Is it a 2018 or 2019?

[Bslemons]

Our new 2019 27.2 Hurricane motorhome came with paperwork/manuels that says the ford engine is 2018. There is nothing in any paperwork that says the motorhome is a 2019 like the dealer said. Even our insurance agent said the vin number is 2018. Did the dealership mislead us? Ideas?

[JamieGeek]

Nope, that is a common occurrence in the RV industry.

Manufacturer's purchase the frames "in bulk" and they lay around the plant until an RV is built on top of them. Sometimes you can get one where the frame (and thus the VIN) is 2 years older than the RV.

The official year of the RV is the year that Thor says it is, not Ford.

(This topic comes up every so often--about the time that the old topic drops off the "recent post list".)

[The Gritz Carlton]

^^Correct^^....also, make sure the dealer registers your warranty to start the day you buy it. Ford allows a delayed warranty start date for these reasons. The miles on the coach will also be subtracted. Lots of dealers register the coach warranty but forget (or don't care enough) to register the FORD warranty. Call Ford CS and verify it has been done.

[Birdman]

It is rare that the chassis model year is the same as the coach year. My Chateau is a 2015 model but sits on a Ford 2014 chassis. Which is nice to know when you are in need of Ford parts or dealing with warranty concerns.

[Bob Denman]

The year of the finished bodywork is what matters: the year of the chassis is immaterial...

[Birdman]

I disagree that the model year of the vehicle is immaterial, especially when looking for Ford parts or vehicle repairs.

[The Gritz Carlton]

That wasn't the issue...he was talking about how it's registered with the State as to year model of the completed coach. Correct year model of the chassis is vital for parts, service, etc. and this will show up on any VIN search.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

That wasn't the issue...he was talking about how it's registered with the State as to year model of the completed coach. Correct year model of the chassis is vital for parts, service, etc. and this will show up on any VIN search.

Thank you...

[Hooligan2]

The RVIA has a Service Bulletin on Split Model years, good explanation and info on correcting errors by local DMV. " All states should title motorhomes using the model year assigned by the final stage motorhome manufacturer"
https://winnebagoind.com/resources/s...Motorhomes.pdf

[Polyforge]

I have a 2016 E450 Chassis and a 2016 Vegas chassis according to the seller but everything I check says there was not a Vegas built on a E450 chassis in 2016. The VIN check says 2016 E450.

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by Polyforge

I have a 2016 E450 Chassis and a 2016 Vegas chassis according to the seller but everything I check says there was not a Vegas built on a E450 chassis in 2016. The VIN check says 2016 E450.

2016 is about the time Thor switched everything over to E450 chassis due to emissions regulations.

Your chassis is an E450 if the VIN says it is..no getting around that.

[Polyforge]

Amazing how different these rigs can be within the same year. As an engineer, seems to me it would be better to make the changes by model year instead of when the feeling strikes. Be better for the dealers and owners and the builders.

[MiramarTN]

Originally Posted by Polyforge

Amazing how different these rigs can be within the same year. As an engineer, seems to me it would be better to make the changes by model year instead of when the feeling strikes. Be better for the dealers and owners and the builders.

I can't say that I totally agree with this statement because in my case, it may have worked out for my benefit.

When I was shopping, I noted that the Thor website noted the 2019 Miramar lists an inverter powered outlet by the bed for a sleep apnea machine. This feature was not listed for the 2018 Miramar. Still, I purchased a late build 2018 Miramar and found this feature was part of my coach. Now I cannot say for certain that an early build Miramar did not have the inverter powered outlet in the bedroom. It may have been a feature that Thor just didn't include in their advertisement. However, I was really pleased that my 2018 Miramar has this feature.

[The Gritz Carlton]

With Thor as huge as they are I'm sure that through engineering, implementation and production, some new features get lost in the mix whereby they start getting installed in the production process earlier than the designers plan. You were the beneficiary of that process. Bslemons...It's also important to make sure your insurance company complies with RVIA in event of a serious loss. One or two year older model will reduce coverage or replacement values. It isn't their call...its legally the year model Thor says it is.

[TurnerFam]

yes, MANUFACTURERS of RVs determine the YEAR MODEL - it's their call, and their's only, no one else's ... but, to understand why these year models sometime differ from the base Chassis manufacturer's own VIN number is simple: the law requires the base Chassis manufacturer(Ford, Freightliner, etc) to start the VIN# process, providing the original VIN# at the very beginning of the vehicle's manufacturing process.

Now, when the Chassis, whether a fully built ClassC ready to drive down the road, or a raw ClassA gas or diesel chassis that must be TRUCKED to the RV Manufacturer's facility, is originally built, the VIN# is already assigned, yet the final YEAR MODEL and even the floor plan layout is yet to be determined - it is really just a 'raw' Chassis, waiting to be assigned it's OFFICIAL Manufacturer's Year Model, and Model Name and Floor Plan Number.

