New SoCal Member - Length ?

[LifeguardTwr]

Hello to All,
My wife and I are currently looking (hoping, dreaming) about our first AS purchase. A 16' Bambi to use as our beach condo!
I have learned a lot from the members of this forum. It's helps in every way as there is alot to consider prior to a purchase!
One question we have is, in prepping our yard for storage we needed to know how an AS is measured for total (overall) length? At 16' 7" does that measurement include the tongue? Or is the tongue not considered in the length?
Thanks to all the members who share their knowledge and time so freely. All the Best,
Don & Susan
Still paddling out

[uwe]

Originally Posted by LifeguardTwr

Hello to All,
My wife and I are currently looking (hoping, dreaming) about our first AS purchase. A 16' Bambi to use as our beach condo!
I have learned a lot from the members of this forum. It's helps in every way as there is alot to consider prior to a purchase!
One question we have is, in prepping our yard for storage we needed to know how an AS is measured for total (overall) length? At 16' 7" does that measurement include the tongue? Or is the tongue not considered in the length?
Thanks to all the members who share their knowledge and time so freely. All the Best,
Don & Susan
Still paddling out

Airstream trailers are measured tip of tongue to back bumper. A 16ft bambi has a body length of appr. 12-13ft.

[LifeguardTwr]

Thank you! Now I know it will fit in the small space I have for it as well as my driveway.
Thanks again Uwe!

[Turtle]

Added benefit of the 16' trailer in California. You get a permanent trailer plate with a one time fee and no yearly registration! How cool is that? Jamie

[LifeguardTwr]

Originally Posted by Turtle

Added benefit of the 16' trailer in California. You get a permanent trailer plate with a one time fee and no yearly registration! How cool is that? Jamie

Jamie,
That's very cool! Is that true with the longer units (19' Bambi) as well?
Don

[uwe]

A friend of mine recently got a permanent plate for a 60's Safari. Must depend on who you get at the CA DMV. Obviously, there's not a high level of competence there. The permanent plates are usually for stationary trailers, aka mobile homes, as far as I know.

[LifeguardTwr]

Originally Posted by uwe

A friend of mine recently got a permanent plate for a 60's Safari. Must depend on who you get at the CA DMV. Obviously, there's not a high level of competence there. The permanent plates are usually for stationary trailers, aka mobile homes, as far as I know.

Thanks Uwe,
It's nice to have a personal plate but the high fees usually associated with it are a yearly thing (at least for autos). I'll investigate personal plates when I register the AS and post my findings.
Thanks for all the tips!
Don

[uwe]

Originally Posted by LifeguardTwr

Thanks Uwe,
It's nice to have a personal plate but the high fees usually associated with it are a yearly thing (at least for autos). I'll investigate personal plates when I register the AS and post my findings.
Thanks for all the tips!
Don

Personal plate and permanent plates are not the same thing. One is where you get to pic teh letter or number sequence, the other is for trailers that qualify for a one time registration fee.
I should research with DMV to see what the qualifiers are.

[LifeguardTwr]

Originally Posted by uwe

Personal plate and permanent plates are not the same thing. One is where you get to pic teh letter or number sequence, the other is for trailers that qualify for a one time registration fee.
I should research with DMV to see what the qualifiers are.

Thanks Uwe,
I wasn't thinking on that one. You are right... It would be cool if it did qualify for the one-time fee.
All the Best
Don and Susan

"a longer look from a further distance is sometimes what it takes!"

[uwe]

...here is what I found out frm the DMV website. Section three pretty much answers the permament plate question:

Permanent Trailer Identification Plates and Identification Certificates

5014.1. (a) Upon the implementation of the permanent trailer identification plate program, the following applies:

(1) All trailers, except in cases where the registrant has elected to apply for trailer identification plates pursuant to Section 5014 or the trailer is exempt from registration pursuant to Section 36100 or 36109, shall receive an identification certificate upon conversion to the permanent trailer identification program. The following trailers, except as provided in Section 5101, may be assigned a trailer identification plate by the department in accordance with this section or an election may be made to keep the current plate on the expiration date of registration:

(A) Logging dolly.

(B) Pole or pipe dolly.

(C) Semitrailer.

(D) Trailer.

(E) Trailer bus.

(2) An auxiliary dolly or tow dolly may be assigned a permanent trailer identification plate.

(3) Trailer coaches and park trailers, as described in subdivision (b) of Section 18010 of the Health and Safety Code, are exempted from the permanent trailer identification plate program.

(b) The permanent trailer identification plate shall be in a size and design as determined by the department.

(c) The permanent trailer identification plate and the permanent trailer identification certificate shall not expire as long as the appropriate fees have been paid.

(d) Upon sale or transfer of the trailer or semitrailer, the assigned permanent trailer identification plate shall remain with the trailer or semitrailer for the life of the vehicle except as provided in Section 5101. Upon transfer of ownership, a new identification certificate shall be issued and the transferee shall pay a fee of seven dollars ($7).

(e) A service fee, sufficient to pay at least the entire actual costs to the department, not to exceed twenty dollars ($20) shall be assessed by the department upon converting to the permanent trailer identification program.

(f) A fee of seven dollars ($7) for substitute permanent trailer identification plates or certificates shall be charged.

(g) All valid trailer and semitrailer license plates and registration indicia that were issued under this code prior to December 31, 2001, upon which is affixed a permanent trailer identification sticker issued by the department, may be displayed in lieu of a permanent trailer identification plate as described in Sections 5011 and 5014.

(h) Every trailer that is submitted for original registration in this state shall be issued a permanent trailer identification plate and identification certificate.

(i) A service fee of ten dollars ($10) shall be charged for each vehicle renewing identification plates pursuant to this section. These plates shall be renewed on the anniversary date of either the trailer plate expiration date or the date of issuance of the original permanent trailer identification plate, every five calendar years commencing December 31, 2006.

Added Sec. 24, Ch. 861, Stats. 2000. Effective September 29, 2000. Operative December 31, 2001.
Amended Sec. 14.5, Ch. 826, Stats. 2001. Effective January 1, 2002.

[LifeguardTwr]

Interesting!
I wonder if one can arrange the permanent plate or certificate upon purchase at the dealers?
I guess I'll find out.
Thanks for the info uwe!
Don