5th wheel in lock up!

[cdinatl]

I talked my nephew into getting into camping and his first purchase was a used 31’ 5r with bunkhouse. Paid cash and has title. The dealer in Tulsa Oklahoma i44 RV also sold him a warranty. After a couple of outings he made a punch list of repairs and i44 nicely said drop it off and they would take care of them. Telling my nephew it would be a few weeks which he was fine with. Forward a couple months. He calls to see how they are coming and the phone number doesn’t work. The salesman also gave him his cell number and only goes to VM. My nephew drove by the dealership yesterday and the lot is empty other than his 5r and a TT. The challenge is it’s in a fenced area and the fence is chain locked. He can’t find anyone around there that knows anything about what happened.
I told him to get some bolt cutters and get his rig, but that would be trespassing.
What would you do?????

[WorldCat25]

Start with the cops.

[Bahamaniac]

I agree! Go to the local police department with your paperwork. Good luck to you!

[cdinatl]

Police say he would have to go before a judge to get permission.to get it.

[Jay D.]

good luck! I would talk to the judge. then try and find out what happened .I hope someone hasn't put a lien on the property and contents because of a bankruptcy or something.
Jay D.

[Itchytoe]

Originally Posted by cdinatl

My nephew drove by the dealership yesterday and the lot is empty other than his 5r and a TT. The challenge is it’s in a fenced area and the fence is chain locked. He can’t find anyone around there that knows anything about what happened.

That looks very much like a scam dealership. I'd be worried about the title. Is it a legit title, or something faked by the dealership? I'd make a stop at the DMV (or your equivalent if it's not called that) and find out if he actually owns that camper.

I told him to get some bolt cutters and get his rig, but that would be trespassing.
What would you do?????

Well, yes, it would be trespassing. Who's going to complain though? If he owns it, he can't be accused of stealing it from himself... Shouldn't take more than 10 minutes to cut the chain, swing that gate open, hitch up, and pull out. Everyone says a 5ers biggest benefit is how fast you can hook up and go. Pull it a couple of miles down the road to a Walmart parking lot and give it a good look to make sure it's safe to tow and to find any damages. There's really only one issue I can see...

Police say he would have to go before a judge to get permission.to get it.

And that's the potential issue. Is this gate locked by the local police and that's why they want him to talk to a judge to get clearance to go get it? If so, then don't touch that gate until he's talked to a judge. He's be subject to all kinds of legal issues then. It shouldn't be hard to get a judge to see him in such a circumstance if the lot is locked by police order.

[shootist]

He should have pulled it out of there immediately, then done any inquiries. No one could have known who popped the lock.

[Daverene]

Cut the chain get your rv have your paperwork with you

[mobilemike]

Its pretty simple.
Do a county records search for the owner of the dealership he bought the rig from.
Find out if there was a dealers license and whose name it was in. Look for suits under that name. Find out what happened to the dealership.
Do a DMV search for the vin number of the rig he supposedly owns. Find the status of the title and the registered owner.
Do a county records search for the property address. Find the lot owner. Discover the status of the property. You may get the land owner to open the gate. He might actually be looking for the owner of the rig to get it out of there.

[Jay D.]

Originally Posted by mobilemike

Its pretty simple.
Do a county records search for the owner of the dealership he bought the rig from.
Find out if there was a dealers license and whose name it was in. Look for suits under that name. Find out what happened to the dealership.
Do a DMV search for the vin number of the rig he supposedly owns. Find the status of the title and the registered owner.
Do a county records search for the property address. Find the lot owner. Discover the status of the property. You may get the land owner to open the gate. He might actually be looking for the owner of the rig to get it out of there.

do this^^^ there could be a lot of different scenarios in play here.
Jay D.

[RickNC]

If it were me I would cut the lock and get my trailer. but I'm retired in my 60's and a misdemeanor B&E charge gets me probation and a fine. Your nephew however is younger and likely still has a career and perhaps other ambitions to pursue. Tell him to go see a local attorney and do it right.

[Mudfrog]

Police said to talk to the judge and that is what I would do. See what he or she says and go from there. This might be all that's needed to resolve the situation but if not, then at least the judge should be able to steer you into the right direction.

Cutting the lock and grabbing the trailer might be in the cards as a last resort,,, If I had the prim and proper paperwork showing that the trailer was mine.

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by Jay D.

good luck! I would talk to the judge. then try and find out what happened .I hope someone hasn't put a lien on the property and contents because of a bankruptcy or something.
Jay D.

I agree, since the police already know what's going on,

(you already talked to them) cutting the fence and retrieving the 5er will be trespassing, destroying private property (fence or lock), and if bankruptcy is the cause of this, theft from the creditors who filed the lien garnishment.
Do this the legal way,hire a lawyer; will be much simpler in the end, and eliminate you spending money to possibly get out of jail in lieu of the lawyer.

[carl.swoyer]

Originally Posted by cdinatl

I talked my nephew into getting into camping and his first purchase was a used 31’ 5r with bunkhouse. Paid cash and has title. The dealer in Tulsa Oklahoma i44 RV also sold him a warranty. After a couple of outings he made a punch list of repairs and i44 nicely said drop it off and they would take care of them. Telling my nephew it would be a few weeks which he was fine with. Forward a couple months. He calls to see how they are coming and the phone number doesn’t work. The salesman also gave him his cell number and only goes to VM. My nephew drove by the dealership yesterday and the lot is empty other than his 5r and a TT. The challenge is it’s in a fenced area and the fence is chain locked. He can’t find anyone around there that knows anything about what happened.

I told him to get some bolt cutters and get his rig, but that would be trespassing.

What would you do?????

Call the police and the property owner