With the HitchSafe you can share access to the RV and never be locked out
again! No need to chase down the person
carrying the keys. Great for storing keys
during outdoor activities. Secure your keys
while you are camping.
Arctic
Package
A feature on an RV that adds additional
insulation, storm windows and heat pads/strips
for the holding tanks and water lines, to enable
the RV to be used in cold weather.
Axle Ratio
The ratio between the pinion and ring gears in
the differential that multiply the torque
provided by the engine. It is the number of
driveline revolutions required to turn the axle
one time. As an example, with a 4.10:1 axle the
driveline turns 4.1 times for each full axle
revolution. The higher the number, the more
torque and thus more towing power. However, the
higher the number the slower your vehicle speed.
Backup Monitor
A camera in the back of a motorhome, with the
monitor positioned somewhere on the dashboard
for the driver, to aid in backing up the
motorhome. It is also used while driving to see
the traffic behind and to keep an eye on your
towed vehicle.
Ball Mount
The part of the hitch system that supports the
hitch ball and connects it to the trailer
coupler. Ball mounts are available in load
carrying and weight distributing configurations.
Basement
The storage area below the floor of the RV,
accessible from the outside. Basement storage
usually refers to storage in a Class-A or
Class-C motorhome.
Boondocking
Also known as dry camping, boondocking
refers to camping without any hook-ups, namely
camping without hooking up to any electric,
sewer or water facilities. You can still have
electric from your RV batteries and water from
your freshwater holding tank.
Black (Water) Tank
The gallons of black water waste that can be
held. Black water is the waste from the toilet.
Brake Controller
A control unit mounted inside the vehicle that
allows the electric brakes on the trailer to
become activated in harmony with the braking of
the tow vehicle. The controller can also be used
to manually activate the trailer brakes.
Break-Away System
A system designed to automatically lock the
trailer brakes in the event of a hitch failure,
where the trailer may break away from the
tow vehicle.
British Thermal Unit (BTU)
A measurement of heat that refers to the
quantity required to raise the temperature of
one pound of water one degree F. (Fahrenheit).
RV air conditioners and furnaces are BTU-rated.
Converter
An electrical device for converting 120-volt AC
power into 12-volt DC power. Most RVs with
electrical hookups will have a converter, since
many of the lights and some other accessories
run on 12-volt DC.
Coupler
The part of the trailer that attaches to the
ball of the hitch.
Diesel Puller
The term for a motorhome with the diesel engine
mounted in the front of the vehicle. Also know
simply as a Puller.
Diesel Pusher
The term for a motorhome with the diesel engine
mounted in the rear of the vehicle. Also know
simply as a Pusher.
Dinghy
The term for a vehicle that you are towing with
your motorhome. It is also known as a Toad.
Dry Camping
Also known as boondocking, dry camping
refers to camping without any hook-ups. It is
namely camping without hooking up to any
electric, sewer or water facilities. You can
still have electric from your RV batteries and
water from your freshwater holding tank.
Dry Weight
The weight of the RV without any fuel,
freshwater, propane or passengers.
Dually
A pickup truck, or light-duty tow vehicle, with
four tires on one rear axle.
Dump Station
A facility for dumping or emptying your
black water and gray water holding tanks.
Equalizing Hitch
A hitch that utilizes spring bars that are
placed under tension to distribute a portion of
the trailer's hitch weight to the tow vehicle's
front axle and the trailer's axles. This hitch
is also known as a weight distributing
hitch.
Fiver
Another name for a fifth-wheel RV.
FMCA
Family Motor Coach Association
Fresh (Water) Tank
The gallons of fresh water that can be stored
for later use.
Full Hookup
The ability to connect to all three of the
campground's facilities; electric, water and
sewer.
Full-Timers -or- Full-Timing
The term used for people who live in their RV
full time, or at least the vast majority of
their time.
Generator
An electrical device powered by gasoline or
diesel fuel, and sometimes propane, for
generating 120-volt AC power.
Genset
An abbreviation for Generator Set.
Gray (Water) Tank
The gallons of gray waste that can be held in
the RV. Gray water is waste from the sinks and
shower.
Hitch Rating
The weight, assigned by the manufacturer, that
the hitch is designed to handle.
