2017 Escape build sequence numbers

[cpaharley2008]

A couple more for this exercise:
2014 Escape 21-2E9TF6C5XEC068831
2016 Escape 19-2E9TF6B28GC068207

[Chris & Patricia]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

A couple more for this exercise:
2014 Escape 21-2E9TF6C5XEC068831
2016 Escape 19-2E9TF6B28GC068207

I think that he's looking at 2017s, not earlier years.

[cpaharley2008]

Not sure if the fact mine is the 2nd generation means anything in the vin sequence and it was completed in October 2016.

[War Eagle]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Not sure if the fact mine is the 2nd generation means anything in the vin sequence and it was completed in October 2016.

Jim, Thanks for posting those. I think the facts that it bears the 2016 date and the last three VIN digits are way higher than anything else being assigned so far under the 2017 model year, I bet your newer 2016 camper's VIN was assigned under the previous scheme. That said, maybe someone else will want to take on the same task of documenting 2014, 2015, 2016, etc. built campers. Maybe one can get a good start at the upcoming Escape Owner Appreciation Rally. I'm sure ETI has all this information in their records, but they have more important things to do with their time - like cranking out more great Escape trailers!

[War Eagle]

A quick update for those who care or are just curious. I’ve received quite a few responses from 2017 model owners, and many others “in waiting” have promised to send me their VIN numbers when they get their paperwork or pick up their camper. But so far, this is how it looks (again, this is only for the 2017 models and is only a meaningless exercise in curiosity).

First, the simple ones (recall these are in 12-number blocks):
VINs ending 013-024 - all so far are 21's
VINs ending 025-036 - all so far are 19's
VINs ending 049-060 - all so far are 21's
VINs ending 071-072 - no responses yet
VINs ending 073-084 - no responses yet
VINs ending 085-096 - only 1 response so far, and it’s a 19'

Now for the more complicated responses:
VINs ending 001-012 - 4 responses so far:
3 are 5.0TAs
1 is a 19'
The 19' shares the same last three VIN digits with one of the 5.0s
(I didn’t think that was supposed to happen under ETI’s current
VIN numbering scheme as I understand it.)
VINs ending 037-048 - 7 responses so far:
3 are 17's
4 are 19's
In two instances, a 17 and 19 share the same last three VIN digits
(Again, I didn’t think that was supposed to happen.)

My thanks to all who have responded so far or who have promised to when they get their information. Just to keep feeding my curiosity, I’d appreciate any more 2017 model owners messaging me which 2017 model they own and the last 3 digits of their VIN so I can keep compiling this list.
Thanks,
Dale
(2017 #053)

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by War Eagle

... VINs ending 001-012 - 4 responses so far:
3 are 5.0TAs
1 is a 19'
The 19' shares the same last three VIN digits with one of the 5.0s
(I didn’t think that was supposed to happen under ETI’s current
VIN numbering scheme as I understand it.)
VINs ending 037-048 - 7 responses so far:
3 are 17's
4 are 19's
In two instances, a 17 and 19 share the same last three VIN digits
(Again, I didn’t think that was supposed to happen.)

Under the numbering scheme used by Escape prior to 2017, numbers counted up until "wrapping around" (there are only three digits so 999 is followed by 000); the sequence has only wrapped once so far. That makes it easy to approximate the total Escape production to the production date of any trailer (about 1300 to the end of 2016). So, there would not be two in the same year with the same last three digits.

Escape appears to have decided to re-start the sequence numbers for 2017. Perhaps they will now do so each year - that would work better with the anticipated higher production rate.

The only requirement for uniqueness of the last three digits of a VIN is that the entire 17-character VIN must be unique. That means that if they want, Escape can assign the same last three digits to multiple trailers in the same model year as long as they have a different VDS (Vehicle Description Section) - positions 4 to 8 plus the Check Digit.

VDS values for Escapes

80" wide (original width) models (13', 15', 17', 5.0) = TF6A2
84" wide model (19') = TF6B2
88" wide models (21' and 5.0TA) = TF6B5

The second-generation (or "new" , or "2017 style", or vertical-walled) trailers seem to have the same VDS values as their first-generation (or "classic") predecessors.

So, a 17' and a 19' could share the same last three digits, even in the same year; a 19' and a 5.0TA could share the same last three digits, even in the same year. I don't know if they would do this deliberately, and I understand that the new plan is supposed to assign the last three digits in same-model blocks.

[War Eagle]

Brian, Thanks for your interest and feedback. I don't think Tammy would mind me sharing here what she explained to me in some earlier back-and-forth e-mails about this. I have condensed her replies a bit below for brevity:

"There are several trailers in production at any given time. Our VIN numbers are generated in groups of 12 for each model, as the next trailer enters production the next available VIN number for that particular trailer model is assigned. The trailers move through production in groups of 3 - 4 depending on the model this means we are currently working with VIN numbers between 073 and 121 depending on model and where the trailer is in our production schedule. This means your trailer is number 53 for our 2017 production. This is how your trailer will be tracked for the remainder of its lifetime."
- - - - -
"... The letter H has been assigned to the model year 2017 ... the last three digits refer to the number or sequence within which we manufactured the trailer which we discussed in our previous email ... if and when Escape Trailer Industries begins manufacturing more than 1000 units a year our VIN number will be changed." (It appears Tammy is referring to calendar year.)

