| I guess because I work in the RV Industry and | | | | microwave or TV when you don't have access to an |
| around RVs almost everyday I take some things for | | | | external 120-volt power source. The amount of |
| granted. One of those things is RV terminology. | | | | power that is available depends on the storage |
| When you hear these terms everyday you just | | | | capacity of your battery(s) and the wattage rating |
| assume that everybody understands them. For the | | | | for the inverter. |
| new RVer terminology may be a bit confusing. To | | | | K |
| help clear things up, I'd like to offer some common | | | | Kilowatts - Power generators are rated in kilowatts. |
| RV terms that you will encounter during your RVing | | | | Each kilowatt equals 1,000 watts. |
| experiences. | | | | L |
| H | | | | LP Gas - Liquid propane or liquefied petroleum is the |
| Heat Strip - An electric heating element in a roof | | | | gas used for RV appliances. Typically it is used for |
| mounted air conditioner. These are usually used on | | | | the range burners, oven, water heater and the LP |
| pop-ups or other trailers that do not have a furnace. | | | | gas mode of the refrigerator. LP gas is stored in |
| A heat strip will take the chill off, but is not designed | | | | cylinders or bottles on trailers and in tanks mounted |
| to actually heat the trailer. | | | | to the frame of motor homes. |
| Hitch Receiver- The hitch receiver is mounted to the | | | | LP Gas Leak detector - LP gas leak detectors are |
| frame of the tow vehicle. The ball mount slides into | | | | audible alarms that warn you of a potential gas leak. |
| the receiver. There are five classes of hitch receivers | | | | They are normally located close to the floor level of |
| based on the maximum amount of weight the | | | | the RV because LP gas is heavier than air and will |
| receiver can handle. | | | | settle towards the floor. |
| Hitch Weight - Hitch weight or Tongue Weight (TW) | | | | M |
| is the amount of weight pressing down on the | | | | MH - Abbreviation for Motor Home. |
| vehicle's hitch from the coupler of the trailer when | | | | Monitor Panel - Allows you to check or monitor the |
| the trailer is fully loaded for travel. For trailers that | | | | fluid levels in the gray, black and fresh water holding |
| weigh over 2,000 pounds TW should be 10 to 15 | | | | tanks. You can also check the condition of the |
| percent of the loaded trailer weight. For fifth wheel | | | | auxiliary battery(s) and on some monitor panels the |
| trailers hitch weight should be 15 to 20 percent of | | | | propane level. |
| the loaded trailer weight. | | | | N |
| Hydraulic Leveling Jacks - Used for leveling an RV, | | | | NADA Book - The RV edition of the National |
| typically a Class A motor home, they are leveling | | | | Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) book is used |
| jacks that operate using hydraulics and are controlled | | | | by RV dealers to determine used RV values. |
| by levers or a touch pad normally located near the | | | | This list is not all-inclusive, but if you learn these |
| drivers seat. | | | | terms you will soon be understanding RV terminology. |
| I | | | | Happy Camping, |
| Inverter - An electrical device that changes12-volt DC | | | | Mark |
| power into 120-volt AC power. It is used to power | | | | Copyright 2006 by Mark J. |
| 120-volt appliances or electronics such as a | | | | |