Comments on: A badge of honor

By: Lor

Lor — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 17:45:29 +0000

If the coach was built in June 2005 on a 2005 Ford, from what I’m reading, it could be legally considered a 2006 model since new models can come out 6 months prior to the year the coach is labeled.
BUT it is LISTED in a brochure for 2005 models and the 2006 brochure has the same coach size with a model number one digit higher than the 2005 model.
Obviously the manufacturer meant to sell it as a 2005 but when that didn’t work, they switched it to 2006.
Their LITERATURE says it is a 2005 and definitely not a 2006.
I’d appreciate opinions about this proving deception.

By: Daver

Daver — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 12:38:46 +0000

Read the article again folks, this is not about title or registeration, or even any manipulation from the dealer, this is about the MANUFACTURER commiting fraud. the dealer in this case may have never known or may have turned a blind eye due to the lower wholesale cost of the unit.

By: WmB

WmB — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 14:20:04 +0000

Here’s the Agreement among most states: Just an FYI - I agree that rebadging a motorhome, if it actually happens, is improper, but the issue of the Split Year Title of a motorhome has been addressed and is legal in the right circumstances. The Model Year of a Motorhome is obtained from the Final Stage (motorhome) Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO) — Not the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The practice of titling RVs based on the year of manufacture of the coach part of the motorhome and not the chassis was confirmed by resolution of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) in 1979. They state in part, “To convey ownership of a new motor home, the assignment will be made on the multi-stage Certificate of Origin.” ” The Model year of a new complete vehicle shall be the only year recorded in the motor vehicle agency files and on the registration and title.” Resolutions 18C, 19C and 20 of the AAMVA apply. Source: AAMVA Policy Positions and Bylaws, 1997.
SIMILARLY, the FTC has been asked this question in the past, and a in a letter responding to a request, dated January 6, 1999, from D. Reed Freeman - partly stated that, “It would not likely be considered an unfair or deceptive act or practice for a motor vehicle manufacturer to designate the model year of a multi-stage motor home or recreational vehicle to designate the model year of a multi-stage motor home or recreational vehicle as that of the completed motor home or recreational vehicle, even when that model year is different from that of the vehicle’s chassis.”

By: Lor

Lor — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 03:36:13 +0000

We bought a 2006 RV and found out it is on a 2005 Ford E450 chassis. The dealer said the coach was a 2006 even though a 2005 chassis was used. The vin number says it is a 2005. The dealer could not find a 2006 brochure so gave us a 2007 booklet for the features. The manufacturer sent me a 2006 brochure at my request and there is a later model than we have, but not ours. I finally found our model in a 2005 brochure about another model ! So did they just retag the coach as a year older than it is?
This is our first RV so we didn’t know about these kind of shady manuverings. The mileage was close to 4000 but we were told that is not unusual from driving across country plus a few local RV shows. We got some off for a year old (sic) model, but not enough to make up for this dishonesty.
I wonder if we are dealing with the same manufacturer and/or dealer as Eramaled.
I would like to do something about this, but don’t want to have this backfire by me naming names. I’m going to check with authorities and see if I can do anything about this.

By: Edward

Edward — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 07:09:00 +0000

I’m a commercial equipment / trailer dealer. In my experience RV dealers are about the worst in the business. Almost all RV salesmen I’ve encountered are the “seen it all” types. Claim to know everything, but in reality have exceedingly limited product technical knowledge. They wouldn’t stand a chance in my market, where the customer is actually educated about what they are buying.

By: Brent

Brent — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:59:22 +0000

Please explain WHY or HOW any manufacturer would allow a buyback in the Franchise agreement. If you singled out Texas, my interpretation of the Texas Buy Back ( Texas Dealer franchise for RV) only kicks in IF YOU TERMINATE the Franchise, not because you cannot sell a certain model. Besides in 1982, there were still 1982 models with 1979 Dodge Class A chassis as 1979 was the last year for Dodge and there was a tremendous backlog. IF you have knowledge of re doing VIN numbers, then YOU are just as guilty for not reporting them. To write an article and quote sources and then just sit back is wrong. Contac the appropriate authorities and let THEM decide if the law is being broken.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 23:23:15 +0000

Why does the industry associations (RVIA and RVDA)not step in and set guidelines in such areas? That could alleviate alot of problems in the industry such as this. As far as new model year release both OEMS I deal with moved their model year release to May 1st of this year. Have the new models come out in November before the Louisville show. No Exceptions. That should help to keep everybody honest.

By: mike woods

mike woods — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 15:03:43 +0000

In your response from Eramaled about split year chassis on Class A’s and C’s it is apparent we have retail customers on the Web-site who do not understand manufacturing registration policies. Now you bring up rebadging and that really makes us look like crooks.

I have been a sales manager, director of marketing and plant manager in this industry for 39 years and both rebadging and split year dating have gone on since day one.

Split year models has to happen as we never know when a chassis manufacturer while change model year and we build the final body and must met the industry requirements.

By: mike

mike — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:30:24 +0000

I know this happens as a very large mfg. sent me new msos’ on a load of pop up campers I had just bought. The new model years were coming out right after my load arrived but they failed to tell me that. When questioned, they said the new ones were the same as last years just different year models on the MSO. They sent new MSO and paperwork so they would be titled as the more current model year. We have since dissolved our relationship with this mfg. and do not sell any of their products. I’ve heard other companies have been doing this also. This was as long as 8-10 years ago and I understand they are still doing it. SHAME on THEM! That’s why we need new model years change at the Louisville show.

By: Rich

Rich — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 12:27:59 +0000

No time was wasted in naming the person/dealer in California who is going on trial for his devious deeds, if your going take issue with a problem we all should be aware of, then at least name the manufacture so we can take the appropriate steps to protect ourselves and our customers.

Any manufacture found guilty of this practice should be hung out to dry and not allowed RVIA Certification…