VIN stamp on Competitive boat trailer

[JCUMV]

Hello,
I had a question and hoped you all could help. Just did a search here on the Board but nothing came back. I just boat a 1987 26' daycruiser. It's sitting on a Competitive trailer. The prior owner lives in Havasu and I'm in CA. I have the title to the trailer and wanting to transfer it to CA. Went to AAA last weekend to register it and they said the require TWO vin #'s in order to do any boat trailer registrations. The trailer has the obvious VIN plate with all the information along the left rail towards the front of the boat. But we could never find a second VIN anywhere. I crawled all around and under it with a flashlight, but couldn't find anything.

The question is whether you guys know if that vintage of Competitive trailer even had two VIN's on it? I tried calling the company in Bellflower but their out of business. If AAA can't confirm two VIN's on the trailer, then I have to go to DMV. Ugh. Trying to avoid that like the plague!

Thanks so much.

 

[Deja_Vu]

First time I have heard of requiring 2 VINs on a trailer. That's rediculous.
AAA can really demand some funky requirements sometimes.

 

[Sonic45SS]

Register the trailer in Maine. http://staabagency.com/

100% legal, no inspections, no taxes to pay. Get a tag for up to 12 years. Simple to do. All the forms are on the website.

 

[28Eliminator]

Why would a trailer, or anything for that matter have 2 VIN numbers?

 

[Ziggy]

Never heard of that either.:headscratch:
Maybe you need to go back and try another person at AAA. Maybe the first person was telling you that a VIN verification was needed. I dunno.

 

[Ziggy]

Why would a trailer, or anything for that matter have 2 VIN numbers?

Trust me, your car has several.

 

[Chopperman]

That sounds odd to me. When I bought my current boat it had a Ca boat title and AZ tags and no title for the trailer. Went to AAA and had zero issues. They didn't even look at anything other than the paperwork I had brought with me. I had the title to the boat and bill of sale for boat and trailer. I paid the extra 17 bucks to get a Ca title for the trailer. In Ca they don't issue a title for a trailer unless requested. Bill of sale only for change of ownership. I'm only talking about car type trailers and boat trailers. Could be different for a camper trailer or toy hauler. But when I did the transfer, the guy at AAA told me bill of sale only unless you ask and pay for a title.

Edit: My Hoss trailer no longer has a "VIN" tag or sticker since being repainted. It does however have it welded into the bottom of the frame near the tongue.

 

[28Eliminator]

Trust me, your car has several.

:yikes HUH??

Funny you should say that... Our Infinity is throwing a code, P1000 or something... when I had the shop check it out they said the ECM has 2 VIN numbers in it headscratch:

 

[Deja_Vu]

Trust me, your car has several.

Absolutely...There is usually a VIN on the door plate, dash board, and firewall.

 

[28Eliminator]

Absolutely...There is usually a VIN on the door plate, dash board, and firewall.

I'm not talking about quantity.... 2 different numbers.

 

[Ziggy]

:yikes HUH??

Funny you should say that... Our Infinity is throwing a code, P1000 or something... when I had the shop check it out they said the ECM has 2 VIN numbers in it headscratch:

LOL, that sounds like they swapped ECM's from another car at some point.

Fenders, hood, decklid all have VIN stickers on them too....replacements body parts always say DOT-R

 

[RitcheyRch]

Never heard of 2 VIN's on a trailer.

 

[28Eliminator]

LOL, that sounds like they swapped ECM's from another car at some point.

Fenders, hood, decklid all have VIN stickers on them too....replacements body parts always say DOT-R

It was changed.... But that's a whole other story [emoji4]

 

[AzGeo]

stamped the numbers ON THE BOTTOM SIDE of the right rear frame rail (outer) near the rear spring perch . On a tandem or triple it may be 'just above the rear axle centerline' on the bottom of the frame .

Most DMV, MVD inspectors go to this place first, looking for the HIN numbers and builder code .

