Would anybody buy a unit with this statement....

[hammersley]

eBay Motors: 2000 Forest River Pickup Truck Camper for shortbox (item 110261539568 end time Jun-19-08 08:18:04 PDT)



There is no title with this camper. I never recieved one when I bought it and one is not needed since it is not a licensed unit. I will provide a bill of sale.

 

[KBalzuweit]

It is true truck campers are not titled, at least they were not here in IL last I checked. I was going to buy a used one last year and my bank (small hometown) would not do it since there was no title to file a lein.

 

[hammersley]

Yes - how would you ever get a lien

with no title - ???????????

 

[Bill Stockard]

with no title - ???????????

Yes, since a truck camper in most states is considered cargo and not a seperate vehicle therefore no license is necessary. However, there is a Certificate of Origin that comes with a truck camper from the manufacturer. The Certificate of Origin can be used for financing a camper with a bank. I don't finance our campers and ask for the Certificate of Origin when I purchased our campers from the dealer. When I sold our campers, I gave the Certificate to the new buyer along with a Bill of Sale.



Bill

 

[GAmes]

I thought Washington was like Oregon with pickup campers. In Oregon they have to be registered just like a TT or 5th wheel and have a separate license plate. If that is the case in WA a call to DMV should answer the question about needing a title, or if a bill of sale will do. A call to the bank will answer the question about a loan if you need one.

 

[LLGood]

No Title Required in Virginia

I had purchased a Lance camper from a bank in WV. It was a reposessed unit. The bank provide a Certified of Orgin and a Bill of sale. I had some of the same concerns already expressed, so I want to title the camper in Virginia. After a half-of-hour discuss at the VDMV and a call to Richmond, I was told "no wheels, no title required". I put th eother documents in a safe deposit box and go camping. The biggest pain is moving the license from the truck and visa verse.

 

[LandShark]

When I bought my camper, I got a Bill of Sale and Cert of Origin. Didn't need them in FL or TX because campers are just cargo there. I then moved to WA, which is a title state, and had no problem getting the camper tag and title with my old Bill of Sale and Cert of Origin.

 

[Bill Stockard]

The biggest pain is moving the license from the truck and visa verse.

Yep, in the 20+ years of owning truck campers, I've forgotten to change the rear plate to the camper several times. The rear tag on our truck is completely invisible if it isn't moved to the camper. So far, I haven't been stopped for no license plate visible to the rear.



Bill

 

[DonTX]

What has bothered me with all this, is that if you buy a camper that has a lien against the title, and your seller does not disclose that the title with lien exists, you could be in for quite a surprise later. A couple of truck campers I have been interested in have large loans out on them, but no titles. Don't know just how the bank handles that. (I am in a state that needs no title for a truck camper)

 

[Bill Stockard]

What has bothered me with all this, is that if you buy a camper that has a lien against the title, and your seller does not disclose that the title with lien exists, you could be in for quite a surprise later. A couple of truck campers I have been interested in have large loans out on them, but no titles. Don't know just how the bank handles that. (I am in a state that needs no title for a truck camper)

The bank probably filed a UCC-1 with the Secretary of State in Austin if it was financed in TX. You would have to run a file check to see if it was released with a UCC-3(I think that is the form number,IIRC).



I bought a used camper years ago and the leinholder (CIT Corp) had the original Certificate of Origin in their file. The lein was shown registered, released, dated, and manually signed the back side of the Certificate. I had the seller sign and had notarized a Bill of Sale stating there were no outstanding liens in case there were problems later.



Bill

 

[DonTX]

In my case buying from another state for instance, the camper may be for sale in a non title state, yet the seller may have moved it to the non title state from a title with lien state. Worrisome!

 

[Bill Stockard]

As long as you have a signed and notarized Bill of Sale stating the seller warrants the camper to be free of any outstanding leins, you are OK. The seller and the financial institution have a big problem and will have to work it out. Selling mortgaged property without settling the outstanding leins is illegal. If I were worried about the deal, I'd pass on it.



I have experience working for a lending agency that financed large expensive construction machinery. There are no titles on construction equipment either. It's amazing... an old $200 "beater" automobile requires a title and there is no title required on a $100K+ construction machine.



Bill

 

[DonTX]

But wouldn't the fact that the lender had a title with a lien on it, and the property was mortgaged still over ride your possession and statement? I would assume they could just come and claim it - legally. Not sure in Texas, but in other states, I think the lien holder has first rights to the property.

 

[Bill Stockard]

But wouldn't the fact that the lender had a title with a lien on it, and the property was mortgaged still over ride your possession and statement? I would assume they could just come and claim it - legally. Not sure in Texas, but in other states, I think the lien holder has first rights to the property.

I think that would be a good question for your friendly (expensive) legal advisor.



Bill

 

[BrianJ]

But wouldn't the fact that the lender had a title with a lien on it, and the property was mortgaged still over ride your possession and statement? I would assume they could just come and claim it - legally. Not sure in Texas, but in other states, I think the lien holder has first rights to the property.

Correct, the titleholder/leinholder would be entitled to the property in question. The "buyers" only recourse would be with the seller, should the property be taken by the titleholder/leinholder.



Bottom line: You can't sell (legally) property you don't own outright (that has a leinholder)

 

[DonTX]

This is sure good stuff to know when trying to buy a pickup camper as I am in the process of doing.

I imagine some sort of records of ownership from new to you would be helpful, but understanding that it is impossible to determine if there were a lien, if purchasing from someone in a non-title state. And of course if you were a person who owed bigtime on such a truck camper and wanted to fleece the lender, you would want to go to the states without titles on them to sell.