Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 04-15-2012, 09:31 PM   #1
3 Rivet Member
 
Alden Miller's Avatar
 
1993 34' Excella
, Maryland
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 231
Images: 2
Off For State Inspection

I dropped our trailer off on Friday to get it's state inspection. The only issue I am aware of is a tail light that needs a new bulb (we found this when we hooked up to take it to the inspection).

So, hopefully they will inspect it tomorrow or Tuesday and I can get the title transferred and tags for it later this week.

A week from Thursday is our first trip to the beach with it so I am looking forward to getting it back.

I think I might go for custom tags, I am thinking PHOENIX, AL PHX or ALMNPHX...


-Alden
__________________
1993 34' Excella 1000
2005 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel
(No it doesn't have a HEMI in it)
Alden Miller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2012, 10:04 PM   #2
Site Team
 
Aage's Avatar
 
1974 31' Sovereign
Ottawa , ON
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 11,219
Images: 25
::grumble:: We can't buy vanity plates for our trailers here in Ontario.
__________________
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”
...John Wayne...........................
Aage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2012, 11:43 AM   #3
3 Rivet Member
 
Alden Miller's Avatar
 
1993 34' Excella
, Maryland
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 231
Images: 2
Then the other shoe dropped...

I have to get new shocks all around. Airstreams come with gold plated shock absorbers apparently.

Oh well once they are done it should be in good shape...


-Alden
__________________
1993 34' Excella 1000
2005 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel
(No it doesn't have a HEMI in it)
Alden Miller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2012, 01:34 PM   #4
2 Rivet Member
 
Currently Looking...
Martinez , California
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 87
Move to California. We have no state inspection of any motor vehicles at all, except for very strict smog laws. You wouldn't believe some of the cars that are on the road here.
Mr.Bill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2012, 03:45 PM   #5
Site Team
 
azflycaster's Avatar

 
2002 25' Safari
Dewey , Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 15,615
Images: 62
Blog Entries: 1
Seriously, shock absorbers?

If they are going to replace them, they will most likely not be Airstream shocks and will not work. The shocks for Airstreams are horizontal and normal car and truck shocks are vertical. You can only get them at Airstream dealers and should run around $30 each.
__________________

Richard

Wally Byam Airstream Club 7513
azflycaster is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2012, 04:15 PM   #6
"Cloudsplitter"

 
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas , Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
Images: 1
Quote:
Originally Posted by azflycaster View Post
Seriously, shock absorbers?

If they are going to replace them, they will most likely not be Airstream shocks and will not work. The shocks for Airstreams are horizontal and normal car and truck shocks are vertical. You can only get them at Airstream dealers and should run around $30 each.
Very seriously....are they leaking, missing or have broken parts or mounts? . You might go online and ck your state regs, in NYS they have to be as there is NO operational test spelled out.

Bob
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
ROBERT CROSS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2012, 09:48 AM   #7
3 Rivet Member
 
Alden Miller's Avatar
 
1993 34' Excella
, Maryland
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 231
Images: 2
They are leaking. I remember seeing that they were wet when I pulled the wheels off.

They are going to replace them with Airstream shocks, we talked about how they had to order them from an Airstream dealer but are going to get them drop shipped right to this dealer.

I'd like to do the work myself but we are supposed to take the trailer out in just over a week. I don't have the time between now and then to fix them myself.

I look at it this way, all of the running gear under the trailer will be in top shape when they are done so it shouldn't be something I need to worry about for a long time.

I guess that having the trailer sitting on blocks in an Airstream park for years let the seals in the shocks dry out. My run from Florida to Maryland with it must have done them in.

-Alden
__________________
1993 34' Excella 1000
2005 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel
(No it doesn't have a HEMI in it)
Alden Miller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2012, 10:01 AM   #8
Site Team
 
azflycaster's Avatar

 
2002 25' Safari
Dewey , Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 15,615
Images: 62
Blog Entries: 1
Sounds like a plan.
__________________

Richard

Wally Byam Airstream Club 7513
azflycaster is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2012, 11:44 AM   #9
Rivet Master
 
Wabbiteer's Avatar
 
1973 27' Overlander
Currently Looking...
Jupiter , Florida
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,060
Images: 2
Blog Entries: 2
Aww gee - no one mentioned they are free with Andy's new axles

Then they would be gold plated if one would consider the axles 'free'...
__________________
The days are short and the night is long and the stars go tumbling by.. . ~Airstream~
Wabbiteer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2012, 07:49 AM   #10
3 Rivet Member
 
Alden Miller's Avatar
 
1993 34' Excella
, Maryland
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 231
Images: 2
Well, $900 later I have an inspected trailer with all new shocks and three new brake adjusters... I was overcharged for the shocks $50 each but it's all done.

I took the paperwork to the MVA this morning and have my new tag. I did not go for the custom tag as they charge an extra $100 each time you renew the tag...

I'll pick the trailer up from the dealer tomorrow and we take it to the beach on Thursday...


-Alden
__________________
1993 34' Excella 1000
2005 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel
(No it doesn't have a HEMI in it)
Alden Miller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2012, 07:53 AM   #11
Site Team
 
Aage's Avatar
 
1974 31' Sovereign
Ottawa , ON
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 11,219
Images: 25
Wow! How does 6 new shocks and three brake adjusters add up to $900!?
__________________
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”
...John Wayne...........................
Aage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2012, 09:00 AM   #12
3 Rivet Member
 
Alden Miller's Avatar
 
1993 34' Excella
, Maryland
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 231
Images: 2
Painfully!
__________________
1993 34' Excella 1000
2005 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel
(No it doesn't have a HEMI in it)
Alden Miller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2012, 09:06 AM   #13
Rivet Master
 
Splitrock's Avatar
 
Currently Looking...
Sioux Falls , South Dakota
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,403
Blog Entries: 20
In South Dakota we don't have personal vehicle or trailer inspections. Once I was driving 75 mph on Interstate 90 in western South Dakota and was passed by two individuals sitting on rocking chairs that were tied to a Model A frame with a Cadillac engine in it. No body, just frame and engine.

