# It's not an old trailer, it's a TOOL SHED **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 4, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-an-old-trailer-its-a-tool-shed/527706 "2010-02-04T19:44:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davey77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@davey77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davey77)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-an-old-trailer-its-a-tool-shed/527706/1 "2010-02-04T19:44:30Z")
Because it has the words"TOOL SHED" spray-painted on the side. I have always wondered about the reasons people feel compelled to paint these words on the sides of old trailers. I’ve been told it’s for insurance purposes, but I don’t see how that answers my question. On occasion, I have used a shoe as a fly-swatter. I did not then need to write"flyswatter" on it. Can somebody enlighten me on this odd practice? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-an-old-trailer-its-a-tool-shed/527706/2 "2010-02-04T20:21:20Z")
Considering I have never seen an old trailer with the phrase “tool shed” painted on it, I can shed no light upon your question. I have lived in multiple states during my 40+ years, and have no idea what you are talking about. ---
**Author:** ![cstamets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@cstamets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cstamets)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-an-old-trailer-its-a-tool-shed/527706/3 "2010-02-04T20:34:45Z")
I always figured it was so you knew which trailer on the construction site had the tools in it. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Woo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Dr.Woo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Woo)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-an-old-trailer-its-a-tool-shed/527706/4 "2010-02-04T23:11:09Z")
I suspect that it allows the owner to avoid registering the trailer with the department of motor vehicles. In some jurisdictions, that is. ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-an-old-trailer-its-a-tool-shed/527706/5 "2010-02-05T15:40:06Z")
In many places, you can’t have unregistered vehicles that are inoperable visible on your property. By labeling the trailer as a shed, he’s making a claim that it’s no longer a vehicle, but is now a structure, used for storage, which is likely allowed. As a prebuilt “structure,” it may be exempt from a building permit for it’s “installation,” and allowed on the property. Thin, but thin often is all you need to satisfy a rule. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-an-old-trailer-its-a-tool-shed/527706/6 "2010-02-05T15:52:49Z")
Maybe it belongs to Arthur “Two Sheds” Jackson. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-an-old-trailer-its-a-tool-shed/527706/7 "2010-02-06T01:22:22Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#): > > Considering I have never seen an old trailer with the phrase “tool shed” painted on it, I can shed no light upon your question. I have lived in multiple states during my 40+ years, and have no idea what you are talking about. I see what you did there.