The VIN number for a utility trailer is usually found near the trailer tongue on the frame, however it can be found anywhere on the frame. It could also be on a sticker with the manufacturer’s name and information about the trailer model.
Is there a VIN number on every trailer?
Vehicle Identification Numbers are abbreviated as VIN. A VIN number is required by law for all road-legal cars and trailers.
Every automobile and trailer made since 1977 has been assigned a VIN number, which is a unique number for that particular vehicle. Consider it the fingerprint of the trailer or car, which can be used to identify it.
VIN numbers before to 1981 may contain fewer characters and are displayed as a single line of 17 characters made up of numbers and letters.
The VIN number is more than simply a string of numbers; it contains a wealth of information about the trailer or car. The year and nation of manufacture, as well as the serial number, color, and factory of manufacturing, may all be determined using the VIN number.
Utility trailers have how many VIN numbers?
A trailer VIN number, like a vehicle VIN number, is a unique identifier for the trailer. All trailers that are going to be driven on the road must have a 17-digit VIN assigned to them by the NHTSA. Though all vehicles and trailers must have VINs, the information encoded inside those 17 characters differs significantly due to the obvious variations. The breakdown of a common trailer VIN number can be found below, while the breakdown of a car VIN number can be found here.
Because the letters I, O, and Q can be confused with the numerals 0 and 1, they will never appear on a trailer (or vehicle) VIN.
World Manufacturer Identifier (1-3)
The firm identity characters, also known as the World Manufacturer Identifier, are found in positions 1-3. (WMI). The trailer’s make and country of manufacture are represented by the first three characters.
The first position identifies the country in which the trailer was built. When position 1 is combined with position 11 (Plant), the real location can be pinpointed to the city and state level.
Unless the third position includes the letter “9,” all of positions 1-3 are used to identify the trailer’s manufacturer (also known as the make). Smaller firms who produce less than 1000 trailers per year and share the WMI with other small manufacturers will always have the number 9 in position 3. It is still conceivable to identify these businesses by their VINs, but it would necessitate a change in the VIN decoding framework. As a result, most trailer VIN decoding software does not support these manufactures.
Vehicle Descriptor Section (4-8)
The Vehicle Descriptor Section, which includes positions 4 through 8, is dedicated to presenting critical trailer parameters. This component varies depending on the manufacturer and kind of trailer, however certain fields, such as trailer type, length, and axle count, are necessary. The following is an example of a vehicle description section:
The characters in positions 4 and 5 are from the trailer product line. The trailer attachment type (ex. kingpin, ball, gooseneck, etc.) and trailer type (platform/flatbed, utility, dump, vehicle carrier, etc.) make up the product line.
The length of the trailer is encoded in positions 6 and 7. Despite the fact that these two characters are usually both numeric (as in the VIN example above), they do not always represent the length (45ft.). Instead, they’re just characters that represent the duration. The trailer will usually have a single length, which will be rounded to the nearest foot in most situations. However, in rare cases, such as a 2009 Wells Cargo utility trailer with a length range of 16-19ft, the manufacturer will include a length range.
The number of axles is stored in position 8. State agencies may use the axle count in tax / registration fee scenarios, or for insurance purposes.
Are there VIN numbers on antique trailers?
The first thing to remember is that a serial number is your Vintage Trailer’s VIN. These phrases are interchangeable, and the DMV is having a difficult time dealing with this because they aren’t used to dealing with automobiles this old. They’ll ask for the VIN and expect it to be in a current format, however serial numbers were utilized in older trailers. It’s possible that you’ll have to teach a DMV employee.
Second, some brands, but not all, have intelligence incorporated into their serial numbers. The length of the trailer or the year it was released could be included in the serial number. You’ll see an example of this in the section below. Because the serial numbers on some vintage trailer brands are only sequential numbers, you may have to identify someone with a serial number that is similar to yours to estimate the trailer’s year of manufacture.
You’ll need to look for serial numbers, VINs, marks, equipment makes/manufacturers, and documents to figure out what kind of trailer you have. Here’s a video on how to find VINs on tongues.
On the passenger side, serial numbers are frequently found on the tongue rail. (Usually on top, however it could also be on the driver’s side or on the rail side.) To reveal the numbers, use paint stripper or sand lightly. The first two numbers could be letters that identify your make, followed by the year, length, and production number. Example: MR 57 25 123 is a Monterey, 1957, 25 number 123 serial number (or VIN number).
It’s also sometimes, but not always, found inside a cabinet or an entry screen door. The VIN number is imprinted on a metal plate that can be found on the trailer tongue, frame rail leading to the hitch, or on a metal portion of the frame.
