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scout4trout's avatar
scout4trout
Explorer
Dec 06, 2016

Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin

Just putting together the materials for our Alpenlite since we're trading it in on the new Northern-lite 8-11 Sportsman. I never noticed before that it has the shipping weight from the manufacturer, 2,678.5 lbs. and I can say that the weight is right on. I know that owners sometimes say that when they weigh their camper, that the weight is higher than the manufacturer or dealer stated, but if you buy new, you have to receive a certificate of origin, so you should know exactly what the true weight is. Or is is possible that the certificates don't always state the accurate weight? But for shipping, I'd think they would have to.
  • My camper is about 300 lb heavier than the weight I could find listed on the net.
    Per my experience nobody is really checking shipping weight.
  • scout4trout wrote:
    ...but if you buy new, you have to receive a certificate of origin,...


    The only time a dealer would provide the customer with the MSO (manufacturer's statement of origin) is if there's no title / license plate issued on a truck camper where it's being sold, OR if the buyer is buying out of state and taking it back to their home state to to the title/license on their own.

    Some states don't issue titles / license plates on truck campers.

    If the selling dealer handles the title/licensing (if the state they sell in requires title / license), the customer will never see the MSO. The title clerk takes the MSO directly to the licensing office, and that's with the state licensing agency uses to generate the title.

    Not all RV manufacturers weigh each and every rig that comes off the assembly line, so they may not have an "as built" weight on the MSO. The MSO could just have a weight of that particular model - like a "base weight", not of that actual unit.

    The MSO is the "birth certificate" of anything with wheels that gets used on public roads.
  • I don't have a title or MSO, just a bill of sale. PA does not title or license pickup campers.
  • towpro wrote:
    I don't have a title or MSO, just a bill of sale. PA does not title or license pickup campers.


    That's bizarre that the selling dealer didn't give you the MSO. They should have it, and should have given it to you.

    RV Factories provide it with every unit leaving their factory.