This isn't unusual at all in South Dakota.

Another point of interest is, almost no car in South Dakota carries insurance. Insurance is required but no compliance system exists and discovery of lack of insurance is always on the backside, never on the frontside.
__________________
Click on the link to see a picture of the Sioux River falls near my home.
https://visitsiouxfalls.com/assets/i...uxfalls-og.jpg
Eastern South Dakota is very pretty with hills, rivers, and trees.
Splitrock is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2012, 09:50 AM   #14
Site Team
 
Aage's Avatar
 
1974 31' Sovereign
Ottawa , ON
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 11,219
Images: 25
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alden Miller View Post
Painfully!
No, really: did you pay to have Tony Bennett do the install?
__________________
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”
...John Wayne...........................
Aage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2012, 10:28 AM   #15
"Cloudsplitter"

 
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas , Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
Images: 1
WOW!! $600 labor....

Glad my tool box's didn't retire when I did.

Bob
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
ROBERT CROSS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2012, 11:35 AM   #16
Rivet Master
 
Skater's Avatar
 
1995 30' Excella
Bowie , Maryland
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,345
What part of Maryland are you in?

I actually did a while-you-wait inspection when we bought ours. Took longer than expected, but it turned out to be because of a bad license plate light. But they never even disconnected it from the truck.
__________________
1995 Airstream Classic 30' Excella 1000
2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab with Cummins 6.7L Diesel

Sold but not forgotten: 1991 Airstream B190
Sold: 2006 F-250 6.0L Powerstroke Supercab
Skater is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2012, 11:52 AM   #17
3 Rivet Member
 
Alden Miller's Avatar
 
1993 34' Excella
, Maryland
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 231
Images: 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skater View Post
What part of Maryland are you in?

I actually did a while-you-wait inspection when we bought ours. Took longer than expected, but it turned out to be because of a bad license plate light. But they never even disconnected it from the truck.
Western Howard County, not too far from Bowie, about an hour.

They had me over a barrel, knew that I wanted to get tags and title to go camping next week. My preferred dealer to take it to couldn't have looked at it until today and that was cutting it too close for me.

Normally I would have done all the work myself but didn't have the time to do it because of the impending camping trip and trying to juggle the tags and inspection.

And no, Tony Bennett did not do the inspection as far as I know.

-Alden
__________________
1993 34' Excella 1000
2005 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel
(No it doesn't have a HEMI in it)
Alden Miller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2012, 12:27 PM   #18
Rivet Master
 
Skater's Avatar
 
1995 30' Excella
Bowie , Maryland
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,345
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alden Miller View Post
Western Howard County, not too far from Bowie, about an hour.
Cool!

Quote:
They had me over a barrel, knew that I wanted to get tags and title to go camping next week. My preferred dealer to take it to couldn't have looked at it until today and that was cutting it too close for me.
Yeah. I took ours to a truck place not far from here, since the shops that work on RVs around here don't actually do inspections for some reason.

Quote:
Normally I would have done all the work myself but didn't have the time to do it because of the impending camping trip and trying to juggle the tags and inspection.
Yeah, that's what happened with us - I did replace a marker light that I noticed was bad before the inspection, but we never noticed the license plate light also didn't work. On the other hand, once you're at the shop, the hassle of going back for a second inspection makes paying them to fix it on the spot worth it sometimes!

I don't have a good idea what they're checking during those inspections. You'd think the ancient tires ours had on it would've failed (we'd understood they were newer than they were, and I hadn't checked them myself). One blew on the second trip, and that's when I realized they were about 8 years old... but they passed inspection!
__________________
1995 Airstream Classic 30' Excella 1000
2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab with Cummins 6.7L Diesel

Sold but not forgotten: 1991 Airstream B190
Sold: 2006 F-250 6.0L Powerstroke Supercab
Skater is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2012, 08:23 PM   #19
3 Rivet Member
 
Alden Miller's Avatar
 
1993 34' Excella
, Maryland
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 231
Images: 2
We picked our trailer up from inspection today. Put the new tag on it, it's officially ours!

On the way back I went by the wholesale club and filled the propane tanks. When we got home we started putting bedding, dishes, appliances, etc. inside.

I tell my wife it's her "Barbie Dream House".

Personally, I am glad to have it in our name and not to have to deal with any more RV dealers for a while.

-Alden
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_20120421_105120.jpg
Views:	123
Size:	271.2 KB
ID:	156424  
__________________
1993 34' Excella 1000
2005 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel
(No it doesn't have a HEMI in it)
Alden Miller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2012, 08:39 PM   #20
Rivet Master
 
Splitrock's Avatar
 
Currently Looking...
Sioux Falls , South Dakota
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,403
Blog Entries: 20
Beautiful rig!
__________________
Click on the link to see a picture of the Sioux River falls near my home.
https://visitsiouxfalls.com/assets/i...uxfalls-og.jpg
Eastern South Dakota is very pretty with hills, rivers, and trees.
Splitrock is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:27 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.