Tennessee Says "No" to Volvo Motorhome

[JoeHDVoyager]

I emailed Tennessee officials to get specific requirements to title & license a Volvo 610 as a motorhome. Their response: 55-1-104(2) A Motor home is defined as a motor vehicle which is designed, constructed (either originally by the manufacturer or rebuilt by another) and equipped as a dwelling place, living abode or sleeping place. Motor homes may be registered under a Automobile Private Passenger tag, regardless of the weight of the vehicle.

That response seemed a bit loose to me when compared to Missouri law which is very specific and reads: (407.1320)(11)(b) "Motor home", a vehicle which is designed to provide temporary living quarters and which: (a) Is built onto as an integral part of, or permanently attached to, a
motor vehicle chassis; and (b) Contains at least four of the following independent life systems if
each is permanently installed and designed to be removed only for purposes of repair or replacement and meets the American National Standards Institute standards for recreation vehicles: a. A cooking facility with an onboard fuel source; b. A gas or electric refrigerator;
c. A toilet with exterior evacuation; d. A heating or air conditioning system with an onboard power or fuel source separate from the vehicle engine; e. A potable water supply system that includes at least a sink, a faucet, a
water tank with an exterior service supply connection; f. A 110-125 volt electric power supply; (c) The three basic types of motor homes are specified as follows: a. Type A: a raw chassis upon which is built a driver's compartment and an entire body which provides temporary living quarters as defined above; b. Type B: a completed van-type vehicle which has been altered to provide temporary living quarters as defined above; c. Type C: an incomplete vehicle, upon which is permanently attached a body
designed to provide temporary living quarters as defined above;

Well, I contacted a couple of folks in the Department of Safety in Tennessee trying to find out specific requirements (like Missouri has). Bottom line - The commercial vehicle enforcement sergeant I talked to told me that you can't title and license a truck as a motor home in Tennessee. He said a truck's a truck and that's it.

My question: Has anyone out there titled and licensed a Class 8 road tractor as a motor home in Tennessee? I'd hate to move residency to Tennessee and have to buy commercial tags. Comments, suggestions appreciated. Thanks - Joe [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif[/img]

Joe

[geof]

liscense it in another state as a MH and transfer it when you get to Tennessee...remember If you follow the law-technically they can't refuse to comply with that law-without themselves being in violation of the law.....In Ohio currently all you got to do is have an affidavit noterized.....might take 10 minuites....geof

[geof]

BTW my local Ohio State P.U.C.O Enforcement Officer helped my understand the law and the enforcement issues....

[Sharon]

We actually registered ours in Nevada, not as a motorhome, but as a regular non commercial, for private use only, plain ole truck. It's a little more expensive than a motorhome in this state, but no commercial license required. The DMV bent over backwards to help us get it registered non commercial.

Sharon

[Racewriter]

I know of many Tennessee racers who have conversion trucks licensed as motorhomes (none of them personally). I have a hard time thinking that it can't be done.

[Warpath]

Before I started my motorhome, I needed to get my truck around to various locations. I looked at trying to get MH status, but no go, the Ohio State Patrol helped me out and said get it title for non commercial use. I ran "not for hire" on side so no CDL required. I did end up getting commercial plates before I found all that out just so I could get it to a FL dealer. That was not cheap!

2003 28' Show Hauler Motorhome on a 1995 FL 120 completely refurbished chassis. Currently in production - scheduled completion 1/10/03 www.showhauler.com

[JoeHDVoyager]

Thanks for the posts. The one thing the CVE officer in Tennessee did tell me was that I might be able to license the truck using J Tags. I believe those are designed for farm use. But the non-commercial, not-for-hire might be the best way to go, at least to get started. Thanks again - Joe

Joe

[onezman]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JoeHDVoyager:
I emailed Tennessee officials to get specific requirements to title & license a Volvo 610 as a motorhome. Their response: 55-1-104(2) A Motor home is defined as a motor vehicle which is designed, constructed (either originally by the manufacturer or rebuilt by another) and equipped as a dwelling place, living abode or sleeping place. Motor homes may be registered under a Automobile Private Passenger tag, regardless of the weight of the vehicle.
----------

In my opinion Joe, Tenessee appears to be an easy State to register in. "equipped as a dwelling place, living abode, OR SLEEPING PLACE."

All 610 Volvos have a bed. A bed by definition is a "sleeping place." In fact, many truckers live full time in their truck. That makes it a
"living abode."
-----------------

That response seemed a bit loose to me
-----------------

The looser the response, the easier the registration. Forget about registering in MO, unless you are prepared to remodel the interior of the truck.
---------------

Well, I contacted a couple of folks in the Department of Safety in Tennessee trying to find out specific requirements (like Missouri has). Bottom line - The commercial vehicle enforcement sergeant I talked to told me that you can't title and license a truck as a motor home in Tennessee. He said a truck's a truck and that's it.
---------------

It really does not matter what any "official" says. What matters is what the regulations AS WRITTEN says.

AS WRITTEN, any truck with a bed meets the requirements. Period. You just need to be prepared to support your position which is in agreement with the law. Don't take "NO" for an answer. Officials cannnot make up law to suit themselves.

I have been told NO on two occassions in Oregon.
You can get it if you meet the requirements and
are willing to stand up to what ever they try to tell you.

I would not consider registering any truck as a farm truck. Then you have to get permits and stop at weigh stations when going beyond the radius allowed by farm plates.

I have sold Volvos that have been regisrered as motorhomes in Oregon, Washington, California,
Virginia, Wisconsin,(By mail believe it or not) one that was registered as a personal vehicle of sorts in Nevada. I also know sure 610s have been registered as motorhomes in S. Dakota, New York, and Michigan.... Where there's a will, theres a way.


onezman