Determining VIN or Serial number on 1968 Travel Queen Camper

Not sure when the current "standard" for VIN numbers went into effect, but back in the 60's and 70's IIRC some mfg used a VIN number, others just used a serial number. SN may have been More common on campers than trailers.

I think the same thing applies to VIN number location.

I had a cargo trailer built in the late 70's early 80's and it didn't have a VIN number just a mfg serial number. But I didn't have trouble registering it and getting a plate for it.

Gdetrailer wrote:

opnspaces wrote:


Being a truck camper I would look into whether it even needs to be registered in Washington. As posted above in many if not most states the camper is considered cargo and does not require registration. I guarantee you that you will get answers to at least the registration question. There are a few active posters here with truck campers that live in Washington so hang tight.

Correct.

I know here in PA, there is no need for a title or plate for a slide in truck camper since the slide in unit simply becomes cargo of your truck. I suspect most States will be the same way.

In the case of the TC blocking the truck plate on the bumper, you should be able to simply remove the plate from the truck and attach to the slide in. At least that is how it is done in PA.

However, each state handles this differently..

Looking at State of Washington's DMV website, it does look like you will need a title and registration :(

***Link Removed***

"How to register a camper
What is a camper?

In Washington, a camper is a recreational lodging unit with a floor that is designed to be mounted on a truck to provide facilities for human habitation with an overall length and height of 5 feet or more when fully extended.

Even if the owner has chosen to permanently attach the camper to the pickup, the 2 units must be titled and licensed separately.

Note: Before 1990, a camper welded to a truck was allowed to be registered as a motorhome. A truck and camper must now be titled and licensed separately, even if the camper has been welded to the pickup. Washington law no longer recognizes a permanently attached camper and pickup as a motorhome. If you have wish to title or register a truck and camper that have previously been titled as a single motorhome, you will need to apply for separate titles and registration documents on both vehicles. Both must be retitled at the same time unless one is destroyed, sold out of state or held in a dealer’s inventory.
How to title and license a camper

Follow the steps to Transfer ownership to apply for a title and registration.

Any camper attached to a vehicle registered in Washington must be licensed in Washington; the RV Disposal Fee applies."

I think you will need to contact your local DMV office to find out how to get a new title created since you do not have a title or serial number to work with.

Ok. I'll look into that tomorrow. Yeah I thought they did need it... I've also gotten 3 different answers from 3 different licensing places in the area... so I'm hoping I can get a final (and logical) answer tomorrow. Thank you so much!

opnspaces wrote:
At the top right of every post is a "notify moderator" button. You click that button and in the new window leave a note why. I already did that for you on this.

Being a truck camper I would look into whether it even needs to be registered in Washington. As posted above in many if not most states the camper is considered cargo and does not require registration. I guarantee you that you will get answers to at least the registration question. There are a few active posters here with truck campers that live in Washington so hang tight.

I did push that but it didn't work. Technology doesn't always like me. Apologies.

Hmm I'll do that tomorrow when the licensing office opens as I think it does need to be registered. Thank you for your response and help. I appreciate it!

Moved to Truck Campers forum from Travel Trailers.

opnspaces wrote:


Being a truck camper I would look into whether it even needs to be registered in Washington. As posted above in many if not most states the camper is considered cargo and does not require registration. I guarantee you that you will get answers to at least the registration question. There are a few active posters here with truck campers that live in Washington so hang tight.

Correct.

I know here in PA, there is no need for a title or plate for a slide in truck camper since the slide in unit simply becomes cargo of your truck. I suspect most States will be the same way.

In the case of the TC blocking the truck plate on the bumper, you should be able to simply remove the plate from the truck and attach to the slide in. At least that is how it is done in PA.

However, each state handles this differently..

Looking at State of Washington's DMV website, it does look like you will need a title and registration :(

HERE

"How to register a camper
What is a camper?

In Washington, a camper is a recreational lodging unit with a floor that is designed to be mounted on a truck to provide facilities for human habitation with an overall length and height of 5 feet or more when fully extended.

Even if the owner has chosen to permanently attach the camper to the pickup, the 2 units must be titled and licensed separately.

