Please help with VIN on Campster

[JoanneJ]

Hi am Joanne in Washington State we recently acquired a 1970 Trails West Campster, how ever we can not find the vin to get it titled and new plates it had been abandon on a foreclosure property and we could not find anyone to come haul it off, after getting home we realized how really neat it is and have decided to keep it and fix it up and use it however we can not find the vin and do not know where to look if anyone has any ideas please share them and any other information that you think might be helpful will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your help in advance.

[Bob Miller]

Did it have any plates on it? Maybe you can trace the VIN backwards from there.

In most western states you can't just take an abandoned trailer and get it licensed. In CA you would have to file a mechanics lien against it (for parking fees?) and post notices etc. Then once the lein is approved the DMV will create a new VIN plate for it if none is available.

But to answer your question, they are often stamped into the frame in the tongue area. With a lot of paint on top it might be hard to find.

I think that the first thing to do is contact your local DMV office for advice on how to proceed.

[Roy in TO]

How do you know it is a 1970?
Look for a metal or stamped tag anywhere on the body or frame, inside closets hidden in tubes etc.
Some find a number stamped into the frame in the tongue area. It looks like you are looking for 3 or 4 digits. See this thread:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...ner-58242.html

[JoanneJ]

Roy I don't know for sure only from photos on line and I did fine 1901 on frame up front by the hitch it looks like a welder wrote it though.

[JoanneJ]

Roy my mistake 1901.

[JoanneJ]

Again my mistake I have help can you tell, 9101. My help is fired.

[JoanneJ]

Rob thanks for responding, I already went to the dmv and the this is a bit different than most cases of abandon vehicles, we process foreclosed properties once the bank owns them again, and so all items left after a personnel property eviction is considered trash, normally we would have had a tow company come and get it and then they auction them off, but they did not feel there was any value so they would not haul it off, so we do have some documentation backing up the personnel property time frame release and approval to remove from the owner/fannie mae and so far the dmv has been really helpful and got me all the required forms etc and they said if I jump through the hoops they did not see why we couldn't at least get 3 yr registration and if in that time no issues then it should be free and clear. We'll see hoping it will all work out its a really cute little trailer and I would hate to have to cut it up and send it to the landfill. Joanne

[Bobbie Mayer]

I think 9101 is too high to be the VIN for a 1970 (my 1970 is S149.) Could the 9 actually be a letter? (can't remember what other letters people have in their campster numbers- S may refer to the location. ) Check some other campster threads and you might find a different letter.

Mine is on a plate on the back and I haven't seen it anywhere else. But try looking for it stamped under the tongue (that's where it was on our boat trailer.) I'm sure you can get it registered eventually and it is well worth doing.

[Bob Miller]

That's good news from your DMV. CA isn't always as co-operative.

The real answer is that your serial number is hidden in a set of number stamps at the local hardware or Harbor Freight store (Hint?)

[Donna D.]

Bobbie, can you explain what you mean (or maybe provided a picture with an arrow showing where) Mine is on a plate on the back and I haven't seen it anywhere else.

Inquiring minds want to know.

Joanne, I think it's grand you're trying to save the ole girl. Pictures?

[Bobbie Mayer]

It's right there, between the license plate and the corgi, small metal plate.

By not anywhere else, I mean I haven't run across it- I have not specifically looked for it, either, since it was obvious.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Bobbie Mayer

Attachment 62800

It's right there, between the license plate and the corgi, small metal plate.

THANKS!