What do the model names and letters mean?

[tmw188]

From names up the ladder in quality and the letter designations mean after the size? Lets say 35b or u?

[fla tom]

Originally Posted by tmw188

From names up the ladder in quality and the letter designations mean after the size? Lets say 35b or u?

Floor plan

[NotSoBadBob]

I'm not sure about the "b" or "u," but the number may or may not designate the length. I have an Alpenlite Augusta 32RL. It's length is 33 feet 9 inches in total length. I believe the "RL" stands for "Rear Living room," but that's just a guess.

[tmw188]

Originally Posted by fla tom

Floor plan

How do I find the definitions of the floor plan. Not much luck on Winnebago?

[tmw188]

Originally Posted by NotSoBadBob

I'm not sure about the "b" or "u," but the number may or may not designate the length. I have an Alpenlite Augusta 32RL. It's length is 33 feet 9 inches in total length. I believe the "RL" stands for "Rear Living room," but that's just a guess.

rear living room?? Is that the sitting area in the bedroom?

[NotSoBadBob]

No, it means our recliners and couch are in the rear area of the fifth wheel. I've seen some that have a "K" after the number, such as 32RK, or 35K, which have the kitchen in the rear. Not sure about Winnebagos, though. I can't tell much from their web site either .......

[garykk]

I think its whatever the engineers came up with after a few cocktails during happy hour...

[Pepper2]

Different years, different models were available. To get an idea on floor plans and there model designation try RV Trader or any for sale site. Put in Winnebago for make search and all sorts of floor plans should pop up with their identifying model #'s. 35B or U etc..

[tmw188]

Originally Posted by garykk

I think its whatever the engineers came up with after a few cocktails during happy hour...

Well now it totally makes since, I feel like a dummy!

[tmw188]

Originally Posted by Pepper2

Different years, different models were available. To get an idea on floor plans and there model designation try RV Trader or any for sale site. Put in Winnebago for make search and all sorts of floor plans should pop up with their identifying model #'s. 35B or U etc..

That really doesn't work?

[Pepper2]

Not all listed MH's for sale have the model # posted, but many do. Then you will need to look at the pics. of the floor plan to see if this is what your looking for, then you can google for like models for sale. Kind of a back door approach. We have the Sightseer 30 B. It is actually almost 32' long and I still have no idea what the B stands for other then possibly Bed?

[tmw188]

Originally Posted by Pepper2

Not all listed MH's for sale have the model # posted, but many do. Then you will need to look at the pics. of the floor plan to see if this is what your looking for, then you can google for like models for sale. Kind of a back door approach. We have the Sightseer 30 B. It is actually almost 32' long and I still have no idea what the B stands for other then possibly Bed?

I have done it that way but it hasn't seemed 100% accurate. I wish the letter told me something but maybe there is different variations of each. I thought the "b" might stand for bunks? Does it have bunks?

[tmw188]

I did find this I don't know if it applies to all years. http://www.chilhoweerv.com/winnebago...motorhomes.php

[tmw188]

Originally Posted by tmw188

From names up the ladder in quality and the letter designations mean after the size? Lets say 35b or u?

Speaking of Winnebago's specifically.

[Pepper2]

Originally Posted by tmw188

I have done it that way but it hasn't seemed 100% accurate. I wish the letter told me something but maybe there is different variations of each. I thought the "b" might stand for bunks? Does it have bunks?

No bunks. I did a little checking after my last post and it seems there are a lot of other folks like yourself that have no clue what the model #'s stand for, weather it's a Winnebago or Newmar or whatever.

[poppopc]

We have a journey 40U that is about 41'4"!
And I agree most had drinks after work.

[tmw188]

I can understand the # being reasonably related to the size of the coach, I was hoping the letters in some lines would maybe help me determine whether it had two couches or the TV wasn't over the cockpit or it had a sitting area in the bedroom or maybe bunks? Guess it is what it is.

[HerbZilla]

I can tell you that in Vista 35B the "B" stands for bunkhouse. It does have bunks.

[SuperGewl]

In some cases the "B" or "BH" does in fact stand for Bunkhouse, but it could also mean the second floor plan of that model. There is no rhyme or reason just numbers and letters to keep you guessing.

[Hikerdogs]

I worked in the automobile industry many years and later for a company designing and building processing and packaging machines. Generally speaking there are many competing models being designed at the same time. There may be as many as a dozen of each size on the "drawing board" at one time. Each model is assigned a number and letter sequence to differentiate it from the others.

In the motorhome industry the number designation loosely relates to the length of the platform. The larger the number the longer the vehicle. They generally don't use the exact number designation more than a few years. This makes it easier to categorize all the sub sets of drawings to specific production dates and models.

The letter designation refers to the floor plan and available options. Again there are several competing designs being considered at the same time. They try not to overlap or reuse letter designations from model to model for a number of years to keep the sub sets of drawings properly associated to a specific model.

The normal convention is to start with a series of letters for each model. For example a the Adventurer could be assigned letters from H to U. Once those letters have been used to designate a number of floor plans they assign another set of letters. Keep in mind there are only 26 letters in the English alphabet so the letters will be reassigned sometime down the road.

I'm sure the original number and letter designation was closely related to the size and prominent option of the floor plan. However over the years the numbers have to change to keep an orderly record of the changes that have been made.

A good example of a lettering system seemingly not related to a vehicle is Henry Fords Model T. Although it was his first commercially successful design it was the 20th attempt, thus the letter designation T. His next commercially successful automobile design was the Model A. He had come full circle with the letter designation and started over. There are lesser known commercial attempts with letter designations like AA and BB.

In the end the number and letter designations are more often a method of distinguishing one design from another than an attempt to identify a specific feature.