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Thread: RV Terminology

  1. #1
    Site Sponsor Steven@147's Avatar
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    RV Terminology

    A popular RV web site just published a long list of terminology or abbreviations used in regards to RVs. Although I found that some common ones missing. I did a quick search and couldn't kind a list here, may have missed it, thought there would be one. Maybe we could post something like that here as a "sticky" for reference. I do have it copied to word and have added a few I found missing. I could copy and paste it if isn't against the copywright or web site rules.

    The site does say feel free to share with those entering the RV family.

    Steve
    Last edited by Steven@147; 05-27-2021 at 12:33 PM.
    Steve & Tami Cass - Escapee's, FMCA Members, Texas Fulltimers Since July 2020
    2019 Solitude 3350RL S-Class, 2018 Ram 3500 DRW, Laramie Longhorn, B&W Companion, Texas Class A Non-CDL Drivers License
    Sharing the Fulltime Lifestyle - www.youtube.com/@tsrvadventures3219/videos, Nonprofit Channel

  2. #2
    Rolling Along TNFSolitude's Avatar
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    Sure, let's take a look.
    Tom & Nancy
    Newport, MI
    369RL, #302

    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

  3. #3
    Site Sponsor Steven@147's Avatar
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    Related to RVs
    Anode Rod: Specific part installed in steel or all metal water heaters to prevent corrosion. Some coated water heaters do not use an anode rod.
    • Black Water (& tank): Water from the toilet, sewage.
    • Blue Boy: Portable wheeled plastic tote used to transport sewage from RV waste tank to the dump station.
    • Breakaway Switch: A safety switch that will automatically activate the brakes on the trailer if your trailer becomes separated from the tow vehicle.
    • Bumper Pull: RV trailer (not a 5th wheel).
    • Chucking (Bucking): The yanking fore and aft on a travel trailer or 5th wheel hitch typically experienced on rough roads/highways.
    • Class A: Very large, long motorhome, usually with multiple slides; usually a diesel pusher.
    • Class B: Smaller motorhome, usually van size but tall enough to stand up in. Has all the amenities of larger motorhomes, including a wet bath.
    • Class C: Motorhome with a bed or storage area over the cab.
    • Coach or Motorcoach: Class A motorhome.
    • CO Monitor: Carbon monoxide monitor.
    • Converter: Changes AC voltage to DC voltage.
    • Dinghy: The vehicle towed behind an RV, also called a toad, sometimes called a TV.
    • Docking Station: Convenience panel on an RV where fresh water is typically connected.
    • Dog Bone: The connector used to plug a 50 amp coach to a 30 amp socket. It gets its name from the shape.
    • Dolly: For towing vehicles that can't be towed 4-down (4 wheels on the road). The front two wheel go on the dolly.
    • Doughnut: A rubber ring that seals the dump hose and the campsite sewer connection so that gases and odors do not escape.
    • Dually: Any vehicle with sets of two tires in the rear.
    • Fiver or 5-er: Fifth wheel trailer.
    • Genset: A motorhome's on-board electric generator.
    • Grey Water (& tank): Water from sinks and shower.
    • Honey Wagon: A mobile service that will empty the waste holding tanks on an RV at the campsite.
    • Hula Skirt: A skirt placed on the back bumper of a motorhome to stop the debris that is thrown from the rear wheels from damaging vehicles behind the motorhome.
    • Inverter: Changes DC voltage to AC Voltage.
    • MH or MoHo: Motorhome.
    • OTA: Over-The-Air. In reference to the TV antenna that receives over-the-air broadcasts.
    • OTDA: Over The Door Awning.
    • OTR: Over-The-Road. Usually in reference to truck driving.
    • PDI (Predelivery Inspection): Initial inspection to make sure everything in or on an RV works as it’s supposed to.
    • Pigtail: The 30A to 15A RV pigtail adapter allows coaches with 30A service to connect to 15A household power.
    • Porpoising: Front to rear bounce. The front hits a bump, then rear hits the bump, and they both bounce independently of each other. New shocks will usually solve the issue.
    • Puller: Class A diesel motorhome that has the diesel motor located in the front.
    • Pusher: Class A diesel motorhome that has the diesel motor located in the rear.
    • RBR: Really Big Rig.
    • Reefer: Term used for the RV's refrigerator.
    • Rig: RV.
    • Shakedown: That first trip out in a new (or new-to-you) RV.
    • Shorepower: Convenience you connect your RV’s power cord to.
    • Skoolie: A school bus that has been converted for RV living.
    • Slide: The part of an RV that pushes out to create more room in the RV's interior.
    • Slide Topper: Retractable awning installed over a slide out to keep rain, hail, and debris off of the top of the slide.
    • Stinky Slinky: Sewer hose.
    • Tag Axle: A tag axle is a third axle located behind the rear drive axle of a motor home. It is a non-drive axle with one or two tires on each side.
    • Tail Swing: Describes the extra distance that the rear end of the RV uses during a turn. The longer the space between the rear wheel and the end of the RV, the larger the tail swing will be.
    • Toad: The automobile pulled behind a motorhome.
    • Tow Dolly: Small two wheeled trailer used to attach a tow vehicle to the back of an RV.
    • Toyhauler: Fifth wheel with extra large space in the back to load an ATV, motorcycles, small watercraft, etc.
    • TPMS: Tire pressure monitoring system.
    • TT: Travel Trailer. Sometimes used for Thousand Trails.
    • VBR: Very Big Rig.
    • Wet Bath: Bathroom in a smaller motorhome that is all-in-one. The shower is in the same area as the sink and commode, which may or may not be separated by a curtain.

