Do you have to licence a homemade Slide-in truck camper?

G

GeoScum

Adventurer
I have constructed home-made trailers in Washington. That experience, and my knowledge of the states tax structure and budgetary woes, makes me believe that you will have to get a WSP inspection and "home-built VIN" riveted to your camper. It should be easy and painless
 
LukeH

LukeH

Adventurer
Surely if it is removable it is considered as a payload.
That's how it is in Europe, no extra licencing needed.
As long as everything remains within the weight limits for the vehicle, if not it's a fine and you walk home. But that's got nothing to do with licensing.
 
J

Jeremysp1993

Observer
LukeH said:
Surely if it is removable it is considered as a payload.
That's how it is in Europe, no extra licencing needed.
As long as everything remains within the weight limits for the vehicle, if not it's a fine and you walk home. But that's got nothing to do with licensing.
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So hmm, If i had a full load of firewood, would the firewood have to be licenced ? :D Haha.
Umm I will call the DMV perhaps.
 
G

GeoScum

Adventurer
This ain't Europe.

Washington State requires slide in campers to have a license. You will be required to have a license on that camper regardless of the fact that it is home-built
 
cnynrat

cnynrat

Expedition Leader
I don't have a license on my Bigfoot camper. Per CA laws it's not a vehicle, so no license or registration. The design of my camper is such that the license plate on the truck is visible when the camper is loaded on the truck.

I would guess this is going to be dependent on your state's laws.
 
J

justduck

Observer
In Oregon slide in campers are required to be licensed if they have cooking facilities. However, I have been hauling my unlicensed Alaskan for years and have never been stopped.
 
Curmudgeon

Curmudgeon

Adventurer
justduck said:
In Oregon slide in campers are required to be licensed if they have cooking facilities. However, I have been hauling my unlicensed Alaskan for years and have never been stopped.
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Oregon law clearly defines what a camper is for purposes of licensing, and cooking facilities are not mentioned. The primary requirement is that it have a floor. No floor, it's not a camper, no matter what's in it. It could have a full commercial kitchen and it would not be considered a camper. If it has a floor and is meant for human habitation, it is a camper and must be licensed, even if it has NO cooking facilities. Bottom line, it's nothing more than another way to suck more money out of Oregon's citizens.

Some states license campers, some don't and consider them nothing more than payload. Some states don't even title them. And each state has it's own legal definition of what a camper is. The only thing that matters in this instance is what the law in Washington says.

JP
 
J

Jeremysp1993

Observer
Hmm, makes me wonder, what would happen if I got pulled over? I heard if its bolted to truck, its considered part of truck. HAha one bolt in middle of floor to prove a point Haha.
 
G

GeoScum

Adventurer
Jeremysp1993 said:
Hmm, makes me wonder, what would happen if I got pulled over? I heard if it's.....
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I think that if anything, this thread has demonstrated that you need to contact the DOL, or go to their web-site. I know for a fact that Washington requires licenses on campers. It is unlikely, in my mind, that their could be any exemption for home built units. I would think that the definitions are actually rather clear, and probably exclusive of minor dodges like "a single bolt in the middle".
 
P

pods8

Explorer
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.04.085

"Camper" means a structure designed to be mounted upon a motor vehicle which provides facilities for human habitation or for temporary outdoor or recreational lodging and which is five feet or more in overall length and five feet or more in height from its floor to its ceiling when fully extended, but shall not include motor homes as defined in RCW 46.04.305.
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That said some folks run around with FWC campers, etc. w/o registering them. Technically illegal but probably more of a case that it's a non-issue till you get pulled over for something. Not sure if you'd get a "fix it" type ticket to take it to go get registered if you were pulled over or what. Keep us posted on how the process works out for you if you do pursue licensing.
 
O

Ozarker

Well-known member
They don't license a slid in here in Mo. So I guess if Igo through the states that do, they will consider the state of registration.

Another issue will be personal property tax. Unless the camper is a trailer, it's not subject to inspection, just payload and personal property.But if your state/county/parish/commenwealth has personal property tax, you might need a registration number on it. Your insurance company might need that as well. :coffee:
 
J

Jeremysp1993

Observer
pods8 said:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.04.085




That said some folks run around with FWC campers, etc. w/o registering them. Technically illegal but probably more of a case that it's a non-issue till you get pulled over for something. Not sure if you'd get a "fix it" type ticket to take it to go get registered if you were pulled over or what. Keep us posted on how the process works out for you if you do pursue licensing.
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Well mine is less than 5 feet tall. Sooooooooo Idk. Haha.
 
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