Another post had me thinking, I have a few tandem trailers and never have plated them. Has anyone had an issue with just not putting a plate on them? I have a 7'x21' inline that holds 2-3 sleds and also a 6500# boat. Neither have license plates. Never had an issue either. Live in WI, but travel to MI with snowmobile, and to MI, IL and OH for fishing. Thoughts?
Trailer plates for WI
- Thread starter sjb
- Start date
EXCESSIVE FORCE
New member
No...knocking on wood...LOL....
srt20
Active member
Under 3000 # GVWR
We just had this discuss in another topic.
But, what I was told by the WI DMV about my 23 foot all aluminum sled trailer is it is optional for the plate if I only use the trailer in WI. BUT, don't leave the State of WI without a plate as you may get a ticket in the other state. I bought the plate as I will drop off in Watersmeet especially with the lack of snow this year.
Secondly, when you sell the trailer (possibly to an out of State buyer) they will want a WI title so they can get it registered.
Frank
We ran a tandem axle boat trailer with a 2,900# boat. WI registered boat. No plates on the trailer. Have only been bothered once while traveling to Lake Erie through Toledo. A local cop pulled us over and didn't believe we didn't need to have plates in WI so he called it in. No tickets, no warning, just checked all of the truck and boat paperwork. We have a large group that has gone through MI, IL, IN, and OH for years and this is the only time we've been pulled over and asked about plates. Speeding tickets, while that's another story......
srt20
Active member
I didn't see that topic. But it's 3000. Thats why most single axle trailers in WI are "rated" at 2900. Other states those trailers are rated at 3500, because they all have 3500 axles.
The laws in other states have to follow your home state registration rules. I can go to any state in the USA with my trailers with no plates. I "think" Canada is the same as well. I was there this fall with an unplated trailer. 5 hrs NE of the Soo.
Out of state buyers get a bill of sale to register it in their own state.
snobuilder
Well-known member
Trailer [FONT=Wingdings 2,Wingdings 2][FONT=Wingdings 2,Wingdings 2] [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]TRL Trailer registration is optional for private operation 3,000 lbs. or less. Fee = $37.50. [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]If over 3,000 lbs., registration required. Fee = column "G" of fee schedule.Trailer for rental or For Hire must be registered. Check Consecutive Monthly Registration block if applicable............................................................................. [/FONT][/FONT]
Yeah need if over 3000 lbs loaded my 27' legend I had to put 8000 lb plates even though 7000 lb limit with axles its 6000 lb or 8000 lb category. My trailer empty wieghts 2500 lb set up and lined and add 4-5 sleds packed with snow and ice it's over the 3000 limit forsure. My single axle ranger which is close to the 3000lb mark if not over I don't have plate never had problem with that. Think was 46 or 42 a year sad thing is plates run out in December so I littlerly used trailer once to get new sleds for the 42 dollars this last year 
HardwaterHoosier
Member
The trailer follows the rules of the tow vehicle state.
If you plate your truck in WI and tow to IN you are fine. But an Indiana truck must have plates on a trailer while towing in WI.
If you plate your truck in WI and tow to IN you are fine. But an Indiana truck must have plates on a trailer while towing in WI.
srt20
Active member
Gvwr is a constant number. Whatever load you put on your trailer is up to you. A trailer that has a 2900# GVWR from the manufacturer ( not a negotiable number) is rated from the factory to be safe to carry up to 2900# total including weight of trailer. If you have a trailer that weighs 1,000# and you load it with 2500# of stuff, you are over the GVWR of that trailer as set by manufacturer. If you get into a accident, you might or might not get a ticket. It's not against the law to be overweight, if not commercial. But, you can darn well expect to get sued from whoever got hit.
You can have a trailer that weighs whatever weight you can think of. But if the GVWR as set from the manufacturer is over 3000, it legally has to be registered in WI.
Again, the reason why trailers in WI are rated at 2900 instead of 3500 is because of the trailer registration thing. The exact same trailer in IL will be rated at 3500.
You can have a trailer that weighs whatever weight you can think of. But if the GVWR as set from the manufacturer is over 3000, it legally has to be registered in WI.
