utility trailer; refurbish update

[AZjeff]

In the beginning of December I was given this 4.5' x 8' trailer to get it off the property of the rescue I volunteer at. It looked pretty sad, I thought I'd probably just be taking it to the recycler. Turns out it's really stout and well worth getting back to usable condition. It's a Snowbear brand built in 2002 in Ontario. All of the sideboards and front and back gates should be removable but the front and sides were welded on. The front was welded crooked and I couldn't tolerate that so cut it off and repaired the attachment points to make it usable. Replaced wheel bearings, new wiring with trailer plug, replace the decking with some leftover Trex. It will need tires before heavy use. I ran red Scotchbright over all the metal to smooth off the rust then coated it all with some clear polyurethane to keep the patina. The tongue jack was all bent up so some creative leveraging and beating fixed that and the back gate was potato chip warped so more creative leveraging and bouncing on one corner got it back flat. No title and the VIN sticker is gone but going to DMV with a bill of sale this week to get that fixed. I've never owned a little trailer so interested to see how I like using it instead of the truck to haul stuff.

As acquired:

Rescue dog inspecting rescue trailer

Now:

You can stand on the fenders and taillight brackets:

How the front and back gates attach is interesting, that's a 1" solid steel rod bent at 45 degrees and welding into the gate frame. It slides into oval holes cut into the main frame and held with those pin/ring things. You can turn the gate 180 degrees and insert the rod and extend the floor the height of the gate. The gate that was welded on must have bounced out of the holes and gotten dragged, one of the rods was missing and the other was ground away 3 inches at an angle.

The back main frame looking down at 45 degrees where the 1" rod goes.

 

[fantastic]

Should be usable now..

 

[mrsilv04]

The taillights can never be overprotected. Those guards look pretty stout.

 

[Fishingnut]

Great work,

 

[AZjeff]

The taillights can never be overprotected. Those guards look pretty stout.

1/4" steel bent in a U shape welded to the frame with a 1/8" piece welded top to bottom that the light bolts to. Funny thing is the bed tilts and when it does it will crush the license plate and bend the plastic plate mount.

 

[mrsilv04]

1/4" steel bent in a U shape welded to the frame with a 1/8" piece welded top an bottom that the light bolts to. Funny thing is the bed tilts and when it does it will crush the license plate and bend the plastic plate mount.

Or pull it through a little ditch or ravine (with unprotected tail lights), and it'll drag the butt end of the trailer and it rips the tail lights clean off.

And yes, the license plate is always the first to get crumpled. Mine is bolted to the drop tailgate on mine.

 

[samven]

I think you are going to like it. For many things a trailer is much better than a pickup truck. Taking a lawn tractor in for repair, picking up heavy items like flagstone or concrete blocks, getting a load of mulch or soil or sand and many other things, and you dont have to unload it as soon as you get home if you need the truck the next day.

 

[svtrit]

I now have trailer envy and a desire to get one to fix up…..nice trailer.

 

[Donald]

In the beginning of December I was given this 4.5' x 8' trailer to get it off the property of the rescue I volunteer at. It looked pretty sad, I thought I'd probably just be taking it to the recycler. Turns out it's really stout and well worth getting back to usable condition. It's a Snowbear brand built in 2002 in Ontario. All of the sideboards and front and back gates should be removable but the front and sides were welded on. The front was welded crooked and I couldn't tolerate that so cut it off and repaired the attachment points to make it usable. Replaced wheel bearings, new wiring with trailer plug, replace the decking with some leftover Trex. It will need tires before heavy use. I ran red Scotchbright over all the metal to smooth off the rust then coated it all with some clear polyurethane to keep the patina. The tongue jack was all bent up so some creative leveraging and beating fixed that and the back gate was potato chip warped so more creative leveraging and bouncing on one corner got it back flat. No title and the VIN sticker is gone but going to DMV with a bill of sale this week to get that fixed. I've never owned a little trailer so interested to see how I like using it instead of the truck to haul stuff.

