Any idea on these numbers?

[Nevadastars]

We are going to be looking at a 2006 Tioga SL 31w in a couple of days, and curious about an added set of numbers on the front cap as well as the rear panel. My first thought was a previous rental, but all the rentals I have seen do not have awnings or carpet.

The dealer I am talking to has been very pleasant and helpful, but they are stumped on the numbers as well. He thought maybe a club or something like that. Any ideas? Here is a pic...

[IAMICHABOD]

Nevadastars wrote:
One thing I have noticed with ex-rentals, is they don't have awnings or carpet. At least the ones I have seen from El Monte. That makes them fairly easy to spot, expecially if you are looking for a particular brand and model. The non rentals usually have both.

That is true in most cases but a few companies like Apollo and Star RV rental have awnings and almost no markings on them to show that they were rentals.

I think the reason for the awnings on some of the newer ones is that they are automatic ones and what more fool proof that a push button.:B
It also helps in the resale value.

[Nevadastars]

One thing I have noticed with ex-rentals, is they don't have awnings or carpet. At least the ones I have seen from El Monte. That makes them fairly easy to spot, expecially if you are looking for a particular brand and model. The non rentals usually have both.

[IAMICHABOD]

I know that the OPs question has been answered but a bit of info that may help others with these questions.

When Rental companies sell their fleet they will all try to make them look as common as any other RV. Each in their own way.

Cruise America will take their full body wrap off and put Majestic Decals by Four Winds on them.

El Monte RV
Will take all of their Logos off and replace them with the Original Type Brand Name.
The cab over Logo on mine was replaced with a new Tioga decal and the only thing that can be seen if the light is right is the shadow of the unit numbers on the Chrome front bumper and bit of the same on the rear hatch, they did a good job of buffing it out.

While some like Camping World make no effort to hide where their logos were.

I have seen smaller companies that put their unit number in the corner of the windshield and very small bumper stickers that have their name on them, so when it comes time to sell there is almost no sign that it was a rental.
As others have said a quick check with Car Fax will tell you if it was a rental or not.

[Not_a_Clue]

Nevadastars wrote:
We are going to be looking at a 2006 Tioga SL 31w in a couple of days, and curious about an added set of numbers on the front cap as well as the rear panel. My first thought was a previous rental, but all the rentals I have seen do not have awnings or carpet.

The dealer I am talking to has been very pleasant and helpful, but they are stumped on the numbers as well. He thought maybe a club or something like that. Any ideas? Here is a pic...

This looks just like our first rig. We bought it from Mike Thompsons in Fountain Valley. Maybe it is......... Great rig, we loved it. We traded it back in to MT a year and a half later for a small Class A.

[Nevadastars]

tpi, read my edit in the post above yours.

[tpi]

It appears to be.

Note the code where first two letters reference the make.

[Nevadastars]

tpi wrote:
You might want to call Mike Thompson RV in southern Ca. I've seen similar numbers on some of their inventory pictures. If so they appear to be stock numbers.0
Edit: http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php/topic,64851.10/wap2.html

The salesman did mention it came from that place, but I had forgot the name of the outfit. I will give Mike Thompson a call tomorrow. Hopefully, that is all it is.....a stock number.

I will get a VIN before I make the long drive to go see it. I wasn't sure if Carfax did motor homes or not.

edit: I decided to give them a call a minute ago. I only got through the first 4 digits and the guy knew what it was.....T (Tioga) S(Special) then 06, the year of it. He said it sold new like that from them, and not a rental. So, looks like we will be looking at it this Saturday.

[JaxDad]

Rental fleet ID numbers.

A friend bought one like that, found out later by Googling the number there was a bunch of photographs posted of folks vacations where they referred to the number in the description.

[The_Logans]

Perhaps a CarFax check on the VIN number will tell you it's history?

[tpi]

You might want to call Mike Thompson RV in southern Ca. I've seen similar numbers on some of their inventory pictures. If so they appear to be stock numbers.0
Edit: http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php/topic,64851.10/wap2.html

[Ductape]

If you have any friends at a Ford dealer they may be able to give you some clues off the service history with the vin number.

[donn0128]

They sure can do a title search and find out who the previous owners were. Bet it was a rental agency. Possibly a rental broker or someone who hadit in a rental pool

[Nevadastars]

I didn't see any other on their website, or other dealers in the area with similar numbers. The coach is near Sacramento and they got it 300 miles away in the southern California area.

[jhlady]

Just a thought, but does he have more than one with numbers on it? Possibly similar? If so they were in some sort of fleet type configuration.

Might look at other lots in the area to see if maybe a bunch of them were through the auction or something.

Hope this helps.