| I guess because I work in the RV Industry and | | | | to a permanent fixture on the tow vehicle, normally |
| around RVs almost everyday I take some things for | | | | the receiver. The chains are crossed "X" to form a |
| granted. One of those things is RV terminology. | | | | saddle that would prevent the coupler from |
| When you hear these terms everyday you just | | | | contacting the road surface in the event of a |
| assume that everybody understands them. For the | | | | separation. |
| new RVer terminology may be a bit confusing. To | | | | Screen Room - A screened in enclosure that |
| help clear things up, I'd like to offer some common | | | | attaches to the exterior of an RV. They provide |
| RV terms that you will encounter during your RVing | | | | protection from insects and rain. Screen rooms are |
| experiences. | | | | most commonly used with pop-ups. |
| O | | | | Sewer hose - A flexible hose that attaches to the |
| OEM - Abbreviation for Original Equipment | | | | RV sewer outlet and the campground sewer used to |
| Manufacturer | | | | dump or empty holding tanks. You should have a 10' |
| Overhang - The portion of the motor home that | | | | and 20' hose available with necessary sewer hose |
| extends from the rear axle to the rear of the motor | | | | attachments. |
| home. | | | | Sewer hose donut - A plastic or rubber ring used to |
| P | | | | get a good seal between the sewer hose and the |
| Park Model - An RV trailer designed to be taken to a | | | | campground sewer connection. Sewer hose donuts |
| location such as a campground or resort area and set | | | | are required at many campgrounds. |
| up permanently. A park model trailer has more | | | | Shore Power - Shore power is a term used for |
| household type features and amenities than a travel | | | | plugging the RV in to an external 120-volt power |
| trailer. | | | | source such as at a campground. |
| Pilot Flame - The pilot flame is a small flame used to | | | | Slide-In - A truck camper that slides in to the bed of |
| light the main burner of an LP gas fired appliance. The | | | | a pickup truck. |
| pilot flame heats a thermocouple control that opens | | | | Slide-Out - A section of the RV that slides out to |
| the flow of gas to the burner. | | | | provide you with additional living space. Some RVs |
| Porpoising - A term used to describe the up and | | | | have multiple slide outs. |
| down movement of an RV when traveling. | | | | Slider Hitch - A 5th wheel hitch used with short wheel |
| Portable Toilet or Porta Potty - A portable RV toilet | | | | base pickup trucks. With short wheel base trucks the |
| with a fairly small water tank and holding tank. When | | | | front of the 5th wheel trailer can make contact with |
| the holding tank is full it can be removed and emptied | | | | the cab of the truck when turning to sharp. A slider |
| at a dump station. | | | | hitch has two positions. One for normal driving |
| Pull Through Site - A campground site that requires | | | | conditions and one for maneuvering where turns are |
| no backing. The site is designed for you to drive or | | | | required. |
| pull through. | | | | Snowbird - RVers that head south for the winter. |
| R | | | | Stabilizer Jacks - Jacks that are used on the corners |
| Refer - A short term for your RV refrigerator. | | | | of an RV to stabilize it when it is set up at the |
| Regulator- LP gas regulators control or regulate the | | | | campground. Some are mounted to the frame of the |
| LP gas flow through all appliances, and maintain the | | | | RV and others are portable. Stabilizer jacks are not |
| proper operating pressure in the LP gas system. | | | | designed to level the trailer |
| Rig - A term RVers use for their RV. | | | | Stick and Tin - An RV with wood framing and |
| RV - Abbreviation for Recreation Vehicle. A | | | | corrugated aluminum exterior. |
| Recreation Vehicle combines transportation and living | | | | Surge Brakes - A hydraulic braking system used on |
| quarters for recreation, camping, and travel. They can | | | | some lightweight trailers. Surge brakes activate when |
| be classified in two basic groups, motorized RVs and | | | | the trailer surges or pushes against the hitch ball |
| towable RVs. Motorized RVs include Class A, Class B | | | | when slowing down. |
| and Class C motor homes. Towables include pop-ups, | | | | Sway Control - A device used to help control trailer |
| travel trailers, fifth wheels and truck campers. | | | | sway. There are two basic types of add on sway |
| RVDA - Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association | | | | control, friction and cam action. |
| RVIA - Recreation Vehicle Industry Association | | | | This list is not all-inclusive, but if you learn these |
| S | | | | terms you will soon be understanding RV terminology. |
| Safety Chains - Safety chains are used on trailers in | | | | Happy Camping, |
| case of a hitch failure. One end of the chain is | | | | Mark |
| attached to the trailers A-frame, and the other end | | | | Copyright 2006 by Mark J. |