Well, there may be some life left in this deal after all. Current owner and his buddy (the PO) called and seem motivated to get it worked out. We will see. Thanks for the responses.
Great news! I hope it turns out for you. It will be nice to see another vintage trailer in the Pacific NW.
Good news is that everyone is lining up (even if reluctantly) to maybe make this deal happen. We're crossing our fingers. That International looks sweet!
Katie, here is what I learned today and passed on to Ryan as well as the current owner(s). Getting clear title in California should be doable as long as they are willing to pay the fees or can find some exemption or creative way around the fees. Unfortunately, it could prove expensive for them. The California title rules on vehicles purchased from an estate require the collection of "two" transfer fees (it appears to be the same in all West Coast states). They want a transfer fee to cover the transfer from the deceased to the heir, and from the heir to the new buyer. They may also require back registration fees, but hopefully that would not go back all the way to the last registration. Plus, all three states want proof that whoever signed the title was the rightful heir. Too bad the deceased did not sign before moving on. If he had, it would be easy to register here in WA, but with someone else's name signed on the title, it's a complete mess unless cleared up in the original state or a state with very loose registration laws (which someone in this thread noted we should not encourage). These rules are typically written to deal with vehicles that have so much value it is worth the effort (nobody would walk away from a 2005 Mercedes E55 that grandpa left in the garage just because of the transfer fees). When you start dealing with old trailers and other vehicles typically found in fields with 20 years of expired registration, these rules are just poor public policy and tend to discourage transfers (and commerce in general) by making the transaction costs prohibitively expensive. Hopefully the current owners can put their heads together and come up with a solution that works. I just want to end up with a trailer in my name.
I called three DOL offices in my state who all said that without a "notarized letter of testimentary," or a court order authorizing whoever signed the title over to actually sign the title, they won't register it for me.
Back to the search.
Thanks for bringing this this problem to our attention and reminding us how important it is to make sure the paper work is all in order before closing the deal. In buying a couple of trailers and 4 other vehicles in several different states to import to Canada I've learned that each government handles titles/registration differently.
I was all set to buy an Airstream in Maine, but the owner didn't have a title. The trailer was old enough that a title wasn't needed to register it in Maine, but when I asked at the Ontario Ministry of Transportation they said there was no way I could register the trailer here without a title from Maine. Maybe there would have been a solution to getting a Maine title, but I decided it wasn't worth pursuing due to the distance and that the trailer wasn't anything special.
I hope you're able to work this out and get your trailer!
__________________
Grant Davidson
Milton, ON
1964 Overlander
1974 Sovereign
2005 F-350 SRW 4x4 crew cab long box
1965 Avion C-10 Truck Camper
If this trailer was sold by a personal representative of the decendent, then most likely there would have been an order by the probate judge. Ask the owner to check with the appropriate county court and see if there are documents already on file. Property, or a vehicle sold by a PR is no different than a vehicle sold by a dealer, and it wouldn't have to be titled in their name. If this type of verification is all your state requires, then it will probably be an easier process than the current owner may have to deal with in California.
There a really two issues that these rules cover. First is the issue of a stolen vehicle. The second is a revenue issue. One governmental entity or another expects some money from every vehicle owner every year without fail. As long as the ownership isn't questionable, then you should be able to title this trailer in your name.
By the way, my father had a small utility trailer that he loaned my aunt and uncle. They loaded it up with stuff they got in Florida and drove it to their home in Alabama. Sometime during the two years we lived overseas my uncle sold the trailer without my fathers permission or legal title. For many years that issue undermined their relationship. Just because something's doable -doesn't mean it should be done.
Hey forum members, can anyone help with tire and wheel size for a 1959 dual axle Overlander International.
This deal is finally going through. Title is clear and I'm buying the trailer tonight with the amazing assistance of a very understanding mother-in-law who is going to take possession of the trailer while I arrange to get it home. Now I need to order tires and wheels. The seller swears the current set up has 14 inch rims with a tire size of "7-14.5MH." I have not put eyes on this thing yet, so I can't tell if this is correct. He also swears they are not split rims.
I was planning to buy 15 x 6 JJ wheels (Dexstar conventional rims) with a bolt pattern of 6 on 5.5 inches. Does this sound right?
Hey forum members, can anyone help with tire and wheel size for a 1959 dual axle Overlander International.
This deal is finally going through. Title is clear and I'm buying the trailer tonight with the amazing assistance of a very understanding mother-in-law who is going to take possession of the trailer while I arrange to get it home. Now I need to order tires and wheels. The seller swears the current set up has 14 inch rims with a tire size of "7-14.5MH." I have not put eyes on this thing yet, so I can't tell if this is correct. He also swears they are not split rims.
I was planning to buy 15 x 6 JJ wheels (Dexstar conventional rims) with a bolt pattern of 6 on 5.5 inches. Does this sound right?
Could be, Rob Baker (robandzoe) (PM him) has that size on his SOTR. I believe that it was a common size in the mid-late 1950's. It was used on mobile homes also.
Bill
__________________
Bill Kerfoot, WBCCI/VAC/CAC/El Camino Real Unit #5223
Just my personal opinion
1973 Dodge W200 PowerWagon, 1977 Lincoln Continental
1979 23' Safari, and 1954 29' Double Door Liner Orange, CA
It sure is starting to look like it might indeed have 14.5 rims. But if you're going to replace them, could you up to 15s? I've got no idea.
You should start a thread in the overlander sub-forum as well. I bet quite a few people would love to see photos etc. of the trailer and its trip to Seattle.
My 58 overlander had 14.5 wheels on it that were not split rims. I put 15 inch wheels, 6 bolt pattern 5.5 inch circle on mine to get it home. the bolts were 7/16 not the 1/2 common today. So glad to hear you are getting that overlander.
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I hope it turns out for you. It will be nice to see another vintage trailer in the Pacific NW.
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