License plates

For what it's worth:

My truck is Washington plated.
I purchased a new camper in Arizona - where no plate is required on camper.

The Arizona dealer installed a license plate holder on the camper, took the plate off the truck and installed it on the camper.

I commented "why" to the installer doing the work who simply said that it was required.
So now, I do that; switch the truck plate to the camper and back as needed.

Washington issues a plate for the TC, I leave the truck plate where it belongs, no one cares. I do take a photo of it because for some reason idiots at campgrounds want the truck plate and I never remember it.

Over 60,000 miles over 9 years with current truck. Over 50,000 miles over 4 years with the previous truck, same camper. Plate has always been obscured by my fold up steps, more so with the current truck since I switched to a 3-step design. On both vehicles you could see there was a tag but not read off the numbers. Never been stopped.

Was in SC until recently when moved to TN. But both states don't require tagging or registering vehicle. Both states consider the camper cargo. And since the tag must be permanently attached to the vehicle, it cannot be moved to the camper. Therefor my tag always stays on the rear of the vehicle.

Maybe it's best to follow the state law where your truck is registered.

That should satisfy police officers in any state where you're driving it. You don't put two plates on a truck registered in Florida, for example, if you're driving in CA or MA, both of which are front and rear plate states.

On Edit: Forget myself once in a while, being retired an all. Wife Genie retired as a title officer for Caterpillar Inc. So, just asked her and she said - The plate belongs wherever the law tells you in the state where the plate and truck is registered, not in the state where you are driving.

Longshore wrote:
I called our local CHP office and spoke with an officer.

I called the UHP main office and asked the same question.

I was told that the plate is registered to the truck and that's where it stays.

And he added that taking it off the truck and attaching it to the camper is the same as attaching it to a different vehicle.

I just think its best to follow your local laws and not other's opinions.

This subject is almost as ridiculous as an engine oil thread….

I don’t think it’s a big deal either way , probably depends more on the opinion of the officer if you do get questioned and you can probably talk your way out of it since the laws are so ambiguous. My state has two plates and no plates for TC’s . My camper has a light and bracket for a plate . I move mine so it isn’t obvious that something is missing . I’ve never heard of someone being stopped or questioned for moving the truck plate to the camper . That’s my 2cents worth of reasoning

I called our local CHP office and spoke with an officer. The rear plate must be no less than 12 inches or more than 60 inches from the ground. I was not able to get a clear answer on weather or not having to get down on one knee to see my plate under the camper would be a deal breaker or not. This is all up to the officer.

I'm no lawyer but in Texas it might be illegal to put your truck tag on your camper. Campers are not licensed, not tagged, and not taxed in Texas, they are cargo. If you had your tailgate down and carrying 12foot long lumber, would you take your truck tag off and put it on the lumber?
I doubt if truck campers are very high on a cops "watch" list. If they want to see the license plate they can bend over and look.

Same can be said for exceeding the speed limit in those states. We all have done it at times and just because we don't get a speeding tickets doesn't mean bla bla bla.

My first truck camper was a 8' model on a long bed truck. Next camper was a 9' 6" that covered the trucks tag. State trooper says I need the tag in a readable position which is the farthest point aft on the camper.

Make it simple and just follow your state requirement on license tag display for a truck/truck camper combo and use a bit of common sense.