Are design changes possible during same production year?

Winnebago does make both aesthetic and mechanical changes throughout the model year. When we were in the process of ordering a 2013 Adventurer we found out first hand that changes are made without necessarily notifying anyone. We started the process early in 2013. We got all the published information and visited several dealers. However it was November before we nailed down all the details.

Just to make sure we had everything in place before making the order we went online to check things out. Much to our surprise the 2013 Adventurers we saw were appreciably different than the ones we saw in July and August. As it turned out Winnebago had changed the look of the front end. Those made before Oct. 1 2012 looked like the 2012 models. Those built after Oct. 1 2012 looked like the 2014 models.

No changes were reflected in any published or online materials. When we called to ask about the styling change we were told Winnebago orders all printed material for a given model year before the release of the products. They never make a second order or revise either online or printed material.

They do however keep track of the date and the serial numbers at the time of change. If you have a serial number they can tell you exactly what changes have been incorporated since the beginning of the model year.

As for rebadging from one year to the next the federal government controls the model year designation. A motorhome is assigned a model year designation when it is completed and ready for sale. There are many instances where a motorhome has a build year designation different than the build year of the chassis. It's quite common for a builder to order more chassis in a year than they can build into completed units. The chassis that aren't used go on the following model year motorhomes.

Winnebago changes there chassis every 4 years. The last change was in 2016!

Changes all the time, sometimes from unit to unit, depending on if "Bob" is running his crew or if "Jim" is running his.

Running changes are common in the RV industry. Also common are discontinuation of models not selling well, introduction of new models, and special models at the end of the season. Models actually offered will often not match brochure descriptions because the brochures are usually produced by the sales department well ahead of production, and the engineering or manufacturing departments might decide to do something different.

For a dealer to rebadge a vehicle to a new model year would require counterfeiting the finished vehicle VIN and specification tag.

I don't know that it is logically possible for the manufacturer to rebadge to a new model year, as the model year is whatever the manufacturer says it is. In the RV industry, model year might be almost a year beyond date of production, e.g. manufacturers will be producing some examples of 2018 models for the RVIA Trade Show in late 2016, and production of 2018 models for sale could start as early as January 2017 at some manufacturers. Most will be well into production and shipment of 2018 models by March 2017.

Absolutely it can and will change. Keep in mind builders try not to stock too much for a given production run and will try and work with suppliers using the just in time delivery/production model. If a supplier runs out or something gets delay,,,,,

Let's just say in 2003 they changed the wheel stud spacing, they changed the engine, and who knows how many other things on the 2003 F350 SuperDuty.

I think every RV sales brochure, as well as many others, that I've ever read had a "Specifications subject to change" or similar disclaimer on it somewhere.

Absolutely, And read their marketing literature where they say they can make current year changes and are in no way obligated to make the same changes on the current model you bought last month.