Top 25 Terms Every RV-Enthusiast Needs to Know

Term

Definition

1. 20 Amp / 30 Amp / 50 Amp

Depending on the RV, the rig will run off of a specified power amperage. Keep an eye out for "## Amp" at campgrounds and RV parks to see which amp services they offer. 20, 30, and 50 Amp are typical. 

(Probably) not quite big enough for the pool table you had in your childhood home's basement, but RVs have basements, too! Not unlike a full-sized basement, this area is beneath the living space / floor of an RV and can be used for handy storage. 

Unlike "grey water" that refers to wastewater that's disposed from a sink or shower, the term, "black water" is used to describe water containing sewage, and it must be disposed of properly. It's stored in an RV camper's black tank" until it's offloaded correctly.

This term is a popular way to refer to "RV-ing" in the UK, but it also means RV-ing with other RV-enthusiasts. 

Unlike "dry weight" curb weight refers to the weight of an RV and (almost) the entirety of its contents. While this term doesn't include the weight of passengers and personal luggage, it accounts for everything like water tanks, propane, etc. 

Dry camping is a little closer to "roughing it"! This term describes camping without access to certain conveniences such as power hookups, water, and other external utilities. A power generator may come in handy when dry camping.

The dry weight of an RV simply refers the manufacturer-listed weight of the vehicle without any water, propane, or passengers accounted for. 

Almost too aptly named, a "dump station" is where RVers have an opportunity to offload grey and black water tanks. Don't forget - you'll need a sewage hose to safely & effectively empty everything from your RV. 

An extended-stay campsite, RV park, or caravan site is an area that allows RVers to call the location "home" for a significant period of time. Weeks, months, or even a whole season are common durations for extended-stay sites.

The term "fiver" is used in a number of contexts when referring to money or coffee breaks, but it's also used in the RV world when describing a fifth-wheel trailer. 

Any campsite with this designation offers the full array of water, electrical, and sewage services. 

Those earning the title of "Full-Timers" of "Full-Time RVers" are those that live, travel, and thrive in their RVs for the entirety of the year. In fact, living the FTRVer life is a dream come true for many!

Useful for any RVers dry camping / boondocking, a generator will provide gas or diesel-powered electricity to an RV. Be mindful of the noise, though! Generators aren't exactly silent, so it's best practice to not only observe any official site noise regulations, but to apply common-sense courtesy when running generators late at night or early in the morning.  

Unlike "black water", the term, "grey water" is used to describe water disposed down sink and shower drains. The grey water tank is where this is stored.

This is a catch-all term for every tank on board an RV. When referring to the "holding tanks", an RVer is talking about black, grey, and freshwater tanks.

Similar in appearance to the popular Hawaiian dress made from palm leaves, an RV hula skirt was born less from tradition and more from practicality. An RV's hula skirt is a protective feature mounted behind the rear tires, and it will shield both the back of the RV as well as other drivers from debris that's kicked up along the road. 

This important figure to note is the maximum weight load an RV is capable of carrying. This figure accounts for cargo, holding tanks, and passengers. Be sure to not exceed your rig's NCC! 

Wherever your journey takes you, always make sure you never use non-potable water for human consumption, brushing your teeth, cleaning the dishes, etc. Simply put, this type of water should never touch your freshwater tank! Its primary use case is flushing out your black tank when at a dump station. 

This water is the correct water with which to fill your freshwater tank. Potable water is clear, clean, and perfectly healthy for human consumption.

The term "rig" is another way RVers refer to their recreational vehicles (motorhomes, campers, caravans, etc.). Succinct yet all- encompassing, isn't it?   

Imagine if you could expand your home's square footage with the touch of a button. This is exactly what a slide-out (or "pop-out") feature on an RV does! This electrically or mechanically operated feature on some rigs will allow travelers to extend a portion of the RV. We can thank clever engineering for this added comfort!

Once parked and ready to hunker down, RVers will deploy stabilizing jacks at points on the underside of their rig. This provides more points of contact with the ground, thus stabilizing the structure. No more rocking back-&-forth when walking from the bedroom to the kitchen and out to the patio. 

Imagine the point of contact between your RV and your trailer hitch ball. The amount of weight transferred from your RV to your hitch at this point is called the "tongue weight", and it usually falls between 10-15% of the rig's total weight. 

Somewhat related to the "tongue weight", your vehicle's tow rating indicates the maximum amount of weight it can tow. Be sure not to exceed this weight when towing a trailer of any kind. In the RV world, make sure you account for all tanks and cargo. 

Wet Weight is the combined weight of your rig that includes the current weight of all cargo and tanks. As you empty / fill tanks and load / unload cargo, bear in mind your wet weight will fluctuate.