RV inspections

Have had two 5th wheel rv's in the past 6 years. Both have been inspected every year. At my last inspection 2 months ago the guy check all the lights, clearance, tail, stop, signal and flashers. Looked at the tires and had me pull the break away switch and try and move the trailer. Last year the same guy just sort of gave it the once over but it was spanking new in 2014. Bought in Florida, we live in Texas so therefore a Texas State inspection.

ESVA Travelers wrote:
We're in Virginia and had not gotten our 5'ers inspected for quite a few years, primarily due to the inconvenience. Last summer we got a new 2015 Cedar Creek and headed for FL in January, we were stopped by an eagle-eyed state trooper outside Emporia, VA (also a notorious speed trap) who was able to see that we did not have the required sticker on the side of the pinbox. In case a fellow Virginian is wandering, the ticket & fees cost $91. Since then we've found out about a couple of new laws - a garage that does inspections for trailers, motorhomes, etc. has to have an opening tall enough for the unit to drive into AND the garages now are on a quota system where they are only allowed to do 16 inspections per day (total)! Many garages here have given up doing onspections altogether. There should be a law against requiring something and then making it almost impossible to meet the requirement --but then $16 inspection fee vs $91 fine may explain it all.

I've had my 5'er since 2007, and never had it inspected. If inspection is required how come you can renew tags without it? If required, it should flag through DMV...

bobsallyh wrote:
VIETVET66-67 from Penna. went over what they are supposed to do. Also, there is to be a fire extinguisher IN the tow vehicle. They don't care about an extinguisher in the RV as they are only concerned while vehicle is on the road.

Also, tow vehicle must be equipped with mirrors that in the inspectors point of view, you can see behind the trailer in tow. After living 50 plus years in Penna. and now hanging out in the West, vehicle inspection seems to be an East Coast and into Mid-America deal.

Out here you mention state vehicle inspection and you get that "deer in the headlight look". As far as if it really works is open for argument. It depends on how the state sets up the program.

In Penna. the state licenses the stations, and they must have a certain number of square feet, certain equipment, etc. In car inspections there are rip-off places. The station will do the work or you can do it, or someone else and bring it back to run thru again.

Now if an elderly lady brings her car in and the station says "you need new brake pads because they only show two on the gauge. You think she can comprehend that? Of course not and she sure isn't likely to question it.

Another poster stated that Texas started a deal where in order to get registration the trailer or vehicle had to be inspected. Well not exactly true. This is the way the bill stated when it came out. But when the program started March 1, 2015 it had been changed.

If vehicle is out of state, you self-certify that is out of state and you will get your registration. And if bringing it back in state you have a period of time to get it inspected.

I'm sure trucking companies, military personnel, contractors and the Halliburton's of the world got that changed.

The forgoing was inspected by a duly authorized Officer of the *Post Inspection Staff*!!

Violation: Inadequate paragraphs.

Action required: Break the lengthy missive into more readable groups of sentences.

You or the inspector can accomplish same.
However, since it is/was so easy to accomplish, the action was furnished at no charge to you by one of the staff member's 10 year old kid...;)

.

bobsallyh wrote:
VIETVET66-67 from Penna. went over what they are supposed to do. Also, there is to be a fire extinguisher IN the tow vehicle. They don't care about an extinguisher in the RV as they are only concerned while vehicle is on the road. Also, tow vehicle must be equipped with mirrors that in the inspectors point of view, you can see behind the trailer in tow. After living 50 plus years in Penna. and now hanging out in the West, vehicle inspection seems to be an East Coast and into Mid-America deal. Out here you mention state vehicle inspection and you get that "deer in the headlight look". As far as if it really works is open for argument. It depends on how the state sets up the program. In Penna. the state licenses the stations, and they must have a certain number of square feet, certain equipment, etc. In car inspections there are rip-off places. The station will do the work or you can do it, or someone else and bring it back to run thru again. Now if an elderly lady brings her car in and the station says "you need new brake pads because they only show two on the gauge. You think she can comprehend that? Of course not and she sure isn't likely to question it.
Another poster stated that Texas started a deal where in order to get registration the trailer or vehicle had to be inspected. Well not exactly true. This is the way the bill stated when it came out. But when the program started March 1, 2015 it had been changed. If vehicle is out of state, you self-certify that is out of state and you will get your registration. And if bringing it back in state you have a period of time to get it inspected. I'm sure trucking companies, military personnel, contractors and the Halliburton's of the world got that changed.

All very true. Now in PA, they have instituted another law most Rver's don't know about. If you drive a vehicle (think large MH) weighing over 260001 pounds OR you have a tow vehicle GVWR of 11001 and a trailer GVRW of 15000 (combination over 26001) you are required to have a Non commercial A license. Found this out at my last trailer inspection. Have to pay $5 for a permit, then take your rig to the DMV get checked for license, registration, insurance, then drive an official around to show them you can drive a trailer or MH.

Had my 5th wheel inspected today. They did a brake test at 20mph, checked the brake away switch, the lights and tires. the inspection was better than years past, before the new law that requires inspection in order to get plates renewed.

familyof3 wrote:
Texas has a state inspection. If you don't get it inspected you don't registered. No big deal

As I responded to other posts, I would have no problem with the new Texas system if it actually accomplished something. My first inspection of our fifth wheel was a JOKE. They checked the lights, period. Never mind if the brakes on our 5 ton trailer work. If I take the trouble to drag my rig in for an inspection, I'd like that inspection to have a real purpose.

RustyJC wrote:
The law that trailers >4500 lbs must have an annual safety inspection is nothing new in Texas - I've had every 5th wheel we've owned inspected since 1997 when we moved home to Texas from a job assignment in Ohio. The only thing new is that they've now put teeth in the law by tying it to annual registration renewals - no inspection, no registration renewal.

Rusty

To quote Sally Bowles in Cabaret.

Money money money
Money money money

Money makes the world go around

The law that trailers >4500 lbs must have an annual safety inspection is nothing new in Texas - I've had every 5th wheel we've owned inspected since 1997 when we moved home to Texas from a job assignment in Ohio. The only thing new is that they've now put teeth in the law by tying it to annual registration renewals - no inspection, no registration renewal.

Rusty

We took our fifth wheel to an inspection station. The guy asked my husband for the vehicle information, asked him if it was outside, then gave us the paperwork to indicate it passed. He did not even walk outside. I would love to know which lobby or industry was pushing this law in Texas. What a rip off.

Connecticut inspects very little... and I'm not complaining. I've never heard of anyone getting their TT, 5er, HTT, or TH inspected in any way. The majority of motor vehicle registration is done by mail and/or over the internet, all the state wants is your money.

Even motor vehicles... virtually no inspections unless there is an unusual circumstance. Emissions tests are about all that is done. Most shops that do emissions are just trying to get cars through as quick as possible. If there is an issue, they usually will reschedule you to come back another day.

If you get stuck in one of the DMV roadside inspection "safety" stings, who knows. Seems to entirely depend on the mood of the officer. They are mostly going for easy seat belt laws and obvious issues, though, and will usually wave RVs past.

It almost seems like Connecticut makes it so easy to forget to have your vehicle's emissions done and to keep registration current intentionally - so if you get caught you have to pay higher fines.