Note: Before 1990, a camper welded to a truck was allowed to be registered as a motorhome. A truck and camper must now be titled and licensed separately, even if the camper has been welded to the pickup. Washington law no longer recognizes a permanently attached camper and pickup as a motorhome. If you have wish to title or register a truck and camper that have previously been titled as a single motorhome, you will need to apply for separate titles and registration documents on both vehicles. Both must be retitled at the same time unless one is destroyed, sold out of state or held in a dealer’s inventory.
How to title and license a camper

Follow the steps to Transfer ownership to apply for a title and registration.

Any camper attached to a vehicle registered in Washington must be licensed in Washington; the RV Disposal Fee applies."

I think you will need to contact your local DMV office to find out how to get a new title created since you do not have a title or serial number to work with.

At the top right of every post is a "notify moderator" button. You click that button and in the new window leave a note why. I already did that for you on this.

Being a truck camper I would look into whether it even needs to be registered in Washington. As posted above in many if not most states the camper is considered cargo and does not require registration. I guarantee you that you will get answers to at least the registration question. There are a few active posters here with truck campers that live in Washington so hang tight.

Thank you for the replies (despite it seeming that I may have selected the wrong part of the forum for the post)!

It is a truck camper that slides into the back of a truck. I'll see if I can have the mods move this post (if I can find where to do that).

To my understanding the owner can't file for lost title as they never sent in the slip for buying the trailer, and then lost that part. I know he's partly blind so it could be that he visually cannot find it.

Since it needs a lot of repair work to the exterior corner where one of the jacks pulled from the side of the camper. We're looking to get a salvage title if need be. The owner never repaired the corner and it sat like that outside for 5-6 years. Though it seems to have been under a tarp for some time, here in Washington state we get bad winters and it does have water damage on that side as a result. All of the cabinets in the seating area need to come out to allow us access to the two part panel and the frame for repair work. I'll talk to the licensing place again tomorrow when they open and see if there's anything I can do in the meantime with the new information you guys have kindly provided. There was the option of hanging onto it for 3 years and then filing for a title/registration too.

If there is anything anyone would like to add it'll be a on going project for the next couple of years and I gladly welcome the feedback.

Thanks!

opnspaces wrote:
I unfortunately can't help with your question, but I'm wondering if it accidentally posted in the wrong forum. Are you talking about a travel trailer that you tow behind another vehicle? Or are you asking about a truck camper that slides into the bed of a truck?

If it's a truck camper you might want to ask a moderator to move your question to the truck campers forum. The truck camper group is definitely active and you should get you answer.

Good luck with getting an answer and welcome to the forums.

Thank you for that. I couldn't find a section for truck campers so I figured this would be the spot. LOL

I once licensed a old trailer by calling it a "Homemade" trailer. I just had to remove any stickers that said anything about a brand name.

Truck camper?

Typically when you hear truck camper one thinks of a camper that sits/slides into the back of a truck. If that is the case, typically no VIN since that type of camper becomes "cargo" of the truck and does not require a separate plate and registration. The truck plate is attached to the slide in camper if it overhangs or blocks the plate location.

Now if you mean a trailer which is pulled by a vehicle via a "bumper hitch" those are a Travel Trailer (AKA TT or Bumper pull trailer) and the trailer has a "tongue or A frame hitch".

TTs that old do not have a "VIN", they have a "Serial Number", that number is often stamped into the trailer tongue "A Frame" and typically on the drivers side top or side of the tongue. Some may not have had anything on the A frame hitch, it may have been a sticky label attached to the drivers side of the trailer box nearest to the trailer tongue. Those labels typically faded or peeled off over the years. The last possible place I can think of is a serial number stamped into the axles or a aluminum band attached to the axles. Serial numbers back then were only placed on the outside of the trailer.

The problem with old "gifted" trailers is the title is often lost, bad (never transferred to the next owner) and no serial number exists anywhere on the trailer.. This often results in a lot of hassle to near impossible to make it road worthy with a plate and registration depending on the State you are living in (which is why folks tend to "gift" them).

The plates near the door are often not much more than certifications with RV manufacturers association and or plumbing/electrical certifications.

Depending on your States DMV, you might be able to apply for a lost title (the folks that gifted it to you may need to do that), you might have to try for a rebuilt title or perhaps a new construction custom built trailer (you lose the original manufacturer date and name). Each avenue will have considerable amount of paperwork, hassles and cost which is why we come back to why it was "gifted" to you.

Be very careful of any out of state "process" which promises a title, that is title washing and your state may reject some titles from known vendors from known states that offer that service.

I wish you well on this venture..