Where Is the VIN Number on a Camper?

When it comes to identifying a recreational vehicle, the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is the key. This unique code serves as the camper’s fingerprint, providing essential information about its make, model, recalls, previous ownership, and accident history. But in many units, the VIN isn’t always easy to find. So, where is the VIN number on a camper?

For towable recreational vehicles (5th wheels, conventional travel trailers, and pop-ups), the VIN is typically found on the left, roadside front corner of the unit, near the bottom of the sidewall.

But that’s not the only location to find a missing camper VIN. Here are all the areas where you can find this unique identifying code, whether you own a travel trailer, fifth wheel, motorhome, or truck camper. Buckle up!

What Is a VIN and What Does it Look Like?

A VIN is a unique code assigned to every vehicle, including camping trailers. It consists of 17 alphanumeric characters (letters and numbers) that are stamped on the camper during assembly. It’s a crucial identifier that can be used to trace a vehicle’s history, including its manufacturing details, specifications, and ownership records.

So, what does a VIN look like? The 17-digit number may appear in different formats. Most of the time, it’s printed on the bottom of a yellow sticker (federal certification label) on the exterior of the camper. In other units, the number is engraved on a frame of the camper. It could also be stamped on a metal plate riveted to the RV’s frame.

Since VIN stickers can peel away or fade off with time, RV manufacturer stamps a secondary or third VIN into the frame somewhere or on interior walls.

Note that many vintage campers don’t have a 17-digit VIN. Only units from model year 1981 to present have a VIN made up of 17 characters. Many older models have a 6, 8, 9, 11, or 12-digit serial numbers.

How to Find Your RV’s VIN Number

Campers don’t necessarily have a standardized location for a VIN number, but many manufacturers adhere to a general location. The most common area to find a towable RV’s Vin is on a yellow, white, gray, or black sticker on the lower, front left panel of your RV (the street side).

This spec sheet sticker also lists other information, like RV weight, carrying capacity, and tire information. The second most common area is on the side of the tongue of the trailer. Here are the main spots to search for a camper VIN:

Where to Find Travel Trailer VIN Number

On the lower side of the roadside sidewall.
On the frame under the propane tanks — either on a sticker, metal plate, or engraved.
Inside an interior cabinet door or wardrobe closet.
Under the front or rear end of the trailer along the support bars.
Inside a wheel well.
In an outside storage compartment — check the door and the walls of the compartment.
In the external gear storage box.
On the frame of the entrance door or under the trim on the floor right by where you step into the camper. You might have to unscrew the plate to find the VIN.
On the entry screen door or pillars of the main door.
Under the kitchen sink.
Inside the water heater access door.
Around the base of the frame, underneath it, or on a steel frame member under the camper body.
Behind hung mirrors.

Where to Find VIN Number on a Fifth Wheel

A fifth wheel’s VIN tag is usually located in a different area than that of a conventional trailer. It’s typically on a sticker or riveted aluminum tag on the frame that protrudes down from under the front of the unit, where the pin box is bolted to (on the driver’s side). It should also be on your RV’s weight tag on the left side of the rig near the front. Older units may have a sticker inside one of the interior cabinets.

VIN Number Location on Truck Camper

Most truck campers have the serial number on the rear wall of the unit or the passenger side. It’s printed on the loading information sticker or etched in with a marking tool. If it isn’t there, search for a serial number written on the camper’s aluminum frame under the carpet at the very front of the cab-over-bed area (behind the bed cushion).

Vin Location on Motorhome

For motorized units, the VIN is usually located on a placard by the door jamb or on the driver’s side dash near the windshield. It’s usually along with other information, like weight ratings and tire size. If you have an older motor home, it may be on the driver’s side door frame or stamped into a tag mounted to the firewall under the hood.

Where’s the VIN on My Vintage Camper?

On vintage trailers, the VIN is usually on a metal tag welded or riveted to the hitch directly underneath the LP tray or just near it. It could be on the outer side of the bar, the inner side, or on top of the bar. Sometimes, the digits are etched on the frame.

