Safety Inspection for 5th wheel in Texas

[Gsykora]

Ok, it's time to renew the registration on our 5th wheel. As many of you know, here in Texas, you have to have any trailer over 4500 lbs inspected at a certified inspection station. All they look for is that the lights are working and the brakes work. I usually take my race car trailer to the local Kwik Kar oil change place to get it done. It's only $7. However, I'm not real excited about hooking up a 40ft 5th wheel and trying to pull into their tiny little lot. I'm thinking (hoping) the service bay at the local Flying J can do it as they do safety inspections on commercial tractor/trailers and they're only a mile from my storage lot.

Has anyone else had to do this yet and if so, where did you take yours?

[Mr. Dan]

Lately, I've taken mine to an auto repair shop out in the country near where I live. Before that, I took it to a large truck repair shop in Sherman, Texas. Call ahead - the first shop I mentioned wouldn't do mine the first time I asked them.


BTW, you wrote "All they look for is that the lights are working and the brakes work." The procedure is not always the same shop to shop. One year the truck shop I mentioned had a technician roll around under mine on a mechanic's creeper inspecting stuff. The next year he didn't do that. The car repair shop drives my rig up the road a little ways.

[Houston Remodeler]

We take our 30 ft TT to our local Kwik Kar here in the Heights. The TT doesn't fit in the KK lot. Some time in the middle of the day when things are slow, I park it along the curb, in the street with the hazards flashing, blocking one lane of traffic. In and out in a few minutes.

Since we have a 3 month window for inspection, I take it to KK when we are heading out of town to go camping. They take a look at the trailer from the office window as their "inspection"

[EdJunior]

I think Flying J would be perfect. Just stop by (or call them) and ask if they will do it. My guess is yes. I found a place near where I live that is easy (relatively) to pull into and get out of. That's what you need to look for, then just ask them. That's the easiest way to do this.

My place checks all the lights (brake, turn signal, and running lights), and then walks around and looks at the trailer. I don't know what he looks for, but as long as all the lights are working and the tires are all aired up, it passes. Have never had a problem with it. It is a pain to do every year though.

[DKRITTER]

We go to a RV service facility just outside of Decatur primarily because it's on our way home from 4th of July and our sticker expires in July. Pretty simple.

Google Earth a few places near you.

[bcintx]

I take my cars to a local quick lube type of place, but just like you the parking lot is too small for my travel trailer. I take the trailer to a Goodyear tire/auto repair shop that is near me - they have a big enough parking lot.

[johntaylor]

Originally Posted by Gsykora

Ok, it's time to renew the registration on our 5th wheel. As many of you know, here in Texas, you have to have any trailer over 4500 lbs inspected at a certified inspection station.

As of September 2017, only trailers over 7500 lb need inspections. When I registered my 6500 lb trailer in Nov 2017, I had to explain it to the clerk, who not aware of the change.

[kayo]

I had my 5th wheel inspected at Camping World in Katy. That was five years ago and haven't had it inspected since, or the truck for that matter. I do all of my registrations at the County Clerk in Livingston (home of Excapees) If I get a notice that an instruction is required, I just call them and tell them I am n the road and out of state. They give me the amount of the registration, I send them a check and lo and behold, the sticker for the license plate arrives

[hbillsmith]

Originally Posted by Gsykora

Ok, it's time to renew the registration on our 5th wheel. As many of you know, here in Texas, you have to have any trailer over 4500 lbs inspected at a certified inspection station. All they look for is that the lights are working and the brakes work. I usually take my race car trailer to the local Kwik Kar oil change place to get it done. It's only $7. However, I'm not real excited about hooking up a 40ft 5th wheel and trying to pull into their tiny little lot. I'm thinking (hoping) the service bay at the local Flying J can do it as they do safety inspections on commercial tractor/trailers and they're only a mile from my storage lot.

Has anyone else had to do this yet and if so, where did you take yours?

I too live in Allen but I store my 5er at "A Great Storage Place" in Princeton and I have service done for me at "Mr. Olivers RV" by Ryan. Across the street from the nearby Tractor Supply on Hwy. 380 that is quick and easy in easy out. My other option is to stop by at the RV store in Sherman (it's now a Camping World but the original crew is fast and simple for an inspection).

Also, note you can register on line and select "out of state" to complete the tag registration. Then you can get your inspection while you're on the road. Unlike cars you don't have to have the inspection done before you can do the registration. That way you can get your tag renewed and just wait until you hit the road and do a quick stop somewhere for inspection.

[CedarCreekWoody]

Originally Posted by johntaylor

As 5of September 2017, only trailers over 7500 lb need inspections. When I registered my 6500 lb trailer in Nov 2017, I had to explain it to the clerk, who not aware of the change.

This is true, although I expect you are over this weight as well. The county tax office informed me last year. I take mine to jiffy lube.

[chaps2018]

Put your Texas zip code here and it will tell you where the nearest place to get a trailer inspection.

https://www.dps.texas.gov/RSD/VI/VIa...tationLocator/

[Roberte52]

As of September 2017, only trailers over 7500 lb need inspections.

[Roberte52]

Originally Posted by Gsykora

Ok, it's time to renew the registration on our 5th wheel. As many of you know, here in Texas, you have to have any trailer over 4500 lbs inspected at a certified inspection station. All they look for is that the lights are working and the brakes work. I usually take my race car trailer to the local Kwik Kar oil change place to get it done. It's only $7. However, I'm not real excited about hooking up a 40ft 5th wheel and trying to pull into their tiny little lot. I'm thinking (hoping) the service bay at the local Flying J can do it as they do safety inspections on commercial tractor/trailers and they're only a mile from my storage lot.

Has anyone else had to do this yet and if so, where did you take yours?

Senate Bill 1001
Effective Sept. 1, 2017
SB 1001 changes the actual gross weight or registered gross weight for a trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or mobile home from 4,500 pounds or less to 7,500 pounds or less to be exempt from vehicle inspection.

[Houston Remodeler]

The inspection requirement is weight of the trailer plus any max load.

If the combined weight pushes you over 7,500 you have to be inspected. Our trailer is 6800 pounds but the max possible load pushes us over.

[Gsykora]

I'm around 14,000 lbs, so it'll have to be inspected. I called the Flying J by our storage yard and they don't do RV's. However, he gave me a location that I'm going to try.

[Roberte52]

SB 1001 changes the actual gross weight or registered gross weight

[Houston Remodeler]

UPDATE

I called the DPS answer desk.

They told me ONLY trailer that weigh over 7500 pounds need to be inspected no matter how much cargo they hold.

[CedarCreekWoody]

Originally Posted by Houston Remodeler

UPDATE

I called the DPS answer desk.

They told me ONLY trailer that weigh over 7500 pounds need to be inspected no matter how much cargo they hold.

Someone misunderstood. It is based on the gross vehicle weight rating. If it 7500 lbs or more it requires inspection even if you never load it that heavy. The GVWR is usually stamped on the tongue of the trailer. If it reads 7500 or more then inspection is required.

[Roberte52]

Originally Posted by Houston Remodeler

UPDATE

I called the DPS answer desk.

They told me ONLY trailer that weigh over 7500 pounds need to be inspected no matter how much cargo they hold.

[DKRITTER]

https://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/buyi...hicle/trailers