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.
A utility trailer’s VIN has how many digits?
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.
The following is a breakdown of a trailer’s 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.
On a trailer, where is the VIN number generally located?
The VIN number can be found on the metal plate or on the Federal certification label for towable recreational vehicles, travel trailers, and fifth wheels. The marking is usually found towards the bottom of the sidewall on the RV’s left front corner (lower roadside).
On my trailer, where can I find the model number?
On the same sign or plate, the trailer manufacturer’s name, model number, weight capacity, and vehicle identification number (VIN) are usually listed. This plate is frequently fixed on a frame rail or other easily accessible location near the tongue of the trailer. It may also be located near or on one of the axles.
Do utility trailers have vehicle identification numbers (VINs)?
VIN numbers have always been 17 digits long, consisting of both numbers and letters, since 1981. These numbers are listed on a little tag that is normally found on the driver’s side of the dashboard, viewable through the windshield from the outside.
VIN numbers are 11 to 17 characters long on automobiles built before 1981, and they are frequently seen on the driver’s side of the dashboard.
VIN numbers are occasionally discovered in unexpected places, such as:
- on the back side of the door frame on the driver’s side
- normally on the front of the engine block
- beneath the spare tire
The vehicle title, registration card, and insurance paperwork can all be used to locate a VIN number. The real number on the vehicle, on the other hand, is the most crucial and reliable.
VIN numbers are also found on utility trailers, campers, and boat trailers. The VIN tag is frequently seen on the side of the trailer hitch on these vehicles. On RVs, the label is normally located on the driver’s side dashboard, similar to how it is on cars. VIN tags are sometimes discovered within the trailer’s cabinet on travel trailers.
How can I get a free VIN number check on a trailer?
Even yet, much of this material is available for free. Yes, with a little internet sleuthing, you can find a lot of what you need without spending a dollar.
To begin, type the VIN code into your preferred search engine. If a car has previously been “totaled” for whatever reason, it may be resurrected. You can also use the VIN code to search the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s recall database. You’ll know right away if the rig you’re interested in has been recalled but not yet serviced. Is the rig ever reported stolen or considered an insurance loss? If it has, the National Insurance Crime Bureau will inform you.
Another point to consider: we’ve noticed certain discrepancies amongst VIN lookup sites that have perplexed us. We submitted the identical VIN on three different websites and received responses from some saying they didn’t have any information on the VIN or that we’d input the number incorrectly, while others said they had and asked for a credit card number. The latter requests were forwarded.
If you want to take a chance, pay with a credit card so that if you get ripped off, you may dispute the charges with your credit card company.
So don’t squander your money unnecessarily. Allow your own fingers to walk across your keyboard for a few minutes.
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 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:
- On the driver’s side, on top of the dashboard
- The inside of the driver’s door
- On documents like your bill of sale, registration card, and/or driver’s license
Keep the following in mind as you type in your VIN:
- The letters I, O, or Q are never found in a VIN.
- Numbers will always be the last five characters.
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.
Our online self-service facility allows customers to review their insured vehicles 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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.
What is the procedure for looking for a VIN number?
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 meaning of a trailer model number?
For the manufacturer, dealers, and customers, our new model numbering system is convenient and simple to use.
In light of this, Mac-Lander has created a new simplified numbering system that integrates previous numbers, all model characteristics, and a consistent sequence.
Each Mac-Lander Trailer product model number will now have eight characters, which will include both letters and digits.
The first two numerals show the deck length, the third digit the style trailer, the next two digits (4th and 5th) the frame or series, the next digit (6th) the flooring, and the last digit (7th) the tail arrangement. An 8th digit may be added to the model number to indicate the paint color.
18TSLWB-B, for example, is an 18-foot tag-along skid loader trailer with a black-painted wood floor.