Roadrunner, Vanson, Mr Ed, Bob Ellis, put them under the right (passenger side) frame rail, half way between the 'bend and the tongue' . (or not at all)

They are usually not on a cross member, that would be too easy to replace .

 

[RiverDave]

We register all of our trailers through AAA and have never heard of that before..

 

[boatpi]

That is bunk, go to a different AAA. Some trailers have two VIN's, most do not and it is NOT required by any states law or the feds.

 

[UltraLucky]

This is where the second VIN is located on my 1991 Competitive. I registered thru AAA and was never asked for it. Maybe DMV was requiring a vin verification?

 

[JCUMV]

Hey guys, thanks a lot for all the replies! 16 posts in one afternoon is impressive. According to the AAA rep, this is a rule that the DMV pushes down on them. I find it hard to believe as I don't think there are that many trailers (if any) that have 2 VINs. I will try a second AAA and see if I have better luck. Someone commented to look under the passenger side rail between the bend and the tongue. I definitely checked there - no luck. I was actually in Havasu this past weekend and while the boat was off the trailer, I did a thorough inspection of the trailer looking for a second VIN. No luck. One of the first responses was to registered it in Maine (I think). I think I want CA plates on it. Seems like it's about 15 bucks every 5 years, or something small like that.

 

[X Hoser]

My Competitive trailer had the VIN stamped under the tongue. Coated in paint, hard to see. Almost directly under the master cylinder. It was a 1992

 

[RitcheyRch]

I will have to check my 1987 Competitive trailer to see if I have that.

This is where the second VIN is located on my 1991 Competitive. I registered thru AAA and was never asked for it. Maybe DMV was requiring a vin verification?


View attachment 442085 View attachment 442086

 

[rrrr]

Go to Harbor Freight and buy a set of steel stamps. Swing a hammer a few times. Problem solved. :thumbup:

 

[boatpi]

What AAA office did you have the second VIN issue with. I will have an internal AA friend re-train them. What I suspect they are refering to in during the VIN verification process there is a section that refers to the federal label, if it is present and does it match. Confustion on AA part, so more training. I train DMV employees at times in their office on boats and trailer VIN verification. U can PM me if you like.

VIN verification is a very important issue, has to be done right, but to the layman it can be complex. So much slips under the radar in CA it is amazing.

 

[LakeMead Boater]

Talked with Dan who owned Competitive and he said that trailers manufactured in 1987 only had one VIN. After about 1995, they started putting two VIN's on the trailer.

 

[JCUMV]

@boatpi - it's the AAA office in Ladera Ranch, CA. And LakeMead Boater ^ talked to Dan and it appears my boat trailer doesn't have 2 vins. So I'm not sure where that leaves me. What should be my next course of action? Feel free to PM me if that's easier. I want to avoid the DMV at all costs! Thanks.

@LakeMead Boater - thanks for making the call to Dan. I really appreciate it ��

 

[C-2]

Could it be as simple as they are asking for the trailer VIN and the boat VIN so they can ensure there are no open liens against the boat and trailer, which could have been encumbered as a "package" by a single loan at the time of original purchase?

 

[pronstar]

You know who knows a lot about Vin stamps?

 

[RitcheyRch]

Good information and thank you

Talked with Dan who owned Competitive and he said that trailers manufactured in 1987 only had one VIN. After about 1995, they started putting two VIN's on the trailer.

 

[boatpi]

A call will be made to the Ladera office. Thing should be corrected soon.

 

[Faceaz]

I've ran into it a few times... First I was selling a jetski, but the vin # plate was cracked & part of it missing. The guy buying it knew to pull the battery & there was a 2nd vin on the hull under the battery. 2nd had to get a bonded title on our boat trailer, it had the original vin up by the tongue & a 2nd on the underside @ the rear. Currently restoring an old VW Bug, the chassis is stamped with a vin, as is the body.

 

[JCUMV]

A call will be made to the Ladera office. Thing should be corrected soon.

PM Sent. Thanks.