LMTV registration in California. BUYERS BEWARE

[Duckworthe]

I just want to make a quick post to inform people on some changes that are taking place in the California DMV. I have a couple friends who are converting their trucks to RVs, and also including myself converting a Volvo semi tractor into an RV. What I was told by CHP and another member was that DMV is no longer going to allow military vehicles to be converted into registered RVs. Also commercial vehicles will no longer be able to be registered as anything other than a commercial vehicle. This is directly from California Highway patrol commercial vehicle inspector and licensing officer here in El Cajon California. Of course I am not a law expert nor a lawyer, but beware before you buy one of these trucks or any military vehicle that you check into the registration laws in the state of California first. One of my military collector friends is running into big issues as they told him only military vehicles 1968 and older well allowed to be registered in California, and only for parade use up to 18 miles per year. Again do your own research and ask your own questions but this is what I was told from members and the CHP commercial inspector.

 

[brianrbull]

Hmmm Fallout from all the people finding loopholes to title their Humvees? And yet another reason to flee the sinking ship that California has become....

 

[brianhk91]

Is the California DMV allowing FMTVs already registered as RVs to be grandfathered as an RV or are they going to force us to register them for parade use only (rendering our investments worthless)?

 

[Reworked LMTV]

I just want to make a quick post to inform people on some changes that are taking place in the California DMV. I have a couple friends who are converting their trucks to RVs, and also including myself converting a Volvo semi tractor into an RV. What I was told by CHP and another member was that DMV is no longer going to allow military vehicles to be converted into registered RVs. Also commercial vehicles will no longer be able to be registered as anything other than a commercial vehicle. This is directly from California Highway patrol commercial vehicle inspector and licensing officer here in El Cajon California. Of course I am not a law expert nor a lawyer, but beware before you buy one of these trucks or any military vehicle that you check into the registration laws in the state of California first. One of my military collector friends is running into big issues as they told him only military vehicles 1968 and older well allowed to be registered in California, and only for parade use up to 18 miles per year. Again do your own research and ask your own questions but this is what I was told from members and the CHP commercial inspector.

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Are they grandfathering? <br>
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This is cancer for military trucks. Who is behind this in California? Why are they doing this? Nobody has solid reasoning from officials as to why this is happening? Find it in the legislation. We need to find out. Freedom of information act. Head in the sand is not working and it won't protect other states either.<br>
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You MUST watch your legislator VERY CAREFULLY. Monitoring bills can be automated. <br>
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<a href="http://www.legislature.ca.gov/bill_information.html" target="_blank">http://www.legislature.ca.gov/bill_information.html</a><br>
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Figure who sponsored the bill. Start arranging meetings with these folks. Start talking to veterans in CA. Gain support and LEVERAGE your way out of this. Heck, most of us would be willing to go door to door to get signatures in our state if we had to. I think people in general, would be supportive. Who wants to buy and insure a truck just for parades? 18 miles? Give me a break! 

 

[Gunzy]

Or pack up and leave that lost cause.

 

[Blairg]

Having just gone through the process I can tell you there is a lot of ignorance and misinformation within the system. I chose to bite the bullet and register the truck commercial so that I could make sure the bugs are worked out prior to converting to an RV. And though it took some time waiting for the CHP to have an appointment to verify the numbers I walked out with plates. I will say that the CHP were under the impression that it wouldn't be allowed to be registered , however it appeared that all their reference points were dealing with humvees.
Hopefully the DMV will understand that they have more pressing issues to deal with then a few people registering military vehicles. I also better start building my box on the back soon!
Blair

 

[1951M1078]

Had something like that happen to me in AZ. I converted a 1991 International 9700 to a RV. Took 3 years to work out the problem. It went all the way to the State Attorney General. When it got to him he asked if the State had any truck registered like my truck? The answer was "YES". Then he said " then give him the registration,I (the State of AZ) don't want to get sued. And that was the end of my problem.

But up to that it was, NO,NO,NO,NO.

 

[Reworked LMTV]

Had something like that happen to me in AZ. I converted a 1991 International 9700 to a RV. Took 3 years to work out the problem. It went all the way to the State Attorney General. When it got to him he asked if the State had any truck registered like my truck? The answer was "YES". Then he said " then give him the registration,I (the State of AZ) don't want to get sued. And that was the end of my problem.

But up to that it was, NO,NO,NO,NO.

No doubt this thread will be moved, but I REALLY wish it wasn't. Why? Until a month ago I had no idea States were are the war path to pull us off the road. I did not follow the other areas of this site. NOW I WILL lol.

We need to be proactive. No, not raising an issue where there is no issue. That would be just plain stupid. I'm saying developing a coalition to monitor each state's legislative body. Maybe passing around the duty each month to members in each respective state to run a Bill / Legislative search. Donno...just brainstorming. We just have too much time and money invested to be only be permitted to drive off road and in parades, etc. Makes me sick to my stomach to think of all the trials and tribulations of getting these things running and keeping them running, for some legislator to deny us our fully hobby. This is America, not China!

