I need help/hints for triple registering MAX IV in NYS

[MAX IV Mark]

I need help/hints for triple registering a tracked MAX IV in NYS. I have been to the NYS DMV several times and spent quite a bit of time trying to find someone that knows how to do their job. After the second trip and about 3 hours, I finally got registrations for ATV and boat on my AATV. They told me I couldn't do a snowmobile because it didn't have skis. So I made some pin on skis, took a picture and went back for the third time. They then told me they could do registration as any two things but not all three at once because it wasn't specifically spelled out for them. The paper they showed me said if you want to register it as two classifications that the vehicle meets, you just do two separate registration transactions. Since this did not specifically say do three transactions for three registrations they couldn't figure it out, and told me I would have to cancel out one of the other registrations to get snowmobile on it. Any suggestions on what I could do would be appreciated. Any leads on where I can find the elusive DMV employee with a Brain that knows how to do their job would be even more helpful. Rant off
Thanks,
MAX IV Mark

[hydromike]

Hey Mark,

I can't speak specifically to how to go about getting the third registration, but after going through several non-mainstream transactions with the DMV over the years, I find it a lot easier to shop around differnt DMV offices to speak to someone a bit more interested in a challenge. For the difficult stuff, or a situation that requires a bit more....errr..... finesse, I've called up the Albion office. They seem to be a lot more relaxed out there, and more willing to help. It's a bit more of a drive, but you can stop by Darrell's on Route 31 in Middleport for a great hearty breakfast before you tackle the NYS vehicle registration system. Believe me; the DMV will be HAPPY to take your money, they just don't know the right way of getting it in this situation.

Good luck....

[MAX IV Mark]

It's a reality now, My MAX IV has been converted into an ABS plastic body.

A- ATV Registered
B- Boat Registered
S- Snowmobile Registered

Thanks for the input Mike. After the third time at Wheatfield DMV I was going to try some other ones in Niagara County, and after that give the Albion office a try. It is not a task for someone that gives up early, it took 5 times to the DMV and probably 10 hours of my time to get someone who could (or would) do it. I went to the Niagara Falls office and got it registered on my second trip there. Here is what I learned and what I think worked for me for anyone that wants to try it. Don't try to do all 3 registrations at once this confuses them. I would do ATV, then Snowmobile and Boat last. The boat registration isn't a transferable registration and seemed like the easiest for them to process. There is a one paragraph reference they have on doing a dual registration, boat and snowmobile, or boat and ATV, or ATV and Snowmobile (get this and include with your paperwork). Tell them you want to dual register it as an ATV and snowmobile, then at a later date tell them you want to dual register it ATV and Boat (don't even mention that you have a snowmobile registration or show it to them, this will put you in limbo). That way you can use the ATV as the base machine and give them that registration to show you paid sales tax and it is already in your name. The last thing is purely chance, which is why you probably will have to go back several times. You do not want to get the guy that has worked there a long time, even though it seems like he would know all the quirks of the system and could make it happen. He will have the mindset that he knows it all, he has never done it, so it cant be done and he isn't willing to try, or he will send you on wild goose chases. I lucked out my last time and got someone relatively new to the job that had no problems asking how to do things, so she got on the phone with Albany for over an hour and talked to 4 departments there until they made it happen. Now that it is done the first time, re-registering it in the future will be no problem since I have the old ones. Hope this info helps someone. I think if something happened to this max and it was going to burn to the ground, I would save the dash tag and rebuild the machine around it, this would be less frustrating than the DMV.
MAX IV Mark

[jpswift1]

It's a reality now, My MAX IV has been converted into an ABS plastic body.

