What you NEED to know about Motorhomes and VIN Numbers (and Newmar’s mess)
For the SECOND time in recent months, I find myself addressing a potential blockbuster problem in the RV industry. In May of this year I shared with you a Potential Knockout Punch to the RV industry. A class action lawsuit regarding frame failure in trailers. A few short months have passed since that major issue broke (it’s still ongoing) and I fully expect “more shoes to drop” related to frame failure.
The Issue
This latest RV industry issue centers around reports from one RV’er who owns a Newmar King Aire. He is now facing over $600,000. in fines to the U.S. government as a result of how his chassis’ VIN is displayed.
In a video on Liz Amazing’s YouTube channel, the owners explained that they were trying to cross the border from Canada to the U.S.A. with the intent of selling their Newmar in the United States. It seems that U.S. Border Patrol had other thoughts on that transaction moving forward after inspecting their chassis’ VIN.
Motorhomes – All About VIN’s
Let’s start with a little background information that many RV buyers are not necessarily aware of. Motorhomes typically come with TWO VIN numbers. One is provided by the chassis manufacturer, the other by the RV manufacturer who builds the RV “box” on top of the chassis.
For example, Newmar, who is generally regarded as a quality RV manufacturer uses Spartan, Freightliner and Ford chassis’ for their campers. Newmar orders chassis from each manufacturer in bulk and stores them until they are ready to build a motorhome on top of it.
A period of time often passes between the arrival of a chassis and the building of the motorhome. As a result, the chassis may have a different model year VIN than the motorhome. For example, a 2026 Newmar may be built on a 2025 chassis. Know that this is common in the RV industry and has nothing to do with the current controversy which I plan to address next.
Also, despite the current issue, I continue to recommend Newmar to my Concierge RV Clients when they are considering a motorhome. Although, we ARE going to be looking at VIN’s far more carefully than we have in the past on ANY motorhome! That said, this issue MUST be resolved quickly and hopefully it is limited to just Newmar though these things have a tendency to spread!
The chassis VIN must be clearly accessible to inspectors
The most recent “explosion” in the RV industry centers around how RV and chassis manufacturers display the chassis VIN. As I understand it (and Liz Amazing on YouTube has recently done two excellent videos on this issue), the issue surfaced when a Canadian couple tried to cross the border with the intent of selling their high end Newmar motorhome here in the states.
It appears that Spartan, the maker of the chassis for this Newmar King Aire did not have a full (17 figure) VIN etched onto the chassis (they only used the “last 5”.) Further, the VIN inside the camper was not permanently mounted. The chassis VIN is typically found behind the driver’s seat. It appears, the Border Patrol found the inside VIN was not permanently mounted. Instead, Newmar used a sticker that could be removed thus raising the risk of fraud. This is a potential and serious risk to owners and buyers of motorhomes – and it MAY be a common practice with Class A campers in general.
While Newmar is at the center of this latest controversy, time will tell whether other manufacturers get dragged into this issue. Further, as I prepare this post, I’m not clear on whether Newmar and Spartan have acted in good faith or not. In this situation, I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt as I’ve (attempted) to read the U.S. Federal regulations on VIN numbers and as expected they are clear as mud!
This is most definitely NOT a “non-issue”
As I mentioned earlier, the owner of the camper who was flagged at the U.S. border ultimately got fined over $600,000. by the U.S. government for trying to cross the border with an insufficient VIN. At this time, it is unclear how widespread this issue is, though it DOES appear to impact numerous campers – at least those made by Newmar on Spartan chassis’.
I remain hopeful yet cautious
I hope that Newmar is able to work with Federal authorities to solve this issue quickly and definitively so that (literally) thousands of Newmar owners can sleep at night. IF you’re thinking of purchasing a motorhome (ANY type of motorhome), I encourage you to contact your state authorities with whom you must register the vehicle and ask for CLEAR feedback on where the chassis’ VIN must be displayed and HOW it must be displayed. I believe (perhaps naively) if you have the “blessing” of your state authorities, the federal authorities will likely find you in compliance. DO NOT simply trust the seller!
I also hope this issue does not spread to more chassis and RV manufacturers. In an industry where the average camper is built to virtually NO acceptable standard, there are few “good guys” and I regard Newmar as one of them.
Thinking of buying a camper?
There IS a better way than walking into a dealer and hoping for the best! My Concierge RV Buying (and Selling) Service offers you a “guide by your side who also has your back.” That guide is me! I’ll work with you initially as an advisor and consultant learning about your wants and needs when it comes to RV’s and RV travel. I then conduct searches for you to find the RIGHT camper.
After identifying a few potential campers, I conduct interviews (interrogations) with sellers to learn more about their camper. Once we identify what might become “the one”, I negotiate on it for you. My goal? To get you the BEST possible price. I then will arrange for an inspection if warranted and finally advise you how to complete the purchase. I even have clients reach out to me post-purchase for continued support or advice. Got questions? I’m usually available by phone – 307 269 2546 (typically Mountain time, though from November through early April – Pacific time this winter!)
Winter is coming… SOON
Are you planning to be in your RV camper this winter? Are you located where it gets COLD? IF so, YOU need an RV SKIRT. RV Skirts help keep your camper from freezing up. The RV skirt does this by blocking the wind from blowing beneath your camper. You then build up a “heat core” underneath. This protects the underbelly (where your tanks and plumbing are!) I have camped nearly each winter since 2011 in the Rockies. This is my story where I share my experience purchasing a CUSTOM RV SKIRT for my Glacier Peak 5th Wheel and whom I recommend to as well.
Quick update on Autumn 2025 RV Sales
Some buyers are SLOWLY returning to purchase RV Campers. Deals continue to be exceptional as dealers are willing to come off their asking prices to close a sale. I’m hearing from RV sales people that “floor traffic” at RV dealers is up, but I’m not seeing alot of inventory moving.
Bottom line, it is still a buyers market. Sellers are often not “getting their price” (with few exceptions such as small trailers.) As we head into winter, business (rv purchasing) across much of the nation naturally falls off. Anyone looking to trade a camper to a dealer can expect the dealer to offer “bottom dollar” – or – hide what they’re really offering you for the camper you’re trading by keeping the price of what they’re selling you artificially boosted.
Personal Update – As we head deeper into Autumn…
It’s shaping up to be a traditional autumn here in Montana as we had our first outbreak of cold weather. It meant a sugar coating of snow here in Anaconda on the 5th of October following by a morning with a deep freeze as temperatures fell to 22F.
It was a preview as temperatures have recovered and afternoon highs have been in the 60’s and low 70’s for the past several days. That will all change on Saturday Oct. 11 as cooler temps and rain moves in. By Sunday, snow will mix in and temperatures will struggle to reach 50 each afternoon – perhaps from here on! So, this time, the cold snap will stick around. There will also be lots of rain (and snow) falling. THAT is a VERY welcome development in this region as water is always a welcome commodity!
I’m still traveling. I do not expect snow to impact my travel as I work my way from here to the Idaho panhandle. Once I reach the Kellogg area, I expect to remain in the same site all winter.
Last Words – as I complete this post on Oct 13
It snowed last night – enough that I’m not sure I’m going to attempt travel today with the camper. Its 8:30am as I write this, its about 25F, snowing, and it may stay near freezing all day. A willow tree has “sunk” onto nearly the roof of my camper as its weighted down by the snow (it still has all its leaves.) I will share photos soon!
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