What do the model names and letters mean?

[tmw188]

Originally Posted by 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.

Wow now that is a explanation that really tells it all. Thanks a lot for that information. I'm wanting a floor plan with the TV not above the cockpit and if possible a lounger in the bedroom. I've seen some but didn't want to look thru every listing to find them, that is why I was hoping there would be a model # maybe expressing what's inside. Thanks again for that info. Thumb!

[AFChap]

Not quite what you asked for, and this is a few years old, but does tell you the Winnebago model number system.

WINNEBAGO MODEL IDENTIFICATION: De-coding the Model Number
A common topic of discussion is how to interpret the model identification for a specific Winnebago Industries, Inc. motor home. The use of letters and numbers is not really a secret code; they have a specific meaning when identifying one of our vehicles. The following chart helps to explain model identifications for the last ten years of Winnebago Industries, Inc. products. For example, a WKR40TD is a 40-foot Winnebago Tour on a Freightliner chassis. For the most part, the characters used in the first four positions of our model identifications have stayed consistent. The fifth position may have one or two characters, and identifies the floor plan configuration. These model identifications reflect standard equipment, and options such as chassis selection may vary with an individual coach. Your model identification can be found on your coach's certification label as shown in the example below.
FIRST CHARACTER = Division:
W = Winnebago
I = Itasca
U = Ultimate
R = Rialta
SECOND CHARACTER = Chassis Manufacturer:
C = Chevrolet
D = Dodge Sprinter
F = Ford
K = Freightliner
P = Workhorse
S = Spartan
V = Volkswagen
THIRD CHARACTER = Model Type:
1 = 100 Series H-Body Eurovan Camper
2 = 200 Series C-Body Access/lmpulse/RialtalVista/Sunstar
3 = 300 Series C-Body Minnie/Outlook/Spirit
4 = 400 Series C-Body Minnie Winnie/Sundancer
5 = 500 Series C-Body View/Navion
7 = 700 Series C-Body Aspect/Cambria
D = D-Series Sightseer/Sunova
E = E-Series Vista/Sunstar
F = F-Series BravelVoyage/Sunrise
G = G-Series Adventurer/Suncruiser (prior to 2009)
J = J-Series Adventurer (2009)
K = K-Series Suncruiser (2009)
L = L-Series Chieftain/Sunflyer
M = M-Series Destination/Latitude
P = P-Series Journey/Meridian/Horizon
Q = Q-Series Ultimate Advantage/Ultimate Freedom R-Series Tour/Ellipse
S = S-Series Vectra/Horizon
FOURTH CHARACTER = Indicates the approximate length of the motor home
FIFTH CHARACTER = Floorplan

ON THE COACH CERTIFICATION LABEL IS:
- Upper left - date vehicle was mfg by Winnebago Industries
- Top center - Chassis mfg and date chassis was mfg
- Bottom Left - s/n assigned by Winnebago
The 6th character of the s/n indicates the model year
5 = 1995 A = 2000 F = 2005
6 = 1996 B = 2001 G = 2006
7 = 1997 C = 2003 H = 2007
8 = 1998 D = 2004 J = 2008
9 = 1999 E = 2005 K = 2009
- Bottom Center - Winnebago product model name
- Bottom Right - VIN
10th character of the VIN indicates model year of the chassis
S = 1995 Y = 2000 5 = 2005
T = 1996 1 = 2001 6 = 2006
V = 1997 2 = 2002 7 = 2007
W = 1998 3 = 2003 8 = 2008
X = 1999 4 = 2004 9 = 2009
- Bottom Right - Interior base color
- Center - GVWR; GAWR for Frt & RR axles; Suitable tire size; Suitable rim size; Cold Inflation Pressure

[tmw188]

Wow that is it that's what I've been looking for. Thanks a bunch! Maybe one of the moderators can put this somewhere for future references.

[caheath]

Look at the brochures for the floorplans: Previous Model Year Product Information

[Skip426]

Originally Posted by garykk

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

I'm sure that's how Old Crow got it's name. Guess the idea spread to other industries.