Lifted Truck Friendly Inspection Station

[BillyBob82]

Hello
Well, I finally finished my D44/9 inch SAS and I'm rollin on 35" boggers at the moment. The only problem is I need to get my sticker and I'm not having any luck finding someone who'll inspect the truck as it sits now. I'm thinking about just trowing on some factory F150 wheels and tires for the inspection, but from what I've been told, that might not even be enough for the inspector to look the other way on the suspension mods. I did a quick search in the New England forum and didn't see any relevant threads so, my question is, can anyone recommend a inspection station in the Boston area that has passed your questionable truck in the past? Thanks for the help!
Doug

 

[DeRocha]

I've kept my stock wheels and swap out my 33s when getting it inspected.. My truck isn't extreme and I've been going to the same place every year (to the same guy). Of course my truck is legal in every way except the wide tires.

 

[BillyBob82]

Hi John
Thanks for the reply. It's funny you mention the wide tires being an issue, because I figured with a wider flare, I'd be ok, but everywhere i go, the inspector keeps telling me that the state is cracking down on lifted trucks, blah blah blah. I called Holland's boneyard in Billerica who said they can sell a set of factory F150 wheels and tires for 60 bucks so I think I'll try my luck with that. But if anyone has a place that they know is a bit more lax, please let me know. Thanks!
Doug

 

[FourXFred]

If you are heading to Billerica, right down the street on 129 is a service station that I know has passed my buddies solid axle ranger with 40's on it. Im not sure what tires he was running on it when he pulled in, but I know he is running dana 44s with coil springs front and rear. They passed my truck with 2 blown wheel bearings (I mean destroyed) no problem. I cant remember the name of it, but here are the directions:

Take RT3 North to the Treble Cove Rd Exit
Take a left at the end of the ramp
About a mile down the road , bear right onto Bridge St
Take a right onto 3a (McDonalds will be on your left)
Go over the bridge and the Garage is on your right at first set of lights (Directly across from Beefmaster)
Sorry I cannot remember the name, I just moved to Allston, and altho I am glad to help I am not driving to Billerica to check the name of the Garage for ya man.
Hope this helps! Good luck man!

 

[BillyBob82]

That's exactly the kind of spot I'm looking for, thanks for the heads up! I haven't picked up the set of stock wheels and tires yet, but I'm planning on buying them fairly soon. I'll let you all know how it turns out.

BTW, something I was thinking about the other day...if i was to send it in as is for an inspection and they failed it, i think i have like 30 days to get it fixed and then i have to bring it back for another inspection. would the same law for a modded suspension vehicle be like if it failed emissions where the state requires you spend like $150 to correct the issue and if that doesn't work they pass you anyway? i forget how that whole system works if anyone can clarify for me.

 

[FourXFred]

Actually, if you fail for safety (which modded suspension falls under) "LEGALLY" you aren't allowed to drive the truck at all. According to a shop owner I know out in Townsend the shop can hold the truck until you can get it fixed, or towed somewhere to have it fixed. You can and will be pulled over at any time with a big red R on your windshield. If you do get pulled over typically they wont tow you, but it is a $50 fine. I have never heard of a shop holding your truck however. I have driven for over a year with the red R sticker on my windshield, and have never had a problem. Failing for emissions is when you get the black R sticker, and have some time to fix it legally.

 

[BIGHVM]

Man they should not have passed that with shot bearings- that may get the ticket but well its a health hazard for you!!!!
Here in the UK Our Mot is now linked via the internet to DVLA (drivers vehicle licensing centre), all our vehicles over three years old have to have a valid mot certificate, insurance, and road tax. NOw because of the internet all are cross linked. I am not sure what hastle we would have with a major lift and full suspension upgrade but I would believe that it would be a major headache and we may have to take it to a council depot where they test heavy plant vehicles.........Maybe there is someplace that does that across the pond also.

 

[BillyBob82]

ok that makes sense, i didn't realize that there were different kinds of rejection stickers. I've never actually had a vehcle fail for anything, so thankfully i've never had to really worry about it until now.