    Related to RV Weights
    • CCC: Cargo Carrying Capacity. The maximum weight limit for personal items you can add to an RV.
    • GAWR: Gross Axle Weight Rating. The gross axle weight rating is the maximum distributed weight that may be supported by an axle of a road vehicle. Typically, GAWR is followed by either the letters FR or RR, which indicate front or rear axles respectively.
    • GCWR: Gross Combined Weight Rating. The manufacturer's maximum load weight, in pounds, allowed for the trailer and tow vehicle. This rating includes the weight of the trailer, tow vehicle, fuel, water, propane, supplies and passengers.
    • GVWR: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. The manufacturer's maximum load weight, in pounds, allowed for the vehicle. This rating includes the weight of the vehicle plus fuel, water, propane, supplies and passengers.
    • Hitch Dry Weight: (See UVW) used to describe hitch weight without batteries or propane weights included.
    • NCC: Net Carrying Capacity or Payload Capacity. The maximum weight of fuel, water, propane, supplies and passengers that can be added to an RV without exceeding the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).
    • OCCC: Occupant and cargo, carrying capacity.
    • Pin Weight: 5th Wheel - The actual weight pressing down on the 5th wheel hitch located in the bed of the tow vehicle. Generally, pin weight is 20% to 25% of the gross vehicle weight rating.
    • Tongue Weight: Travel Trailer - The actual weight pressing down on the hitch ball located on the tow vehicle. Generally, tongue weight is 10% to 15% of the gross vehicle weight.
    • UBW: Unit Base Weight. The dry weight of the base unit without options.
    • UVW: Unloaded Vehicle Weight or Dry Weight. The weight of the RV without adding fuel, water, propane, supplies and passengers.
    • Weight Distribution Hitch: Transfers the weight from the tongue of the trailer and redistributes it to the front of the tow vehicle.
    • Wet Weight: Weight of RV with full tanks of fuel, propane, fresh water.

