2010 Bounder or what year is it really?

[T18skyguy]

I ran the VIN on a 2010 Bounder and it comes up as an 08 Workhorse chassis. I know on the C I use to have the model year was one year newer than the chassis year, but two years? Is the dealer trying to pull a fast one by calling it a 2010? Also, it has the disc brake recall needs to be done. Can you guys shed some light on that? How much expense and hassle is that?

[Dutch_12078]

Boon Dogger wrote:
Is the vehicle year set by the date on the chassis, the date on the body, or the date they sell it? Can the manufacturer actually change the date if the unit does not sell?

As Doug said, once the final manufacturer sets the model year it can't be changed. The chassis is just one component among many in the final build.

Q And A’s on Split Model Years for Motorhomes

[dougrainer]

Boon Dogger wrote:
Is the vehicle year set by the date on the chassis, the date on the body, or the date they sell it? Can the manufacturer actually change the date if the unit does not sell?

1. Once the OEM makes the RV, they CANNOT change the model year.
2. The Model year is the year of the BODY.
3. In 1982, they still had 1982 motorhomes on 1978/79 Dodge Class A chassis's. Doug

[Boon_Dogger]

Is the vehicle year set by the date on the chassis, the date on the body, or the date they sell it? Can the manufacturer actually change the date if the unit does not sell?

[timmac]

Another reason the chassis is 2 years old is Fleetwood went bankrupt in 2009 and all the equipment and stock sat for almost a year till they started producing new RV's again, so that 2008 chassis sat at a factory outside for a spell till production in 2010 started up again.

[CharlesinGA]

carringb wrote:
Remember 2008 was an especially rough time on the RV makers. Ford seems pretty responsive to market fluctuations, but Workhorse seemed to have continued steady production.........

With the sudden, almost instantaneous collapse of the economy, the chassis manufacturers and the RV companies got caught. Many MH manufacturers had stocks of chassis's and no one to buy motorhomes. Its not uncommon to find 2010 coaches on 2008 chassis's, C classes are the same way, possibly more so.

Charles

[harold1946]

carringb wrote:
Remember 2008 was an especially rough time on the RV makers. Ford seems pretty responsive to market fluctuations, but Workhorse seemed to have continued steady production, resulting in more chassis than the RV makers would buy. This ultimately led to their cash flow problems which caused them to stop production and file for bankruptcy. The current Workhorse is really a Navistar product.

Navistar sold the Workhorse chassis to AMP.

[T18skyguy]

Thanks to all you guys for your good info. And Eadeal, I went back and looked at the rig again and did notice that FIN, but didn't know what it meant. Now I do ty. You guys mention that Workhorse is bankrupt. Is there already trouble with getting parts or is that something that's coming? Would there be any aftermarket parts? I keep my rigs a long time and I don't want an orphan.

[eadeal55]

There should be a FIN - Fleetwood ID Number on the Certificate of Motorhome Origin document. That will state what the chassis VIN is, and validate the build year of the motorhome. My VIN says I have a 2004 F550 Strip Motorhome chassis, and my FIN tells me I have a 2005 Fleetwood Bounder 33R.

[1968mooney]

Bill.Satellite wrote:
This is a pretty typical scenario. The manufacturer of the RV (not the chassis) can set the year. It's an issue (my opinion that it is an issue) with lower end RV's but the same thing happens with coaches in the Prevost line. The US manufacturer buys a 2104 Prevost shell and converts it in 2014/15 but it does not sell. The manufacturer simply changes the model year from 2015 to 2016 if it does not sell. If it sits there for another year they again change the model year to 2017. There is nothing "wrong" with this and it likely has no effect on the value of the coach but you do need to know exactly what chassis you have to ensure you get the right info for service and recall information.

I'll take that 2104 Prevost Shell and wait for the chassis in 2103.

[Bill_Satellite]

This is a pretty typical scenario. The manufacturer of the RV (not the chassis) can set the year. It's an issue (my opinion that it is an issue) with lower end RV's but the same thing happens with coaches in the Prevost line. The US manufacturer buys a 2104 Prevost shell and converts it in 2014/15 but it does not sell. The manufacturer simply changes the model year from 2015 to 2016 if it does not sell. If it sits there for another year they again change the model year to 2017. There is nothing "wrong" with this and it likely has no effect on the value of the coach but you do need to know exactly what chassis you have to ensure you get the right info for service and recall information.

[carringb]

Remember 2008 was an especially rough time on the RV makers. Ford seems pretty responsive to market fluctuations, but Workhorse seemed to have continued steady production, resulting in more chassis than the RV makers would buy. This ultimately led to their cash flow problems which caused them to stop production and file for bankruptcy. The current Workhorse is really a Navistar product.

[Effy]

This isn't uncommon. Chassis - especially slower years - will sit at a manufacturer until they pluck them from the yard and build the house on them. The model year is always the year of the house because that's when it was built. Maybe it's a year, maybe longer than the chassis. It's really no big deal and to your benefit. Your RV is worth more when they go by the house. No one wants to buy a brand new 2 year old coach. And if they built the house and waited for the chassis to be done - well that would be pretty odd wouldn't it...

[Dutch_12078]

The final manufacturer determines the model year, not the chassis builder.

Q And A’s on Split Model Years for Motorhomes

[harold1946]

Just because the chassis is two years older than the coach. it does not necessarily mean there the dealer is pulling a fast one. Many times a company will purchase unused chassis from other builders, or those not sold by the chassis manufacturer, for whatever reason.
If you will go to IRV2,com and inquire under the Workhorse and Chevrolet chassis forum, with the last eight numbers if the VIN, someone there will be able to assist you with any outstanding recalls. The only hassle would be finding a service center that still has the parts.
There is no cost for any recalls.
Good luck; Harold