Importing trailers to the US

[Katika Africa]

I am looking at importing a trailer from South Africa to the US. Has anyone experience with this? Anyone got a good knowledgable Registered Importer in California? I am able to have all work done to the trailer needed for US certification prior to shipping it, but I need to make sure I am aware of all the various needs for this.

Any help appreciated.
thanks

 

[Martyn]

David, to do it legally the manufacturer has to have a "Registered Agent" on file with the DOT. Another way to do it legally is to have a Registered Importer perform the work needed to bring the trailer into compliance with us regulations. I don't know of one Importer who would take on the work of bringing a single trailer into compliance for a reasonable fee. The third method is for you to set up a company with the DOT as a Registered Importer. Looking into this I think you will find that the bonds, record keeping, and regulations are very intense.

 

[JPNCA]

What kind of trailer?
Can you register it as home built?

 

[Martyn]

What kind of trailer?
Can you register it as home built?

I think David was looking for a legal way to import the trailer. Importing to the US means you are dealing with the Federal Government not the States. Penalties for importing a vehicle illegally result in a fine, the vehicle being destroyed, or the vehicle having to be exported.

Importing a trailer illegally and registering it through the State system can result in cancellation of insurance and coverage if the vehicle gets into an accident. It's a risky business.

 

[JPNCA]

I understand if it's something large but if it's a smaller trailer could be disassembled

I had no VIN, bill of sale or any kind of registration on my 416 and the DMV gave me a VIN and a plate in less than an hour


Anywase just trying to help

This may help
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/415/~/permanently-importing-a-trailer-into-the-u.s.

 

[Martyn]

I understand if it's something large but if it's a smaller trailer could be disassembled

I had no VIN, bill of sale or any kind of registration on my 416 and the DMV gave me a VIN and a plate in less than an hour


Anywase just trying to help

This may help
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/415/~/permanently-importing-a-trailer-into-the-u.s.

Understand that we are all trying to help here.

The problem is that what you are describing is legal if the trailer is built in the US. It is not legal if the trailer is being imported. David has to jump through the Federal hoops to make this work for him.

 

[Katika Africa]

It's interesting. Having met with Conqueror now in SA and looked into it more.
Theoretically the Conqueror Companion would pass all inspections. The build is more than up to scratch. However, when you look into the fine print on FMVSS there are some catches. eg. the brake lines have to have a DOT stamp on them, as do a few other parts. The Conqueror brake lines are technically DOT compliant but without that you are done for. The same applies to things like reflectors etc.
Another things to consider is the more it looks like and RV, wiring for power, water pumps etc the more issues you will have. So to import you need to import it as broken down as possible and add the water pump and some of the electrics after. That keeps it fully legal just makes the inspection easier.
The next trick is finding an RI Registered Importer who is not a grumpy old unhelpful soul who is willing to give you info and still work with you on it. It seems as though they are either "just drop it off and ill do everything and charge you and open ended number", which could be in the $10,000 mark or they are not really interested in the idea of having conqueror make it compliant them them just deal with paperwork and a final inspection and maybe a small correction or two.

It's a hard one, because there are some good trailers here, Adventure trailers included. I worked with Adventure Trailers on a custom Defender 110 storage build and would love to work with them again any day. But the Companion is literally the exact spec of what I want and there just is nothing quite the same here or easily modifiable to that.
oh well

 

[Clutch]

Probably cheaper and less headache to get one custom built here in the States. I would look at off-road car builders for desert racing....plenty of shops in SoCal that could build you a trailing arm suspension trailer. Go jump on Race Dezert to look for builders. Or start a thread over there on the subject matter.