Who can't do without a utility trailer?

[JDgreen227]

It's about the only deal we'll ever get out of the CA DMV. I currently have 4 trailers with the CA perm plates, so it's much cheaper than before when trailers were charged the same fees as cars. Back then, it was 2% of the purchase price with a 10-12 year scale to a minimum of about $30/yr.
I have friends that live in Utah, and trailers that weigh less than 750 lbs empty don't have to registered or plated, regardless of the GVW. There are a few states that don't license small utility trailers.

Prior to Michigan changing over to permanent trailer registration my little 4X8 U-bild utility trailer was $16 per year based on the weight. Then it went to $75 minimum for the permanent plate...a lot of people with home made trailers were really ticked about it, like my neighbor, somebody gave him a welded up utility trailer with a Model A axle and he still had to pay $75 for a plate for it. When he got a better quality single axle trailer he didn't bother to inform the Secretary of State he got a new trailer and he, like several other people I know, didn't want to pay for a new plate and just reused the old one, as the odds of the police checking out registrations against the actual trailer are pretty low. My 4X8 has had the stick on VIN weathered away for ten years now.

 

[ultrarunner]

It's about the only deal we'll ever get out of the CA DMV. I currently have 4 trailers with the CA perm plates, so it's much cheaper than before when trailers were charged the same fees as cars. Back then, it was 2% of the purchase price with a 10-12 year scale to a minimum of about $30/yr.
I have friends that live in Utah, and trailers that weigh less than 750 lbs empty don't have to registered or plated, regardless of the GVW. There are a few states that don't license small utility trailers.

You're right and I wonder how long it will last...

I've spoken and protested in Sacramento on Auto Related issues...

Just got a renewal for my 72 Plymouth Valiant that I bought used in 1981 for $800... the renewal is $90... needless to say I will keep it "Registered" as non-op for $18

Unfortunately... I own several cars as old as 1976 that have to be smogged forever... so I no longer license these either... it can be very difficult to find Spitfire or BMW 2002 smog parts that were only used in California!

I use a trailer at least once a week or more... mostly a lot more...

 

[77bronco]

You're right and I wonder how long it will last...

I've spoken and protested in Sacramento on Auto Related issues...

Just got a renewal for my 72 Plymouth Valiant that I bought used in 1981 for $800... the renewal is $90... needless to say I will keep it "Registered" as non-op for $18

Unfortunately... I own several cars as old as 1976 that have to be smogged forever... so I no longer license these either... it can be very difficult to find Spitfire or BMW 2002 smog parts that were only used in California!

I use a trailer at least once a week or more... mostly a lot more...

It was a real screwing when they changed the smog check rules from a rolling 30 yr exemption, to the before 1975 rule. How many of these old cars are still on the road anyway? Just one more way to get more money for the state to squander...

 

[ultrarunner]

It was a real screwing when they changed the smog check rules from a rolling 30 yr exemption, to the before 1975 rule. How many of these old cars are still on the road anyway? Just one more way to get more money for the state to squander...

It was very dishonest because the law had always been 25 years or older... then they said they needed to change it to 30 and older to secure Federal Highway Funds... it wasn't much later they eliminated the rolling exemption and made the year permanent.

My Van is a 85 and my truck a 91... they are well maintained and the van is only used when I need it for specific job as it is a mobile workshop...

I spoke at the hearings at the capital and the legislature said they were on board... in the end... they did what they wanted...

At least trailers don't have engines... so I shouldn't have to worry about my trailer being regulated off the road.

 

[Monster5601]

I have discovered that I can't do without a trailer. I am tired of loading everything in my truck bed. My 5x10 utility trailer is the perfect platform for haling lumber, mulch, rock, block, and anything else that would mess up the truck bed.

Just an observation. I wonder who else feels like this.

I think the question is going to become who can afford the gas to pull a trailer...

 

[bigdad]

Three people borrow mine, and they are all policemen...so I know they will take good care of my trailer. My way of thinking is, mine doesn't do any good parked so somebody may as well get some use out of it. In the near three years I have owned mine, it has been used maybe 36 times, and it cost me $1600 with the registration plate. That means it cost about $44.50 per use, and I could rent one for probably $25-30 per use. I am hoping in the next few years I can say it paid for itself....:thumbsup:

I lent my utility trailer to a policeman and he liked it so much he started borrowing it without asking. I never noticed that he took any special care of it.

 

[Wnc3]

I have a bunch of trailers that I could not do without. Don't forget to save your money and register them in Maine:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: $90 for five years!

Now I know why so many container chasis run Maine plates....

 

[flusher]

I have discovered that I can't do without a trailer. I am tired of loading everything in my truck bed. My 5x10 utility trailer is the perfect platform for haling lumber, mulch, rock, block, and anything else that would mess up the truck bed.

Just an observation. I wonder who else feels like this.

To answer your question in the title to your post--I can--using this baby--a 2004 Isuzu NPR/EFI stakebed (8x14 ft bed by Supreme, 6.0L GMC/Chevy LQ4 engine, 4L80-E 4-speed tranny, 4.777 to 1 rear axle, 12,000 lb GVWR, 18000 lb GCWR). Found it in Dec2010 on eBay (49500 miles, $11K).

It's wheelbase and overall length are about the same as my 2001 F150 short cab/long wheelbase PU and seats 3 just like the F150. No more screwing around trying to get palletized stuff (fertilizer, seed, concrete mix, etc) into a PU bed with a forklift.



Use the 10ft aluminum ramps to load my parade tractors ( about 3500 lb load) onto the bed. Those two 5000 lb/axle ramps cost about $750 including shipping (Discount Ramps), which is about what I paid for a 5x10 ft landscape utility trailer at Home Depot in 2006.

Put an 8000 lb Warn winch on the NPR to load non-running tractors (I collect and restore old iron).

 

[JDgreen227]

I remember seeing your medium duty truck in another post here. It's a beautiful rig and you should be proud of it. However, what you pay per year for insurance and registration would probably be enough to buy a utilty trailer, plus it's not easy for a lot of us to justify keeping a large vehicle parked during the time we are not using it. The last medium duty truck I drove for a living was a '96 F800 with a 5.9 Cummins and 16 foot cargo box with a liftgate. Since I was the only driver there with a CDL, after I left my employer put it up for sale, and I would have loved to buy it but the insurance and registration would have been more than I could justify spending.

 

[Creamer]

I can't. 18 acre property with 14 underwater. I use my 5' x 10' utility trailer all the time. Firewood, gravel, mulch, building supplies, tree branches, hay, my tractor, lawnmower, you name it. I pull it with my truck or my tractor. Keeps me from getting my truck dirty and scratched. I got a tilt bed with removable sides so I can drive things on it, dump stuff off of it, leave at the site loaded, etc. I can put firewood in it with the sides on it and tarp and park outside my basement for easy access for getting the firewood in the house. I can use the tractor and pull it into a tree lot where I cannot get to with my truck.

I haul a lot of stuff in my truck and wouldn't be without it but the trailer saves a lot of clean-up effort and the tilt makes it easier loading and unloading.