Ok here's the deal. I finally found a trailer that fitted exactly what I wanted. It's a 16 foot 10k skidsteer trailer. Other than some minor issues (lights, etc), everything is pretty good. The only issue is the previous owner lost the title during a move. He asked the state for a duplicate, and they said they needed the VIN off the trailer. He went home to get it, and found that while you can still read most if the STICKER! The date of manufacture, gvwr, and VIN have all faded off. It's very clear that the sticker was NOT defaced in any way. He got the trailer from a close personal friend who bought it brand new around 95-97. The dealer it was bought from only keeps records for 3 years. How could I go about getting a title for this? To register it as homemade, I'd need a list of parts and prices I used to assemble it, which I don't have, because I didn't build it. I'm an honest guy who's just looking to get a decent trailer for a good price, which it is. Previous owner willing to provide bill of sale, location bought new and 1st owner's name. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.

 

All that information should be on the previous registration. I have a homemade trailer that I built and all the info is on the reg.

 

I would hope that your state has a provision for verifying the vin and when the vin is not readable and has not been tampered with a new vin can be assigned. In some states you can take the trailer to a highway patrol office for inspection and a reassigned vin number.

 

Thanks for that info, I tryed to stop at a notary tonight, but they were closed. I appreciate both of your responses, as most people seem to have their ten foot pole out on this one.

 

take another look. the VIN may also be stamped into the steel somewhere on the tongue in additon to the faded sticker...

 

What state is this? Here in MA, the current owner/title holder can just go spend the $50 and get a new one issued. Actually a reissue may be cheaper.

 

Packlet is correct.

It has to be stamped into the frame somewhere. The sticker is a dealer thing and it has to be stamped (ingraved) into the frame .

 

Looks like i'm going hunting for that this weekend. Hopefully, it will hit the nice warm 30 degrees they're calling for!

 

If it is a business manufactured trailer and you can find their name, try calling them for the location of the stamped vin #. It might save you a lot of time.
(just a thought)
Good luck

 

Scott; as has been previosly stated, the vin should be stamped somewhere in the frame. Notory should be able to get last registered owner a new title. Here in PA going homemade as you said is a giant pain and is getting harder. I have a trailer with a vin plate and no title and no clue who the last registered owner is. Thought about registering it in MD as a homemade and then transfering to PA but that might be sticky to. Anyone ever try one of those lost title places. (pay $75.00 and get a new title) ?

 

Was it previously plated? If you have the lic plate they can backtrack it.

 

I have been told by trailer mfr's around here that they don't stamp the frame, just use the sticker (this was a company that is VERY highly regarded). I did contact previous owner to see if he still has an old reg. card laying around. The tag was on a PLASTIC braket and was removed (broken off), by a road obstacle before my time.

 

That is strange every trailer that I own (4) all have the frame stamped . My oldest one being a 1999. They are stamped on the tongue and my 5th wheel is on the pin box.

If I buy one from out of state we have to have a police check for VIN .
You might have to do that and they can say it has no VIN and go from there.

 

I'm going to call the state tomorrow and see what they say.

 

One year in California, I bought a home made trailer that was the hacked up remains of a '68 Dodge truck. I took it to the DMV, showed them the bill of sale from the guy from Texas I bought it from, and they themselves put a sticker on it.

-Just that - a STICKER.

For whatever it may be worth, if you have an engraver, or a set of letter and number dies it would be good to punch that number into the steel somewhere.

A FEW MONTHS AGO, ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS CAR TRAILER WAS STOLEN, It turned up at a construction yard across town. The clown who sold it to them was busted and will not be doing construction labor around here anymore (YEAH TEAM!).

Either he was too goof-balled from dope to peal the sticker, or it was a stamped in VIN. When the new "owner" went to get it registered, the police report came up.

STAMP THAT STUFF INTO THE STEEL!

~It just might bring your trailer home some fine day.