TheSamba.com :: View topic - Any Oregon Street Legal Sandrail Owners out there

Wed Aug 10, 2011 3:28 pm

Looking for info on getting a Sand rail street legal in Oregon. I'm told by someone at ODOT that they fall into the Class II ATV category. I'm looking at one that is currently registered and titled in Alaska as a Bug. I work up here and was thinking of driving it down but am wondering how much trouble a title might be? I know I have to do a VIN inspection at DMV but would they come out and look at it and say it's not a VW Bug and not title me?

Looking in the forsale section I noticed there aren't any street legal rails for sale in Oregon.

Thu Aug 11, 2011 3:53 pm

Takes a lot to street legal a rail here, that's why you don't see many.
Must have windshield and wipers, that's the main killer.
Fenders on all four tires, (full fenders, the California scrap of metal over the tire won't work here).
DOT headlights, signals, mirrors.
Brakes on all wheels, and a parking brake.
Transferring from out of state usually requires a vin inspection.
Because it is a rail they might not title it or might give it a special title.

Thu Aug 11, 2011 4:03 pm

Thanks... I think I'm willing to tackle those issues. I was looking on the DMV site and saw a pretty good list of required equipment in teh drivers testing handbook. I'm thinking I could title it as an assembled car according to what I read about that on the ODOT and DMV web sites.

Is there anyone making a front fender kit that is easily removable and turns with the wheels? I think in the rear I could come up with something removable as well...

Thu Aug 11, 2011 4:11 pm

The challenge is going to be DMV. Call the office you are going to and feel them out. Ask them what it would take, and see what the response is.
You could do all the work and in the end be rejected by someone in a bad mood. They have say, you can appeal to a supervisor if they turn you down, but you know how that goes with gov't employees.
The windshield and fenders are the hardest part.

Good luck.

Thu Aug 11, 2011 5:38 pm

I think I can do a windshield and wiper but from what I can tell the real hassle will be fenders. I can do pretty much everything else but not really sure how to tackle that and make it look right. From what I can tell Oregon is pretty anal about wheel coverage. Got any idea on how you'd tackle fenders on that thing? I'm thinking something that mounts to the front spindles and turns with the wheels. Stays close to the tires and covers from 11 O'clock to about 3 O'clock. Rears maybe start at the bottom of the body and go up following the curve of the wheel and straight back at the top with a removable mud flap.

Here's a pic of what I'm starting with. It's regestered in Alaska as a bug but not driven much with the cold winters. I'm sure the windshield and fenders would get it stopped regularly. Posted it in another thread here a few days ago so you may have seen it.

http://norakor.com/MGalleryItem.php?id=2077

Thu Aug 11, 2011 5:47 pm

Nice.
Yeah the front fenders are gonna be the worst.
Maybe something along the lines of a motorcycle fender the way they mount, I know they mount to the forks, but the supports that go down to the wheel area. it will take some fabbing.
Look through the gallery and see if there is something in there you like to get ideas from.
Like your idea for the rears.
If you are from Oregon you know why they are anal about fenders, rain,rain,rain, as a life long resident I can say it isn't as bad as it used to be.

Thu Aug 11, 2011 5:56 pm

I was born and raised in Corvallis. Still have moss on my back to prove it. Been in Alaska for 18 years though and moved back about a year and a half ago. I commute back and forth ever three weeks so have plenty of opportunity to drive it out. Hassel will be getting the pre-work done. No tools, place or time to work on it while I'm at work. But I have some handy friends and can afford to have some of it done if I can stay away from allot of crazy fab work.

Thu Aug 11, 2011 8:51 pm

On the front, trailer fenders will work for wheel coverage but so will rubber/plastic tubs cut to size. Bolt tabs to your ball joints at the spindle so your fender supports turn with the wheels.

The rear fenders can be made from semi mud flaps or plastic tubs attached to the frame.

Fri Aug 12, 2011 10:33 am

can you get away with leaving it registered in alaska using a post office box as address? use suite # instead of po box # so it looks legit... if you get stopped in Or. tell em its registered in alaska and follows their dmv guide lines. is that possible? i once owned an 89 mustang with louisiana plates, texas insurance and missouri drivers license. had it that way for couple years till they caught on.... :wink:

Fri Aug 12, 2011 10:48 am

I've considered it but I'm a legal Oregon resident now with an OR drivers license and address. I think the first time I got pulled over they'd tell me I have 30 days to reregister it in OR. The next time I'd get nailed... I hope to drive this on the streets allot. My other driver is a 79 F250 with a 460. Although I don't work in Oregon and would use it to commute to work I'd drive it every day on R&R. Cops would get to know me pretty quick I think.

