RV Glossary: RV Terms Explained in Plain English

New to RVs? This glossary explains 48 of the terms you will meet most often, in plain English. Each definition links to a deeper guide or tool where one exists, so you can go from “what does that mean?” to “what should I do?” quickly.

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30-amp and 50-amp service

The two common RV electrical hookups. 30-amp service is a single 120-volt circuit; 50-amp service provides two 120-volt legs and far more total power, which larger RVs with two air conditioners often need.

A

Amp-hour (Ah)

A measure of battery capacity: how many amps a battery can supply for one hour. Multiply amp-hours by battery voltage to get watt-hours. Learn more.

B

Back-in site

A campsite you reverse into. Many older park campgrounds have mostly back-in sites. Learn more.

Basement storage

Storage compartments under the floor of a motorhome or fifth wheel, reached from outside.

Black tank

The holding tank that collects toilet waste. It is emptied only at a dump station or sewer hookup.

BLM land

Public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, where dispersed camping is often allowed with stay limits. Learn more.

Boondocking

Camping without hookups, usually on public land. Also called dry camping or dispersed camping. Learn more.

C

Cargo carrying capacity (CCC)

The weight available for water, propane, gear and passengers: GVWR minus the unloaded vehicle weight. Learn more.

Class A motorhome

A large, bus-style motorhome built on a truck or bus chassis.

Class B motorhome

A camper van built inside a van body. Easy to drive and park, with limited space.

Class C motorhome

A motorhome built on a truck or van cab, usually with a sleeping area over the cab.

Converter

The device that turns shore or generator AC power into 12-volt DC power and charges the house batteries.

D

DC-to-DC charger

A charger that lets a vehicle’s alternator charge a house battery safely, often recommended for lithium batteries. Learn more.

Dispersed camping

Camping outside a developed campground, usually on BLM land or in a national forest, without services. Learn more.

Domicile

Your legal home state for taxes, voting, vehicle registration and insurance. Full-time RVers still need one.

Dry weight

A manufacturer’s weight for an empty RV. It often excludes options, so it can be lower than the real weight.

Dump station

A place to empty black and gray tanks, found at many campgrounds, travel centers and some rest areas.

E

EMS (electrical management system)

A device that protects an RV from surges and also from wiring faults and high or low voltage, usually by cutting power.

F

Fifth wheel

A towable RV that connects to a hitch in the bed of a pickup truck.

Fresh tank

The tank that holds drinking and washing water for use when you are not connected to a water hookup.

Full hookups

A campsite with water, electric and sewer connections.

G

GAWR

Gross axle weight rating: the most weight an individual axle may carry.

GCWR

Gross combined weight rating: the most the tow vehicle and trailer together may weigh.

Generator hours

The hours a campground allows generators to run, set to limit noise and exhaust.

Gray tank

The holding tank that collects water from sinks and the shower.

GVWR

Gross vehicle weight rating: the most the fully loaded RV may weigh. Learn more.

H

House battery

The battery bank that powers the living area of an RV, separate from the engine’s starting battery.

I

Inverter

A device that turns 12-volt battery power into 120-volt AC power for household outlets and appliances.

L

Leveling blocks

Stackable blocks placed under tires to level an RV on uneven ground.

LiFePO4

Lithium iron phosphate, the lithium battery chemistry most often used for RV house batteries and power stations. Learn more.

Long-Term Visitor Area (LTVA)

A BLM area, mostly in the desert Southwest, that allows extended winter stays with a permit.

M

Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM)

A free USDA Forest Service map showing which national forest roads are open to vehicles and where roadside camping is allowed.

MPPT charge controller

A solar charge controller that converts panel output efficiently to charge batteries, especially useful with higher-voltage panels. Learn more.

P

Pin weight

The downward weight a fifth wheel places on the truck’s hitch.

Portable power station

A rechargeable battery with built-in outlets and an inverter, used for camping and backup power. Learn more.

Pull-through site

A campsite you can drive into and out of without reversing, popular with long rigs. Learn more.

S

Shore power

An external electrical hookup, such as a campground pedestal or a home outlet.

Slide-out

A section of wall that extends outward when parked to add living space.

Stay limit

The maximum number of days you may camp in one place, such as the BLM’s general 14 days within a 28-day period. Learn more.

Surge protector

A device that protects an RV from voltage spikes at a campground pedestal.

T

Toad

A car towed behind a motorhome, also called a dinghy.

Tongue weight

The downward weight a travel trailer places on the tow vehicle’s hitch ball. Learn more.

TPMS

A tire pressure monitoring system that alerts you to low pressure or high temperature while driving.

Travel trailer

A towable RV that connects to a hitch ball on the tow vehicle’s bumper or frame.

U

UVW

Unloaded vehicle weight: the weight of the RV as built, before water, propane, cargo and passengers.

W

Watt-hour (Wh)

A measure of energy. A 100-watt device running for one hour uses 100 watt-hours. Learn more.

Weight distribution hitch

A hitch that spreads tongue weight across the tow vehicle and trailer axles for more stable towing.

Workamping

Working in exchange for a campsite or wages, often at campgrounds, parks or seasonal businesses.

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