A- ATV Registered
B- Boat Registered
S- Snowmobile Registered

Thanks for the input Mike. After the third time at Wheatfield DMV I was going to try some other ones in Niagara County, and after that give the Albion office a try. It is not a task for someone that gives up early, it took 5 times to the DMV and probably 10 hours of my time to get someone who could (or would) do it. I went to the Niagara Falls office and got it registered on my second trip there. Here is what I learned and what I think worked for me for anyone that wants to try it. Don't try to do all 3 registrations at once this confuses them. I would do ATV, then Snowmobile and Boat last. The boat registration isn't a transferable registration and seemed like the easiest for them to process. There is a one paragraph reference they have on doing a dual registration, boat and snowmobile, or boat and ATV, or ATV and Snowmobile (get this and include with your paperwork). Tell them you want to dual register it as an ATV and snowmobile, then at a later date tell them you want to dual register it ATV and Boat (don't even mention that you have a snowmobile registration or show it to them, this will put you in limbo). That way you can use the ATV as the base machine and give them that registration to show you paid sales tax and it is already in your name. The last thing is purely chance, which is why you probably will have to go back several times. You do not want to get the guy that has worked there a long time, even though it seems like he would know all the quirks of the system and could make it happen. He will have the mindset that he knows it all, he has never done it, so it cant be done and he isn't willing to try, or he will send you on wild goose chases. I lucked out my last time and got someone relatively new to the job that had no problems asking how to do things, so she got on the phone with Albany for over an hour and talked to 4 departments there until they made it happen. Now that it is done the first time, re-registering it in the future will be no problem since I have the old ones. Hope this info helps someone. I think if something happened to this max and it was going to burn to the ground, I would save the dash tag and rebuild the machine around it, this would be less frustrating than the DMV.
MAX IV Mark

Nice work, Mark! I was ecstatic when I got your text saying you pulled this off successfully. I think the track Max II might need an ABS registration next. Very useful info, thanks for posting it.

[Hogneck]

My question to you Mark is why do you need all three?
Personally I would not want to give NYS any more of my hard earned cash as they get their share any how.
Just wondering

[Hogneck]

In fact up here where I live ATV's (4 wheelers) , have been banned in a lot of areas. Sleds have more rights than wheelers.

[MAX IV Mark]

You are exactly correct that New York tries to bleed you every chance they get, that is why I had it done. If you are caught on a snowmobile trail with an ATV they can (and will) fine you as much as possible for everything they can, and its the sledders that will turn you in because "ATV s tear up the trails". I don't want to take a chance of no registration ticket, registration out of class, improper equipment, etc ....... This can potentially end up being hundreds and hundreds of dollars of my money being sucked out of me, and I am sure they would want to tow or impound it too. Since I registered as all three I have the rights of all three (more than any single registered vehicle).
Looking at what it cost me after the initial time and hassle from now on:
$12.50 1 year ATV reg. (most useless, no real designated trails, just keeps you from the ticket for "unless operated on privet land all ATV s in NYS must be registered)
$26.25 3 year Boat reg. (so $8.75/yr. I can go anywhere a power boat can, must have standard boat equip on board, horn, lights, life jackets.....)
$45.00 1 year Snowmobile reg. (go anywhere a snowmobile can go, the only real legal trail system in NY i know of, and this fee includes your trail fee, Ontario Canada gets screwed $250/year per sled for a trail permit, side note---if I wanted to pay the trail fee I am pretty sure I could drive my MAX on their snowmobile trail system, but someone that lives there can't, because I don't think Ontario will recognize an ARGO or MAX as a snowmobile.[someone let me know if I am wrong about this])
---------------------------
Total= $66.25/year CYA insurance (A price I can easily live with)

This was the way I saw it, which was why I was willing to fight to get it done, plus in my warped mind I just kinda think its cool/fun to see peoples confusion when they see the machine and you tell them its all three things..........

Of course, all that being said, I still haven't been able to hit a snowmobile trail yet, they just got the first couple inches of snow on the ground here and none of the trails have even open up yet for the season.

Hows the snow up your way?
MAX IV Mark

[hydromike]

<ignore my post.... Mark's explanation reads a bit nicer.... >

My question to you Mark is why do you need all three?
Personally I would not want to give NYS any more of my hard earned cash as they get their share any how.
Just wondering

Despite being one of the most ATV-UNfriendly areas in the State (from a public access/use standpoint), there is a decent network of snowmobile trails across the area. Like other place, lots of snowmobile clubs get together and gain access from landowners for snowmobile use during the winter months. During the rest of the year, the trails are completely closed to just about everything. I can understand that wheels on dirt make a far more lasting impact than tracks on snow, and in the few areas that there ARE atv/bike trails, they get trashed. The snowmobile registration will give Mark (legal) access to trails year-round. As for the boat registration, well.... that part's obvious.

$12.50 1 year ATV reg. (most useless, no real designated trails, <snip>......

You know, Mark? One of the biggest outliers I've seen to this is right along the Route 93 bypass that goes by Delphi (on each side of the road) and down the old rail-line beside the Canal. I pass this area daily, and it's rare that I don't see kids/adults both on quads or bikes, year-round. To my knowledge, it's not a designated snowmobile trail, and I'd be astonished if it was a designated ATV trail. Both sides of the road are rutted-up with lots of mud-holes, and the trail turns down to the southwest, where the carnage continues (I forget the road name...it's pretty obvious, though; follow the mud.)

