Curious for those who have plates for their buggies... did you have it done as an assembled vehicle, or are you using a donor vehicle for registration?
Can I jump in here too to ask: Does on simply apply for a new title if they have the vehicle, but no title? The donor I have didn't come with a title, it was dead for so long, it was lost. I'd like to do the same thing; title mine as a Samurai...
A guy I went to high school with used to just title his dune buggies with the VW title from the bug all the parts came from. Then he got a cop that impounded his last one. I could see a lot more harassment from a 4x4 tube buggy I think with the large lugs and exposed tires.
Guess it depends on how lucky you get. His are now all using assembled titles to avoid any hassle.
I've had three or four sandrails, and was pulled over to verify that I had a proper plate and insurance several times (I was 16-22 and grew up in clawson) Never once did I have a problem with the origin vehicle's title. It was mentioned a few times by others that it probably wasn't the best idea. I don't exactly think that most of you are going to drive your crawlers to work everyday so you SHOULD be a-ok.
Through Liberty Mutual an assembled buggy was a no-ah-ah from my agent. I said, "1976 Beetle" and was told the papers were being faxed.
i started with a 73 blazer, driveline, axles and such. kept it titled as a 73 blazer. limited road time with it, pulled over once before i had bumpers on it, got a warning.
breaking laws and bending laws are different. i was registered with the state, had ins. as long as you arnet a prick when you get pulled over, you should be fine.
i have heard it you get a new title its a pain in the ass. inspections, expensive ins., lots of safety crap (beyond basics). its not something you want to deal with for a wheelin toy
I guess I see swapping a tub/axle/fender/springs as needed differently as compared to not having any real recognizable piece of a/the OEM vehicle left and still trying to pass it off as a 1986 blah...
Mines a 1983 cj-7, Way easier. I drive to the corner to get gas every once in a while and to woodward cruise and Tellico. I think going thru the sos is way to big of a pain in the ass, then u have to go thru the trouble of removing all the misc. items.....just my .02
mine has a windshield tail/brake lights/turnsignals(just used a trailer light kit from walmart has a manyal wiprt from jc whitney and a inline park brake (if you need ill get you the number and part number to a place that sells them for like 13 bucks... it only has to be put inline to the rear and its a cake of a job.... as far as blinkers i just got a on/off/on switch from advanced auto and put one to the blinkers and one to headlights and used a blinker relay .. oh and a horn all i did was use a starter button/horn button again from advanced auto and wired up a old horn....thats it ....mine had no bumpers but the front and rear is inclosed by tube so??i guess they considered that i dunno..hope this is more what you are looking for.............
I know i don't have a buggy, but i've done a tub swap on a Samurai (which is technically shady)
but I'd register it as whatever your engine is, If you have an 80's 350, then a K5 Blazer would seem right. and put whatever emblems match your title somewhere on it. then just say you fixed the rusty parts.
and don't drive it on the road except for near off-road parks or near your home.
mine wasnt hard at all nor a pain just go by the green sheet as long as you have the windshield(for both driver and passenger) horn park brake wiper tail turn brake and hi/lo beam lights and seatbelts and you explain to them what you did then i see no problem...also i never had to show any proof of what or when i bought anything i just told them that i collected the parts from a bunch of vehicles...mine was a sandrail and had no bumpers ....just the front beam and rear motor cage ...both are just over 2 ft wide....there are a bunch of places that sell parts for dunebuggys that have everything you would need ie park brake signal switch ect...i just went through this stuff if anyone wants any info let me know...
I'm speaking from a guess here & not specific knowledge but my guess is that every time you do a non factory axle swap, "technically" it should be inspected. The question is, where does common sense say you have crossed the line.
I will use bryce as an example. He fabs very well, I trust his work, and I am sure he can build a buggy that is perfectly safe to cruise the roads as he has described. Yet in an accident with another car he would seriously mess that car up. Having taken illegal steps to get that vehicle road "legal" will you get caught? Will you be insured to cover yourself? What about the people you hit? What about the bad press for the sport that you and glfwda and gl4x4.com and the multiple clubs in the state are trying to make a good name for?
I don't question YOUR safety, I don't question YOUR ability to drive or build a vehicle....
How true Bryce :thumb:... If something happens on the road you are almost guaranteed to get sued no matter what you're driving. Why worry about it especially knowing how little we drive them on the road...
What I plan on doing is incorporating the cowl into the tube chassis with the VIN plate, I have looked at many professionally built buggies and that is how they do it, that way you could still use a hood and fenders which would still resemble the original, and just tag it as the donor vehichle.
I have a spool in the rear full hydro steering no bumpers or fenders true beadlocks but have the horn brake lights ect ect had it inspected as an assembled roadster....very important and they did not care about anything else.....You dont even need a speedo for the inspection how does that make any sence???
If you're still thinking of things to title it as, think about this...
If you can get an old title (25+ in MI I think) you can pick up a set of plates from ebay, antique store, junk yard, etc from that year, and you can register it once for life.
My CJ5 is a '74, and I've got original 74 plates bolted on. I faxed a copy of the plate to the SOS and now I don't ever have to pay them again!
As for a vin plate, there are none to be found on my rig.
:stan:
Yes, but historical plates are limited in what you are legally allowed to do with them.
I have an 83 truck, which is 25 years old this year, so I can go t hat route, if I wished.
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