Community Forums

Len791 · 08-30-2016, 06:15 AM

I just purchased a 2016 Fleetwood Bounder 35K, being a little paranoid due to some things that have not gone exactly right with the sales personnel I decided to do a VIN check through VIN Decoder. It shows it as a 2015 F-550 Super Duty Stripped Chassis. Is this maybe the chassis manufacturing year ?

**CLIFFTALL** · 08-30-2016, 06:20 AM

Welcome to the forum. It's not uncommon for a chassis to be built in the prior model year. Remember that MH's come out in the middle or earlier of the year prior to the model year .

barmcd · 08-30-2016, 06:23 AM

Probably. Sometimes the chassis year and manufacturer's model year don't line up exactly. Typically, the motor home manufacturer buys a bunch of chassis from the chassis manufacturer and builds the coach. Sometimes they overlap years. The F550 has a 19,500 GVWR.

Len791 · 08-30-2016, 06:44 AM

Thank you both, just making sure due to the "Things going wrong" list getting a little long.

mackwrench · 08-30-2016, 08:53 AM

I would make sure the chassis warranty start date is when YOU took delivery of the completed unit, not when Fleetwood received the chassis.

You can google VIN decoder and determine the year model, the 10th digit is used to determine year of mfg. This also should be same as on title. A 2016 will have "G" as year model, 2015 will be "F".

I'm thinking Ford supplies Fleetwood with a MSO (manufacturer statement of origin), Fleetwood builds out MH and is able to title the completed unit in the year completed.

Waiter21 · 08-30-2016, 08:59 AM

Yes, that is correct, AND, very important..

When you go to purchase parts that are part of the truck chassis, i.e. fan belt, water pump, alternator, etc, You need to specify they are for a 2015 F-550 Super Duty truck.

Gary RVRoamer · 08-30-2016, 10:20 AM

The "Final Manufacturer" (Fleetwood in this case) issues the official Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (MCO) with the completed vehicle and that is the document that establishes the "model year". The chassis builder provides an "incomplete vehicle" MCO that includes the assigned chassis VIN, but that is not what accompanies the coach when it is sold and the chassis VIN does NOT control the year that appears on your title. No matter what a clerk at a local DMV office or insurance company may thing.

Atom Ant · 08-30-2016, 10:25 AM

Mine has both - an incomplete chassis VIN # dated 2012, and a Serial Number from the RV manufacturer dated 2013 (Model Year). When I contacted Freightliner support, I believe they asked for the last 6 of the VIN, not the serial number. I haven't seen my registration yet, so not sure which number the DMV uses.

dtoste77 · 08-30-2016, 08:22 PM

Yes common. There was a lot of posts around these forums last year when Ford came out with the 6 speed F53. Many 2016 didn't necessarily have the 6 speed because they were on 2015 chassis'. Email to the manufacturer should confirm. Your on a different chassis so not as big a deal for you, I would think.

4x4van · 08-30-2016, 09:04 PM

Although my new (to me) 2004 Itasca was built in 2004 on a 2004 workhorse chassis manufactured in 2004, my previous motorhome (a class C Jamboree) was a 1988 model Jamboree, on a 1987 model Ford chassis that was actually manufactured (by Ford) in late 1986!!! DMV Registration reflected 1988.

Just as Waiter21 says; anytime you buy chassis/drivetrain parts, just remember that you're looking for 2015 parts, not 2016.

WDW · 08-31-2016, 12:23 AM

You should have a bunch of mfg stickers on a sidewall. Ours shows the Ford data VIN and mo/yr of builds.

Taking in the sights with our Trolley ...but life is always better under a Palm Tree

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edgray · 08-31-2016, 06:23 AM

Am I the only one to think a 35 foot Bounder ( class A) motor home is built on the Ford F53 chassis?
I believe the F550 is a chassis normally used under Class C coaches.

Sweetbriar · 08-31-2016, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgray

Am I the only one to think a 35 foot Bounder ( class A) motor home is built on the Ford F53 chassis?
I believe the F550 is a chassis normally used under Class C coaches.

Thinking the same. Many VIN Decoders don't play well concerning a F53 striped chassis and will default a F550. The two are similar but not the same.

gasser 38 · 08-31-2016, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetbriar

Thinking the same. Many VIN Decoders don't play well concerning a F53 striped chassis and will default a F550. The two are similar but not the same.

Yes a lot of Vin decoders show F53 as F550 But my bet is it is an F53 but still same answer many 2016 built on 15 Chassis as well as 15 built on 14 etc. etc. common practice in M/H industry as well as many other incomplete vehicles ie Ambulance, Bus, Street Cleaners and so on