 

[Blairg]

Found this when I was looking up information about legislation.

 

[Reworked LMTV]

I signed up to get their updates. Everybody should.

Found this when I was looking up information about legislation.

 

[Third From Texas]

When the Texas DMV came after assembled vehicles (dune buggies, kit cars, sand rails) they sent out letters demanding the title s and plates be surrendered.

It took two years of expensive lobbying to get a Bill into both houses, but in the end they lobbyist and the guy leading the fight (who owns a dune buggy) threw the sand rail and kit car owners under the bus. Now half the group (dune buggy owners) have bailed with their titled toys and left the lobbyist sucking the last of the coffers dry. The sand rail owners won't be able to keep it up much longer by themselves. And the knife in the back came from agreements made behind closed doors so as not risk any chance that the dune buggy owners might not be titled this past session.

It was a really sad chain of events.

So watch these things very carefully. It's politics, and thus it sucks...

 

[dxhend2]

Greatly appreciate the heads up from @Duckworthe; knew this was probably coming after our last meetup. Has anyone in CA seen anything in "writing" on this yet? I've won some battles in the past against bureaucrats citing their opinions with the force of law with the (extremely persistent) question:

"Can you give me the specific statute, regulation or court precedent that supports this requirement?".

The last battle I fought with that took over two years. They finally gave up, because they had nothing.

 

[Third From Texas]

Greatly appreciate the heads up from @Duckworthe; knew this was probably coming after our last meetup. Has anyone in CA seen anything in "writing" on this yet? I've won some battles in the past against bureaucrats citing their opinions with the force of law with the (extremely persistent) question:
"Can you give me the specific statute, regulation or court precedent that supports this requirement?"
The last battle I fought with that took over two years. They finally gave up, because they had nothing.

In the case of the Texas dune buggy/kit car/sandrail, it was a TxDMV "rule" written into the "Assembled Vehicles" Manual. And the prior authority given allowed them complete freedom to define/determine whatever they "deemed" to be such a vehicle. One of our goals was to get definitions and inspection requirements into specific law and not just departmental interpretation.

Again, sadly the TxDMV still retains the administration and implementation of it all.

Governing bodies seldom want to relinquish power of any form.

If there is no law or statue on the books, look to the DMV manual(s) for changes/updates. That was how our DMV slipped the wording in some years back that started all the trouble with our assembled vehicles.

 

[Boomer Veteran]

I was just looking to buy an LMTV when I saw your thread about the California "Fun Police" trying to kill these type of military vehicles in the state. May I use your thread on a YouTube channel? I think this is important and wee all need to get the word out, and eventually this issue on a state wide ballot. Thanks. Mike

 

[tacosauce]

Thanks for the heads up! Is there actually any legislation addressing the RV issue, or is it the opinion of a CHP?

 

[LibertyCinamon]

I was just looking to buy an LMTV when I saw your thread about the California "Fun Police" trying to kill these type of military vehicles in the state. May I use your thread on a YouTube channel? I think this is important and wee all need to get the word out, and eventually this issue on a state wide ballot. Thanks. Mike

Darn! I was hoping to convert the LMTV for an off road RV in California. Has anyone get to a conclusive resolution whether these vehicles could be registered in CA? I hope not to have to give up my dream.

One funny anecdote though, I purchased the M1102 trailer in September 2019 and spent several months converting it into a camping trailer. Afterward I went to register the trailer with the DMV. They didn’t know what to do with it. Finally after about an hour of confusion and running around between the fellow DMV personnel, the supervisor had to come in and told them to register it as tank, a TANK?! Anyway it is listed as a tank on the title and got the tag.

 

[coachgeo]

I just want to make a quick post to inform people on some changed.....

any updates

 

[coachgeo]

Also am I interpreting correct info offered thus far- that you can title (though maybe as commercial) but you can not switch to RV title. (which only changes tax and insurance cost aka..... more expensive)

 

[Ohiobenz]

Reading the TX dune buggy/Sandrail debacle reminds me of what happened here within SS when Colorado passed their bill. The historical owners fought just to continue being able to drive their historical military vehicles. Once divided, eventually all will fall. We can't be "breed specific" because sooner or later they will come for your "breed".
With Colorado passing theirs, California was soon to follow. Then count on Washington, New York, New Jersey to be right on their heels.
It should be a mass, cohesive, joint and cooperative effort for ALL military vehicles to be allowed to be used in whatever way any other similar vehicle is used.... no parade or offroad BS!

 

[Satchaser]

I just bought a M1078 on GovPlanet. It will take a couple of months to get the paperwork signed off so they can release the truck to me. My intention is to register it in California. I am creating custom special project to support wildfire prevention out of it. After reading the above posts, this could go really bad for me and I might end up shipping the truck to New Mexico if CA won't play ball. I do have some experience with the DMV and often it seems you just have to find the right angle for the person behind the counter to issue the tags (see the tank story above).

I plan to fully document the adventure, and I am happy to share it with this group and others who want to hear my experience. I'll keep you posted.