Just bought a 2014 fx 20 skeeter now the dealer says I have to get the trailer inspected before they can get it registered. I know about this law as I had to do it on my camper. Surely the boat on the trailer doesn't exceed the 4500 pound weight. Has anyone had this problem and has anybody been able to dispute this with the tax office. Friend of mine said to take a picture of the boat sitting on certified scales showing the weight of boat and trailer and take it to the tax office. Any other suggestions. I'm in Kaufman county. Thanks

Go weigh the boat and trailer and take the weigh ticket to the tax office. Remember it is the trailer gross vehicle weight rating. If you can show it is less than 4501 loaded, then register it for 4500.

It's just another way to get our hard earned money without "Raising Taxes". The Inspection only costs $7.00 and about 10 minutes. They check that lights are operational and reflectors in place. No brake inspection. Quicker just to get it done.

I believe it has more to do with gross weight capacity than actual weight. The way the law is written most any dual axle trailer has to be inspected. Most dual axle trailers have, at a minimum, two 3500lb axles. It's stupid and amounts to nothing more than another tax.

If I knew for sure it was just lights and reflectors I would just get it inspected. Friend of mine had this same issue and they told him he had to have electric brakes on his pontoon boat trailer. He weighed it ,got the weight changed so no inspection needed. I weighed my 2014 fx 20 fully loaded with full fuel tanks and it was #4200 pounds. We will see what happens when I get to the tax office some time next week.

I just registered both my 20 foot Basscat and my 21 foot Sea Ray ski boat and they didn't mention any inspection so I guess it depends what kind of a mood your tax office is in.

The tax has been in effect for years. They just woke up one day two years ago and realized it was on the books and realized they were loosing money and started enforcing it. Funny know one knows what they are suppose to do so they walk around check the lights, turn signals and ask you if your vehicle can stop the trailer. Boom Done.

If the trailer gvwr is 4501 pounds or more it has to be inspected. My camper is 5200 pounds and I had to get it inspected.

Went to truck stop weighed boat, motor, trailer, loaded with fishing gear and weighed out at around 2800lbs. brought to tax office haven't had an inspection yet. Triton TR20X, dual axle, make sure registration states weight.

seems light for a 20 footer. Did you take it off the hitch?

I thought that also.

"The tax has been in effect for years. They just woke up one day two years ago and realized it was on the books and realized they were loosing money and started enforcing it."

It's funny how often I hear this. Texas has required inspections on trailers with a GVWR over 4500 pounds for many years. There is a similar federal requirement; the last time I looked the feds required inspections on lower weights than Texas. The law was enacted for highway safety. What changed was that we went to a "one sticker" system wherein the inspection and registration are now tied together.

Ever wondered why the police haven't found all those stolen 18' trailers with dual 7,000 lb. axles? It's because they were registered as 3500 lb. GVWR homemade trailers. Yep, you saved money on the registration and the equipment requirements and inspections. But now you're out a trailer. Kinda hard to prove in court that this big dual axle trailer is your little 3500# homemade utility.......

No I didn't, do semi trucks unhook theirs? Plus it was empty at the time.

Semi's are looking for combined weight and they weigh truck and trailer. You are looking for trailer and load weight. No vehicle.

+1, and also weight over each axle. With a trailer you would have to unhook or weight the tongue separately and add it.