RV terms and abbreviations explained in plain language. For how the weight terms work together, see RV sizes and weights.
RV terms A to Z
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 30-amp / 50-amp service | Common RV shore-power ratings. 30-amp is about 3,600 W; 50-amp is about 12,000 W in total (two 120 V legs). |
| Absorption refrigerator | A fridge that can run on propane or electricity and relies on good ventilation and levelling. |
| AGM battery | Absorbent glass mat lead-acid battery, a sealed type often used as an RV house battery. |
| Awning | A fold-out fabric cover over the campsite door side. |
| Black water | Wastewater from the toilet. |
| Boondocking / dry camping | Camping without hookups, relying on onboard water, power and tanks. |
| Brake controller | A device in the tow vehicle that controls electric trailer brakes. |
| Breakaway system | A battery-powered switch that applies a trailer's brakes if it separates from the tow vehicle. |
| Bumper-pull | Common nickname for a conventional travel trailer; it actually uses a rated receiver and hitch. |
| Bunkhouse | A floorplan with dedicated children's beds. |
| Cab-over | The sleeping area above the cab on many Class C motorhomes. |
| CCC / OCCC | Cargo carrying capacity, or occupant and cargo carrying capacity, as shown on the applicable label. |
| Class A | A bus-style motorhome on a heavy chassis. |
| Class B | A camper van built within a van body. |
| Class B+ | Usually a marketing term for a compact motorhome with an expanded body and no large cab-over bed. |
| Class C | A motorhome on a cutaway van or truck chassis, often with a cab-over bed. |
| Converter / charger | Equipment that turns AC power into DC to run 12 V loads and charge batteries. |
| Cutaway chassis | A van or truck chassis with no body behind the cab, on which a motorhome body is built. |
| Delamination | Separation of bonded wall layers, often caused by water damage. |
| Destination trailer | A trailer built for comfort during extended stays at one location. |
| Diesel pusher | A motorhome with its diesel engine at the rear. |
| Dinette | A table with seating that often converts into a bed. |
| Dry bath | A bathroom with the shower separate from the rest of the space. |
| Dry weight / UVW | Weight of the RV as stated by the manufacturer, usually without cargo, water or passengers. |
| Dump station | A place to empty black and grey tanks. |
| Fifth wheel | A trailer that couples to a hitch in a pickup bed through a kingpin. |
| Four-season | A marketing label for cold-weather capability; ask what it actually means for the model. |
| GAWR | Gross axle weight rating, the maximum load allowed on an axle. |
| GCWR | Gross combined weight rating, the maximum combined weight of the tow vehicle and trailer. |
| Grey water | Wastewater from sinks and showers. |
| GVW | Gross vehicle weight, the actual weight at a given moment. |
| GVWR | Gross vehicle weight rating, the maximum loaded weight the manufacturer assigns. |
| Heat pump | A heating and cooling unit that moves heat; cold-weather performance varies. |
| Hitch rating | The limits assigned to a hitch system, often with separate trailer-weight and vertical-load limits. |
| Hybrid trailer | A hard-sided trailer with fold-out sleeping sections. |
| Hydronic heating | A liquid-based system that can provide integrated heat and hot water. |
| Inverter | Equipment that converts battery DC power into AC power. |
| Kingpin | The coupling pin under the front of a fifth wheel. |
| LiFePO4 | Lithium iron phosphate battery, a lithium type used for RV house power. |
| LP / propane | Fuel gas used for cooking, heating, refrigeration and hot water. |
| Murphy bed | A bed that folds up to free daytime space. |
| Park model | A unit mainly meant to stay on a site rather than travel regularly. |
| Payload | The weight a vehicle can carry, including passengers, cargo, hitch hardware and tongue or pin weight. |
| Pin weight | The load a fifth wheel puts on the truck through its hitch. |
| Pop-up / tent trailer | A trailer that folds down for travel and opens at the campsite. |
| Shore power | An external electrical connection at a campsite. |
| Slide-out | A section of the RV that extends to add floor space. |
| Super C | A larger motorhome built on a heavy truck chassis. |
| Surge brakes | Trailer brakes that work from the push of the trailer against the hitch. |
| Sway control | Equipment that reduces side-to-side movement of a towed trailer. |
| Tankless water heater | A water heater that heats on demand instead of storing hot water. |
| Teardrop trailer | A small trailer, traditionally an enclosed bed with an outside rear kitchen. |
| Tongue weight | The downward load a conventional trailer puts on the hitch coupling. |
| Toy hauler | An RV with a rear garage for bikes, ATVs and other equipment. |
| Truck camper | A camper that sits in a pickup bed. |
| Weight-distributing hitch | A hitch that shares trailer load across the tow vehicle and trailer axles; it does not raise any rating. |
| Wet bath | A bathroom where the shower and toilet share one waterproof space. |
| Winterize / dewinterize | Preparing the plumbing for freezing weather, and returning it to service afterwards. |