Advice for re-building a trailer

[Dr.G]

I was gifted a very old three bike trailer which is not in a good shape. In the process of re-building it with new wheels, hubs, body work etc. The license expired in 2012 and it is looking like the papers cannot be found.

As a side project I would like to get it looking new and use it to transport my bike around but I am wondering what the easiest (and cheapest) way to get it licensed again would be.

a) Scrap it and register as a rebuilt with myself being the re-builder. Can keep receipts and photos of this process?
b) Find a way to get the papers and pay all the years fee's and penalties?

For a laugh, this is what it initially looked like;



EDIT: PLEASE EXCUSE MY HORRIBLE TITLE, I KNOW ITS "ADVICE"

 

[pinball wizard]

a) Scrap it and register as a rebuilt with myself being the re-builder. Can keep receipts and photos of this process?

This, but why scrap it?

Remove any VIN numbers during your refurbishment, and follow the advice here https://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/showthread.php/68635-Homebuilt-Trailer-Queries as for a home built trailer. Let whatever the existing VIN and associated fees are be lost in the mists of time.
Also here:

How To Register A Home Made Trailer?

I plan to build a homemade luggage trailer. How do I register this trailer and what is the cost? What is the procedure to follow when building such a trailer? :confused::confused:

www.4x4community.co.za

 

[minkukel]

Walk away. To scrap it you need the original papers and pay the outstanding license fees AFIK.

 

[minkukel]

This, but why scrap it?

Remove any VIN numbers during your refurbishment, and follow the steps here https://satrailers.com.au/adelaide-trailer-centre/how-to-register-a-homemade-trailer/ as for a home built trailer. Let whatever the existing VIN and associated fees are be lost in the mists of time.

Your link point to Australia. Not applicable to South Africa.

 

[pinball wizard]

Your link point to Australia. Not applicable to South Africa.

Wrong one linked. Sorry. Updated.

 

[Grouter]

I was gifted a very old three bike trailer which is not in a good shape. In the process of re-building it with new wheels, hubs, body work etc. The license expired in 2010 and it is looking like the papers cannot be found.

As a side project I would like to get it looking new and use it to transport my bike around but I am wondering what the easiest (and cheapest) way to get it licensed again would be.

a) Scrap it and register as a rebuilt with myself being the re-builder. Can keep receipts and photos of this process?
b) Find a way to get the papers and pay all the years fee's and penalties?

For a laugh, this is what it initially looked like;

View attachment 1110332

EDIT: PLEASE EXCUSE MY HORRIBLE TITLE, I KNOW ITS "ADVICE"

Sorry, but it seems to me you've been gifted a mudguard, with a little red reflector as a bonus. Sell the reflector, walk away from the mudguard. If it ain't galvanised, it will be rusted to f***.

 

[Dr.G]

This, but why scrap it?

Remove any VIN numbers during your refurbishment, and follow the steps here https://satrailers.com.au/adelaide-trailer-centre/how-to-register-a-homemade-trailer/ as for a home built trailer. Let whatever the existing VIN and associated fees are be lost in the mists of time.

I have tried searching a bit on whether this approach is legal though... Would surely need to undergo police clearance. If the trailer is scrapped then that should cover me legally. There is not much info available on this unfortunately

 

[pinball wizard]

I have tried searching a bit on weather this approach is legal though... Would surely need to undergo police clearance. If the trailer is scrapped then that should cover me legally. There is not much info available on this unfortunately

I updated the links. The 4x4 forum suggest it's simply to buy a cheapy licensed one and "repurpose " it's vin/license, as long as the tare is the same/similar. Will cost less that scrapping your one and trying to reregister a homemade one.

 

[Dr.G]

Sorry, but it seems to me you've been gifted a mudguard, with a little red reflector as a bonus. Sell the reflector, walk away from the mudguard. If it ain't galvanised, it will be rusted to f***.

Surprisingly, there is not too much rust. Pulled it out there and hooked it onto a car and got it home, this is what it looks like now:




Lots of potential here haha

 

[minkukel]

I have tried searching a bit on weather this approach is legal though... Would surely need to undergo police clearance. If the trailer is scrapped then that should cover me legally. There is not much info available on this unfortunately

There should be a tag somewhere on it with a VIN

Surprisingly, there is not too much rust. Pulled it out there and hooked it onto a car and got it home, this is what it looks like now:

View attachment 1110338
View attachment 1110340

Lots of potential here haha

Is the license disk still readable ?

 

[Dr.G]

Walk away. To scrap it you need the original papers and pay the outstanding license fees AFIK.

Ah, okay so to scrap it you need to pay the outstanding fees ? **** ...

 

[Dr.G]

There should be a tag somewhere on it with a VIN

Is the license disk still readable ?

Yes

 

[minkukel]

Ah, okay so to scrap it you need to pay the outstanding fees ? **** ...

Like I said, that is what I recall, but I might be wrong.

 

[minkukel]

Yes

Try and trace the history through that.

 

[pinball wizard]

Yes

How old is it? Might be the fees wont be that much?

 

[HunterNW]

Get a friend with a licensed trailer. Make a copy of his disc and licenceplate. Voila !!

I'll accept a bottle of Vat 69 for this outstanding little clever idea.

 

[Dr.G]

License expired in 2012 so that's 11 years at R114?

Here are Cape Town’s car licence fees for 2020

The Western Cape Provincial Government has gazetted its motor vehicle licence fee increases for 2020.

businesstech.co.za

Which is assuming I can track down the owner and get papers

 

[pinball wizard]

License expired in 2012 so that's 11 years at R114?


Which is assuming I can track down the owner and get papers

R1254, and easy to get past no papers with a bit of ingenuity. That's going to be your best and cheapest option to get 100% legal.

 

[Dr.G]

R1254, and easy to get past no papers with a bit of ingenuity. That's going to be your best and cheapest option to get 100% legal.

Yeah I said 11 years to account for some likely penalties ? No idea what that would cost. Think you right, easiest to explore all avenues at getting the papers

 

[Dr.G]

Barely legible haha