 

[BillyBob82]

hey fred, one other question i just pulled up the area on google earth and it looks like there are a few garages right across from beef master. do you remember if it was the one right along 3a or was it back off the road a little?

 

[FourXFred]

If you do a google maps street view of 306 Boston Rd, Billerica, MA, United States that is the building. Again, I have no guarantees it will work, but it is only about a half mile from Hollards Junkyard, so bring a jack, toss the tires on in the parking lot, and bring it on down is my suggestion. Then bring them back to Hollards and tell them they dont fit and want a refund! Oh, and I have since replaced the bearings, so no worries BIGHVM.

EDIT: Google maps doesnt show it well. It is the one on the corner of Boston RD and Phiney ST right on Boston RD.

 

[BillyBob82]

got it. yeah no worries, i understand. i'd just rather try a place that i know others have had good luck with instead of wasting my time running around to a bunch of places in the city who definitely won't pass it.

 

[FourXFred]

Hey good luck man. Just curious, where is there around here to go wheeling? Ive got a set of the Road Bully 3 inch spacers on the way, and the closest trails i know of around Boston are in New Hampshire. Since i sold my old rig i havent done much wheeling at all, but am looking to get back into it again. My roomate has a cherokee with 33's on it, and he is wondering as well where to go. We should head out sometime. Let me know whats up

 

[BillyBob82]

unfortunately they're aren't a whole lot of places (read: none) to go wheeling in or around the city (legally). Western Mass has some good terrain from what I've heard but I've never wheeled out there myself, so I couldn't say. I've got a buddy with a built sammy who belongs to a club that i think is based out of S New Hampshire. They go on a couple runs every month or so, I think membership is like $70-100 for the season which isn't bad. here's the site http://www.deepwoodsextreme.com/. i'm thinking about joining this season depending on my work schedule, and if i can get locked before summer. i'll let you know when we put a trip together. what town are you from?

 

[FourXFred]

I'm living in Allston right now, and will be until at least August. And if you guys are planning on going to southern NH, i know some great trails in Milford that are like 65% legal! Definitely let me know whats up for a run.

 

[natedawgls]

who did you talk to in townsend that said they could hold the truck, because the only shop in townsed i know of that does state inspections is ford. I work at chevy in pepperell and never heard of this and the class i took never mentioned anything about vehicles being with held

G&M automotive is pretty truck friendly as long as its not to loud there in ashby ma on route 31 about 10 min from townsend

 

[BillyBob82]

fred i was just in allston tonight mounting up these sweet pizza cutters for tomorrow. my buddy has a shop across the street from allston car wash right off harvard ave.

check these things out. you guys should have seen the looks i was getting on the way home lol

I'll shoot you a pm when we make another run up north, always looking for more people to wheel with

 

[Burns]

Been there before just not for an inspection. Just to get it alligned

 

[BillyBob82]

^^^^^
lol

quick update, i've tried 4 inspection stations around the city and no one wants anything to do with it. i got a ticket about a week ago for driving without a current sticker so i either have to get it passed in the next week or pull the plates before i go to appeal it. i'm taking a trip out to billerica this weekend to go to the place fred suggested and if that doesn't work i'm pretty much screwed. the only other options i can think of are to register it out of state somehow (one that is not run by truck nazis) but other than that it seems like a sad, sad state of affairs for froaders in MA

 

[DeRocha]

... i've tried 4 inspection stations around the city and no one wants anything to do with it.

What reason did they give for not wanting to inspect your rig? I would assume they are legally obligated to do so and refusing you would be grounds for the RMV to remove their license. At the very least they should inspect your rig and give you a print out of what items need to be corrected to be legal.

 

[BillyBob82]

you are 100% correct. if i pushed the issue, they would have to inspect it. the problem is that it will fail for the suspension being over the allowable maximum height of (wheelbase x wheeltrack) / 2200, which roughly equates to 2 inches of lift over stock. they would have to fail the truck, then I have 60 days to fix the issues and pass the inspection, or the state will revoke my registration.