Collectively, my interpretation of those statements from Tammy is that if the trailer is model year 2017 (designated by the letter "H" in the 10th position of the VIN; and I'm only talking about 2017's here) then the last three digits (positions 15-17) should be unique regardless of other descriptors in the VIN. So, for example, there should not be two trailers with the same VIN "xxxxxxxxxHxxxx053" regardless of whether they are 17's, 19's, 21's or 5.0's. Does that make sense? Am I misunderstanding something?

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by War Eagle

"There are several trailers in production at any given time. Our VIN numbers are generated in groups of 12 for each model, as the next trailer enters production the next available VIN number for that particular trailer model is assigned. The trailers move through production in groups of 3 - 4 depending on the model this means we are currently working with VIN numbers between 073 and 121 depending on model and where the trailer is in our production schedule. This means your trailer is number 53 for our 2017 production. This is how your trailer will be tracked for the remainder of its lifetime."

This means that trailers are not produced strictly in order of their number (last three digits), but that's okay... they're still in order within a model, which is good for sanity when tracking changes to the product.

Originally Posted by War Eagle

"... The letter H has been assigned to the model year 2017 ... the last three digits refer to the number or sequence within which we manufactured the trailer which we discussed in our previous email ... if and when Escape Trailer Industries begins manufacturing more than 1000 units a year our VIN number will be changed." (It appears Tammy is referring to calendar year.)

The VIN scheme currently used by Escape is only for manufacturers of less than a certain volume of units per year (which I understand to be 500). The WMI (World Manufacturer Identification; positions 1 to 3) value of "2E9" used by Escape is for a group of small manufacturers in Canada, and the Manufacturer section (positions 12-14) of the VIS (Vehicle Identification Section) is "068" to identify Escape Trailer Industries within that group. To handle larger production volume, Escape would get its own WMI (which would start with "2" for Canada), and would be able to use the last six digits - instead of just the last three - for the individual trailer number.

The VIN standard is organized by model year, rather than calendar year (that's what the "H" for 2017 means)... but Escape can synchronize their model year with the calendar year if they wish.

The other parts of the VIN would not need to change when Escape goes to the higher-production scheme.

Originally Posted by War Eagle

Collectively, my interpretation of those statements from Tammy is that if the trailer is model year 2017 (designated by the letter "H" in the 10th position of the VIN; and I'm only talking about 2017's here) then the last three digits (positions 15-17) should be unique regardless of other descriptors in the VIN. So, for example, there should not be two trailers with the same VIN "xxxxxxxxxHxxxx053" regardless of whether they are 17's, 19's, 21's or 5.0's. Does that make sense? Am I misunderstanding something?

I think you've got it, Dale. In the intended method as described by Tammy, Escape's numbers are still more unique than necessary; the combination of year and last three digits is intended to be unique (as you described) to suit their tracking method, although the international standards for VINs system doesn't require that.

I can only guess that the repeats that have been found are either misunderstandings or clerical errors of some sort.

[Steven M]

Okay, I haven't posted here, the last three on my 21 VIN are 023. Wonder where that leads?

[War Eagle]

Originally Posted by Steven M

Okay, I haven't posted here, the last three on my 21 VIN are 023. Wonder where that leads?

Steven, Thanks for providing that information. That fits right in with the other 21's in that same VIN block range of 013-024. In the immortal words of Mr T of The A-Team fame, "I love it when a plan comes together."

[TallyHo]

last 3 digits are 088 and it's a 19'

[Jimrules]

Originally Posted by War Eagle

In the immortal words of Mr T of The A-Team fame, "I love it when a plan comes together."

Since this thread is basically about the knowledge of minutiae I have to point out that "I love it when a plan comes together" was not the catch phrase of Mr.T (B.A. Baracus), it was George Peppard (Hannibal).

[War Eagle]

Originally Posted by Jimrules

Since this thread is basically about the knowledge of minutiae I have to point out that "I love it when a plan comes together" was not the catch phrase of Mr.T (B.A. Baracus), it was George Peppard (Hannibal).

My bad!! I think Baracus' catch phrase was, "I pity the fool!", but that was as Clubber Lang in Rocky III. How's that for minutiae? My sister calls my brain a "cesspool of trivia". From my mistake above, looks like the old pool could use a little stirring. Thanks for the correction and the smile it gave me to further reminisce. Dale

[War Eagle]

Originally Posted by TallyHo

last 3 digits are 088 and it's a 19'

Thanks, TallyHo. That fits the numbering scheme perfectly. Dale

[Mucram]

My 2017 17b=040

[cpaharley2008]

One of Mr T phrase that I remember was " I ain't going fly in any plane, Hannibal"

[War Eagle]

Originally Posted by Mucram

My 2017 17b=040

Thanks, Julie. I hope you're getting to enjoy your new little Escape! If the weather holds, we should be receiving our new 21' next weekend! Dale

[gbaglo]

Looking good.

[Mucram]

Originally Posted by War Eagle

Thanks, Julie. I hope you're getting to enjoy your new little Escape! If the weather holds, we should be receiving our new 21' next weekend! Dale

I won't pu til feb 28. Let me know how your orientation goes & thanks. Excitement in the air.

[Chris & Patricia]

Originally Posted by War Eagle

Thanks, Chris & Patricia. Nelson, back to you. Are you sure your Escape 19' is a 2017 model year with 044 as the final 3 VIN digits? Sorry to be so anal about this. For you biologists out there, I think my genotype is homozygous dominant for curiosity.

Did you ever get this cleared up?

Thanks