Removal of running gear assemblies and drawbars

Manufactured Structures Bulletin 32

To:

Manufactured Home Manufacturers, Dealers, Installers, Certified Building Officials, Limited Manufactured Home Dealers, Minnesota Department of Transportation, and NCSBCS/HBT, and H.U.D.

From:

Thomas R. Joachim
State Building Official

Date:

May 2, 2001

Subject:

Removal of running gear assemblies and drawbars

H.U.D. has issued information indicating that the individual states and not H.U.D govern removal of running gear assemblies after the setup of the manufactured home. This bulletin shall be the state of Minnesota Building Codes and Standards Division determination and interpretation for running gear assemblies and drawbar removal after installation of the manufactured home.

H.U.D. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 3280.902(b) defines; "Drawbar and coupling mechanism" means the rigid assembly upon which is mounted a coupling mechanism, which connects the manufactured home's frame to the towing vehicle.

H.U.D. CFR 3280.902(d), defines, "Running Gear Assembly" means the subsystem consisting of suspension springs, axles, bearings, wheels, hubs, tires, brakes, with their related hardware.

H.U.D. CFR 3280.904(a) General. The entire system (frame, drawbar, and coupling mechanism, running gear assembly, and lights) shall be designed and constructed as intergrated, balanced, and durable unit, which is safe and suitable for its specified use during the intended life of the manufactured home. H.U.D. CFR3282.361 requires the Design Approval Primary Inspection Agency (DAPIA) to review manufactures designs for evaluation and approval, which would include the transportation system.

The transportation system for a manufactured home is intended to prevent transportation damage to the structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems of the home. The running gear assembly is also required to perform as a balanced system to provide for durable dependable safe mobility of the manufactured home, as stated in CFR 3280.904(b)(4). The drawbar/coupling mechanism is designed to assure safe and effective transfer of maximum loads to the towing vehicle, as stated in CFR3280.904 (b)(2).

Therefore in Minnesota, it is the determination of the State Building Official that the following would apply to removal of running gear assemblies and/or drawbars.

1.	Drawbars, and coupling mechanism if the bolted on type (original from manufacturer). The bolts and drawbar may be removed, after the home is installed; however they shall remain with the consumer/purchaser.
2.	Drawbars and coupling mechanisms if the type welded to the home frame shall not be removed from the home.
3.	Running Gear Assembly
	a.	Wheels/tires, may be removed if the Dealers purchase agreement or Installers contract clearly states that this is part of consumer/dealer or Installer contract. The contract/purchase agreement shall clearly indicate the number of wheels, tires, size, and number of plies.
	b.	The dealer or installer may not take Springs/axles, if the manufactured home is not secured and installed on a permanent foundation on private property not owned by the consumer/purchaser.
	c.	The dealer or installer may take Springs/axles, if the manufactured home is installed and secured on a permanent foundation on private property owned by the consumer/purchaser. The purchase agreement or installation contract must clearly state the intent of the dealer or installer. The purchase agreement or installation contract shall state the number of axles and type (brake or idler), the axle weight ratings and the spring weight ratings.
4.	Loan requirements may require tires and springs/axles remain with the manufactured home under any condition.

This determination and interpretation is effective starting June 1, 2001, and applies to all new and used manufactured home sales and installations.