Common RV Terms & Acronyms You Need to Know
Store Your RV at Adult Toy Storage
Are you new to the RV world? Like many other hobbies, RVing has its own slang and terminology that can be confusing to a newbie. Here are some common RV terms you might hear and what they mean:
RV Camping Vocabulary
Trying to find the perfect campsite, but don’t know how? Throw around some of these key terms:
Shore Power: electrical hookup to power appliances
Dry Camping: camping without hookups, no access to external sources of water and electricity, no sewer connection
Boondocking: dry camping in remote areas that don’t charge a campsite lodging fee
Moochdocking: dry camping without charge on someone’s property (usually family and friends)
Sticks and Bricks: regular buildings and houses that are not on a wheelbase
Towed (“Toad”) Vehicle: a vehicle that is towed behind the main camper
RV Terms
Talking about RV add-ons or looking to describe your setup? Here’s the vocabulary you need:
Arctic Pack: also spelled Arctic Pac or Arctic Pak, an optional kit to insulate RVs for winter camping
Hitch: the fastening unit that joins an RV to the vehicle that pulls it
Coupler: part of the trailer that hooks to the hitch ball
Basement Model: RV that has large storage areas under a raised chassis
Bunkhouse: RV containing bunk beds instead of regular beds
Pop-Up: raised additions to an RV that add height and standing room
Fiver: fifth wheel travel trailer
High Profile: fifth-wheel trailer with a higher-than-normal front, allowing for more than 6 feet of standing room inside the RV
Curb Weight: the weight of an RV without water in the holding tanks but including the weight of automotive fluids
Dry Weight: manufacturer’s weight estimate without fuel, passengers, supplies or water
Holding Tanks: tanks that retain wastewater when the RV isn’t connected to a sewer
Gray Water: wastewater from the sinks and shower
Black Water: wastewater from the toilet
Self-Contained: RV that has indoor plumbing equipment included, as opposed to smaller pop-up campers and campervans
Cassette Toilet: toilet with a small holding tank outside of the RV
RV Acronyms
If you frequent online RV forums or read RV-related books, here are some confusing acronyms you’ve probably come across:
FHU: full hookup campsites with access to power, water, and sewer
UP: the scenic upper peninsula of Michigan
BLM: Bureau of Land Management, which manages public lands where boondocking is popular
NPS: National Park Service, the department that manages natural preserves and parks
GAWR: Gross Axle Weight Rating, the maximum weight that an axle can carry with the weight distributed throughout the RV
GVWR: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, the maximum allowable weight a vehicle can safely carry
GVW: Gross Vehicle Weight, the total weight of a fully-loaded RV, must not exceed the GVWR
UVW: Unloaded Vehicle Weight, the weight of an RV with full fuel, water, and passengers
CCC: Cargo Carrying Capacity, the maximum weight of all supplies, personal belongings, and pets, GVWR minus UVW
RV Storage at Adult Toy Storage
The best way to learn RV lingo is to get out there and go camping. When you’re not on the road, store your RV at Adult Toy Storage. We offer indoor and outdoor storage for every kind of RV, travel trailer, and fifth wheel. Reserve your space here or give us a call at 407-875-8111 for a FREE quote.
References:
https://www.frommers.com/trip-ideas/road-trip/the-abcs-of-rvs-a-glossary-of-common-rv-terms
https://rvshare.com/blog/rv-terms/
https://www.generalrv.com/blog/rving-101-rv-terms-definitions/
https://roadslesstraveled.us/boondocking/
https://camperreport.com/arctic-packages-rvs-7-things-check-buying/
https://blog.campingworld.com/rv-basics/how-to-empty-your-rv-holding-tank/
https://www.tripsavvy.com/best-rv-blogs-online-2912631
https://www.nps.gov/index.htm
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