    Related to Camping
    • BLM: Bureau of Land Management. Public lands owned by us, where you can find free/cheap camping.
    • Boondocking: Dry camping without hook ups, usually in remote areas.
    • Central water & dump station: For campgrounds that only have a central place to get fresh water and sewer dump.
    • City Water: Safe drinking water from a stationary source, for example, the municipal water system faucets in an RV park.
    • COE: Corps of Engineers. They have nice campgrounds, usually near a lake or reservoir.
    • Dispersed Camping: Dry camping or boondocking, usually on federal lands and national forests.
    • Dry Camping: Camping without hookups. Can be long-term boondocking or over night parking in a lot.
    • FCFS: First come first served. With reference to parks & campgrounds that do not take reservations.
    • FHU: Full hook ups. Campsites with utilities.
    • Moochdocking: Similar to boondocking, but more like couch surfing wherein you park yourself in a friend's driveway or yard and mooch off their water and electric.
    • O/N Parking: Overnight parking, usually in parking lots such as Walmarts, restaurants, casinos, rest areas, truck stops.
    • Potable water: Safe drinking water from a stationary source, for example, the municipal water system faucets in an RV park.
    • Pull-thru or pull-through: Pull through site at a campground, one where you do not have to back into.
    • Shore power/pedestal: Outlet to connect RV (or boat) to AC (usually 120volt).
    • Wallydocking: Staying overnight in a WalMart parking lot.
    • Weekend Warrior: An RVer who RVs on weekends.
    • Workamping: Generally refers to RVers exchanging work for a free campsite, utilities, and possibly a small wage.

    Related to RVers, the Lifestyle, and Pet Phrases
    • DH and DW: Darling (or Dear) Husband and Wife.
    • Full Timer: RVers who live & travel in their RV year-round, usually without a Sticks 'n Bricks home anywhere. (See below)
    • Newbee: Anyone new to RVing.
    • Right Laner: Staying in the right lane on a freeway so you don't have to pass other drivers.
    • SKP: A member of the Escapees National RV Club.
    • Snowbird: RVer that typically lives in their Sticks 'n Bricks home during the summer season, and travels to warmer locations in the winter.
    • Sticks 'n Bricks: Also known as S&B. What RVers call a regular type of house.
    • TTWF: Traveling together without following.
    • WAIF: What Am I Forgetting?
    • WDITT: Why Didn't I Think of That?
    • WTF: We tried to fix it.
    • YMMV: Your Mileage May Vary.


    Here you go! I added some to the list.
    Last edited by Steven@147; 05-28-2021 at 09:51 AM. Reason: added
    Steve & Tami Cass - Escapee's, FMCA Members, Texas Fulltimers Since July 2020
    2019 Solitude 3350RL S-Class, 2018 Ram 3500 DRW, Laramie Longhorn, B&W Companion, Texas Class A Non-CDL Drivers License
    Sharing the Fulltime Lifestyle - www.youtube.com/@tsrvadventures3219/videos, Nonprofit Channel

  4. #4
    Fireside Member Grand Rocky's Avatar
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    ^^ Nice reference ^^

    thanks
    -----------------------------------------------------------
    2021 RAM 3500 MegaCab SWD Diesel 4x4
    SOLD --> 2020 Solitude 310GK

  5. #5
    Paid my dues 😁 FT4NOW's Avatar
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    2 other commonly used phrases related to the RV.

    Street side: the driver side of the RV, usually closest to the street when parked in front of a house

    Curb side: the passenger side of the RV, usually closest to the curb when parked in front of a house

    Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
    2023 Momentum 398M-R
    2023 Ford F-450

    SOLD - 2021 Reflection 311BHS
    SOLD - 2017 Momentum 399TH

  6. #6
    Seasoned Camper
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    Pretty sure WTF has been replaced!
    ��
    Colin & Tracy
    '21 Chevy Silverado 3500HD LTZ/Z71/SRW, Long bed, Anderson UH
    '21 Solitude 310 GK-R

  7. #7
    Site Team Ynot4me2's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JM0397 View Post
    Pretty sure WTF has been replaced!
    ��
    The new version kinda goes hand in hand with the old version.

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    Steph & Lise
    2019 F150 Lariat 2.7 EB
    2020 Imagine XLS 22MLE

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