Well, I finally bought a tow dolly...

http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/...ps90677f8c.jpg

I've been thinking about getting serious about car scrapping, but really couldn't afford a tow truck, and the costs would not be justified by my results so far. Ditto a trailer...at about two grand, a hefty expense after our slow season.

My compromise was an old beater tow dolly. 400 bucks out the door. Needs new straps which I found at Harbor Freight and I'll shoot it with some rust-oleum as soon as I have a decent day. It ought to be completely paid for with the three cars I'm scrapping over the next couple of days.

Kewl!!!

Can't use them in MA for junk/scrap cars
Since the vehicle on the Dolly's touching the ground
it needs to have a current Registration

So unless you have a Repair plate to put on the scrap, Not legal >> and the Troopers are only too happy to explain that to you.

If they are in a good mood, they will allow you to get off at the next exit
Or if in a town, to park it
OTHERWISE >> They call the next hook in line to come and get it

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JohnC4X4

Can't use them in MA for junk/scrap cars
Since the vehicle on the Dolly's touching the ground
it needs to have a current Registration

So unless you have a Repair plate to put on the scrap, Not legal >> and the Troopers are only too happy to explain that to you.

If they are in a good mood, they will allow you to get off at the next exit
Or if in a town, to park it
OTHERWISE >> They call the next hook in line to come and get it

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Good to know. Guess I won't be using it in MA. Fortunately I am in MI!

But God only knows. I got a ticket for scrapping in the city of Detroit. Maybe this is illegal too!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BurlyGuys

Good to know. Guess I won't be using it in MA. Fortunately I am in MI!

But God only knows. I got a ticket for scrapping in the city of Detroit. Maybe this is illegal too!

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I've seen tons of guys using them in Michigan. I don't think there is anything that says you can't.

I know in Indiana has similar laws.. can't use them here unless you are towing your vehicle because of registration issues as John stated

So, hypothetically, if I were to throw some sort of plate on it I shouldn't have a problem.

I would plate it and make sure it has lights that work good, even if you just mounted a cheap set of harbor freight magnetics.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BurlyGuys

So, hypothetically, if I were to throw some sort of plate on it I shouldn't have a problem.

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Here in MA, You would still need a current Registration for the vehicle on the dolly
even if the dolly has a plate
Because the vehicle is touching the ground

Couple years ago a guy purchased a car from me on eBay
Came from New York with a Dolly
Picked the car up from me and I got a call from him about an hour later
Seems he made it a mile and a half from me and was about to get on the highway 495
Was pulled over by the locals for the dolly and no plate on the car BUT had a warrant out for child support to go along with the illegal tow
They arrested him and towed everything
He wanted nothing to do with using a Dolly in Ma again, I met him the next day at the tow yard
he bailed out his truck, Dolly and Car
I loaded the car and he followed me the 155 miles to the State line on Route 90
I off loaded the car at the truck stop at the first exit in NY and he put on his Dolly
Not the way I like to make money, BUT it was a nice payday for me

Speaking of trailers/dolly etc. I figured the laws would be pretty easy to find online, I have spent the last hour scouring Google looking for laws in my state in regards to trailer requirements, sparce information out there. Does anyone have a definitive site that actually has each states trailer laws and requirements? I run a 16ft Car Hauler, I have my rig as legal as I am aware of it to be (i.e. Breakaway, all lights re-wired and functional, brakes on all 4 wheels of the trailer, safety chains are now long enough to do criss-cross etc) but even on my state BMV website I have not found any listing as to the legality of what REQUIREMENTS are. Anyone have a good source?

Here in ar you could tag that as a homemade trailer.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sledge42

Speaking of trailers/dolly etc. I figured the laws would be pretty easy to find online, I have spent the last hour scouring Google looking for laws in my state in regards to trailer requirements, sparce information out there. Does anyone have a definitive site that actually has each states trailer laws and requirements? I run a 16ft Car Hauler, I have my rig as legal as I am aware of it to be (i.e. Breakaway, all lights re-wired and functional, brakes on all 4 wheels of the trailer, safety chains are now long enough to do criss-cross etc) but even on my state BMV website I have not found any listing as to the legality of what REQUIREMENTS are. Anyone have a good source?

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Maybe look into commercial safety requirements...

rawresale-
I think what I found deals more in CDL and tractor trailer requirements. I'm hauling a car hauler with a Silverado so I'm still stumped on the trailer requirements. I'm a huge rule follower- hard to know if my trailer meets all specs if even the state BMV site doesn't tell you what you need to know. Hate to ever get stopped and "find out" then!! Ya know what I mean?

Yes, I know what you mean. I think if you're worried about it, you should follow commercial requirements. I don't know if you have a licensed business or not, but you're hauling as a business would. Maybe a local tow yard would have some advice.

Here in Kansas, if two tires touch the ground it has to have a current registration but Ive used a tow bar amany of times without getting hassled. How wide is that dolly burly ? I've often considered a car dolly but many of them are too narrow for a full size pickup. Would be a cheap alternative to a car trailer.

Here in NC, lest on my sandbar..they don't sweat you to much for it. Seeing as I had to have my mechanic tow me the other day, an he used a dolly similar to yours Burly. Both of the rear wheels of my vehicle were touching the ground.

It started my vacation early, work will be done while I'm gone. Heh.

Tater, you could always try the GoJack wheel dollies, the impound guys use..lol. Slide them suckers under the rear wheels, front on a wheel lift/dolly. This is what the tow guys use up in Va, where I have family work. Mainly for impounds and the like. Then again..I've seen some of them roads in KS you guys have, heh. So might not be the best option for you after all.

Sirscrapalot - Wheels on the dolly go round and round..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sirscrapalot

Both of the rear wheels of my vehicle were touching the ground.

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If it is your daily driver and was registered
Then it would not be a problem

It all my years, I have never picked up a junk car that was still registered

Yea, I guess I shoulda mentioned that eh? I can't speak for all the vehicles he tows, but yes mine was registered. I know he uses that dolly tho for most of his towing. I'll have to ask him when I see him again, as I'm now curious. An maybe it'll help someone out on here.

Thanks for pointing that out John. I apologize for skipping over that part on registered or not and possibly giving out the wrong info. :x

Sirscrapalot - Got a ticket for speed reading..will be slowing it down.

when i got my dolly it was too narrow so we made it bigger. ive seen a guy around town with a different type of dolly. it has chains and i think they use the chains to lift the car off the ground and drag it

U-haul in Michigan has them check to see if they are plated... I would definitely check it out before they have the dolly towed or your truck and dolly lol