Caravan AVM
RV Glossary
From boondocking to GVWR — a plain-English A–Z of the RV terms every buyer and new owner should know.
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The RV Terms You’ll Actually Use
Shopping for an RV comes with a whole new vocabulary — weight ratings, tank colors, hookup types and hitch styles. Understanding the language makes it far easier to compare units, plan trips and talk shop with confidence.
We’ve gathered the most common terms you’ll encounter across travel trailers, fifth wheels, motorhomes and toy haulers, and defined each one in plain English. Use the A–Z index to jump straight to what you need.
Have a term we didn’t cover? Our team is happy to explain anything before you buy — and we deliver every RV door-to-door to all 50 states.
Awning
A retractable fabric canopy that extends from the side of an RV to create shade and shelter over an outdoor living space.
Basement
The large, pass-through storage area beneath the floor of many motorhomes and fifth wheels, ideal for chairs, hoses and gear.
Black Water
Waste water from the RV toilet, stored in the black tank and emptied at a dump station or sewer hookup.
Boondocking
Camping off-grid with no water, electric or sewer hookups, relying on your RV’s tanks, batteries and propane. Also called dry camping.
BTU
British Thermal Unit — the measure used to rate the heating and air-conditioning output of an RV’s furnace and A/C unit.
CCC
Cargo Carrying Capacity — the maximum weight of gear, water and passengers you can add before reaching the RV’s GVWR.
Class A
The largest motorhome, built on a heavy bus or truck chassis with a flat front. Spacious and luxurious, available in gas or diesel.
Class B
A camper van built inside a standard van body. Compact, easy to drive and park, and great for couples and solo travelers.
Class C
A mid-size motorhome built on a cutaway van chassis, identified by the sleeping cab-over bunk above the driver. A popular family choice.
Converter
A device that changes 120-volt shore power (AC) into 12-volt power (DC) to run RV systems and charge the house batteries.
Curb Weight
The weight of the RV as delivered with standard equipment and full fuel, but no passengers or cargo.
Diesel Pusher
A Class A motorhome with a rear-mounted diesel engine (it “pushes” from the back). Known for power, torque and a quiet cabin.
Dinghy / Dinghy Towing
Towing a small vehicle behind a motorhome with all four wheels on the ground, so you have a car to drive once parked. Also called flat towing or toad towing.
Dry Camping
Camping without any hookups, running entirely on your onboard tanks, batteries and propane. See Boondocking.
Dry Weight
The RV’s empty weight from the factory with no water, propane, cargo or passengers. Also called UVW. Use GVWR for real-world planning.
Dually
A pickup truck with four rear tires (dual rear wheels) for extra stability and payload when towing heavy fifth wheels and toy haulers.
Fifth Wheel
A towable RV that connects to a hitch in the bed of a pickup, over the rear axle. Offers a stable ride and roomy, multi-level living space.
Fresh Water
Clean, potable water carried in the fresh tank for drinking, cooking, showering and flushing when you’re not on a city water hookup.
Full Hookup
A campsite that provides water, electric and sewer connections, and often cable and Wi-Fi. The most convenient way to camp.
GAWR
Gross Axle Weight Rating — the maximum weight a single axle is rated to safely carry.
GCWR
Gross Combined Weight Rating — the maximum combined weight of a fully loaded tow vehicle and its fully loaded trailer together.
Generator
An onboard or portable unit that produces 120-volt power from gas, diesel or propane when shore power isn’t available.
Genset
Short for “generator set” — the built-in generator found in many motorhomes and larger towables.
Grey Water
Used water from the RV sinks and shower, stored in the grey tank separately from toilet (black) waste.
GVWR
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating — the maximum allowable loaded weight of a single vehicle, including cargo, fluids and passengers.
Hitch
The hardware that connects a towable RV to the tow vehicle. Types include weight-distributing, fifth-wheel and gooseneck hitches.
Inverter
A device that converts 12-volt battery power (DC) into 120-volt household power (AC) so you can run standard outlets off-grid.
Levelers / Leveling Jacks
Manual or automatic jacks that stabilize and level the RV at a campsite so doors, slides and appliances work correctly.
Motorhome
A self-propelled RV you drive rather than tow, available as Class A, B or C.
Payload
How much weight a tow vehicle can carry — passengers, cargo and the trailer’s tongue or pin weight. Often the true limiting factor when towing.
Pin Weight
The downward force a fifth wheel places on the truck bed through its kingpin, usually 15–25% of the loaded trailer weight.
Pop-Up / Folding Camper
A lightweight, collapsible trailer that folds down for towing and pops up into a tent-like camper at the campsite.
Shore Power
Electricity supplied from an external source — a campground pedestal (30 or 50 amp) or home outlet — via a power cord.
Slide-Out
A section of the RV wall that extends outward when parked to dramatically increase interior living and floor space.
Sway
Side-to-side movement of a towed trailer, caused by wind, passing trucks or improper loading. Controlled with proper hitch setup and weight distribution.
Toad
RV slang for the vehicle towed behind a motorhome (“towed” → “toad”). See Dinghy Towing.
Tongue Weight
The downward force a bumper-pull trailer places on the hitch, ideally 10–15% of the loaded trailer weight.
Toy Hauler
An RV with a rear garage and fold-down ramp for carrying motorcycles, ATVs, kayaks or gear, available as a trailer or fifth wheel.
Travel Trailer
A towable RV that hitches behind an SUV or pickup with a bumper-pull receiver. The most popular and versatile RV category.
Truck Camper
A self-contained camper that loads into the bed of a pickup, turning the truck into a compact, go-anywhere RV.
UVW
Unloaded Vehicle Weight — the factory weight of an RV with no cargo, water or passengers. Same idea as Dry Weight.
Wet Bath
A compact bathroom where the shower shares the same space as the toilet and sink, common in smaller RVs and camper vans.
Winterize
Preparing an RV for cold storage by draining the water system and adding RV antifreeze to protect pipes and tanks from freezing.
Ready To Put The Terms Into Practice?
Browse 5,000+ travel trailers, fifth wheels, motorhomes and toy haulers — each with full specs and photos — or reach out and we’ll help you find the perfect fit.
Call 1 (888) 626-7576 or email hello@caravanavm.com — Mon–Sat 9AM–7PM CT, Sun by appointment. Door-to-door delivery to all 50 states.