Again, the reason why trailers in WI are rated at 2900 instead of 3500 is because of the trailer registration thing. The exact same trailer in IL will be rated at 3500.
sweeperguy
Active member
Seems odd to me that a trailer manufacturer would know where trailers would be going to to be sold. Would also greatly complicate logistics. I guess for smaller local manufacturer it would be that they'd rate it for local registration weights. Also seems odd they would complicate things over why would they even care about people paying for plates in one state, and staying on top of registration laws for their entire sales area.
May be I don't know what I'm talking about?
Could it be that the dealers are able to Change the gvwr, my inter net search says yes.
Found this discussion forum that claims to quote info off of NHTSA website
Ok, I hear the weight police sirens coming, but I will preface this with....it is based on statute....Ok, here it goes....
The 49 CFR 573 regulation for GVWR only applies to newly manufactured vehicles. However, it does allow modifiers or alterers to change the GVWR using a good faith judgement on the new GVWR based on equipment installed such as brakes, axles, tires, etc.
Again no offense meant at all but GVWR can be adjusted.
This following paragraphs are straight from the NHTSA site:
The term GVWR is defined in 49 CFR 571.3 as "the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a single vehicle." The GVWR informs vehicle owners how heavily the vehicle may be safely loaded. It also affects the vehicle's loading and other test conditions for the performance tests to ascertain whether the vehicle complies with applicable safety standards.
The only express regulatory limitation on the GVWR that manufacturers may assign to their vehicles is set forth in 49 CFR 567.4(g)(3), which provides that the assigned GVWR "shall not be less than the sum of the unloaded vehicle weight, rated cargo load, and 150 pounds times the vehicle's designated seating capacity." "Unloaded vehicle weight" is defined in 49 CFR 571.3 as "the weight of a vehicle with maximum capacity of all fluids necessary for operation of the vehicle, but without cargo, occupants, or accessories that are ordinarily removed from the vehicle when they are not in use." Although the term "rated cargo load" is not defined by regulation, generally it is the GVWR of the vehicle minus the combined weight of the occupied designated seating positions (150 pounds times the total number of designated seating positions) and the unloaded vehicle weight.
Alterers must also determine whether their modifications affect the manufacturer's stated GVWR, gross axle weight rating (GAWR), and vehicle type. If such a change has been made, the alterer must specify the new GVWR, GAWR, or vehicle type in a manner consistent with the capability of the vehicle to comply with applicable standards and operate at higher weight rating and/or as a different type of vehicle. NHTSA expects both manufacturers and alterers to assign GVWR and GAWRs that reflect the manufacturer's or alterer's good-faith evaluation of how the vehicle's braking, load bearing items (including tires), suspension, steering, and drive train components will react to the vehicle's weight, size, cargo-carrying capacity and intended use.
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sweeperguy
Active member
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snobuilder
Well-known member
I think it would come down to the discretion of the officer if you got pulled over. It would be legal to pull around an empty trailer weighing 2999.9 #'s in WI without plates and you'd likely never get hassled with an enclosed trailer.....at least I never did with my old enclosed 4 place.
Overall it doesn't seem to be a priority to check "recreational" trailer weights on WI highways. I don't notice many loaded open 4 place trailers with plates and same goes for big boat haulers, atvs etc.
I did reg. my 23' inline because I figured I was pushing my luck if I didn't.
Overall it doesn't seem to be a priority to check "recreational" trailer weights on WI highways. I don't notice many loaded open 4 place trailers with plates and same goes for big boat haulers, atvs etc.
I did reg. my 23' inline because I figured I was pushing my luck if I didn't.
srt20
Active member
Ok, yes dealers can change the GVWR from 3500 to 2900. But what I was trying to get across was that we cannot change the GVWR of a vehicle because it suits our needs better.
Btw, the stuff you pasted is for passenger vehicles, not trailers. Though I suspect the wording is similar.
In order to change or if you build a trailer yourself, before a vin can be issued a DOT/state patrol officer must inspect the trailer.
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