I think I'll want fenders, windshield and wipers anyway for as much as I plan to drive it in rainy Oregon. Probably need side curtains with zip down windows and hope to make it as water and wind tight as possible yet be able to un bolt fenders and remove sides when i hit the dunes in Florence.

Mon Aug 29, 2011 12:43 am

i am in southern oregon near Gold Hill. I also spend some years workin on the Slope and commuting back and forth to Alaska and Oregon. I know a little about the street legal sand rail thing. It can be done and if you ever frequent the Winchester Bay dune area you'll see, sooner or later, a cool old school sandrail and a cool old dude drivin it on the streets and its street legal. Thing is you would want to avoid the DMV inspection part. and you would want to look pretty legit. make sure the car is street safe. The one i have seen in winchester has fiberglass body panels. brakes on all four. winshild and winshield wiper (this is a big part of Oregon law and being legal) and good bright lights and good seats and seatbelts and it dont hurt to have a quiet pack exhaust. If i were going to register a rail. i would start with an old bug. get it registered and then convert the bug into a rail. there is alot of stuff on an old bug you could utilize to make the conversion. people say you dont need brakes on the front of a rail or that they are useless. i dont fully agree. while its quite normall not to have brakes on the front....its nice to have them if they are there and you coulld always have brake perportioning valves in the car to move the braking power around if wanted. i think it would be quite practial and able to be ran without trouble from the law if you were driving respectably and staying off the interstate and downtown city areas. most oregon cops are cool county raised folks and a little respect goes a long way with them. ( im a hippy lookin volkswagen drivin beach cruzin type so i gotta be extra careful not to stir them up.) i find that a sound car. somewhat quiet exhaust and repectful drivin and i have driven my baja and hot rod stylevee dubs all over with out too much trouble....unless you hot rod em around. Have fun man and i hope to see you drivin your rail to the dunes or trail.

Mon Aug 29, 2011 8:23 am

akamphi wrote: I think I'll want fenders, windshield and wipers anyway for as much as I plan to drive it in rainy Oregon. Probably need side curtains with zip down windows and hope to make it as water and wind tight as possible yet be able to un bolt fenders and remove sides when i hit the dunes in Florence.
Have you considered marine canvas with snaps or laced to the frame for body panels?

Mon Aug 29, 2011 10:55 pm

We have similar regulations here in BC, Canada. All the requirements are well documented in the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations. The manual that the inspector uses is also available if required. Inspectors are provincially regulated by work for private auto repair shops.

We have government regulated basic insurance so the vehicle regulation is handled by the Ins. Corp. of BC (ICBC). I contacted them, told them what I was doing and sent a couple of pics. They were very helpful and the whole inspection/registration process was not difficult at all.

The buggy has an 002 bus trans, Thing CV's, 1600 engine, stock beetle wipers, approved windshield custom cut by a local auto glass shop, H4 headlights, turn signals, side marker lights, 4 way flashers, mid 80's golf handbrake mounted similar to an early bus, sliding fore/aft seats. Speedo, oil temp, voltage and gas gauges. Body is 22ga. Fenders are trailer fenders available most anywhere.

It would be nice to have a year round all weather vehicle but I haven't got around to the roof etc. I will likely used metal and then top it off with a roof rack. Removable side curtains/doors too. I might install a gas heater up front as well. Have a nice rebuilt late model BN2. I did leave enough room for stock heater boxes and the plumbing to the front as well. Not shown is a heavy duty tow bar.

Got sidetracked in the last year with a 79 Bus though!!

The end result, to date:

I doubt this vehicle will ever be finished. Always lots to add, change or modify.

Mon Mar 05, 2012 12:21 pm

Been a busy winter but I'm still working on this. Thanks for all teh replies and input on making these street leagle.

Mon Mar 05, 2012 1:16 pm

That is one nice street rail pitwagon! I think that when you build your own vehicle that you have more fun when are actualy out driveing it.

Mon Mar 05, 2012 11:20 pm

I like the build part too - creating something unique. The roof is starting to come together by the way. Might have the frame tacked together by the end of the week.

The idea is that the rear part will remain fixed in place ( to support the roof rack) but the front half (from about the rear of the seats forward) will be removeable.

Haven't really thought about doors or side curtains yet to complete the all weather functionality. That's the only drawback to these vehicles in a place where it rains 50 weeks of the year or at least it seems that way.

Mon Mar 05, 2012 11:52 pm

I came across this today... Titled and registered in OR. It will need sheeting over the front, wipers, side curtins and a gas heater.