The law requires that the END MANUFACTURER, who builds and sells the final built vehicle, is required to assign the VIN#'s official Year Model, whether the original Chassis was built the previous year, or even two years ago.

As for the Chassis, yes, the chassis manufacturer may itself have assigned a 'year built' to it's raw chassis, but that in itself is not important, other than to allow the owner to know when and how the chassis was built - in the event parts are needed in the future. It also comes into play if a recall is required, even though the final RV Year Model may be differing.

If you think about the process of manufacturing, this occurs everyday, everywhere, even for regular vehicles. The Engine may be manufactured off-site and trucked later to the final assembly, yet used in a later 'year model' vehicle - the same for Transmissions. While these are assigned their own Serial Numbers, and may have been manufactured in previous years to the vehicle's final Year Model assignment, the DMV does not require that you use 'those' serial number year models as your vehicle's Year Model. RVs are no different, but since the VIN# is originally assigned by an off-site Chassis manufacturer, looking up the VIN# in a database will redirect the user to the Chassis's year model, not necessarily the RV MANUFACTURER'S Year Model, which is what SHOULD be used.

DMV offices and Insurance Agencies and Companies should never be using year model designations from website searches, but only the Owner's PURCHASE agreement/bill of sale from the Dealer, or the Manufacturer's own VIN# designation on it's official paperwork.
Insurance Companies understand how this works - DMVs may not - you may have to show them the 'proof' from the manufacturer.

[The_Breeze]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

With Thor as huge as they are I'm sure that through engineering, implementation and production, some new features get lost in the mix whereby they start getting installed in the production process earlier than the designers plan. You were the beneficiary of that process. Bslemons...It's also important to make sure your insurance company complies with RVIA in event of a serious loss. One or two year older model will reduce coverage or replacement values. It isn't their call...its legally the year model Thor says it is.

Gritz/Turner, that may be true for insurance purposes and I wasn't smart enough to try it but you have to give the VIN to the ins co. that was used when you registered it (dealer registered mine - LaMesa in Sanford, FL). A VIN search will show year, make, model, etc. to anyone conducting the search. The DMV cannot legally register a vehicle VIN for 2016 as a 2017 if the VIN states 2016. If you get pulled or in an accident and the cops run the VIN, the vehicle has to match the registration, has to match the insurance and the manufacturer's ID#. At least that's what I was told when I stated mine was a 2017, and not a 2016. Basically, too bad, so sad.

Turner, do have an official reference for this? I may be needing it.
"DMV offices and Insurance Agencies and Companies should never be using year model designations from website searches, but only the Owner's PURCHASE agreement/bill of sale from the Dealer, or the Manufacturer's own VIN# designation on it's official paperwork.
Insurance Companies understand how this works - DMVs may not - you may have to show them the 'proof' from the manufacturer"

If I need to backtrack this and pick a fight, I need qualified references. Otherwise it's stated opinion and neither the DMV if Ins Co. will accept that as fact.


Meanwhile, I'll be hunting.

[The Gritz Carlton]

"The DMV cannot legally register a vehicle VIN for 2016 as a 2017 if the VIN states 2016."


With all due respect...not true. It's as debatable as how much sugar goes in sweet tea but the law is the law. If Thor says its a 2017...it's a 2017. Police databases are based on DMV files not the VIN plate on the dash. It will show up as a 2017 and LE knows this. For parts and service on the chassis...the actual Ford year model is important, but other than that...2017, or whatever Thor says it is.

[The_Breeze]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

"The DMV cannot legally register a vehicle VIN for 2016 as a 2017 if the VIN states 2016."


With all due respect...not true. It's as debatable as how much sugar goes in sweet tea but the law is the law. If Thor says its a 2017...it's a 2017. Police databases are based on DMV files not the VIN plate on the dash. It will show up as a 2017 and LE knows this. For parts and service on the chassis...the actual Ford year model is important, but other than that...2017, or whatever Thor says it is.

I, personally, believe you and will not pick a fight with you but that's not going to convince the FL DMV when I go to reregister it and pick a fight with them. They'll just 'escort' me out of the office.

I need hard references. Statute. You know that. Something from Thor may not hurt either. The Dealer registered it. What can I say? I didn't know about that part of the process.


Update: Googling 'register vehicle as a different year' has nothing. not enough close. Zip. Nada. Kaput.

[Bob Denman]

This comes up so often, that it should be a "Sticky" at the top of the threads...

[The Gritz Carlton]

"The Dealer registered it. What can I say?"

Interesting fact how 99% of our problems start with "the dealer"! Amazing how ignorant they are and get by with it. We should ban together and start our own dealership and service facility...I think it would lend to early and lucrative retirement!!


Bob...I've heard this term but don't know...what is a "sticky"? Sounds like a booger you can't fling.