[Fulltiming]

Thanks Andrew.

[rheavn]

Michael,
Have you been able to chronicle when the first AquaHot unit was used by Newell?

[djimellis]

Newell's are frequently recognized by their coach number. A little history:

Newell purchased The Streamline Travel Home division of Streamline Trailers in 1966 and moved the operation from California to Miami, Oklahoma. The first coaches Mr. Newell built still carried the Streamline name but during 1967 he began using the Newell name.

Between 1966 and 1982, Newell's were not numbered. By 1983 about 384 coaches had been built. Beginning in 1983, Newell began a new internal numbering system beginning with Coach 001. Finding the coach number on the 1983-1989 coaches can be a game of hide and seek. Sometimes it was on the bottom of the engine bay doors, sometimes on wooden pieces inside the interior only visible once you start disassembling things. The coach number was incorporated into the VIN with the first Series 2000, a 1990 model built in April of 1989, #214. In 2007, the coach numbering was adjusted to account for the unnumbered 384 early coaches so they skipped numbers 815-1199 and resumed with coach 1200. Numbers 1300-1399 were skipped for superstition reasons as Newell was concerned those might be an issue to some buyers. Newell is now in the late 1400's with coach 1475 advertised for sale recently.

As I am always trying to update my information, if anyone that finds a coach number on a 1983-1989, please post it so I can add it to my information. I best information is that 1983 was about 1-29, 1984 was about 30-59, 1985 was 60-89, 1986 was about 90-119, 1987 was about 120-155, 1988 was about 156-181 and 1989 was about 182-213. I know 007 was a 1983. Numbers 130,136, 139, 146 and 155 were 1987 models. Numbers 179 and 180 were 1988 models and, as mentioned earlier, 214 was the first 1990 model and the first Newell to carry the model number as the last three digits of the VIN (last four digits of the VIN since mid 2007 beginning with VIN 1200). Newell has reviewed this information and believes it is in the right ballpark.

As Paul Harvey used to say "And now you know the Rest of the Story".

Michael, do you know if the serial # was just written with a marker? Both of my engine bay doors are marked with RT 123 and LT 123 on my 1987. It's Date of Manufacture is April 1986 which would fit your information.

[encantotom]

hi jim,

on my 90, when i took it all apart inside, there was the coach number written with a magic marker on a lot of pieces on the backside. on my 2002, on a few of the pieces i have taken off, the same thing.

in some cases also the last name of the original owner

tom

[Fulltiming]

I know that Newell was using AquaHot in 1994 (coach 353). I know Primus was still being used in 1992 and I others I am aware of had regular LP heaters in 1992. There was a Newell Recall of AquaHot in September of 1998 Service Bulletin Number: 98V167007 (mid 1999 models) that included 119 Newells. They removed the fiberglass insulation under the burner head on the floor of the enclosure and behind the control thermostat and air-conditioning heating element access covers. The issue was leaking ethylene glycol and/or diesel fuel could saturate the insulation and catch fire. One reference to the recall http://vehicle-recalls.findthedata.org/l/9196/Newell references 1994 Newells.

I will watch out for that but right now I would suspect a 1994 model Newell would be the first AquaHot.

[Fulltiming]

Jim, as Tom indicated, a marker was typically used to mark parts. Yes, I suspect that your coach was number 123. I have updated my database. Thanks for the information.

[jimmark8]

1978 custom newell  ...private coach....53,842 miles....42 feet...2nd owner.....complet mechanical restore...just drove it across the USA twice...;

[cvwiggs]

Newell's are frequently recognized by their coach number.  A little history:

Newell purchased The Streamline Travel Home division of Streamline Trailers in 1966 and moved the operation from California to Miami, Oklahoma.  The first coaches Mr. Newell built still carried the Streamline name but during 1967 he began using the Newell name.

Between 1966 and 1982, Newell's were not numbered.  By 1983 about 384 coaches had been built.  Beginning in 1983, Newell began a new internal numbering system beginning with Coach 001.  Finding the coach number on the 1983-1989 coaches can be a game of hide and seek.  Sometimes it was on the bottom of the engine bay doors, sometimes on wooden pieces inside the interior only visible once you start disassembling things.  The coach number was incorporated into the VIN with the first Series 2000, a 1990 model built in April of 1989, #214.  In 2007, the coach numbering was adjusted to account for the unnumbered 384 early coaches so they skipped numbers 815-1199 and resumed with coach 1200.  Numbers 1300-1399 were skipped for superstition reasons as Newell was concerned those might be an issue to some buyers.  Newell is now in the late 1400's with coach 1475 advertised for sale recently.

As I am always trying to update my information, if anyone that finds a coach number on a 1983-1989, please post it so I can add it to my information.  I best information is that 1983 was about 1-29, 1984 was about 30-59, 1985 was 60-89, 1986 was about 90-119, 1987 was about 120-155, 1988 was about 156-181 and 1989 was about 182-213.  I know 007 was a 1983.  Numbers 130,136, 139, 146 and 155 were 1987 models.  Numbers 179 and 180 were 1988 models and, as mentioned earlier, 214 was the first 1990 model and the first Newell to carry the model number as the last three digits of the VIN (last four digits of the VIN since mid 2007 beginning with VIN 1200).  Newell has reviewed this information and believes it is in the right ballpark.

As Paul Harvey used to say "And now you know the Rest of the Story".

Very interesting and now I know why I can't find a number on my 1974!

Thanks,

[Fulltiming]

A little further information on pre-1990 Newell VIN/Serial Numbers:

From 1980 through 1989, Newell used the 1N9 VIN numbers. The 10th digit is a code for the year with 1980 being an A. The last two digits of the VIN is the sequence number for that year so a VIN So the 7th Newell built in 1983 would have a D as the 10th digit and end in 07.

From 1974 through 1979, Newell used a VIN that typically started with 3000RE or 3500RE and ended with several numbers and a letter. I originally thought the letter at the end was used to designate the year but there seem to be inconsistencies in this theory. For example, I have seen 1979's ending in M and N, 1978's ending with L and M, 1974's ending in G and H.

Prior to 1974, the Serial Number (rather than VIN) makes no sense at all to me although I understand that only one long time retired employee from Newell that worked in the office was able to decode those numbers.

[cvwiggs]

A little further information on pre-1990 Newell VIN/Serial Numbers:

From 1980 through 1989, Newell used the 1N9 VIN numbers. The 10th digit is a code for the year with 1980 being an A. The last two digits of the VIN is the sequence number for that year so a VIN  So the 7th Newell built in 1983 would have a D as the 10th digit and end in 07.

From 1974 through 1979, Newell used a VIN that typically started with 3000RE or 3500RE and ended with several numbers and a letter. I originally thought the letter at the end was used to designate the year but there seem to be inconsistencies in this theory. For example, I have seen 1979's ending in M and N, 1978's ending with L and M, 1974's ending in G and H.

Prior to 1974, the Serial Number (rather than VIN) makes no sense at all to me although I understand that only one long time retired employee from Newell that worked in the office was able to decode those numbers.

So here's how the info on mine appears.