VINs were first used in the United States in 1954. There was no acknowledged standard for these numbers from 1954 to 1981, therefore different manufacturers utilized different formats. Before 1981, the VIN was determined by the manufacturer’s serial number.
This is not a serial number; it is the tongue manufacturer’s patent number. Most trailer manufacturers relied on Marvel for a variety of parts. Many people mistakenly believe this is their serial number, however it isn’t.
This is a serial number, and it’s a smart one at that. The first portion, 160, indicates that it is 16’0″ long. Keep an eye out for the punch separator. The second portion is the year’s sequential number. They probably started with 1000 trailers and this is the 25th. The punch separator is used once more. The third portion is the trailer’s year of production, which is 1967. Wouldn’t it be great if every serial number provided this level of detail?
On trailers, where do VIN numbers go?
The VIN number for your trailer can be found on the VIN sticker. This label is usually seen on the driver’s side of the trailer at the front. The sticker has been moved in some cases to accommodate unique trailer designs.
3. Length of Trailer (in feet)
4. The Axle Count (1-single, 2-tandem, or 3-triple)
5. Double-check the digit (Calculated digit based on all other VIN characters used for validation)
6. Production Year (T = 1996, V = 1997, W = 1998, X = 1999, Y = 2000, 1 = 2001, 2 = 2002, 3 = 2003, 4 = 2004, 5 = 2005, 6 = 2006, 7 = 2007, 8 = 2008, 9 = 2009, A = 2010, B = 2011, C = 2012, D = 2013, E = 2014, F = 2015, G = 2016, H = 2017, J = 2018, K = 2019, L = 2020, M = 2021)
7. Manufacturing Facility (1, 2 or 3)
Number of Serials (Number used to indicate production sequence.)
Part numbers from Load Trail include a wealth of information about your trailer at the time it was built. The meaning of each location in the component number is different. A sample part number is shown below to demonstrate the current part numbering scheme we utilize when ordering and constructing our trailers.
- DS, DT, DV, DZ, DH, DM, GD, HG, GM, GV, GZ, PX, GX, GX, GX, GX, GX, GX, GX, GX, GX, GX, GX, GX, GX, GX, GX, GX, GX, GX, GX, GX, GX, GX, GX, GX, G
2. Width of trailer (in inches 02 = 102)
4. Individual Trailer Axle Rating in Pounds (01=1500, 02=2000, 03=3500, 05=5200, 07=7000, 08=8000, 10=10000, 12=12000)
5. Axle Type (E = Electric, H = Hydraulic, I = Idler Second Character S = Spring, D = Drop, T = Torsion)
6. Axle Number of Brakes (1, 2, or 3)
Option Code #7 (s) (These part codes are in three-character groups.) They denote the trailer’s built-in options.)
CR5 = Red, CB6 = Blue, CG7 = Green, CY8 = Yellow, CO9 = Orange, CA1 = OD Army Green, CT2 = Coyote Tan, CP0 = Pink, CNG = Neon Green)
How can I get a free VIN number check on a trailer?
Before you buy a used automobile, there are a number of sites you can utilize to get a free VIN check.
Simply enter your car’s digits, and these sites will perform a VIN lookup and provide you with vehicle information.
However, to get the entire picture, you should visit more than one of these websites. Continue reading to learn why.
What is the location of VIN numbers?
The most frequent location for a VIN is on the dashboard of your vehicle, precisely at where the dashboard meets the edge of the driver’s side windshield. The VIN is usually fastened to a metal plate and the code displayed so that anyone looking in from the outside may read it.
How do you figure out what year a trailer is from?
The serial number is stamped on the A-frame on Ifor Williams, Richardson, and Rice trailers, and it is on top of the right-hand drawbar A-frame on Ifor Williams trailers. Contact the manufacturer or the National Plant & Equipment Register (TER) for trailers produced after 1995 to find out the year of manufacture.
On behalf of owners and insurers, TER maintains an international database that assists police in identifying and recovering stolen equipment.
If you’re looking at a different brand of trailer and can’t find the serial number, phone the manufacturer or TER while standing next to it to find out where it belongs. If you discover it has been removed or tampered with, don’t buy the trailer because it is likely to be stolen and confiscated if the police or an insurance company discovers its true identity.
Is the serial number on a trailer the same as the VIN number?
These figures are not the same, despite how bizarre it may appear. Serial numbers, on the other hand, may be located inside your VIN number! Your serial number is made up of the last six characters of your vin number, which is made up of 17 characters.
Is a serial number the same as a vehicle identification number (VIN)?
A VIN (sometimes known as a serial number) is a 17-character combination of letters and numbers that uniquely identifies your car. Your VIN can be found in various places:
Some characters, such as S and 5, D and 0, B and 8, G and 6, U and V, and Z and 2, may appear similar.
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