As acquired:
View attachment 320540

Rescue dog inspecting rescue trailer
View attachment 320541

Now:
View attachment 320542
View attachment 320543

You can stand on the fenders and taillight brackets:
View attachment 320544
View attachment 320545

How the front and back gates attach is interesting, that's a 1" solid steel rod bent at 45 degrees and welding into the gate frame. It slides into oval holes cut into the main frame and held with those pin/ring things. You can turn the gate 180 degrees and insert the rod and extend the floor the height of the gate. The gate that was welded on must have bounced out of the holes and gotten dragged, one of the rods was missing and the other was ground away 3 inches at an angle.
View attachment 320546

The back main frame looking down at 45 degrees where the 1" rod goes.
View attachment 320547

Looks pretty good now. You might want to tell DMV its a "homemade" rather than trying the bill of sale route.

 

[AZjeff]

Looks pretty good now. You might want to tell DMV its a "homemade" rather than trying the bill of sale route.

Why? Do you know something about the process in Arizona that I don't?

 

[Donald]

Why? Do you know something about the process in Arizona that I don't?

I know nothing about Arizona.

In NY larger trailers have titles and smaller ones can be sold via signing the back of the registration.

But a plain bill sale could easily be made up by anyone. Does the trailer have a VIN sticker?

I bought a boat trailer years ago and was given a signed certificate of origin. That is what the manufacturer provides to the initial purchaser. But the trailer was 15 years old and had never been registered or titled. I think people just threw a plate on the trailer and used the trailer. I tried to do the right thing and get a proper title. I was even working with someone in the state DMV, not a local office. But could not get a picture of the VIN sticker as it fell off years before I owned the trailer. More than one person at DMV offices suggested I register it as homemade. Finally I used an old style Dymo label maker, made a label of the VIN and then traced it with tracing paper and a pencil and sent that to DMV (they said a tracing of the VIN would be acceptable.). Finally was issued a regular title. It took over a year and many hours of work.

So if you have no title or transferable registration and probably no VIN sticker you will probably have a tough time at DMV.

 

[AZjeff]

So if you have no title or transferable registration and probably no VIN sticker you will probably have a tough time at DMV.

Nope. There's a simple procedure in place to get a new VIN when it's missing then an inspection of the trailer. A bill of sale is perfectly fine here. I have an appointment Wednesday AM for the VIN and get a 3 day transport permit to drive it to DMV and expect to have the inspection and registration done by Friday.

 

[GON]

Nope. There's a simple procedure in place to get a new VIN when it's missing then an inspection of the trailer. A bill of sale is perfectly fine here. I have an appointment Wednesday AM for the VIN and get a 3 day transport permit to drive it to DMV and expect to have the inspection and registration done by Friday.

Let us know how this goes, very interested. Would also be interested if one shows up with a larger trailer, such as a dual axle enclosed trailer, if the state of Arizona will generate a title if a VIN is reported missing, and one has just a bill of sale.

 

[Donald]

Nope. There's a simple procedure in place to get a new VIN when it's missing then an inspection of the trailer. A bill of sale is perfectly fine here. I have an appointment Wednesday AM for the VIN and get a 3 day transport permit to drive it to DMV and expect to have the inspection and registration done by Friday.

I hope it works out for you. My guess is they allow this for small inexpensive trailers. Maybe under $1000 in value. I doubt they would allow it for expensive RV or boat trailers. They obviously have to worry about someone trying to get a title for a stolen trailer.

 

[AZjeff]

@Donald & @GON , Went to MVD yesterday and not surprisingly found the info I was given on their help line a week ago wasn't exactly correct. There are 3 inspection levels, listed below C&P'd from AZ MVD website. The Level 1 was never going to work (deals with title problems) and homemade trailer registration and done by office personal as I was told and the other 2 are by appointment and conducted by a peace officer at an official inspection location which luckily is beside the AZ MVD building here. I have to have a level 2 that deals with VIN problems. Level 3 deals with salvage, restored, etc vehicles. I have an appointment on Feb 10 for the correct inspection. @Donald I found out that you can't call a production trailer like I have a homemade and go that route. If the person doing the level 1 walk around has any suspicion it may be a commercially built trailer it gets bumped to a level 2 inspection. @GON the person who got me on the right path for this wasn't the right person to ask your question and I'm not sure I'm going to ask it to the inspection officer while getting this fixed. It sounds very much like someone trying to figure out how to get a stolen trailer a new VIN.

Meanwhile I got the 3 day transfer permit for $1 and have made 2 building material runs to Home Depot with the Jeep and trailer and find the low deck height really nice.