What's always surprised me, is that it's not really a designated trail along the right-of-way, and the Sheriff's seem to look the other way. Registration or no registration (I've seen lots of machines without plates), they don't seem to care. I'm certainly not going to roll the dice, since a 980 would seem to gain a bit more attention than a quad.

[MAX IV Mark]

Hey Mike. This is a good map of the snowmobile trail system.
MapRoom: NYS Snowmobile Trails

The old train tracks from Lockport to the NF Blvd & Shawnee Rd are a designated path, but unofficially it seems everyone continues on pass the designated area to the Lockport bypass. The canal banks on the transit side have always been a good ATV/motorcycle trail that you rarely get hassled on.

I asked JPSWIFT after you stopped in at my shop on Saturday, "Did Mike give you the standard response everyone gives after seeing the shop for the first time---- Holy Crap, I thought I had too many projects"? ............ that question just got him laughing for some reason

[Hogneck]

Good thinking Mark. I understand you now .You reminded me of when I had five sledders stop when Dad and I were on the railroad bed with our quads. They were flipping out on us ,drunk of course . I got off the quad all five dudes ready to roll in the snow with me ,I showed them a key and said I will lock the east end and the west end and you boys and your sled club won't be using the tracks No more ! They all jumped on their sleds and left . I will be out again with my Max this time and see how much I get harassed .

[hydromike]

I asked JPSWIFT after you stopped in at my shop on Saturday, "Did Mike give you the standard response everyone gives after seeing the shop for the first time---- Holy Crap, I thought I had too many projects"? ............ that question just got him laughing for some reason

All I can really say, is "Wow, you REALLY like Raiders!"

When JP finally gave up the location by texting "It's set back in the woods kind of. You go down hill and there's an orange Ford Cab-over in the driveway" (that's ver batim) I was able to find the top secret location much more easily. After breathing in that acrid smoke from the burning <insert shady fuel source here>, and seeing the Valhalla of twin-tracked snowmobiles, I decided that the whole experience was a bit too surreal (and I was late for dinner...)

So, was that the original Mystery Machine from Scooby-Doo off to one corner? My memory is still hazy from inhaling <insert shady fuel source here> fumes.

[MAX IV Mark]

All I can really say, is "Wow, you REALLY like Raiders!"

When JP finally gave up the location by texting "It's set back in the woods kind of. You go down hill and there's an orange Ford Cab-over in the driveway" (that's ver batim) I was able to find the top secret location much more easily. After breathing in that acrid smoke from the burning <insert shady fuel source here>, and seeing the Valhalla of twin-tracked snowmobiles, I decided that the whole experience was a bit too surreal (and I was late for dinner...)

So, was that the original Mystery Machine from Scooby-Doo off to one corner? My memory is still hazy from inhaling <insert shady fuel source here> fumes.

I like Raiders like you like your AATVs, its all good that we have different taste (keeps me from having to compete too hard to add the next girl to my stable)
Yeah, since it was a cold day I overfueled my waste oil furnace with vegetable cooking oil and then realized one of my chimney pipes had rotted through and wasn't getting a good draft. Usually I always get hungry when I fire up the furnace because everything smells like french fries and chicken wings. But it was nasty Saturday.

(original mystery machine.........um, Like, pssst.... it was a cartoon, I apologize about slipping you into that altered state )

[MAX IV Mark]

Update, I am not one for plastering stickers all over my machine. But with so many different numbers and some people having the attention span of a gnat, I decided to caption may machine.

MAX IV Mark

[azz7772]

I thought Americans were all about freedom I can not believe how regulated you all are " have to triple register, can only ride in designated private ATV parks, got to always look over your shoulder to see if you are pi@#ing someone off when you are riding, sounds like you got to go through a bunch of stress before you can go riding to mistress.

[MAX IV Mark]

I thought Americans were all about freedom I can not believe how regulated you all are " have to triple register, can only ride in designated private ATV parks, got to always look over your shoulder to see if you are pi@#ing someone off when you are riding, sounds like you got to go through a bunch of stress before you can go riding to mistress.

It all depends on the State you are in and how populated it is, New York and California are the worst. I would bet there is lots of hoops to jump through trying to do anything in the Metro Toronto area too. Plus Ontario has those $250 trail pass fees we dont have. If it gets too stressfull you just have the Misses pickup the Mistress for you on her way back from the Beer Store.