On older pop-up campers, it may be on a plate of metal on the door side of the main support bar/frame near the wheel location. And it could be facing the center of the unit, not the outside.

What if My Camper VIN is Not Visible?

Wondering how to read an RV VIN that is not legible? Maybe your trailer has been sitting for a long time, is rusty, or has a new coat of paint. If the VIN area has rust, carefully grind it down with a hand wire brush, a drill wire wheel, or an angle grinder.

Remember to always wear eye protection when using a spinning wire brush on a drill or on a table grinder. If the VIN area has been painted over, use paint remover or sand lightly to uncover the numbers.

I Can’t Find My Camper VIN Number

If you can’t find your RV’s VIN on all the locations we’ve highlighted, take the following steps:

Check the registration or title, insurance paperwork, or your bill of sale. The VIN is usually on these documents.
Contact your manufacturer and ask for a replacement sticker.
Call your dealer, as they may still have info from their sales records.
If you bought used, ask the previous owner.
Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles on the rules for applying for a new VIN number. They may ask you to complete an affidavit request and produce proof of ownership before issuing you a new one.

Your RV’s VIN: What Does it Actually Mean?

Here’s what all the 17 characters of an RV’s VIN represent. Let’s use the VIN 4YDT29H2317300123 as an example.

The first three alphanumeric characters identify the make of your RV. Manufacturers have unique identifiers. In our sample VIN, 4YD is Keystone RV’s unique identifier.
The 4th character identifies what type of RV it is. T for travel trailer, F for 5th wheel, C for folding camper. In our example, T means it’s a travel trailer.
Up next are three numbers representing the model floor plan – 29H.
Then there is a single digit representing the number of axles – 2.
In the 9th slot is a special authenticity number called the check digit. It’s used by authorities to check whether a VIN is real – 3.
Next single number is a year code – 1. You’ll need to use another informational table to calculate the exact model year.
On the 11th slot is one number marking the location of where the RV was built – 7.
Finally, you have a 6-digit serial number unique by brand – 300123.
On vintage models produced before the introduction of 17-digit VIN in 1981, the first two digits may be letters that identify your make, followed by the year, length, and number of production. For instance, serial number MR 57 25 123 is a Monterey trailer, made in 1957, 25 feet long, number 123.

Camper VIN Number FAQs

Here are frequently asked questions about camper VIN numbers.

Do all Campers Have VIN Numbers?

All camper trailers produced from 1981 have a 17-digit VIN number. Models that are older than that have a serial number that can be 6 to 12 digits long.

What’s the Best RV VIN Lookup Tool?

There are is no one perfect central location to look up RV VINs. However, some good sites for performing a VIN check include CarFax, EpicVIN, FAXVIN, Vinaudit, and Vinpit. They are great resources, but they only carry information that was reported. So, they are not 100% reliable. In some states, like Florida, you can use the DMV website to perform a VIN search.

Wrapping Up: VIN Number on a Camper

The 17-digit VIN number can tell you a lot about a camper, whether it’s one you own or one you’re looking to buy. For owners, a VIN will help you get licenses and insurance, find the right parts for repairs, and even sell the camper without obstacles. If you’re buying, VIN records can show you a camper’s maintenance and service history, past recalls, and even reveal whether the camper is roadworthy, was stolen, or the seller is honest about specifications.

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Author Profile

Cynthia Measom

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Cynthia Measom is the founder and main content creator of RV Top Tips. Not just a writer, she’s a dedicated RV owner and enthusiast, alongside her husband, Joe, who is an experienced RV tech. With their joint knowledge, the two are up on the latest trends and technologies in the RV industry, as well as practical camping and lifestyle tips.

The couple own a 2020 Coachmen Chaparral fifth-wheel that they absolutely love. Their secret to being so satisfied? They purchased the model after a solid year of researching different fifth-wheel campers in person and online to find the perfect fit for their family of three.