I have a 26' travel trailer that has seen many better days, and is starting to show the previous owner's neglect. I have to rebuild the rear corner which I will for now, but the roof was let go for too long.
My general plan is to rebuild it from the frame up out of aluminum, but more along the lines of a Silver Streak or Avion than an Airstream, with flat sides and radiused corners. Reuse the existing windows, some of the appliances (they are like new), but rearrange the floorplan a bit.
What I wonder is the legality of it. I do plan on lightening the camper quite a bit in this with all aluminum cabinets and so on, but how would this be registered? Would it still be considered the same camper, or would I need to have it gone through and issued a new title and registration? For the time being I am in Oregon.

 

I'm strictly guessing here but would think that it would registered just as it was.

Is there still a model#/ ID tag on the frame somewhere, if so just put back on after you remodel if you remove it. Same trailer just a facelift.

 

if you already have it registered into your name.. do nothing.. Fix/replace as you wish.

serial number... is all that matters. well a frame, 4 walls, Roof... and a license plate.

getting the trailer lighter.. is the hard part..

 

Why not just ask the local authorities? Since it is not technically a home built, I doubt you have to do anything.

 

That's sort of what I was thinking, there is a VIN tag on the frame so that won't change. The local authorities here won't be a whole lot of help, most people around here don't bother with things like renewing registration on campers, and it tends to get overlooked quite a bit.
I will be lightening this trailer through it being basically all aluminum. I learned how to make cabinets out of aluminum a few years back, it's rather basic but the results are nice and the finished product is very light. The current trailer is claimed to be 5500lbs, I'd like to get that down to 4500lbs and a bit better looking while also more functional. It has a lot of rather heavy pressboard in the cabinets and furniture. The configuration now is great for a couple, maybe a kid, but with three kids and four dogs it's terrible. It's going the keep the rear bedroom, but with a deployable screened/tented deck area on the rear, kinda like a slide out but a bit more rustic. Replace the couch bed with collapsible bunks, and redo the kitchen and it should be much nicer.

 

I've found it is always better to avoid DOT/Gov. agencies. Like others have said you have a frame and serial number.

 

One other thought is insurance. What would they cover. As for getting the authorities involved, Have a friend ask the authorities the hypothetical "what if" question that if he bought a camper and did that.... Once the black helicopters saw he had no trailer, they should leave you alone!