Portable Mills

[luvmexfood]

I would check and see if Ill. has a farm use exemption. Here in Va. you can put a farm use tag on a trailer and be good to go.

And it looks like our former governor and his wife may be doing some time. They just couldn't make it on a governers salery.

Also a lot depends on the local judge's take on the law. Some counties the police will not mess with anything farm related because the judge will always rule against them. Got to love the difference in what judges allow. Have seen two judges in one county each rule differently. County was divided between two judges. One would burn you up for something and the other would dismiss. As a former Police Officer we knew where the dividing line was that decided which court it went to and if it was worth writing a citation for depending on where they were.

[FarmingSawyer]

:D :D :D They do the same in Maine. I can only register the mill (Equipment plate) or camper for one year at the time.  Utility trailers can be registered two years out.

Hmmm....don't tell the BMV I go to.....just got my equip plate for 2 years....!

[Solomon]

I regestered my LM4 as a trailer here in Virginia, Motor Vehical said if you're pulling it, it's a trailer and if it weighs more than 3500 lbs it has to have two axles and brakes on at least one axle.
I upgraded my brakes to hydralic surge free backing brakes with a big Titan coupler.  It does have to be inspected every year but they issued me a permenent tag $142.00    never have to regester it again.   The mill weighs 7500 lbs,  I pull it with my Chevy 3500 Duramax.   It's easy to forget its behind me.  I don't even feel it back there most of the time.

[delvis]

Massachusetts requires plates on everything. That way they know if they've squeezed you for everything you've got without having to distract the nice police officer from pursuing other possible offenders. ;D

:D :D :D They do the same in Maine. I can only register the mill (Equipment plate) or camper for one year at the time.  Utility trailers can be registered two years out.

I get the same thing.  I know a lot of people that buy travel trailers and get them registered in New Hampshire because it's a flat rate fee and they don't get dinged for the excise tax our wonderful state charges.  My most favorite thing of all is paying excise tax on the MSRP on a window sticker rather than paying tax on the ACTUAL amount paid for the vehicle.

[Chuck White]

I have a State of Maine plate on my utility trailer, it's good for 5 years then I'll order a new one.

They always expire on the last day of February.

When you're out on the road, look at the plate on tractor trailers, most of them around here have a Maine plate.

Don't need a plate or registration here on a portable sawmill.  8)

[SAnVA]

I live in VA and don't have a tag on my woodmizer, I have permanent tags on my 25ft. camping trailer , 10 ft. utility trailer, and 14ft. boat trailer. My permanent tags cost $50-60 dollars. I have to have my camping trailer inspected yearly but not my utility or boat trailer. And on a side note, My Wife and I were vacationing at Chincoteague VA last year and went over to Assateague  to the beach, there were probably 40 trucks and horse trailers parked there and trucks had VA license plates but horse trailers had Maine license plates also I see a lot of Maine plates on the semi trailers around here, I don't understand what the advantage is to having Maine plates on VA trailers, anybody have the answer???

[beenthere]

Seems IIRC the trend to Maine plates had something to do with their cost and ease of buying.
Someone will know for sure what the deal is.  ;)

[Chuck White]

Maine plate, good for 5 years costs $75.00 per trailer!

[FarmingSawyer]

Maine plate, good for 5 years costs $75.00 per trailer!

That's not such a good deal....I get a special equipment plate for my sawmill....$10 a year and you can get a 2 year tag..... I suppose if I admitted to having a heavier mill, it might cost $20/yr.

[Chuck White]

Maine plate, good for 5 years costs $75.00 per trailer!

That's not such a good deal....I get a special equipment plate for my sawmill....$10 a year and you can get a 2 year tag..... I suppose if I admitted to having a heavier mill, it might cost $20/yr.

Try moving out of Maine and getting that deal!   ;)

All I know is it saves ME money! 

[AnthonyW]

New Hampshire requires a plate on everything that places a wheel or track on a public road. I mean everything, even log splitters that typically have a ball hitch and towed away from Lowe's need a plate. Sawmills are considered a construction equipment. Plate doesn't cost any more that usual, and the registration wasn't that expensive ($28 I think). I do know the camper trailer costs more.

I remember three of the definitions for towing things in NH. Campers are campers. Trailers are anything used to put anything else on. Purpose built equipment on wheels and pulled along are considered construction equipment.

[Nomad]

     In Florida the price goes by the weight of the trailer.  Sawmills are heavy trailers... :'(

[Herb]

NJ requires a plate

[golddredger]

So after researching looks like California the mill will fall into special equipment excemption. No plates needed so long as it is the mill only. Same as a portable welder or log splitter or stump grinder. No plate. However I cannot come up with weather or not I should put lights on it or just a triangle refllector.

[Magicman]

No plates are required here.


 
I have lights and I also added this rectangular sign with reflective stripes for my safety.


 
If you do this,it becomes a trailer and would need a license plate.  I did not get on the highway with this log, just hauled it from one sawing location to another.

[Ianab]

No plate. However I cannot come up with weather or not I should put lights on it

It's easier than cleaning up the mess when you get rear ended because the guy behind you didn't see your brake lights or indicators. It's also possible you will be towing home after dusk if it's been a long day?

Saying "it didn't need lights" doesn't help much when you are wrecked on the side of the road.