VIN Number Trauma!

[Paul Platosh]

Hi all-

OK, so I tug my 13 ' Burro to the DMV in Oregon, and 3 different people including the manager can't find the VIN number stamped on the vehicle (I have the title, mind you). They refer me to the state police who can't find it either. Anyone know where Burro stamped the VIN number on their trailers? Thanks a bunch. Oh, mine's an 84 if it matters-

Dealing with the DMV,

Paul

[Kevin A]

Hi all-

OK, so I tug my 13 ' Burro to the DMV in Oregon, and 3 different people including the manager can't find the VIN number stamped on the vehicle (I have the title, mind you). They refer me to the state police who can't find it either. Anyone know where Burro stamped the VIN number on their trailers? Thanks a bunch. Oh, mine's an 84 if it matters-

Dealing with the DMV,

Paul

Our 1978 Burro had the VIN engraved on the front hitch area, but I think this was added by a previous owner judging by the somewhat messy numbers. Our UHaul has it stamped near the hitch also.

[Charlie C]

Go to Harbor Freight or something similar, get a set of steel stamps about 3/8" to 1/2" (3/8 is probably better) and stamp the number from your registration somewhere on the frame left side between the coupler and the body of the trailer. Then paint the whole front frame assembly. Go back to a different DMV and show them the number so that they can change your ownership. Don't worry too much about perfection, most of the small trailer manufactureres do this by hand just the same way!

By the way, I didn't suggest this and will deny all knowlege.

[Chester Taje]

Go to Harbor Freight or something similar, get a set of steel stamps about 3/8" to 1/2" (3/8 is probably better) and stamp the number from your registration somewhere on the frame left side between the coupler and the body of the trailer. Then paint the whole front frame assembly. Go back to a different DMV and show them the number so that they can change your ownership. Don't worry too much about perfection, most of the small trailer manufactureres do this by hand just the same way!

By the way, I didn't suggest this and will deny all knowlege.

Too late Charlie C---I saw it.

[Taylor]

I never found the vin no on my 72. It might be under the touge jack. I was luckly that the DMV took it off the title. All I need was a certifited wieght.

[Brian B-P]

My Boler doesn't have the VIN stamped anywhere on the frame. The serial number appears on various labels on the body (inside and out), but nothing is stamped right into the frame. There is a plate on the frame (curb side outside of tongue), but it is just a generic message to look inside the trailer for the serial number, presumably put there because people look there expecting to find a number.

Perhaps Burro didn't stamp a number in the frame either? Only speculation...

[Larry&Carrie]

Too late Charlie C---I saw it.

Hmmm - --just look at it as "refreshing" or "restoring" your trailer. But, to be wise, take it to a different DMV site. Larry

[Jeanne and Steve]

... 3 different people including the manager can't find the VIN number stamped on the vehicle (I have the title, mind you). They refer me to the state police who can't find it either...

Paul

Paul,

The U-Haul we bought had last been titled and registered in another state. It too was missing any visible VIN, and since the title was being transferred from another state, Oregon DMV needed to inspect it to make sure that the VIN on the trailer matched that on the title. Since no VIN could be found anywhere on the trailer, they directed us to the State Police, who also looked for the VIN and then did a background check on the VIN listed on the title. The background check came back without any problems, and the state police directed the DMV to issue a VIN number that matched that on our title. DMV printed a metal sticker with the VIN and placed it on the outside of our trailer.

The DMV gave us a form for the State Police to fill out - you'll need to bring this with you when (or if) you go back to them. The guy at the DMV also recommended that we stamp the assigned VIN number onto our frame in case something ever happened to the sticker they gave us.

Good luck!

Jeanne

[Roger H]

Paul,

All Burros (at least those manufactured in Plymouth MN and Sac City, IA... and yes, even those sold as "kits") have the VIN stamped on the top of the street side tongue rail about 8" behind the back of the coupler. It may be faint, and it's entirely possible that the VIN has been filled in and covered up with paint over the years. You may need to scrape the area with a knife blade to find the VIN. They didn't stamp them particularly deeply.

Here's a photo of where the VIN was located on my '87 17' widebody:





Roger

[Greg A]

Move to Arizona and register it here. They didn't care when I transferred my Scamp title in Feb. I didn't even take the trailer with me and they never asked to see it.

[Darwin Maring]

Here in Virginia the VIN number is on the title.

