2011 Chassis, 2012 coach???

[MrsB]

My husband and I recently purchased an Itasca/Impulse. The salesman told us it was a used 2012. The previous owner had only put 8,000 miles on it before he decided he wanted a larger rig. We bought the Itasca in Virginia, but we live in Maryland. When we went to get our tags and title in Maryland, we discovered that the chassis is a 2011?! and the coach is a 2012. Is this normal? We feel like the salesman misrepresented this RV.

[Mr_D]

Nope, no misrepresentation. There's even a Federal Law about it.

It's called a split model year, by law the rig must be registered as a 2012 as that's what the completed vehicle manufacturer says it is and that's what the Federal Law requires it to be registered as. If it was registered using the chassis model year you need to have it changed to comply with the Federal Law.

Here's a link to one of my sites where I have the RVIA statement on it.

[milasman]

Normal, the salesman did nothing wrong. The coach is 2012, chassis is 2011. Chassis are bought in bulk probably and then built up.

[EngineerMike]

Its standard (mostly) in the motorhome biz to sell a next year "model year" this year.
In some states the coach will register as this year, and in some it will register as next year, and in some the reg will list a model year & build year (I think).
We bought a '96 coach that registered in CA as a '95.

[Lault]

Very normal; some chassis will sit around for 6 months or longer into the new model year before being used.

[vsheetz]

2002 coach with a 2001 chassis here - common practice due to the nature of the assembly process and timing.

[Cousin Ed]

Our 2010 is registered as a 2011 because it is on a 2011 chassis!

[UFO Pilot]

I bought my RV in 2007. The chassis is 2007 and the RV is registered as a 2008.

[Jerry J]

The current 2013 coaches would be 2013 on 2012 chassis.

[Maddawgs]

Originally Posted by MrsB

My husband and I recently purchased an Itasca/Impulse. The salesman told us it was a used 2012. The previous owner had only put 8,000 miles on it before he decided he wanted a larger rig. We bought the Itasca in Virginia, but we live in Maryland. When we went to get our tags and title in Maryland, we discovered that the chassis is a 2011?! and the coach is a 2012. Is this normal? We feel like the salesman misrepresented this RV.

Yes, this is normal. If your coach was built in the start of a model year there is a very good chance it would have a "previous" year engine and chassis. As most manufacturers start building dealer inventory orders somewhere around the start of the 3rd quarter this would make yours a current year chassis with a new year house on it. For example it is currently 2012 but since about late June early July you could order a 2013 RV. This would have a 2012 chassis and possibly engine with a manufacturers new 2013 house on it. In some cases you could even get a 2011 chassis with a 2013 house if the manufacturer had a slow sales year. Where the confusion comes in is in how different states register the completed RV. Some will register based on the chassis manufactured date and some will register based on the completed RV date. One way to know what Winnebago/Itasca considers it is to call them and give them your vin number. They will tell you everything you want to know about your particular RV. Hope this helps you out.
Thanks, Todd

[Maddawgs]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Nope, no misrepresentation. There's even a Federal Law about it.

It's called a split model year, by law the rig must be registered as a 2012 as that's what the completed vehicle manufacturer says it is and that's what the Federal Law requires it to be registered as. If it was registered using the chassis model year you need to have it changed to comply with the Federal Law.

Here's a link to one of my sites where I have the RVIA statement on it.

Hi Mr D,
In my state RV's are registered based on the chassis year.
Todd

[mmartinkus]

When a motorized RV is produced, the RV manufacturer provides the first purchaser , usually a dealer, with two MSO's, also sometimes referred to as MCO's. This is a pair of Manufacturers Statements (or Certificate) of Origin. One is from the chassis manufacturer and the other is generated by the RV manufacturer. It is a "Title" before there is a real state issued title. The one from the RV Mfg. is supposed to be used for titling by your state as posted by MrD above. The Mfg buys the chassis from the chassis mfg and it could sit in his yard for an extended period of time before they actually build a body on it. In the early 80's we got coaches from the factories that had chassis that were 3 years old under them but they were titled using the RV mfg. MSO's. When Dodge stopped producing chassis in '79 there was a glut of them and it took a while to whittle the excess away.
It's a normal occurence in the RV industry. It would be unusual if the year models of both MATCHED!

[ChileRick]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Nope, no misrepresentation. There's even a Federal Law about it.

It's called a split model year, by law the rig must be registered as a 2012 as that's what the completed vehicle manufacturer says it is and that's what the Federal Law requires it to be registered as. If it was registered using the chassis model year you need to have it changed to comply with the Federal Law.

Here's a link to one of my sites where I have the RVIA statement on it.

This is accurate. We bought our 2012 Winnebago Sightseer in February. We received our registration and it indicated our Winnebago was a 2011 (chassis issue). We took it back to our dealer and in 60 days received a corrected registration listing out Winnebago properly as a 2012. Don't accept anything else.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by Maddawgs

Hi Mr D,
In my state RV's are registered based on the chassis year.
Todd

Then that's illegal under Federal Law and needs to be changed.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by Cousin Ed

Our 2010 is registered as a 2011 because it is on a 2011 chassis!

And by the Federal Law that is incorrect. Fortunate for you though when you go to sell/trade unless someone knows the law and checks on it!

[awwall]

My previous rig was a Class C, 2009 on a 2006 chassis. This happened during the big turn down in economy in 07-08. Was registered as a 2009.

[Maddawgs]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Then that's illegal under Federal Law and needs to be changed.

Hi Mr D,
I thought it was a bit confusing too but then I realized I don't make my states Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) rules, I just have to follow them. On mine it does not really matter as it is a 2011 chassis with a 2011 engine and a 2011 house. It is registered as a 2011 Ford E450 cab chassis which is really strange because they actually had to see it.They also don't call them RV's, what ours are called are auto homes.
Todd

[Steve N Sal]

This is common in the industry. Manufacturers stock many chassis's and some just are a layover for the next years coach body.

[Blag]

And has been for a long time. Our GMC/coachmen was registered in 1980 but according to the VIN in the cab, it was built in mid 1979... The cab/chassis was queued up for 6 months waiting for the coach build..