Level I​

Level I inspections are conducted as necessary at MVD offices or by designated law enforcement officers for title only requests, bonded titles and some out of state/country vehicles without proof of title and/or registration. Most vehicles are successfully inspected and verified at this level.

Level II​

This inspection can only be performed at ADOT ECD inspection locations. Secondary inspection is conducted by a peace officer when circumstances indicate a secondary VIN(s) should be verified for proper vehicle identification. The fee is $20 and, if an Arizona assigned number is issued, a $5 fee will be added. Level II vehicle inspections are by appointment only. To schedule an online appointment, please go to azmvdnow.gov for the date, time and location most convenient for you.

In some cases where a Level II inspection is conducted, a review at a later date may determine that a Level III inspection is required. You will then be required to pay an additional fee of $30.

Level III​

This highest level inspection can only be conducted by a peace officer at ADOT ECD inspection locations. The fee is $50. Level III vehicle inspections are by appointment only. To schedule an online appointment, please go to azmvdnow.gov for the date, time and location most convenient for you.

Level III inspections are required when a vehicle is restored salvage, a recovered stolen vehicle or has been involved in a collision. This inspection is necessary to verify all major component parts (front-end assembly, engine, transmission, rear-end assembly for trucks and truck-type vehicles), and the vehicle is equipped for highway use.

For more information regarding vehicle inspections conducted in the Phoenix Metro area please email [email protected]

For additional information, please see our Vehicle Services FAQ.

Abandoned Vehicle Inspections​

If you intend to take possession of an abandoned vehicle, it must be inspected. Contact one of these locations for more information on where and when to have the abandoned vehicle inspected.

 

[Donald]

@Donald & @GON , Went to MVD yesterday and not surprisingly found the info I was given on their help line a week ago wasn't exactly correct. There are 3 inspection levels, listed below C&P'd from AZ MVD website. The Level 1 was never going to work (deals with title problems) and homemade trailer registration and done by office personal as I was told and the other 2 are by appointment and conducted by a peace officer at an official inspection location which luckily is beside the AZ MVD building here. I have to have a level 2 that deals with VIN problems. Level 3 deals with salvage, restored, etc vehicles. I have an appointment on Feb 10 for the correct inspection. @Donald I found out that you can't call a production trailer like I have a homemade and go that route. If the person doing the level 1 walk around has any suspicion it may be a commercially built trailer it gets bumped to a level 2 inspection. @GON the person who got me on the right path for this wasn't the right person to ask your question and I'm not sure I'm going to ask it to the inspection officer while getting this fixed. It sounds very much like someone trying to figure out how to get a stolen trailer a new VIN.

Meanwhile I got the 3 day transfer permit for $1 and have made 2 building material runs to Home Depot with the Jeep and trailer and find the low deck height really nice.

Sounds like you made some progress. I just felt it would not going to be as easy as you initially hoped.

Different states have different rules. But they all have some kind of procedures in place to prevent people from trying to get a title for a stolen trailer.

 

[AZjeff]

It could be done in 2 trips to the MVD, one for the transfer permit to legally move the trailer and one for the Level 2 inspection. Luckily the MVD building is 10 minutes away.

 

[GON]

Jeff, thanks for the update.

Your experience is very typical trying to address salvage/ missing title situations, and conversion into a legally titled and registered vehicle for public road use.

Many would have purchased the cheapest kit trailer available with a certificate or origin, used parts from the kit trailer, and submitted a certificate of origin in hopes of obtaining a title.

Keep us up to date!

 

[GON]

It could be done in 2 trips to the MVD, one for the transfer permit to legally move the trailer and one for the Level 2 inspection. Luckily the MVD building is 10 minutes away.

In one state, I towed my vehicle for inspection from salvage to rebuilt titling. The inspectors were state police, and they would always check to see if the vehicle was driven there, and if so they issued numerous violations to the driver.

 

[Exhaustgases]

In one state, I towed my vehicle for inspection from salvage to rebuilt titling. The inspectors were state police, and they would always check to see if the vehicle was driven there, and if so they issued numerous violations to the driver.

And is why I would visit them first without any thing to check and ask questions and hope fully get a print out of what and what can not be done to get to the inspection. The part that can be a picking point is a stupid sticker they want to stick to some old paint that says not to remove or else sorta thing. Yeah nothing like a stock collector vehicle with that funness.