Is it 2001 or 2002?

When I purchase my used TM (Listed on this forum) the previous owner listed the unit as a 2002. The pink slip says 2001. The manufacturer plate on the side of TM says built in Feb. 2001. Not that it makes a big hill of beans, because I'm very happy with my TM (Like new) I just want to call an apple an apple. I would assume what is on the name plate is the actual model year. I guess if it really bugs me I could contact the factory to verify.

It is my understanding that the date of manufacture is the date DMV uses to determine the year-model for the registration. So, in your case, it is a 2001 model. Perhaps the previous owner didn't buy it until 2002, or late 2001 thinking it was a 2002 model.

If campers work like vehicles (and I don't know why they shouldn't), then you can look at the 10th digit of your VIN number on the title to see what year model the manufacturer assigned to your trailer. We sometimes have to do this when we can't find the date of manufacture on a vehicle placard. I know with vehicles, a lot of the time if they are manufactured after September, they are listed as the next year's model.

Here is the DOT assigned codes for vehicles, 1980-2013. I hope it answers your question for you, Joe.

Year Code

1980=A
1981=B
1982=C
1983=D
1984=E
1985=F
1986=G
1987=H
1988=J
1989=K
1990=L
1991=M
1992=N
1993=P
1994=R
1995=S
1996=T
1997=V
1998=W
1999=X
2000=Y
2001=1
2002=2
2003=3
2004=4
2005=5
2006=6
2007=7
2008=8
2009=9
2010=A
2011=B
2012=C
2013=D

[B_and_D]

I checked our VIN and it has "V" for the 10th digit, which indicates that our TM is indeed a 1997. I wonder what all the other numbers stand for (if anything)?

That is very interesting.

[Bill]

Well, you can get a little info here, but it is pretty sketchy. I'm not sure if travel trailer mfrs have (or adhere to) a rigid spec as car manufacturers do. By the way, my TM's VIN came up with an invalid check digit in the 9th place. I simply substituted other digits until I found one that was valid. Still didn't tell me much.

I haven't found a really good VIN decoder for travel trailers.

http://www.analogx.com/contents/vinview.htm

Bill

Originally Posted by Bill

By the way, my TM's VIN came up with an invalid check digit in the 9th place. I simply substituted other digits until I found one that was valid. Still didn't tell me much.
Bill

Hmm, I went and found the official DOT regulation concerning VIN numbers for trailers. Bill, it looks like you have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that check digit thing, which is explained in the regs. I'll leave that part to you. I got a headache just reading it.

Page 21 of the regs explains the digits and what they mean in a trailer VIN number. There is a sample page after that, to let everyone see what the manufacturers must submit to the DOT. Remember this is just a sample, and that each trailer manufacturer will decide the actual position and code for each of it's trailers. They just have to submit to the DOT what each code means.

Digits 4-8 tell the body type, number of axles, length, etc. Each manufactuer will decide in what digit position, it will put this info. They just have to tell the DOT what their code means.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...trailer002.pdf

The 10th position is the year code, which is what we are trying to find out for sure. This document at least confirms that.

Originally Posted by wmtire

Hmm, I went and found the official DOT regulation concerning VIN numbers for trailers. Bill, it looks like you have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that check digit thing, which is explained in the regs. I'll leave that part to you. I got a headache just reading it.

Page 21 of the regs explains the digits and what they mean in a trailer VIN number. There is a sample page after that, to let everyone see what the manufacturers must submit to the DOT. Remember this is just a sample, and that each trailer manufacturer will decide the actual position and code for each of it's trailers. They just have to submit to the DOT what each code means.

Digits 4-8 tell the body type, number of axles, length, etc. Each manufactuer will decide in what digit position, it will put this info. They just have to tell the DOT what their code means.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...trailer002.pdf

The 10th position is the year code, which is what we are trying to find out for sure. This document at least confirms that.

Thank you Bobby. 10 digit is a 1. No doubt, its a 2001.

Joe

Originally Posted by Paul_Heuvelhorst

It is my understanding that the date of manufacture is the date DMV uses to determine the year-model for the registration. So, in your case, it is a 2001 model. Perhaps the previous owner didn't buy it until 2002, or late 2001 thinking it was a 2002 model.

Thanks Paul, no doubt its a 2001.

By the way do you know Glenn Andrade or Charlie Kalb. Both were (Charlie Kalb still is) purchasing managers for AC Transit.

Have a great day

Joe S.

Originally Posted by JOEALAN

... By the way do you know Glenn Andrade or Charlie Kalb. Both were (Charlie Kalb still is) purchasing managers for AC Transit...

Joe,
Glad to help. My career was on the education side of public purchasing, primarily in the Bay Area. Unfortunately, I never had the pleasure to meet either gentleman you mentioned.