[SOLVED] VIN sticker unreadable, can't find it on frame either. Ideas?

[RangerGress]

A year ago I bought a 2008 Flagstaff 831 fkss, a 31' camper-trailer. VIN decal is unreadable. Lady that sold it to me said she'd get the title from the bank asap and send it to me. That began a year long comedy of dysfunction so I never did end up with the title nor VIN.

I'm not worried about her being a scammer, I've a receipt for the camper, I really just think the lady is, I dunno, problematic. But I can't title the darn thing and get insurance until I figure out the VIN, and that has me stumped. I read that the VIN is supposed to be stamped on the front frame cross-member, but I don't see it. Can someone help me understand precisely where on frame the VIN is supposed to be? Like maybe I can carefully abrade the paint off at that location and the stamp will suddenly appear.

Is the VIN anywhere else on the trailer? Any other ideas as to how I might get the VIN? Like maybe Forest River has some alphanumeric code hidden somewhere such that if I give it to them they can cross reference it on their computer and provide the VIN?

 

[Boomerweps]

Mine, Forest River product, was on a paper sticker on the front A frame. I took pictures of all the data stickers before they could fade or get damaged. I know, no help. Did it come with the old license plate? DMV should be able to look old plates up. If they won’t, get your state rep or senator to assist.

 

[Oaklevel]

Different models but mine have always been stamped into the tongue sometimes on top sometimes on the side. Look closely around the gas bottles. Often on the driverside.

As you have found out the stickers on the side fade out............ Look in the cabinets ( often kitchen area) for a capacity sticker that may have a VIN number as well.

Good Luck. !!

 

[bikendan]

My 2007 Rockwood had the white factory weights sticker, inside one of the kitchen cabinet doors. It had the VIN printed on it.

 

[essarebee]

I would contact law enforcement. A title exists, and you should have it.

 

[RangerGress]

I would contact law enforcement. A title exists, and you should have it.

If I can figure out the VIN, I can get a title. My concern with contacting law enforcement is that I'll lose control of the situation. When the answer might not go your way, sometimes it's better to avoid asking the question.

 

[DJ252]

If I can figure out the VIN, I can get a title. My concern with contacting law enforcement is that I'll lose control of the situation. When the answer might not go your way, sometimes it's better to avoid asking the question.

I think this is the right call, for now.

Different states may have different rules but in MO, you can get a new title for titled vehicle but you will need the VIN.

Bought a piece of property that had an old boat engine in a shed. Called the DMV, they sent me to the water patrol, who were very nice. Sent me the form for an abandoned vehicle. It required the serial numbers so they could check against a data base of stolen vehicles. So long as that came back clean, a new title would be issued.

I imagine there is something similar in other states, for other vehicles but would need the VIN. There may be procedures without too but I wouldn't know them.

 

[willcedric843]

Check the A-frame near the propane tanks, the VIN is often lightly stamped there, sometimes on the driver's side. You might need to sand or clean the area to see it. Also look inside cabinets, especially in the kitchen, for a weight or info sticker with the VIN.

 

[essarebee]

Could someone prove ownership to a DMV with only a receipt with no VIN?

 

[5picker]

Could someone prove ownership to a DMV with only a receipt with no VIN?

Ownership... sure.
But no DMV will issue a title without a VIN.

 

[dblr]

In my home state of Delaware, the last time I renewed my truck registration they could not read the original vin sticker due to fading, lucky for me the state police where there doing what they call theft renewal (not sure what that means) anyway they sent me to them where they researched the history of the vin number on the registration card. About 45 minutes later they were satisfied with their research and installed a new vin plate on my truck. Funny thing was DMV inverted two numbers when I transferred the truck to Delaware which is now corrected.

Maybe your state could do something like that if all else fails.

 

[RangerGress]

Could someone prove ownership to a DMV with only a receipt with no VIN?

