Community Forums

harrysteven · 03-18-2013, 02:42 PM

Folks:

We just towed a travel trailer (2007 Arctic Fox 30U) from Florida where we bought it to Texas where we live. The title of the RV was in Florida and the plates are South Dakota.

What's involved in inspecting the RV, a step we have to take before we can register it? Can inspections be done onsite where the trailer is located? Does the trailer have to be unhitched from the truck? How do we find an RV inspection place. We're in Houston, but I thought of travelling up to Livingston (SKP) to have it done because I also want to do their smart weigh.

I have no idea what's involved. I'm sure it's different than a regular vehicle inspection.

Thanks.

Harry

rgvtexan · 03-18-2013, 03:44 PM

Call a Texas RV dealer or DOT.

ldprice47 · 03-18-2013, 03:55 PM

Just had mine inspected. Go to the TX DPS site and you can search by zip for inspection stations and the list will also show you which ones do trailers. You need you TT hooked up to the tow vehicle so they can check the lights, turn signals, brakes etc if they do their job right. I believe the cost was 14.95 and was done real quick. The inspection sticker should be placed on one of the windows on the street side so the DPS can see it if they pass you on the road, otherwise you could be stopped for them to check out. They put my on the bedroom window up front on the street side.

Moonshine94 · 03-18-2013, 03:56 PM

Any inspection station can do it. You do not have to unhook from your tow vehicle. They'll want to see you brake, check the lights to ensure they're working, and then slap a sticker on it. Oh, and they'll collect their money. Takes longer to read this post than it does to get the inspection done.

ldprice47 · 03-18-2013, 03:57 PM

One thing I forgot is that your TT is treated like any other inspection and you need your proof of insurance for the TT.

Ernie Ekberg · 03-18-2013, 05:18 PM

never seen a hwy patrol or DOT stop an rv for an inspection- lived here since 67

RustyJC · 03-18-2013, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ldprice47

One thing I forgot is that your TT is treated like any other inspection and you need your proof of insurance for the TT.

Liability for the trailer in Texas is carried by the towing vehicle. You have to show the insurance card for the truck to get the trailer inspected.

If you were going to title the trailer in Texas, the inspection station has to fill out a form verifying the trailer's VIN against the out-of-state title that you'll be submitting. Don't bother going to the tax assessor/collector's office until you have this form - they'll just send you out to get it.

Rusty

jdoc · 03-18-2013, 05:44 PM

Moonshine94, it cannot be inspected at just any place that does inspections. It has to be done by an inspection station that is licensed to do trailers. I agree with Rusty on the rest of what you have to do.

Jerry

Moonshine94 · 03-19-2013, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdoc

Moonshine94, it cannot be inspected at just any place that does inspections. It has to be done by an inspection station that is licensed to do trailers.

My mistake. I never had an inspection station tell me they couldn't do my TT, so I just figured they all could. I guess I just got lucky on the inspection stations I went to.

H. Miller · 03-19-2013, 06:14 AM

For a new registration of a used TT we were also required to show a current "weight slip" as tag prices are based on weight. This was a few years ago and possibly the Ind. registration did not indicate weight.

Pete1985 · 03-19-2013, 08:51 AM

I just checked and camping world has Vehicle Inspections call them and see

lx22 · 03-19-2013, 08:58 AM

If your in Houston call PPL they do it.

RustyJC · 03-19-2013, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H. Miller

For a new registration of a used TT we were also required to show a current "weight slip" as tag prices are based on weight. This was a few years ago and possibly the Ind. registration did not indicate weight.

Hal,

That was probably the case as we didn't encounter the weight slip requirement when we moved back from Ohio in 1997. I did, however, have to go back and get the trailer inspected and the VIN verified....frustrating!!

We get our 5th wheel inspected at the Jiffy Lube right around the corner from our house - also my motorcycles. The only problem is the small parking lot - I have to call ahead and reserve a time (usually early Sunday AM before they get busy) and be sure that they have the motorcycle/trailer inspection stickers on hand - in Texas, motorcycles and trailers use the same sticker, and if the inspection station isn't familiar with inspecting trailers (required for 4500 lb GVWR and over), point them to the motorcycle option on their state computer terminal - the trailers are in that section.

Having said all that, there are a lot of trailers running around Texas that should be inspected but aren't. It frustrates me that none of the new 5th wheels we've purchased in Texas have carried inspection stickers when we towed them off the dealers' lots. I've had to stop and get them inspected on the way home.

I think the DPS only looks for inspection stickers if they stop you for some other reason or if you're involved in an accident, but I'm not brave enough to try to find out what would happen with an uninspected RV.

Rusty

harrysteven · 04-03-2013, 01:35 PM

Thanks everyone! It was really rather simple. We had it done two days ago and the inspection station basically checked my insurance card, checked the VIN, did a few other things, and put a sticker on the frame and gave me a form to take to registration. I was nervous about the process before I posted the question; that was a waste of energy.