VIN Number Issue

[09 harley]

I wonder why he left?

[3dpuppies]

I have a 2001 Tiffin Allegro built on a Chevy Workhorse chassis. When I need parts or service, the VIN indicates the chassis to be a 2000. But the title still says 2001.

[Carousel07]

We purchased ours preowned. Yes, our Class C VIN says 2007, but the RV part is a 2008. The way it was explained to us was the truck part was built first, then the cabin. I understand that this is very common.

[Damion]

I have a 2003 coach, on a 2002 chassis, with a 2001 engine & transmission!

[SocioSam]

We purchased a 2014 View. Turns out the Mercedes chassis is 2013. Seems the companies purchase the Ram, Ford, Mercedes, etc. and let them sit on their lots until they build the RV on top of them. That means the engine and VIN number is often a year older than what they claim the RV is. We learned that is important when mechanical issues arise. Because companies change things from one year to the next. They need the year of the engine/chassis for their fixes/part while the RV fixes/parts will need the other year.

[foundwaldo]

Same here my coach is a 2005 and that is how the title reads, but the chassis is a 2004. As others have said it is common and nothing to worry about. As long as you are happy with the product you bought don't worry about the year, just be mindful of it for parts if you need them for the chassis.

[DaleHalifax]

Originally Posted by All Joy

I purchased, from a dealer, what I was told was a 2008 Damon Outlaw. Turns out, according to my VIN it is actually a 2007. Anyone every hear of such a thing?

Is there anyone out there that this has happened to?

My 2000 Bounder is built on a 1999 Freightliner chassis. This is normal operations, so it seems. Fleetwood uses a VIN (chassis) and a FIN (coach) . The FIN says it's a 2000 Bounder.

[craigbenoit]

Originally Posted by All Joy

That would be great except the dealership is gone. Packed-up left town and ran off with a lot of people's money.

Contact the State Attorney General, don't let this slide, it's fraud and they need to be held accountable.

You may not get financial satisfaction given our current state of legal affairs, but this type of fraud should not go unchalanged

[mrehmus]

Originally Posted by All Joy

Thanks Podivin,

It was titled as a 2007. However, everything on my contract with the dealer calls it a 2008. sounds to me like I got taken.

No, that is very common. My Holiday Rambler is a 1988 but the chassis is a 1987. You did not get taken.

[willbush]

Originally Posted by All Joy

I purchased, from a dealer, what I was told was a 2008 Damon Outlaw. Turns out, according to my VIN it is actually a 2007. Anyone every hear of such a thing?

Is there anyone out there that this has happened to?

Yes & it's normal. I have a 2008 Tiffin Allegro Open Road TSA but the VIN is a 2007 because the vin goes with my Workhorse chassis not the motorhome;however the motorhome is registered as a 2008, which it is. You are fine & dealer didn't take advantage of you.

[bobfrommaine]

I have a '14 Winnebago with a '13 Chassis. It's normal for the RV manufacturer to purchase chassis in advance of starting production, though I've never heard of any being more than one year different.
Bob '14 WInnebago 37F Adventurer; Jeep Toad.

[NeilV]

Originally Posted by All Joy

I purchased, from a dealer, what I was told was a 2008 Damon Outlaw. Turns out, according to my VIN it is actually a 2007. Anyone every hear of such a thing?

Is there anyone out there that this has happened to?

The coach is a 2008 Damon Outlaw that was built on a chassis that had to be purchased before the coach could be built so yes a motor coach that completed construction for first release in 2008 or even during the first 2 quarters of the year will likely be built on a 2007 chassis. Motor Home manufacturers stock up on chassis so they do not run out during periods of high production. On some coaches that are not that high production and require a more specialized chassis you may even see such as a coach built in 2008 using a chassis they purchased in 2006.


No skullduggery or con games going on just the nature of maintaining inventory and keeping production lines operating.

[Flarpswitch]

When the 2017 View/Navion 24G came out with the larger dinette that would seat four adults, we seriously looked into moving out of our 2009 Navion 24CL (2008 Sprinter). Having traveled nearly 70,000 miles, we knew what we did and did not want in the new RV. We searched the whole country for one that was already built that was close enough to our wish list, but they were all spec'd out with every option, but lacked the diesel generator we wanted. It was obvious that we would have to order one from the factory. By the time the order went in to get the build cost, Winnebago said that they were ending the 2017 model year and just starting the 2018 MY. How convenient; I got dinged for a small base price increase, but all the add-ons were priced from the 2017 sheet as the 2018 sheet was not out. In the end we got a very good deal price wise and I found out later that many of the selections on paint and interior were dropped for the 2018 MY. The Sprinter chassis was completed September 2016 and the RV was started about April 2017 and completed soon after. It is titled as a 2018 Winnebago Navion 24G. When we eventually pass the RV on to the next owner, maybe some eyebrows will be raised, but the timeline from start to finish is really not extended at all. No problems with registration or insurance coverage. The only important detail to remember is that the Sprinter chassis is a 2016 and the Navion is really more a 2017 when it comes to looking for spare parts.

[MSGDLD]

If you ever get to Elkhart, you can drive by manufacturers and see hundreds of Chassis's sitting in the lots. When they build a motorhome they go get the appropriate chassis and build it. Depending on the time of year, how long they've sat etc., there can be a difference. I've a 2000 Motorhome on a 1998 P30 Chassis. It's titled as a 2000 with the 98 VIN here in Ohio.