The first thing to understand, a serial number is your VIN for a Vintage Trailer. Those terms are used interchangably and the DMV has a hard time with this because they don’t normally deal with vehicles that are this old. They will ask you for the VIN and expect a modern format but vintage trailers used serial numbers. You may have to educate your DMV employee.
- Vintage Holiday Rambler
- 1964 Holiday Rambler Trailer
- 1964 Holiday Rambler Travel Trailer
- 1967 Holiday Rambler Travel Trailer
- 1968 Holiday Rambler Travel Trailer Manual Pdf
Secondly, not all serial numbers have any intelligence built into the code but some brands do. They might embed the length of the trailer or the year of the trailer in the serial number. You’ll see an example of that below. Some vintage trailer brand’s serial numbers are just sequential numbers and you might have to find someone else that has a serial number that is close to yours to estimate the year of the trailer.
Vintage Holiday Rambler
1963 Holiday Rambler. 1963 Mobile Scout. 1968 Serro Scotty HiLander. 1968 Shasta Compact.
To figure out what kind of trailer you have, you need to find serial numbers, VIN, markings, makes/manufacturers of equipment, paperwork – anything that could be a clue. Here is video on uncovering VINs on tongues
1964 Holiday Rambler Trailer
Serial numbers are frequently found on the tongue rail on the passenger side. (Usually on top, but may be on the drivers side or the side of the rail). Use paint remover or sand lightly to uncover the numbers. The first two digits may be letters that identify your make, followed by the year, length and number of production. Example: Serial number (or VIN number): MR 57 25 123 is a Monterey, 1957, 25′ number 123.
You can also find it, sometimes but not always, inside a cabinet or entry screen door. The metal plate with the VIN number can be found on the trailer tongue, frame rail leading to the hitch or it could be stamped on some metal part of the frame.
VINs were first used in 1954 in the United States. From 1954 to 1981, there was no accepted standard for these numbers, so different manufacturers used different formats. Earlier than 1981 – the serial number from the manufacturer is consider the VIN.
- Details: A popular manufacturer of both travel trailers and motorhomes, Coachmen’s online database of owner’s manuals can be found here. Keystone RV Owner’s Manuals Keystone RV specializes in travel trailers, building fifth wheels, toy haulers, destination trailers and more.
- Holiday Rambler RVs: Founded in 1953, Holiday Rambler is one of the oldest and most respected names in the RV industry. It's also the broadest-based division of Monaco Coach Corporation, manufacturing travel trailers, fifth-wheel towables, and Class-A motorhomes.
1964 Holiday Rambler Travel Trailer
This is NOT a serial number – this is a patent number of the tongue manufacturer. Marvel was a supplier of lots of parts to most trailer brands. Lots of people get confused thinking this is their serial number but it’s not.
1967 Holiday Rambler Travel Trailer
This is a serial number and it is an intelligent one as well. The first part 160, means it is 16’0” in length. Notice the punch separator. The 2nd part is the sequential number used that year. They probably started at 1000 and this trailer is the 25th made. Again the punch separator. The 3rd part is the year the trailer was made – it’s a 1967. Wouldn’t it be nice if every serial number gave you this much information!
1968 Holiday Rambler Travel Trailer Manual Pdf
Also – there are plenty of homebuilt trailers out there – you might have one. If so, your not going find any information on it. It could just be a custom one-of-a-kind!