishing wooden boats at the library. That would have some good advice in there on restoring the wood finish.

Congrats on your Teardrop. They are cool looking...


Bill

 

[Navy Chief]

Thanks for the tip. I am in contact through a "teardrop" forum with folks. Plus, there's a couple guys who live close by who do a lot of woodworking, and I will ask them!

NC

 

[Navy Chief]

Even worse - if the trailer is homemade, he has to contact the County Clerk for his county to see if there are any additional taxes. I guess where he is has another $10 fee. It may have to be inspected too - http://www.tennessee.gov/safety/forms/homemadetrailerapplication.pdf.

Brian is most definitely correct about the inspection requirement. $25 additional charge, PLUS the $10 for not having a VIN/Serial number, PLUS the tax TN will charge me for sales tax when I bought it. Just another reason why I will move from this state if the housing market improves to the point where I won't lose my a.... when I sell my house.

At any rate, I STILL don't have a tag for my camper. There's no telling how many weeks it will take for the TN Dept. of Safety to process my Inspection request, or how far I will have to tow the camper for them to give their blessing for me to get a tag.

Either way, I WILL take my camper to Hiawassee campgrounds on the weekend of August 15th to see Little River Band in concert. I guess I'll just have to risk getting a ticket.

NC