RV Terminology
What did they call me?
RVer: Anyone who owns or uses an RV of course!
Full-Timer: RVer who lives in an RV all year.
Snowbirds: RVers from the North who head for the warmer regions during the winter.
Caravan: An organized group of three or more RVs.
Where do I camp?
Campsite: A single camping spot. Collections of campsites are generally referred to as Campgrounds, Camping Areas or RV Parks.
Pull-Through: Campsites that allow vehicles to drive straight in and pull straight out when leaving.
Campground: A place that usually has RV campsites along with campsites for tenters.
RV Park: A campground that caters to RVs. Offering hookups, services and amenities expected by RV owners.
Trailer Park: A park primarily occupied by mobile homes or permanent trailers.
Dry Camping: Camping without hookups, even though you might use your 12v system with a battery to pump water from your fresh water tank.
Boondocking: Camping usually not in an organized facility in your RV without water or electrical hook-ups. Dry camping.
Types of RVs
RV: Recreational Vehicle. Vehicles that combine transportation and living quarters for camping, travel and recreation.
Pop-up or tent trailer: An RV in which the upper half folds up and out in a tent configuration.
Truck Camper: An Rv that is built to be carried in the bed of a pickup truck. Also called a slide-in camper.
Travel Trailer: An RV meant to be towed by a car or truck.
Fifth-Wheel: A travel trailer that is designed to be pulled by a special hitch mounted in the bed of a pickup truck.
Motorhome: A self-powered RV. One of three types or classes.
Class A Motorhome: Built from the ground up as an RV. Looks like a bus, run up to 45’ in length and can sell for as little as a 30-50 thousand dollars to well over a million for some luxury units.
Class B Motorhome: Conversion vans. Manufacturers start with a commercial Van, then add beds and other amenities. Often expanding up through the roof.
Class C Motorhome: Manufacturers start with with a commercial truck chassis, cab and drive train then built the RV from there. Telltale sign, the cab and nose look like a typical Ford, Chevy, etc..
Diesel Pusher: A class A motorhome with a diesel engine mounted in the rear of the vehicle.
Mobile Home: A mobile home is a semi-permanent dwelling originally built as a trailer primarily for delivery. A mobile home is not an RV (a common misconception}.
Slideout: An option in many newer RVs where a portion of the unit can slide out to increase the living area in the RV.
Hookups
Hookups: Connections offered by campgrounds and RV Parks.
Water. A spigot.
Electric. A box on your campsite with 15, 20, 30 or 50 amp electic outlet .
Sewer. A pipe (with cap) sticking up out of the ground on your campsite for you to drain your tanks.
Full Hookup: A campsite with water, electric and sewer hookup.
Dump Station: A central place for emptying your black and gray water holding tanks (For when you don't have a site with sewer hookup).
Landline or shoreline: The cord built into an RV to connect to Park electric. hookups.
WiFi: Wireless internet connection.
Holding Tanks
Holding Tanks: RVs usually have three, Black water for sewage, Grey water for sink waste and Fresh water to provide a water supply when dry camping.
Black Water: When you flush your toilet the waste goes into a separate tank. The waste is referred to as black water and the tank as a black water tank.
Grey water: Waste water from your sinks and shower is referred to grey water.
Grey water is deposited into the grey water tank.
Fresh Water Tank: RVs usually have a fresh water tank to store water for dry camping.
