What the letters and numbers mean in RV model designations

By Tony Barthel
What do RV model designations mean? What exactly is a 1905S, 212RBE or a 22MLSWE? Or take the Flagstaff Micro Lite 25DK, for example. What does DK mean, and is it 25 feet long? Do these numbers have any meaning or are they completely nonsense? We have the answers.

The model numbers used by RV companies have no standards and there is no universally translatable measure to carry from one brand to the next. In fact, there are sister brands with almost completely different designations for exactly the same RV. 

And, there are RVs that have the same model designation but are built in different plants and have rather different features, equipment, or dimensions. But let’s start with the numbers. 

What do the numbers mean?

Starting with the numbers, you can see almost every RV has a numerical designation. Unfortunately, there is no standard for this. 

Sometimes this number is just a model number. For example, the r•pod 201 and 202 are the exact same length, but one has no slide room and a very different layout from the other, which does have a slide. Further, both of these trailers are 25 feet in length. 

Even more confusing, the Flagstaff Micro Lite 22TBS and the Rockwood Mini Lite 2204S are the exact same trailer, but one is branded a Flagstaff and the other is sold by Rockwood dealers. The only differences are the model numbers and the stickers. Period. 

While the numbers in the model designation don’t specifically spell out the length of the RV, you can sort of guess the length of the RV by using the model numbers. 

For example, the aforementioned r•pods are about 20 feet in length for the body. The Rockwood is about 22 feet in length for the body. Then, on all travel trailers, you have to add the tongue. 

And some are reflective of a dimension but it can be the interior length of the body or the exterior length. Again, no standards. And no guarantees that the number has any relevance to the overall size of what you’re getting. 

Here’s a bit more proof of that: Grand Design’s Reflection line of fifth wheels has both the 31MB and the 311BS, and both are within just a few inches over 36 feet long. 

No matter which brand you look at you’ll find this: The model number is more a very loose guess as to the overall length and also simply that—a model number. 

What about the letters?

The letters that follow the numbers actually do have some meaning. But this, too, is not consistent from brand to brand. And there is almost no standard. 

Almost. 

There are a couple of letters almost everybody uses and those are BH. In almost every case where an RV features bunks they have the letters “BH” somewhere in the model designation for “bunkhouse”. This is probably the closest thing you can get to a standard. 

But there is a bit of logic in the letters, too 

There is some logic in the letters. For example, Keystone’s Bullet 212RBSWE features a Rear Bath (RB), has a slide (S) and is the Western Edition (WE). Not as in cowboys and such. But Keystone, like many other manufacturers, has plants in Indiana as well as on the West Coast. In the case of Keystone, their plant in Pendleton, Oregon, will earn the RV the WE designation. 

In fact, they offer both the 212RBS and 212RBSWE. The reason for this is that the West Coast is a huge RV market and it just makes sense to have an assembly line out West. This significantly reduces shipping costs, which can be thousands of dollars, especially as shipping costs rise. 

Of course, shipping costs for RV parts also factor in. So the equation and the Western Editions are sometimes more money than the non-WE models. But then, sometimes they’re less expensive. 

Since a lot of what we buy nowadays is made in China [when this was written], and Chinese goods are shipped to the West Coast, it would seem that Western editions would be cheaper. But they’re often not. What happens is that parts are shipped to Indiana and then back out to the West Coast. I’m not in charge of the logistics, but it’s how things are done. 

No, it doesn’t make sense to me either. And it adds to the costs a lot of West Coast buyers are paying. 

Glossary of RV model numbers

Still, here is a guide to some of the more commonly used abbreviations in RV model designations. Know that RV companies may not be consistent about these designations. Sometimes an RV will have a feature and not have that noted in the model description. If you’re confused, you’re probably getting the gist of this. It almost has no rhyme or reason. 

BH or B – Bunkhouse

Bunkhouses refer to RVs that have a set of bunk beds. These RVs are typically designed to sleep a larger number of people with bunks or other sleeping arrangements that can accommodate them. 

CK – Central Kitchen

Used for RV floor plans with a kitchen in the middle of the RV, usually open to the living area.

DS – Dual Suite

These larger RVs have two bedrooms, often with their own bathrooms.

FK – Front Kitchen

Front kitchen travel trailers and fifth wheels have kitchens in the front of the RV. These floor plans generally have a mid-living room and a rear bedroom.

FL – Front Living

FL refers to a front living room RV. In fifth wheels the kitchen it typically in the center of the RV with the living room over the king pin. 

K or KB – King Bed

Simply indicates the RV contains a king bed. Some RV models, like Keystone’s Cougar, all have king beds, so the use of this designation is usually for brands where this is not a common feature. 

K – Kitchen

K can also be used as standard for kitchen in some unique RV models. For example, Keystone Avalanche has a “GK” model, which stands for grand kitchen.

Other models use “OK” to indicate that the RV has an outdoor kitchen.

LT – Loft

Models labeled as LT have a sleeping loft in the RV.

MB – Mid-Bunk

A mid-bunk RV floorplan has a bunkroom in the center of the RV between the living area and the main bedroom.

MD – Mid-Den

Mid-den floorplans generally have a separate room in the middle of the RV. This den often has fold-down or pull-out beds, so it can double as a kid’s bedroom.

ML – Mid-Living

Mid-living floorplans have the living area in the center of the RV.

O – Office

In newer RV models, an O may stand for office. For example, the Keystone Montana 3941FO has a front office. However, the Keystone Outback 296URK does, as well, but there’s no “O” in that. 

RB – Rear Bath

Indicates that there is a bathroom in the back of the RV.

RK – Rear Kitchen

Just like it sounds, rear-kitchen RVs are layouts with the kitchen in the back.

RL – Rear Living – may also have RD (Rear Den) or RE (Rear Entertainment) designation

The main living space is at the back of the RV. 

RS – Rear Sofa

There’s a sofa in the back which may be part of a larger rear living space. 

S – Slide Room

An “S” added to the end of a model number usually indicates that the RV has a slide room, although very few RVs don’t have slides lately.

TB – Twin Bed

Some RVs have the choice of a single queen-sized bed or a twin bed with the TB indicating the Twin Bed choice. 

Q or QB – Queen Bed

This simply indicates the RV contains a queen bed. FQ usually stands for Front Queen while RQ stands for Rear Queen.

WE – Western Edition

Many RV companies have a Western production line (typically in Oregon) with the WE indicating that the model was produced on the West Coast. Sometimes these are identical to the Indiana-produced models; other times there can be differences. 

In summary

Decoding the model numbers of RVs is sort of like the weather. While you can use all the science you want, sometimes it just doesn’t make any sense whatsoever. Other times it’s sort of close and, on rare occasions, the numbers make perfect sense. 

So, you can use the numbers and letters to get some idea of what RV you’re dealing with, but the names make as much sense as calling a car a Cougar or a Clipper. What’s in a name? Only a good time, essentially.  

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