So.....What Year is my Newmar

[bowpulpit]

I bought this coach (Newmar MA 3778) in May of this year.....our first. My title says it's a 2004. The previous owner said it was a 2004.
I took it to Appalachee RV soon after I bought it and had the final final brake recall and a few other things done.
Today as I was filing some papers and I looked more closely at the Workhorse Sales Corp Warranty paperwork Appalachee RV game me from the brake recall work.
On this paperwork is shows Newmar ordered the chassis on 5/13/03 and it was shipped to Newmar on 6/18/03.
This paperwork also shows it was first sold on 6/11/04.
So what do I have....a 2004 built on a 2003 chassis? How could there be 13 months between the date Newmar received the chassis and the coach was first sold?
Very confusing however I'm sure this forum can give me the answers.
Thanks in advance.

[Sky_Boss]

Not the first one to ask this question...

Pretty simple, the year is when it became a complete vehicle not when the chassis was manufactured. It became complete when it rolled off the RV manufacturer's production line.

It is normal for the VIN of the chassis to be a year older than model number. Chassis warranty begins upon sale so no impact on users.

BTW, they buy the chassis in batches and it is not uncommon for up to a year between when the MH manufacturer gets the chassis until it is mated with a body.

[DandS]

You have a 2004 Motorhome built on a 2003 chassis. My 2010 coach is built on a 2008 chassis......no big deal.

[vsheetz]

My 2002 PA is on a 2001 chassis. Common and not a problem.

[edgray]

Originally Posted by bowpulpit

I bought this coach (Newmar MA 3778) in May of this year.....our first. My title says it's a 2004. The previous owner said it was a 2004.
I took it to Appalachee RV soon after I bought it and had the final final brake recall and a few other things done.
Today as I was filing some papers and I looked more closely at the Workhorse Sales Corp Warranty paperwork Appalachee RV game me from the brake recall work.
On this paperwork is shows Newmar ordered the chassis on 5/13/03 and it was shipped to Newmar on 6/18/03.
This paperwork also shows it was first sold on 6/11/04.
So what do I have....a 2004 built on a 2003 chassis? How could there be 13 months between the date Newmar received the chassis and the coach was first sold?
Very confusing however I'm sure this forum can give me the answers.
Thanks in advance.

Typically, Newmar changed their MY to the following year designation around June or July (this varies by model) of each year, so the 2004 is not surprising for a chassis they received in June. Workhorse usually changed their MY to the next year whenever their production line went back to work after the annual 4th of July shutdown / re-tooling break, so you got one of the last of their 03 chassis. These MY designations mean "almost" nothing, except for the "value" perceived in a later model. You should be able to find the Newmar coach build date to figure how long it sat on a dealer's lot before first sale. The 10th digit of the chassis vin # (reading left to right) is the MY for Workhorse. Yours should be a "3".

One last tidbit... the MACA was the finest and HEAVIEST of all the coaches built on the W-22 chassis. Suggest you get it axle weighed (as loaded for travel) and set your tire pressures accordingly. CONGRATS on getting a FINE coach. Happy travels!
Ed

[Steve N Sal]

What you describe is a very common occurance with all manufacturers. Ours happens to be an 04 chassis and built in 04. Either way it's a great coach and hope you really enjoy your time with it. We sure have a great time in ours. As mentioned watch your weights and load accordingly. It's one heavy BEAST.

[bowpulpit]

Great responses everyone.....I feel much better now and educated to boot.

Thanks Again

[Mr_D]

Here's the RVIA's official posting on this:

Q & A’s on Split Model Years for Motorhomes

How is the manufacturing of motorhomes different from cars?

Motorhomes are “multi-stage vehicles.” This means that, unlike cars, they generally are built in two separate stages by two different manufacturers.

How is motorhome manufacturing divided into different stages?

The first-stage manufacturer, also called the “incomplete vehicle manufacturer,” assembles the motorhome chassis. This typically includes such components as the chassis frame, engine, fuel system, transmission, drive train, suspension, wheels, brakes and vehicular electrical system. These “incomplete vehicles” are then sold by the chassis manufacturer to final stage motorhome manufacturers, also called “completed vehicle manufacturers.” The motorhome manufacturers take the chassis and build the coach body, all of the “household” systems, install the appliances, cabinets, furnishings, plumbing, lighting fixtures and a multitude of various amenities, resulting in a completed vehicle.

How do first stage manufacturers identify their vehicles?