With no VIN on the receipt, I don't think the DMV would accept it as proof. In their shoes, I wouldn't.

 

[RangerGress]

In my home state of Delaware, the last time I renewed my truck registration they could not read the original vin sticker due to fading, lucky for me the state police where there doing what they call theft renewal (not sure what that means) anyway they sent me to them where they researched the history of the vin number on the registration card. About 45 minutes later they were satisfied with their research and installed a new vin plate on my truck. Funny thing was DMV inverted two numbers when I transferred the truck to Delaware which is now corrected.

Maybe your state could do something like that if all else fails.

You had the VIN on your registration card, correct? Maybe I could get the crazy former owner to send me an old registration. The problem is that it's a lot easier to ignore me than it is for her to do the right thing and try to square me away. Some people just suck and there's no fixing them.

 

[bikendan]

If I can figure out the VIN, I can get a title. My concern with contacting law enforcement is that I'll lose control of the situation. When the answer might not go your way, sometimes it's better to avoid asking the question.

Did you look for the white factory weight sticker, like I suggested?

 

[png31]

At this point I would be concerned the VIN had been ground off to conceal criminal activity. Your reluctance to contact law enforcement is understandable, but it’s a lot better to be a victim of fraud than be suspected of being in possession of stolen property.

 

[RangerGress]

Did you look for the white factory weight sticker, like I suggested?

Honestly, no. It was a good idea, but I've already been thru the trailer thoroughly and if there was such a sticker, I'd have found it.

I've had the camper for 14mo. When I first got it, not knowing anything at all about camper trailers, I spent weeks going over every bit of it with a fine tooth comb. I needed to understand it, and I needed to fix things that weren't working--I'm an engineer, so can usually fix broken bits. Then, last Dec-Feb, I spent prob 5wks living out of it while deer hunting. Unless the sticker might be behind one of the panels that is screwed in place, or behind stove or fridge, I've no such sticker.

If you think that's reasonable, that the sticker might be behind something as above, I will definitely pursue that. Everyone here knows more about campers than I do.

What I did do today is crawl around under the tongue area with a flashlight, to include under the propane tanks and the first frame cross beam. I had a flashlight and, ah, my strongest reading glasses, so that I could carefully inspect anything that looked at all like a VIN stamped into steel. Nothing. ****.

I also texted the dysfunctional seller and asked her if she had an old registration card she'd be willing to send me.

 

[bikendan]

Here's the sticker from my 2007 Rockwood Roo 23SS(notice the VIN):

UVW factory sticker

www.forestriverforums.com

It was on the inside of an overhead cabinet door. Pretty sure that 2008 models had the same white sticker.

 

[dblr]

You had the VIN on your registration card, correct?

Yes, but the problem was they could not read the original vin sticker, there is supposed to be a number stamped on the frame and motor, but they could not find them. The registration card at least gave them a start

 

[Mokurt]

"A year ago I bought a 2008 Flagstaff 831 fkss, a 31' camper-trailer. VIN decal is unreadable. Lady that sold it to me said she'd get the title from the bank asap and send it to me."

So the owner has a loan on a 2008 trailer?

Find out what bank and contact them.

 

[RangerGress]

"A year ago I bought a 2008 Flagstaff 831 fkss, a 31' camper-trailer. VIN decal is unreadable. Lady that sold it to me said she'd get the title from the bank asap and send it to me."

So the owner has a loan on a 2008 trailer?

Find out what bank and contact them.

Neg. The lady was a mess. After I drove away with the trailer, the lady said that she was wrong about a bank having her title and said that "I must have it somewhere." Was a good thought tho.

Bikendan had the right idea--sticker on the inside of a cabinet door. One of the cabinet doors had been removed, at some point. Bike's post prompted me to go looking for it, and I found it in a storage area. On the back of the cabinet door was the sticker, so now I have the VIN and can start the paperwork to get a new title.

I want to thank everyone in the thread for jumping in to help.