licensing trailers

snake

Member
not sure if I'll get many responses out of this one!! but if you're required to register your trailer,who rolls the dice and declines?
 
T

Team Elkhorn

Guest
Register a trailer? In Wisconsin you don't need plates on smaller trailers like a two place.
 

fusionfool

New member
WI, I do not need plates on my RNR inline 2 place, however I do register the title so that if stolen, the authorities have record an may have a better chance to find. I believe it we $4.00 for registration of title. Can't remember, but was not much.
 

chadlyt

Member
Register a trailer? In Wisconsin you don't need plates on smaller trailers like a two place.

I bought a 4 place enclosed aluminum trailer from a guy in Wisconsin. It was never registered as it was under 3K lbs. But thats without anything in it...dunno how he got away with it, bit it was a PITA to register it in MN...

I thought about not registering it, and didn't for a year as i was replacing the bearings and hubs, and went from hydo to electric brakes. Still, it didn't cost much but all t he paperwork for a trailer was a pain...
 

wags

New member
Bottom line is where you live and what size the trailer is.... Can't answer anything until all that is known..
 
also keep in mind what plate are on your tow vehicle. if the plates on the vehicle cover the weight of the trailer and sleds your fine but if not a trooper can have alot of fun. i got it once with my truck (2500 hd diesel) with "C" plates and a car trailer with no plates. the trailer was empty but weighted 3k alone. i was over and got a warning luckily. all of our trailers now have plates except the 2 place
 

snocrazy

Active member
I have always used a 2 place open trailer. Illinois plates on Truck (car) and my trailer is borrowed from some one in Wisconsin. Have been pulled over in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Never a problem. To add to the confusion, I have a Michigan drivers license. Some cops have shaked their heads but never a ticket. I just say if it wasn't legal, why would they let me do it? Having Illinois plates always raises qestions more than any thing. I never transferred my cars to Michigan when I moved 5 years back. I just use the Illinois secretary of state web site to renew plates. Much cheaper plates.
 

Cat600

Member
total gross weight of less than 3000 lbs you are not required to register.

I thought I read somewhere that tandems w/ brakes are starting to get pulled into being a requirement for registering, as well as 3000lbs.

Anyway, I registered my stealth 7x17. It prolly would get by being under the weight requirement, but I figured might as well in case it gets stolen or you get pulled over by that one special cop who is not in the best of moods.
 
I have always used a 2 place open trailer. Illinois plates on Truck (car) and my trailer is borrowed from some one in Wisconsin. Have been pulled over in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Never a problem. To add to the confusion, I have a Michigan drivers license. Some cops have shaked their heads but never a ticket. I just say if it wasn't legal, why would they let me do it? Having Illinois plates always raises qestions more than any thing. I never transferred my cars to Michigan when I moved 5 years back. I just use the Illinois secretary of state web site to renew plates. Much cheaper plates.

just lucky I guess?
 
I have always used a 2 place open trailer. Illinois plates on Truck (car) and my trailer is borrowed from some one in Wisconsin. Have been pulled over in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Never a problem. To add to the confusion, I have a Michigan drivers license. Some cops have shaked their heads but never a ticket. I just say if it wasn't legal, why would they let me do it? Having Illinois plates always raises qestions more than any thing. I never transferred my cars to Michigan when I moved 5 years back. I just use the Illinois secretary of state web site to renew plates. Much cheaper plates.
Sounds like you have been lucky, but not all together legal.You may not want to end up in a accident or you may find you have issues you wont want.Can get real costly.Sometimes saveing a little and not being legal can cost ya big in the end.Personaly makes no difference to me,just saying.
 

chords

Active member
He's asking if anyone skips the registration if it's "required"

In MI registering a trailer is required and yes I have skipped getting updated tags before on a couple of trailers. There is a visable plate but expired year tags. Or I swap and put on a "Lifetime Plate" from another trailer.
 

blkhwkbob

Active member
To transfer the title and get plates for my two-place in Illinois is ONE HUNDRED dollars. I guess it's expensive to have your former governors making plates for you.
 

snake

Member
ok guys,here's what I got=2006 gmc duramax with c rated plate(8000lbs). the truck empty weighs in around 6900lbs. I just bought a trailer which is 2300 lbs empty, and from what i have read is that if over 3000lbs,then you need to plate it. I am in wisconsin. just throwing this out there to see if this added info(and responses)would help me make up my mind! also,it is a large 7 by 26 trailer,thanks guys!!! p.s.=I do realize that gear,fuel,sleds,ect....is all added into the "mix"
 

Cat600

Member
ok guys,here's what I got=2006 gmc duramax with c rated plate(8000lbs). the truck empty weighs in around 6900lbs. I just bought a trailer which is 2300 lbs empty, and from what i have read is that if over 3000lbs,then you need to plate it. I am in wisconsin. just throwing this out there to see if this added info(and responses)would help me make up my mind! also,it is a large 7 by 26 trailer,thanks guys!!! p.s.=I do realize that gear,fuel,sleds,ect....is all added into the "mix"

So you are already over weight just pulling it, plus gear, and would be able to only put 1 and 1/3 sled in that 26' trailer before you break the rules. 3000lb rule is weight of trailer plus what you are hauling, and 4-5 sleds would definitely put you over that. You would be better off registering/getting a title before some cop with a bad day makes your day bad.

Plus if it gets stolen you have a record with the state.

Also another plus, if you ever go through Illinois or other bordering states with it, I believe you NEED to have it registered, to prove ownership.
 
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fcat700

Member
Yes you are required to register your trailer.

http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/vehicles/title/mobile-home.htm


"Gross weight trailers
A title and registration is required for trailers operated over 3,000 pounds. A title and registration is not required for trailers operated at or less than 3,000 pounds gross weight unless used for hire or rental. Title and registration is encouraged for these vehicles that will be used on roads outside the state of Wisconsin, as other states' registration laws may be different."

http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/docs/bvs507-c.pdf
 

ezra

Well-known member
in MN you are required to register but trailers under so many lb rating get lifetime registration and no plates.
trailers over that weight have plates and have to go buy tabs every yr PITA. so when registering I have learned to lye about weight rating.
I messed up with my boat trailer and got plates but never put them on or renewed but those are my dice to roll. it goes from storage to the lake in the spring and lake to storage in fall I am not buying tabs every yr for that 12mi total
 

EXCESSIVE FORCE

New member
ok guys,here's what I got=2006 gmc duramax with c rated plate(8000lbs). the truck empty weighs in around 6900lbs. I just bought a trailer which is 2300 lbs empty, and from what i have read is that if over 3000lbs,then you need to plate it. I am in wisconsin. just throwing this out there to see if this added info(and responses)would help me make up my mind! also,it is a large 7 by 26 trailer,thanks guys!!! p.s.=I do realize that gear,fuel,sleds,ect....is all added into the "mix"


Just go on the WI DOT website and print out an MV1 form and make copies for future use and fill one out before every trip......lol.....
 
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