HELP ASAP PLEASE: Re chassis/'house' dates on MH

[dnta11]

I've made a deposit on a used RV. It's advertised as a 2022. However once I got the VIN # I called Forest River with some small question and they said, based on the VIN #, that the RV is a 2021. I did find out that these 'split years' are common and the chassis and 'house' can have different years. HOWEVER, the person selling this RV, when I questioned her about this, said the 'house' is a 2021 Sunseeker, but the Ford chassis is a year NEWER, a 2022, and that the title says 2022. Everywhere I look on the internet folks talk about the CHASSIS being a year or more OLDER than the 'house' on the chassis. I've not found the other way around. Does anyone know if it's possible to be the other way around? I'm questioning my trust level now as this is a 'buy w/o seeing in person' situation,. I AM getting a video walk thru tomorrow with the dealer tomorrow (I can still get out of the sale) and wonder what paperwork I can ask for. to prove the year of each of those? Or how else can I know?

I'd appreciate if anyone can give a quick answer since there are major time constraints here. Thanks so much!!

[Grit_dog]

dnta11 wrote:
I now understand (thanks to y’all & other research) it’s fine & COMMON to have a 2022 RV model with a 22 ‘housing’, with the chassis one or two years older. But the opposite of advertising a USED 2022 Sunseeker that’s actually a 2021 Sunseeker model seems wrong to me. As a potential buyer, I’ve been doing all my USED VALUE research with “2022 Sunseeker” models and believe in this rarer case of advertising based on the NEWER 22 Ford Chassis, I should have been looking at 2021 Sunseekers, not 2022, for FAIR USED VALUES. If this was a 22 SS model with a 2021 chassis I’d have no issue w/advertising it as a 2022.

Yes it does seem like it would be the other way around, generally.
But think Covid maybe had something to do with it. RV mfg has house “shells” or portions tagged and ready to go onto the chassis, but supply chain issues, they don’t get the chassis in time to be ‘21 models and actually receive ‘22 models.
Again, the difference means virtually nothing IMO. Get the chassis vin if you must verify for your own peace of mind (since it doesn’t appear you have a particular specific chassis feature that you’re honing in on that you may not want a particular model year).
It’s a RV. It’s almost new and better look, smell, ride, drive and operate as new.
And unless you plan on flipping it in a year or 2, several years down the road, 1 model year difference will make no difference in resale. Miles, maintenance and condition will drive the value of it.

[ktmrfs]

the other item in MY is that if a MH is like other things like ambulance, etc. is the chassis mfg sells a what I'd call a "rolling chassis" to an upfitter. The "upfitter" then finishes the work and assigns MY etc to the FINISHED vehicle for sale.

[dnta11]

LASTLY (my issue is only in relation to fair value research when buying used) The 2021 post from another forum (I found other similar ones) says:
As others have said, this is common practice (for an RV model to be on an older chassis)
The IMPORTANT THING is to make sure your Department of Motor Vehicles properly registers the completed vehicle so that the registration shows the proper model year. IF they mistakenly use the chassis year model, it may affect your resale value. If they give you a hard time, contact the DOT.
They can provide you with the law on registration of completed vehicles.

[dnta11]

LASTLY (my issue is only in relation to fair value research when buying used) This 2021 post from another forum (I also found other similar ones) says:
As others have said, this is common practice (for an RV model to be on an older chassis)
The IMPORTANT THING is to make sure your Department of Motor Vehicles properly registers the completed vehicle so that the registration shows the proper model year. IF they mistakenly use the chassis year model, it may affect your resale value. If they give you a hard time, contact the DOT and they can provide you with the law on registration of completed vehicles.

[dnta11]

I now understand (thanks to y’all & other research) it’s fine & COMMON to have a 2022 RV model with a 22 ‘housing’, with the chassis one or two years older. But the opposite of advertising a USED 2022 Sunseeker that’s actually a 2021 Sunseeker model seems wrong to me. As a potential buyer, I’ve been doing all my USED VALUE research with “2022 Sunseeker” models and believe in this rarer case of advertising based on the NEWER 22 Ford Chassis, I should have been looking at 2021 Sunseekers, not 2022, for FAIR USED VALUES. If this was a 22 SS model with a 2021 chassis I’d have no issue w/advertising it as a 2022.

[JoeH]

I bought a used Pace Arrow Vision in 2000. It was advertised as a 1998 and the Indiana title and all accompanying doc matched that. When I checked the VIN for chassis it came back as a 1999. This made sense as it was a Ford V-10 and 1999 chassis year was the first year for that motor . Anyway, I bought it, when I titled it in Florida, they use the VIN, not the House build date, so my 1998 became a 1999.

[dnta11]

Thanks for all the quick responses! I feel better prepared to make my decision today. Safe travels to all.

[Grit_dog]

What’s the issue? Wouldn’t expect much if any price difference for 1 year either way, apples to apples.
Not worth worrying about IMO. However there is, again, no lack of campers or all types for sale and it’s getting into buyers price season in most of the country, so either it’s a deal or it’s not. That is what is important.

[ktmrfs]

mfg of vehicles sometimes start MY way early. Two examples, the 2015 GM 2500 series was initially mfg started in very early 2014, maybe even late 2013. in late 2014 they did some updates and called it a 2015.5 if I go to gm to get parts.

My 2004 duramax is similar.in very early 2014 the did updates and it's a 2004.5 when I go to get parts.

And my 97 Mercedes E420 was actually built in late 2005 but called a 97 MY.

So it may be the same with chassis for the MH. the mfg may have started 2022 mfg while the conversion was listed as a 2021.

[enblethen]

There should be two numbers to check. VIN is for the chassis and Forest River should have a serial number.

[Gooma]

Model years are all over the place. Most manufacrures have been 2024 for several months. The VIN number of the chassis is the the important one. If it's a 2022, so whats the big deal? Maybe Forest River got the first 2022 chassis and put on the last 2021 body. Again,so what?

[dnta11]

Thanks! All good advice, which I usually take myself haha Just got uncharacteristically caught up. They're both a 'unique camper' and consignment dealer. I can get out of it, and will likely do that tomorrow. I found them on RV Trader (which I'm sure many sells are scammy) yet this dealer appears to be legit. Besides their website, they're all over the internet (Facebook, Yahoo, etc.) with good reviews dating back to late 2021 (and yes, I know reviews, like on many sell sites, are worthless) yet I also usually have good intuition. Never been scammed before (that I know of haha). YET THANKS! I know your advice is dead-on. I appreciate it.

[CA_Traveler]

I don't know how they can build the house before the chassis, just doesn't make any sense to me.

"I can still get out of the sale" Are you sure? Exactly does any paperwork you signed say and how long if you've given them $?

Trying to be helpful: Never buy a RV that you haven't personally inspected and driven and never give them upfront $ until you are ready to buy. If you don't have RV experience hire an independent professional inspector and get a full report. Plus have your own PDI (Pre Delivery Inspection) that includes everything. With your work clothes check everything including underneath for damage, rust etc. This will cost you a few hundred bucks and transportation but it can be pocket change compared to the potential for very expensive repairs.