Coming soon to somewhere near you

[B.G. Smith]

Got notification that my 5th wheel registration is lapsing at end of July, not a big deal, it has done that ever since it was new eleven years ago. The ringer is, they notified me that in order to be able to register the trailer now it will have to be inspected, same or similar to what other vehicles are subjected to i guess. Not a big deal but it's gonna be kinda tight at some of the inspection station around her. This also covers any trailer (except farm trailer) that is registered for GWR of 4500 pounds or more, yeah, boat trailers too. I have five registered trailers but have a hard time towing more than one of them at a time. I can see where this might keep some of the junkers off the road or at least make them safer but still feel like it's just another way to bleed the working man. bg

 

[DavidC]

I believe you are right on the money money part. It will be interesting on what they inspect other than tires, brakes and maybe propane system. Keep us posted.

Dave

 

[JR]

BG, I take it you have regular vehicle inspections as well?

I live in farm country and have been fortunate to not have them in my county yet. Will the trailer inspection cost anything above the annual registration?

 

[Okie-Go]

If I remember right according to the Houston Chronicle newspaper it is $7.50.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Yeah, they even split it up to make it look reasonable. It is $7.50 to inspect then $7.50 more at the license counter. bg

 

[B.G. Smith]

BG, I take it you have regular vehicle inspections as well?

I live in farm country and have been fortunate to not have them in my county yet. Will the trailer inspection cost anything above the annual registration?

Yes, we have the regular vehicle inspection here, $14.50 in the past IIRC. We had the smog mess one year here then they dismantled it. The state left a couple of nice building vacant after that. I'm in city limits so can't do the farm tags . bg

 

[Bill Stockard]

Take your trailer to a real truck dealership or a heavy truck service center for the inspection. Our shop did Texas Safety Inspections on RV trailers regularly at our medium/heavy truck dealership. Truck dealers perform inspections on commercial trailers regularly, know the process, and there will room to navigate the lot towing your trailer. If it's similar to inspections in the past, they will check the hitch including safety chains (if required), wheels (no cracks, loose/missing lug bolts/nuts, etc.) tires, lights, breakaway switch and battery, and may ask you to perform a low speed stop using the trailer brakes. I had inspections done yearly on my travel trailers and fifth wheels when I owned them.

In order to obtain Texas Farm tags on a trailer, the owner must show a Texas Agriculture or Timber Registration permit. This permit is required along with proof of liability insurance each time the trailer is registered. The permit holder is subject to audit by the Texas Comptrollers Office and they DO audit.

Bill

 

[RustyJC]

I've had to inspect every 5th wheel I've owned since moving back to Texas from Ohio in 1997. Texas Transportation Code required safety inspections for trailers with GVWRs of >4500 lbs, so I've had it done every year. I take mine to the neighborhood Jiffy Lube at 8:00 Sunday morning and take up the entire front lot until they get it inspected.

Rusty

 

[TLane]

Texas recently did away with the inspection sticker and instead tied it to the registration sticker. You still have to get the vehicle inspected but there is no separate sticker anymore. The law requiring brakes and inspections on trailers over 4400lbs has been in place for some time but it hasn't been enforced very much. It will be enforced now with the new system. Also, keep the receipt/report from your trailer inspection when you do this under the new system as the computer doesn't always have the correct VIN for trailers, and trailers don't have the OBD-II system to keep the VIN number straight. You may find that your trailer does not show up as inspected when it has been, so you'll have to take the receipt to the county tax office and wait in line to show them the receipt to renew your registration. As a further hassle, the amount shown on your registration renewal may not be correct as the software for printing the renewal forms they mail you hasn't been updated to include the inspection cost.

 

[Tuesdak]

They should do this nationwide for vehicles and trailers. It's not the cop's job to tell people, and charge for the privilege, that their lights don't work etc. I'll be in the minority, but, inconvenience aside at least the fing brakes on the trailers will work at least once a year. We have permanent trailer tags here. And with that more that 50% of the trailers I hook up to have brake problems. They short out or don't work. The ones I use for more than a day get fixed by me and billed to the owners etc. Even U-haul has their bad trailer brake days. I have been known to buy long extension cords, cut em up, and use them to completely rewire trailers.

Don't even get me started on the remove trailer tires and take to tire shop to replace all 6 dry rotted tires before even moving the trailer. The "bang!" a spare tire makes in a repair shop while separating and blowing out is legendary for one trailer I owned with a one year old worn tire. Never actually invoiced for underwear before...

I am not saying it's you, but, enough people, government fleets, and rental places out there need to be literally forced to fix their *****! And that's just the safety items!

I bet the government vehicles are exempted from this...

 

[B.G. Smith]

Yeah, you were right. I feel a helluva lot safer and better now that the trailer has been " safety inspected". These people were amazing, must have had esp and maybe x-ray vision or even more. Only time he even looked at trailer was to get the Vin. Probably wouldn't have done that except I forgot to bring the notice from DOT. I have always tried to keep my equipment in good operating order, worked in maintenance for 60+ years. To me this BS is just that. bg

 

[Bill Stockard]

Texas recently did away with the inspection sticker and instead tied it to the registration sticker. You still have to get the vehicle inspected but there is no separate sticker anymore. The law requiring brakes and inspections on trailers over 4400lbs has been in place for some time but it hasn't been enforced very much. It will be enforced now with the new system. Also, keep the receipt/report from your trailer inspection when you do this under the new system as the computer doesn't always have the correct VIN for trailers, and trailers don't have the OBD-II system to keep the VIN number straight. You may find that your trailer does not show up as inspected when it has been, so you'll have to take the receipt to the county tax office and wait in line to show them the receipt to renew your registration. As a further hassle, the amount shown on your registration renewal may not be correct as the software for printing the renewal forms they mail you hasn't been updated to include the inspection cost.

I renewed my truck's registration last month. Since the safety inspection and registration renewal are the same month, I went to the dealership and had my safety inspection done and then drove directly to the Vehicle Registration Office. I walked in (no line) and handed the clerk my registration renewal letter and my proof of liability insurance. I had my copy of my inspection receipt from the dealer, but wanted to see how fast the computer system worked. She looked at her computer and noted that I had just had my safety inspection done! I wrote her a check and was out with my registration renewed for another year in less than 5 minutes.

Bill

 

[Tuesdak]

Yeah, you were right. I feel a helluva lot safer and better now that the trailer has been " safety inspected". These people were amazing, must have had esp and maybe x-ray vision or even more. Only time he even looked at trailer was to get the Vin. Probably wouldn't have done that except I forgot to bring the notice from DOT. I have always tried to keep my equipment in good operating order, worked in maintenance for 60+ years. To me this BS is just that. bg

I would take issue with that for sure. If you have to go through the trouble they had better be providing the intended safety with it. Guess I am thinking of Utah where they check the lights etc. on cars once a year. You know actually do something?