Chassis Number - dealer can't provide me with it?!

[The_long_way_round]

Hi guys (again)

So I'm due to collect my new caravan tomorrow (Link here) I have asked the dealer - Harris Caravans Ltd in West Liff, Hampshire (aka number1caravans if buying on ebay) for a number of bits and bobs of info, all of these requests have been belittled, scoffed at and met time and time again with the phrase 'madam, we are a reputable company!' Clearly I am not so convinced, anyone who feels the need to say this every single time I speak to them should perhaps question why they feel the need to convince me so much!

Anyway. It's a 1992 caravan, I have asked for the chassis number because I can't purchase caravan insurance without it. But there is no paperwork in the van and they have looked for the chassis number and 'can't find it'. Should this be ringing alarm bells? I have put a deposit down on the caravan, but I am not afraid to lose that. If when we see it tomorrow, we can't find a chassis number we will walk away, simple as that! Can you give me an idea where we should be looking for it, I have had a little advise to look under the plastic of the A frame or on the chassis near the wheels, is there anywhere else it might be?

Also Harris Caravans Ltd said "we are a reputable company madam! We check all our caravans before we buy them to check they are not stolen" .... Is this possible to do without knowing the chassis number? I'm even beginning to question if what they are telling me about checking it out is even true.

 

[The_long_way_round]

They have given me a number now and said 'I hope this is the chassis number, it's the only number I can find'. This number is on the tow bar, and not on the A frame or chassis, is this correct? Is it possible that it's the tow bars serial number and not the caravan? The number they have provided me with is:

DSM11716R2/51991

Does that look like a chassis number?

God help us? Why can they not just give me a yes or no answer, it's always ' it should be' or 'I think so', 'we are a reputable company!' grrr.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

DSM11716R2/51991

Does that look like a chassis number?

It could well be. Whatever the number refers to it ends in 5 1991, so looks like the manufacture date was May 1991, which ties up with you stating 'it's a 1992 van'.

Edit - what do you mean by it being on the tow bar and not A frame or chassis?

 

[The_long_way_round]

Hi, that sounds reassuring. I phoned back to ask him, he said this time it is bolted on the Aframe , I clarified that that's not what he said last time we spoke! I made him give me a yes or no answer this time rather than 'I think so' and he wouldn't guarantee it was the chassis number but said 'as far as he was aware it was the only thing it could be as there are no other numbers on it'.

I guess there is going to be an element of risk if I buy it, so just got to decide if I'm prepared to take that risk. I have 16 hours in which to make that decision before we set off to Hampshire to purchase it. Eeek.

 

[Dustydog]

Check with cris registrations. All caravans from 1992 must be registered with them. Your choice may have just missed this.
Have you had an independent test survey on your proposed purchase?
If not do so ASAP or 2nd away and demand your deposit back.

 

[Sproket]

For the sake of a few quid .....
A CRiS Check costs just £14.95 - CRiS Check it now

Might be for the best if you are in anyway concerned hmy:

 

[ProfJohnL]

Check with cris registrations. All caravans from 1992 must be registered with them. Your choice may have just missed this.
Have you had an independent test survey on your proposed purchase?
If not do so ASAP or 2nd away and demand your deposit back.

Hello Dusty,
Correction, Cris registration is not a "must" there is no legal requirement for it and nor can Insurers insist on it. It is a voluntary scheme which thankfully most manufacture do ascribe. But its only as good as the previous owner filling in the transfer forms

 

[CyberCynth]

I just wanted to add a quick posting to wish you luck with your caravan purchase, hope all s in order and that you are soon out and about enjoying caravanning, like the rest of us!

 

[Dustydog]

John
words fail me. Some weeks ago I made it it very clear that cris was NOT a matter Insurers could demand. Irrelevant.
okay. Playing on semantics the word "must" should read "should".
Now since 1992 every British manufacturer has ensured every new built caravan is cris registered. The exceptions are pre 1992 models and imports.
I'm sorry to say it John , whilst I have the greatest of respect for your views there are time's you come over rather pedantic.

[/Last comment to Mods noted but removed,,this time !

 

[Damian]

Insurers can demand any information they want.
As far as CRIS goes, as the CRIS number is exactly the same number as the chassis number, that is what they are looking for...........the chassis number,which on pre 1992 vans will not be 17 digits long.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

As far as CRIS goes, as the CRIS number is exactly the same number as the chassis number, that is what they are looking for............

Is this statement correct? Doesn't AlKo, BPW, etc produce bulk lots of adjustable chassis for the caravan manufacturers and the chassis would have the original manufacturers serial numbers on them. The CRiS number is generated by the caravan manufacturers and has their code and year of manufacture embedded into it which the chassis manufacturer wouldn't necessarily know.

Of course, as CRiS is so long it might also have an extract of the original chassis number.

 

[Damian]

Perhaps I should have said the VIN number instead of chassis number, my apologies.

For example: SGDST5ESWDO123456
However, in the trade this number is generally referred to as the chassis number.
As far as Al-Ko are concerned the identification if their chassis is by an ETI Number

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Apologies accepted.

 

[RayS]

If the van has been Cris registered the windows should each be etched with the VIN number. (Note 'if' and 'should') and this should be very easy to see. I would have expected the dealer to know this and look at the windows first - much easier than finding it on the drawbar or wherever else hidden.

 

[RayS]

My previous burstner did not come Cris registered so i did it myself and the number they gave me did indeed incorporate the chassis number.