Apron |
The length and width of parking area available to park an RV. Some aprons are long enough to hold a tow
or towed vehicle; some are too short so that RV-ers have to park the other vehicle either alongside the
apron or in some other area. Aprons are also called "parking pads", and may be made of dirt, gravel, grass
or pavement. |
Black water tank |
The tank used to collect toilet refuse. Black water is kept in a separate tank from gray water.
Black water tanks can be emptied at an on-site sewer disposal or at a dump station. |
Blue boy |
See "honey wagon". |
Boondocking |
Slang term for camping off-the-grid, without hookups like water, electric, cable or sewer.
Also referred to as "gravel pit camping" or "dirt camping". |
Bus |
See "motorhome". |
Converter |
An electronic device used to convert 120 volt (alternating) current into 12 volt (direct) current. It is used
to supply voltage to a rig's 12 volt fuse panel. Some converters also have chargers used to maintain charge
on a rig's house battery. |
DEF |
Diesel exhaust fluid -- for school buses etc, some trucks need it. |
DTV |
DirecTV, a satellite TV provider, a competitor of Dish TV. Campers can get satellite reception either by using
a ground mounted rooftop mounted dish. Some rooftop units are capable of locating necessary satellites on their
own. |
Dump station |
A gray water and black water dump facility used to empty a rig's gray and black holding tanks. Dump stations
are normally found at the exit of RV campgrounds. |
Fifth-wheel |
[TBD] |
Gray water tank |
The tank used to collect sink water from the kitchen and bath basins as well as the bath shower.
Gray water is kept in a separate
holding tank from black water. Gray water tanks can be emptied at an on-site sewer disposal or at a
dump station. |
Honey wagon |
A septic pumper truck that comes around to your website to suck out your gray and black water tanks.
Honey wagons are normally found at campgrounds that don't have on-site sewer. Sometimes referred to as
"sewer suckers", their services can be fee-based
or free. You may or may not have to be at your rig when the pumper comes around. The term also
refers to a small container used to carry sewage from a rig to the dump station. BTW: If you're interested, the
term comes from the old western expression for a wagon carrying dead bodies.
Sometimes called a "blue boy". |
House battery |
The 12 volt battery contained in your rig, probably somewhere in the front. Unlike vehicle batteries,
RV house batteries should be deep cycle batteries. Motorhomes have both house batteries
and vehicle batteries. |
Hookup |
The water, electric, cable and/or sewer services offered by a campground. Not all campgrounds offer all of
these services; those that have water, electric and sewer are sometimes called "full hookups". Electric can
be any of 15/20 amp, 30 amp, 50 amp or some combination of these. |
Inverter |
An electronic device used to convert a battery's 12 volt (direct) current into 120 volt (alternating) current
for powering things like a microwave oven, TV or maybe even an A/C. |
Landing gear |
The front "jacks" on a fifth-wheel trailer. Note that the term is somewhat of a misnomer because
even they are used to raise the front of a trailer, they
cannot be used to lift the trailer off the ground. |
Motorhome |
-- Also called a "bus" or "pusher", the latter due to the fact that the engine is in the rear.
ODS |
Abbreviation for Opposite Door Side. A reference to the side of a rig opposite the entryway doo; the "driver" side.
You will occasionally see references to things like the ODS lights. I affectionately refer to this as the
Other D**n Side. |
Popup |
A relatively small type of camping trailer that can be collapsed for easy storage or pulling. Popups can have
side rooms for extended living area. While generally cheaper than other types of RV, some premium popups
have amenities like a shower, toilet, slide-out, dinette, microwave and oven. |
Pusher |
See "motorhome". |
Reefer fuel |
A type of off-road diesel intended for farm equipment. Although it is available at truck stops,
it should NOT be used for on-road vehicles like your tow vehicle or motorhome.
See here for a discussion.
|
Shore power |
The 120v electric hookup at a campground, house or building. Shore power is distinguished from 12v battery
power or 120v supplied by a generator. |
Slide-out |
A "room" of an RV that can be extended outward to provide more room inside the rig. Some RVs have multiple
slideouts; for example, one for the kitchen, one for the living room and one for the bedroom.
Slideouts are normally operated by the rig's 12 volt house battery and come in several types: cable, screw or
pneumatic, for example. |
Stabilizers |
Jacks on the rear (and center) of an RV used to help prevent lateral or vertical movement. Although the term
"jack" is used, they are used for stabilization only and do not actually jack up the RV.
Rear stabilizers are not the same thing as the front jacks (landing gear). |
Toad |
Slang for "towed", referring to a vehicle pulled behind a motorhome. |
Tow vehicle |
A truck or other type of towing vehicle used to tow a trailer. Fifth-wheels and other type of trailer rigs
require a tow vehicle since they have no engine of their own. Motorhomes do not require tow vehicles, although
they may in turn tow another vehicle like a jeep. |
Toy hauler |
A type of fifth-wheel trailer that has a separate room in the rear for carrying things like ATVs, motorcycles,
small cars, Ski-Doos, kayaks or canoes, hot air balloons and other such goodies. Toy haulers have a separate large door at the
rear for getting the toys in and out. Instead of using for those kinds of things, some folks use a toy hauler
rig to provide a separate living area, a type of mother-in-law suite. |
Tractor fuel |
Diesel fuel used for on-road driving. The term is used at truck stops and is confusing because it
refers to the type of cab used by big-rig semis, not farm tractors. If you're still confused, go inside and ask the
cashier which one you should get.
See here for a discussion. |
Umbilical cord |
The multi-wire electric cord that connects a tow vehicle to a trailer.
The internal wires of the cord control turn signals, stop lights, brake lights and marker lights.
There are also wires to operate the automatic brakes and to help maintain charge on the trailer
battery. |
Vehicle battery |
The 12 volt battery contained in your tow vehicle or motorhome. Motorhomes have both house batteries
and vehicle batteries. |