This might seem like a silly post, but here are some little things about how recreational vehicles might be named or what the little designations might be in their model numbers. Understanding RV model names (or rv model numbers) makes RV shopping much much easier. It will also help you to get a bogey on price without actually talking with anyone – just for quick mental notes of course.

I don’t think this is a hard and fast set of rules, but this should get you close.

Add your RV Model Naming Convention in the Comments

Text tags in the RV Model Names

• SS = Super Slide
  • Usually a long slide that runs the length of the main living area in an RV
  • Super Slide Listings on eBay as examples
• FK = Front Kitchen
  • Usually a towable trailer with the kitchen in the front most part next to the hitch.
  • Does not make sense to have a motorized RV with front kitchen. Too hard to steer and drive while cooking pancakes.
  • Front Kitchen Listings on eBay as examples
• RK = Rear Kitchen
  • Usually a towable trailer with the kitchen in the front most part next to the hitch.
  • Unlike front kitchen, I don’t see why you couldn’t have an RK on a motorized. But I don’t see this as a common designation.
  • Rear Kitchen Listings on eBay as examples
• OK = Outside Kitchen
  • A recent innovation (maybe 2005 or so) whereby a small kitchen area, accessible to the outside, similar to a slide-out or a big door opening can be used outside of the RV.
  • Usually these outside kitchens have a couple burners, a grill, a refrigerator, and a drawer or two.
  • Gets the RV closer to the camping ideal without making a big project. Also in the summer keeps the heat outside and the food smells outside.
  • I see this “OK” designation used in conjunction with other designations.
  • You’ll see this on both towable and motorized RVs.
  • Outside Kitchen Listings on eBay as examples
• RL = Rear Living
  • This is the designation that the area where you relax and spend time is in the rear of the RV. A large window might be characteristic and a TV/recliner area is part and parcel.
  • Rear Living Listings on eBay as examples
• FL = Front Living
  • This is the designation that the area where you relax and spend time is in the FRONT of the RV. A TV/recliner area is part and parcel.
  • Does not mix well with the drivers seat so a towable focused designation.
  • Sheri and I first saw this on a Keystone RV some years ago and the visual appeal of this floor plan was very good. It had instant “wow” factor. We could not speak to its practicality.
  • Front Living Listings on eBay as examples
• FB = Front Bath
  • This is a designation for the master bathroom being placed in the very most front of the the RV.
  • Not a common feature.
  • I think this would be an RV that would be nearly 100% for full time use with a single person or couple that doesn’t have many/any visitors. Or you’d be committed to a 2nd bathroom.
  • Front Bath Listings on eBay as examples. Not many listings so this may be empty.
•  Q= Queen bed somewhere
  • Honestly, putting the “Q” in the name is a bit silly. Most RVs have queen beds if they are bigger than, say 16 feet long.
  • Queen Bed RV Listings on eBay as examples
• K = Kitchen somewhere, many times this is used to show off the outdoor kitchen.
  • Honestly, putting the “K” in the name is a bit silly where it doesn’t designate something meaningful.
  • I can’t even dignify this with a reasonable search for examples. Sorry.
• RE = Rear Entertainment (not much different from rear living)
  • Similar to rear living. It might have more to do with how they market the unit. I could never see a realistic difference. Indoor solitary people might be drawn to Rear Living as a term and gregarious people might be drawn to Rear Entertainment as an idea. The term might just be a psychology thing.
  • Rear Entertainment Listings on eBay
• FE = Front Entertainment – a major cool layout for 5th wheels
  • See Front Living.
• RGT = Most likely rear great room
  • See Rear Living
• BH = bunk house (extra beds for kids – not for example the kitchen table converting into a bed)
  • Unlike convertible spaces – like kitchen tables turning into beds – bunk houses are permanent sleeping quarters for guests.
  • They look surprisingly similar to the small spaces that the sailors get when on ships. I wasn’t navy so I’m just giving my impression.
  • Bunk House Listings on eBay
• TB = Twin Bunk – not 100% sure, but it seems reasonable.
  • See Bunk House BH.
• QB = Queen Bed
  • See Queen up above.
• More Generically
  • S = Slide
  • R = Rear
  • F = Front
  • K =Kitchen
  • O = Outdoor
  • B = Bath, Bed, Bunk
  • E = Entertainment
  • T = Triple
  • D = Double
  • P = Pantry
  • Q = Queen, sometimes Quad
  • C = Center

Once you know this code, then you can start to figure out the other variants manufacturers use. There is no standard, but maybe this can get you closer quicker to an idea.

What do the NUMBERS mean in an RV model number

The numbers in the model number seem to come in two varieties – One number that is more like square footage and one that is simply the length of the unit. Typically, you can tell them apart because square footage has an extra digit.

Add your RV Model Naming Convention in the Comments

Possible number meanings in RV Model Names

• 392 = 392 square feet. I think it counts the slides extended.
• 292 = 292 square feet.
• 29 = 29 feet (29 * 8) = the real square footage.

Now that you know the numbers and the letters, you can very quickly understand an RV and have a pretty good idea of what is in store for you.

Truth in model numbers, length and square footage

Don’t expect precision. Just use as a rough guide. Sometimes the numbers are simple rate and ranking numbers that RV manufacturers provided to simply “sort” their RV models. This might only VERY roughly correspond to length. Just take it with a grain of salt.

Same with square footage.

Examples of different RV model name & numbers and what they translate to as near as I can tell:

• Puma 19-RL — 19 foot rear living travel trailer
• Puma 23-RBFQ — 23 foot Rear Bunk (or bath) Front Queen. This one actually is 28 feet long so the 23 doesn’t make much sense, but I think you could also think of it as a way to “sort” the product line from smallest to biggest with length as an approximation. In other words – don’t get too hung up on it.
• Puma 28-RBSS — 28 foot (approx) rear bath super slide.
• Puma 31-RDKS — 31 foot (actually 34) rear dining kitchen slide.
• Keystone 288RLS — 288 sq ft (appxo 32feet x 8 feet wide) rear living slide
• Keystone 330RBK — 330 sq ft rear bunk (outside) kitchen.
• Dutchmen 16QBS — 16 foot Queen Bed. The S is LIKELY for Single Axle. Sometimes you have to guess. This is the model number of our Tiny Texas Tumbleweed.
• Puma 29-FKSS — 29 foot Front Kitchen Super Slide. This was our first RV.
• Open Range 399BHS — 399 sq  ft Bunk House – S is either the ending for Bunkhouse(s) or (S)lide. This was our 2nd RV.
• Sabre 34 TBOK — My take would be Twin Bunk Outside Kitchen

Of course these are my guesses – they  don’t really tell me, but I think I’m pretty close overall. Now that you have at least a partial decoder ring, the RV model name can mean a little be more and be more useful to you. It isn’t a perfect scheme, but I think you’ll find it handy.

Add your RV Model Naming Convention in the Comments

RV Buying and Hunting Resources

Here are some books that might help you with your RV search. I ASSUME you are searching for an RV otherwise you might not be interested in model numbers.

CLICK HERE IF YOU DO NOT SEE A NICE SET OF AMAZON SEARCH TERMS RELATED TO rv buying guide BELOW