As we stood in line getting our mail the other day, the phone rang and it was the MVD of NM, claiming we had a problem already licensing our new Travel Trailer. The lady on the other end stated although our home was new and bought at a dealership-we still needed a VIN inspection! Really? We had only three options: 1-drive all the way to Santa Fe NM for an inspection; 2-see if the dealership forgot to give us a VIN inspection sheet; 3-find the state police that could do an inspection. Only one thing, we had a very short window to get this done!
Option 1 was the last we wanted to do. So off to the dealership we go and of course he has no such records. Nearest place for us to take our travel trailer for the inspection is at a station on the AZ side, near the CA/AZ border. Meaning we must tear down, hitch on and jump on the Interstate.
It’s a good thing that we took the truck first just to find out exactly where we were going and what we would need. We first thought that the inspection station would be the California check point. Nope and the officer was saying we would need to go into Parker AZ. That didn’t sound right to us. Back towards Quartzsite AZ once again. There is a weigh station and check point for out of state truckers. We pulled in there and sure enough that’s the place we need to bring our home in for the inspection.
Along with the VIN inspection, they would also do a complete vehicle inspection as well; Checking lights, breaks, ect. That was fine with us, what better way to do a test run to make sure all feels the way it should right? We do need to have all of our paper work in order as well.
*A copy of the Title to the travel trailer-check. *A copy of the Purchase order-nope-send it off to the DMV-no problem-dealer has a copy-check. *Proof of temp tags-check. *Finally Proof of Insurance-oops!
Oh we have insurance on our new home-but for the life of us-we couldn’t find the Proof of Insurance! We had the paperwork-but knew it wouldn’t be enough. No problem-I’ll just get the computer and printer out, go on line and print another copy-simple! Did just that, and went to print-and nothing! Come to find out the ink and the color are both completely empty!!! Great! And there is no place within close range to get another ink cartridge…..
I was able to download the proof onto the memory stick. Now we must find someone who can print us the copy of our insurance. The Senior Center stated they could do it-upon getting there, and discovered it couldn’t be done after all….Only solution now was to wait until the next day and go into a local business here in Quartzsite and have the lady do it.
Next morning, first thing first-check all tires. Brian already did the truck so knew they were ok-but the Travel Trailer tires were low and had to be pumped up. Then it’s time to hitch on. Since pulling it out here, we have had the hitch re-adjusted and had the break unit put on the truck. So this would be a good test to make sure that the break unit is set properly and that the hitch was finally in the right position for towing. It would also be my first time towing our new home on the Interstate/Highway and it would be nice to see how it handles-loaded with groceries and some water in the tank, along with liquids in both holding tanks.
The hitch seems to be in the right position now, the travel trailer don’t seem to be “sagging” in the front anymore. Brian re-adjust the sway bars and instead of positioning the chains on link 3, he tries link 2 to see how that will handle down the road. On the way back we will go back to 3 and see if there is any difference. Now we must and try to set the break unit for the travel trailer. We think we have it in the right position-all seem to be breaking evenly now.
As we tootle down the interstate I do notice just a bit of swaying, when reaching the speed of 65mph. So we think we may need to keep the sway bar link at 3.
We arrive at the inspection station with no problems. The VIN inspection goes well and the officer really likes our new home, so much that he forgot to do the other inspection!!! But we weren’t worried-for Brian checks it himself and we knew all was working properly.
The inspection in itself took about 20 minutes. First he takes all of our paperwork along with our ID. Then he came out and wrote down the VIN number on a form. Now he must run all of it (including our ID) through the system to make sure all is ok. We then are finally handed the paperwork back along with the VIN inspection sheet. As we are waiting for that to be process, Brian once again re-adjusted the sway bar link back to 3.
Heading back into Quartzsite, I no longer have that slight “swaying”, so we think we are finally adjusted properly for future towing. However, the breaks still need some more adjusting, and will do that back out on the BLM gravel road; where we can “play” with it safely.
Now comes the fun part-parking! We had left our patio mat along with a few other things in our spot (in hopes no one steals it). So the trick for me is to maneuver around our small area and get the trailer back in the same spot! Now, I have backed 5th wheels (mostly successfully, some not….), and the mini motorhome was easy. But I have to be honest, I feared backing the travel trailer for I have heard from many that they are not easy to back in….
But with this new wheel base-it should be simple. And it was! I had no problem what-so-ever! At first Brian laughed at me for as I’m getting the trailer turned around, I had to go on the opposite side of our patio set-up before I could straighten it back out. He told me that I did good, but our patio was on the wrong side!! After a glare, I did get it on the right side and without any frustration!!! I’m so proud of myself and now I know I can pull our new home safely down the road and park it without to many problems.
Now I’m excited and ready to begin another adventure in our new truck and travel trailer!!!