Understanding the Differences: RV Year Model vs Chassis Year

An RV, or recreational vehicle, can be built on a variety of chassis, such as those made by Mercedes (Sprinter), Ford (Transit) or Dodge/RAM (ProMaster).

The year model of the RV refers to the year in which the RV was built or manufactured, while the year of the chassis refers to the year in which the chassis was manufactured.

It's important to note that the year model of the RV may be different from the year of the chassis it is built on. For example, an RV with a 2021 year model may be built on a 2020 chassis. This is because the RV manufacturer may use a chassis that was manufactured in a previous year, but the RV itself is not completed and sold until the following year.

How do I determine the year of my chassis using the VIN number?

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a unique 17-digit code that can be used to identify a specific vehicle, including the year of the chassis. The VIN can typically be found on the driver's side dashboard, on the driver's side door jamb, or on the vehicle registration and insurance documents.

To find the year of the chassis using the VIN number, you can do the following:

• Look at the 8th digit of the VIN. This digit, also called the "vehicle attributes" digit, will indicate the model year of the chassis. For example, a "1" or "2" would indicate a 1981 or 1982 model year, respectively.

or

• Use a VIN decoder tool to look up detailed information about the vehicle based on the VIN number, including the year of the chassis. https://www.carfax.com/company/vehicle-identification-numbers-vins 

In summary, it is important to know the year model of an RV and the year of the chassis it is built on when ordering replacement parts or accessories to ensure that the correct parts or accessories will be ordered and that they will fit and function correctly on the RV.

* It is crucial to keep in mind that when ordering parts or accessories for your Sprinter RV, you should always use the chassis year and not the RV year Model.

By using the chassis year, you can be sure that you are getting the correct parts that are compatible with your specific RV.