Our Scamp has the VIN number on the frame up under the loft part of the 5th wheel. It is on a glued on white plastic coated paper. Not really a secure thing to put a vin number on as it can get damaged very easy.

In Virginia they can issue a new VIN and it is riveted to the tong.

Isn’t it a shame that the DMV experts can’t come up with a solution?

[Gary Lynch]

Mine was up by the hitch area.

If there is none, stamp it on. Then go to a different DMV to register it.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Hi all-

OK, so I tug my 13 ' Burro to the DMV in Oregon, and 3 different people including the manager can't find the VIN number stamped on the vehicle (I have the title, mind you). They refer me to the state police who can't find it either. Anyone know where Burro stamped the VIN number on their trailers? Thanks a bunch. Oh, mine's an 84 if it matters-

Dealing with the DMV,

Paul

The physical VIN number on the trailer was never checked. There was a certificate of something or other that came with it. (A 2006 Scamp from the fractory). I just took that to the DMV, got registration and title. The VIN number should be on the title.

I went to the Salem DMV office.

Don't ya just love the DMV

[MyronL]

My '81 13 footer had no serial number stamped on its tongue, lips, or hitch. Believe me, I looked hard. I bought it from the original owner who (by the way) misrepresented it as an '85 and also never provided me with a title, or VIN. He did give me a notarized typed letter confirming the sale, though.

That wasn't good enough for the NJ DMV, of course. Later in the week while cleaning out the thing I found an "Importers and Manufacturer's Statement of Origin to a Motor Vehicle" in it. This ragged little document identified the trailer as an '81 kit built in Plymouth, MN with a serial number B812420.

NJ DMV registered it as "home built" and I got my plate.

[Paul Platosh]

Thanks all for the replies! I took your suggestions and scraped away on the frame behind the hitch, and lo and behold, a faint VIN appeared! I was able to make out 7 of the 15 or so numbers in order. So, confidently, I went back to the DMV. THey came out to the parking lot, saw the 7 numbers, and said "Not good enough!" So now I need to go to the state police to get a cop to tell me he can't read the whole thing, then I have to go back to the DMV with that information so they can issue a new VIN! (And collect the new VIN processing fee, of course.)

Beaurocracy at its finest!

Paul

[Donna D.]

Since you've already scrapped off the paint and will need to repaint that area to prevent rust...why not go all the way and use paint remover to remove ALL the paint. Then take a piece of very thin paper and a pencil and do a "rubbing" of the area. If done carefully, you MAY be able to pull up ALL the numbers. I think it would be worth the effort to try.

I guess my questions is...so what if DMV issues a new number....is that going to be stamped somewhere on the frame by DMV so this NEVER happens again??? I doubt it, so stamp the current number yourself as adviced by previous posts.

Then go to a different DMV...again...fortunately there's a bunch in the Portland area

[Darwin Maring]

For the Canadians: DMV is the Yank Department of Motor Vehicles where we get drivers licenses, license plates, titles and registrations.

Here is my VIN number story:

I purchased a homemade utility trailer with a DMV metal riveted raised number VIN on the tong.

I went 2 get the title transferred over and the “OLD BAG” at the DMV said that there are 2 trailers with the same VIN number and I told her about the tag and she said that didn’t matter, sorry.

I pulled the trailer to the DMV and saw the “OLD BAG” and told her “Would you please come outside to view the metal tag with the raised numbers to verify that I have the correct number and the mistake must B with the other person” and the “OLD BAG” refused to come outside and gave me hell for bringing a non tagged trailer to the DMV.

Went to another DMV with the title only and got it transferred.

Give people a little authority and they go hog wild. They seam to be unable to think outside the box. What the H is it with the DMV’s across the nation.

[Dan B]

Paul,

All Burros (at least those manufactured in Plymouth MN and Sac City, IA... and yes, even those sold as "kits") have the VIN stamped on the top of the street side tongue rail about 8" behind the back of the coupler. It may be faint, and it's entirely possible that the VIN has been filled in and covered up with paint over the years. You may need to scrape the area with a knife blade to find the VIN. They didn't stamp them particularly deeply.

Here's a photo of where the VIN was located on my '87 17' widebody:

Attachment 7936

I did not know that the Burro was manufactured in Iowa or Minn. Do they still produce in those 2 sites?
Roger

[Donna D.]

Burro is out of business (everywhere) and has been for a number of years now.