VIN on a 1977

[TedD]

Hi, I just purchased a 15' 1977 Sunline Travel Trailer with no title. The previous owner said there is no VIN. Is this true? I would need a valid Vehicle Identification Number to register it without a title.

[JohnB]

Check on the side of the trailer A frame, maybe on the side close to the ball coupler for a stamped in number

It may may not be the normal 17 digit VIN of today, but they did use a form of a VIN

Post a picture if you can find one, it might be paint covered. We have a club member Sunline Fan who knows the older campers better, he can look at the number you hopefully can find and maybe tell you that is or is not the VIN from that era

Hope this helps

John

[TedD]

I will check this location for the VIN. the camper is still at the seller's location 70 miles away since I'm unable to get it registered to drive it home. Thank you.

[TedD]

I had my insurance agent look up the 2014 license plate that remained from two owners ago and found an old registration at the RMV that has a VIN 453376. Would this mean it's a 1976?

[JohnB]

Originally Posted by TedD

I had my insurance agent look up the 2014 license plate that remained from two owners ago and found an old registration at the RMV that has a VIN 453376. Would this mean it's a 1976?

Hi Ted,

I do not know how to decode the older pre 1980 VIN's and I do not know if that VIN declares a 1976 model.

I will send a note to our Sunline Guru, (Sunline Fan) of the older campers and see if he can shed some light on your older VIN.

John

[Sunline Fan]

Originally Posted by TedD

I had my insurance agent look up the 2014 license plate that remained from two owners ago and found an old registration at the RMV that has a VIN 453376. Would this mean it's a 1976?

Hello Ted,

The previous owner is technically correct- there is no VIN for your trailer since it is pre-1980. The federally-mandated 17 digit Vehicle Identification Number format started in 1980. Prior to that, manufacturers were allowed to do whatever they wanted for a serial number, which Sunline typically have five, six, and seven digit numbers. Your trailer is definitely pre-1980.

Normally yes, the serial number your insurance agent found would mean 1976. It does look like a pre-1980 Sunline serial number format.

However, your trailer visibly looks like a 1978-79. 1976-77 Sunlines looked much different visually, having painted, textured metal strips of siding in the side for striping instead of the vinyl decals like you have. The Sunline logo was also quite different. From the rock guard design, yours appears to be a 1979. I have a hunch the trailer itself reads 453379 and the last digit was transposed incorrectly.

Also, your trailer appears to be the 15' SC floorplan.

[TedD]

Thank you Sunline Fan. That explains why the MA RMV had this VIN previously registered as a 79. I already registered it in Maine as a 77 so I have a bit of a mess to clean up when I transfer registration to my home state of Massachusetts.