According to federal law, at 49 CFR 565.13(a), a vehicle manufactured in more than one stage must have a Vehicle Identification Number (“VIN”) assigned to it by the incomplete vehicle manufacturer. One character position in the VIN sequence identifies the model year of the incomplete vehicle. Once it is assigned, this VIN stays with the incomplete vehicle when it is sold to the motorhome manufacturer. The incomplete vehicle manufacturer may also ship the chassis with a “Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (“MCO”). This MCO document provides information about each particular chassis.

How do final stage manufacturers identify their vehicles?

Final stage motorhome manufacturers continue to use the VIN assigned by the incomplete vehicle manufacturer. Motorhome manufacturers also provide MCO documents with their motorhomes when they are shipped to dealers. The model year of the completed motorhome, which is determined by the
motorhome manufacturer, appears on this MCO document.

Why do some chassis have a different model year than the completed motorhome?

An incomplete vehicle chassis is manufactured before a completed motorhome is built on it. Motorhome manufacturers may buy hundreds, even thousands, of chassis each year. Because of variations in advance purchases of incomplete vehicle chassis, the flow of new product orders, market conditions and new model roll-outs, the model year of the incomplete vehicle chassis is frequently different from the model year of the completed motorhome.

What are some examples of model year differences?

A group of fifty chassis could be built at the end of a calendar year and assigned that year’s model year by the incomplete vehicle manufacturer. A few weeks later, those chassis could be sold to a motorhome manufacturer. The motorhome manufacturer may use half of them to finish production of one motorhome make, assigning those motorhomes the motorhome manufacturer’s current model year on their final MCO’s. These completed motorhomes would have a model year one year greater than the model year of the chassis. The motorhome manufacturer may later use the other half of the chassis in manufacturing a new motorhome design, assigning those motorhomes the next model year. As a result, their final MCO’s would have a model year designation that is two years greater than the chassis model year. In another example, a chassis manufacturer may decide to skip a model year entirely and designate its chassis one year ahead of the then current calendar year. This could result in motorhomes having a model year one year less than the chassis model year.

Who decides what the “official” model year of the vehicle is?

The final stage motorhome manufacturer has authority to designate on the completed vehicle MCO the model year of the completed motorhome. See Federal Trade Commission Staff Opinion (March 5, 2001).

Is it permissible to have different model years for the chassis and completed motorhome?

Yes, it is permissible. The United States Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) has directly addressed this very issue and determined in a formal staff opinion that it is NOT an unfair or deceptive trade practice for the completed motorhome and its chassis to have different model years. In recognition of the fact that the final stage motorhome manufacturer has the authority to designate the model year for motorhomes, the FTC has stated that the incomplete vehicle chassis manufacturer may use the phrase, “Model Year – Not Applicable” on the MCO’s for the incomplete vehicles it sends to final stage motorhome manufacturers, if it so chooses. See Federal Trade Commission Staff Opinion (March 5, 2001).

Is the motorhome manufacturer required to disclose the difference between the model year of the incomplete vehicle and the model year of the incomplete chassis?

No. However, four states (California, Maryland, Michigan and Wisconsin) require dealers to inform purchasers of multi-stage vehicles of the difference between the model year of the incomplete vehicle chassis and the model year of the final stage motorhome.

What information is used by state DMV offices to register motorhomes?

When a consumer has a new motorhome registered for the first time, the state DMV will use both the VIN assigned by the incomplete vehicle manufacturer and the model year and make assigned by the final stage motorhome manufacturer for the vehicle registration. All states should title motorhomes using the model year assigned by the final stage motorhome manufacturer.

What should I do if a state DMV registers a new motorhome with the chassis model year?

If a DMV employee insists on using the incomplete chassis model year, please call the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association at 703-620-6003 for assistance. Ask for the Government Affairs Department.

[bowpulpit]

Thanks Mr_D.........very informative.

[simple274]

I have a 2006 kountry star, gasser. Anybody else have one?

[edgray]

Originally Posted by simple274

I have a 2006 kountry star, gasser. Anybody else have one?

NO, yours was the only one ever built ! Just kidding, and WELCOME to irv2.com. I had a 2003 KSCA, and often wish I had kept it. If yours is on a Workhorse chassis, please also visit in the Workhorse chassis forum here on irv2, too. Ed

[Deek]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Here's the RVIA's official posting on this:

Just saw this post. Terrific info, Mr. D. Thanks for the opportunity to have more learning on this interesting subject.

Deek

[Keitha]

Originally Posted by edgray

One last tidbit... the MACA was the finest and HEAVIEST of all the coaches built on the W-22 chassis. Suggest you get it axle weighed (as loaded for travel) and set your tire pressures accordingly. CONGRATS on getting a FINE coach. Happy travels!
Ed

Let me second that.our 2001 MACA surprised me
loaded for travel #7040 front and #13900 rear.
Going to try and move "somethings" forward.

Keith