Hitch Weight
The amount of a trailer's weight that rests on
the tow vehicle's hitch. For travel trailers
this weight should be 10% to 15% of the total
weight of the trailer. For fifth wheels this
weight should be 15% to 20% of the total weight
of the trailer.
Holding Tanks
There are three different holding tanks on most
RVs: fresh water tank, gray water
tank and black water tank. See a detailed
description of each of these tanks elsewhere in
this list.
Hookups
The ability of connecting to a campground's
facilities. The major types of hookups are
electrical, water and sewer. If all three of
these hookups are available, it is termed
full hookup. Hookups may also include
telephone and cable TV in some campgrounds.
Hula Skirt
A skirt placed on the back bumper of a motorhome
to stop debris that is thrown from the rear
wheels from damaging vehicles behind the
motorhome, either the vehicle you are towing or
other vehicles behind the motorhome.
Inverter
An electrical device for converting 12-volt DC
power into 120-volt AC power.
LP Gas
Liquefied Petroleum Gas. LP gas is used
to fuel appliances in the RV, such as the stove,
oven, water heater and sometimes the
refrigerator. Propane tanks are usually rated in
pounds or gallons.
Motorcoach
A motorhome that is built on a bus-type chassis.
NADA
National Automobile Dealers Association
Part-Timers
The term used for people who use their RV more
than usual (more than just a few weekend trips a
year), but who still use it less than full time.
Pop-Out
The term for a room in an RV that pops out
for additional living space.
Popup or Pop-Up
Another name for a folding camping trailer.
Porpoising
A term used to define the up and down motion in
an RV while traveling.
Puller
The slang term for a motorhome with a
front-mounted diesel engine.
Pull Through
A camping site that allows you to pull
through while setting up and leaving the
area. A site where you do not have to back into
or out of.
Pusher
The slang term for a motorhome with a
rear-mounted diesel engine.
Receiver
The part of the hitch that permits a hitch bar
to be inserted.
Reefer
A slang term for the refrigerator in your RV.
RVDA
Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association
RVIA
Recreational Vehicle Industry Association
RVRA
Recreational Vehicle Rental Association
Safety Chains
A set of chains that are attached to both the
trailer A-Frame and the tow vehicle while
towing. Safety chains are intended to keep the
trailer attached to the tow vehicle in the event
of a hitch failure, preventing the trailer from
completely separating from the tow vehicle.
Screen Room
The term for a screen enclosure that attaches to
the exterior of an RV for a bug-free living area
outside.
Shore Power
Electricity provided to the RV by an external
source other than the RV batteries.
Slide-In
The term for a type of camper that mounts on a
truck bed, because this type of camper slides
in to the truck bed.
Slide-Out
A room or area in your RV that slides out
to make additional space for living.
Slider
The slang term for a slider-hitch.
Slider Hitch
A sliding hitch used on short bed pickup trucks
to enable them to tow fifth wheel trailers. It
allows them sufficient clearance to make turns
without having the trailer hit the cab of the
truck.
Tip-Out
The term used for an area or room in an RV that
tips out for additional living space. The
Tip-Out was generally used in older RVs. Newer
RVs mainly use a slide-out.
Toad
The term for a vehicle that you are towing with
your motorhome. It is also known as a Dinghy.
Tow Bar
A bar used for connecting a towed vehicle to the
motorhome for towing with all four wheels on the
ground.
Trailer Brakes
Brakes that are built into the trailer and are
activated either by electric impulse or by a
surge mechanism.
Transmission Cooler
A heat exchanger similar to a small radiator
through which automatic transmission fluid
passes and is cooled.
Triple Towing
The term used for three vehicles attached
together, usually a tow vehicle pulling two
separate trailers. A typical configuration might
be a tow vehicle pulling a travel trailer with a
boat behind that.
Weight Carrying Hitch
A hitch designed to accept the entire hitch
weight of the trailer. This hitch is also known
as a dead weight hitch.
Weight Distributing Hitch
A hitch that utilizes spring bars that are
placed under tension to distribute a portion of
the trailer's hitch weight to the tow vehicle's
front axle and the trailer's axles. This hitch
is also known as an equalizing hitch.
Wet Weight
The weight of the RV with the fuel, freshwater
and propane tanks full.
Wide Body
The term for an RV exceeding the normal eight
feet wide. Wide Bodies are usually 102" (8' 6")
wideR
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