Common RV Terminology and Slang for Newbie Teardrop Owners

Are you a newbie teardrop trailer owner? Are you a little confused about all the RV terminology and slang? Well, you have come to the right place!

We can sympathize. Being new rig owners ourselves, the first year was definitely a steep learning curve.

When starting your RV journey, forums and manuals are great resources, but they can be hard to figure out when you don’t understand the lingo.

We have put together a list of definitions that will help you feel a little more confident with your new endeavour.

Let’s get started!

What Does RV Mean?

We figured that learning the definition of RV would be a great place to start.

RV, short for Recreational Vehicle, covers both motorized vehicles and towable trailers. RVs are basically accommodations on wheels – think living spaces, places to sleep, areas to cook, and more.

When we talk about RVs, we’re referring to those go-to vehicles for vacations, full-time living, or anything in between.

To fit the bill as an RV, it just needs a specific spot for living, like a sleeping space or a simple living area. It could be as basic as just a bed, or as fancy as having a full-blown kitchen and bathroom like you’d find at home.

RVs come in all shapes and sizes, decked out with a range of features to suit different needs and styles.

Nellie with Our Tow Vehicle in a parking lot

Beginner’s guide to RV lingo

The following list is a great way to get started on your RV journey. We have picked the most important terms that you will need to know right out of the gate.

And while this is by no means a complete list (that would be super overwhelming for a Newbie), we guarantee it will be helpful. After all, you have to start somewhere!

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1-in, 1-out: The idea that when you bring something new into your RV, something else has to go! This is the best way to make sure your trailer doesn’t get too cluttered.

2 uses rule: Another way to minimize clutter in your trailer, is to make sure that whatever you bring into your RV has at least two functions. Single-function items take up more space than they’re worth, and with a Teardrop, space is already at a premium..

2-2-2 rule: This is a great rule of thumb to follow. You should not travel more than 200 miles per day, try to arrive by 2 pm (so you have plenty of time to find a spot and set up), and stay at least two nights (so that you have at least one full day to enjoy the location).

20 amp/30 amp/50 amp: Campgrounds will list the electrical amp service they provide. Different RVs use different amounts.

4-Pin Electrical Connector: This provides power from your tow vehicle to your RV for the lights only.

7-Pin Electrical Connector: This provides power from your tow vehicle to your RV for the lights as well as the electrically operated brakes.

A

Amp-Hour (Ah): A unit of measurement used to describe the capacity of a battery, indicating how many amps a battery can supply for one hour. In the context of RVs, it helps determine how long a battery will last under a specific electrical load, crucial for managing power needs while off-grid or dry camping.

B

Back-In Site: A campsite that requires you to back up into it.

Backup Monitor: A camera mounted on the rear of an RV with a remote screen viewable by the driver. Perfect for seeing what is behind you while backing up.

Ball Mount: A device that attaches to the hitch of a towing vehicle, providing a mounting point for the hitch ball. The trailer’s coupler connects to this ball, allowing for a secure and articulated connection between the vehicle and the trailer.

Basement: Refers to the storage area beneath the main living space of the RV, typically accessible from the outside. It’s used to store smaller gear, tools, and other essentials. It’s amazing how much we can fit in our Teardrop’s basement!

Black Water: Waste from the toilet, stored in a dedicated holding tank.

Boondocking or Dry Camping or Primitive Camping: Camping without electric, water, or sewage hookups. Your RV needs to be self-contained in order for you to Boondock.

Brake Controller: An electronic device installed in the towing vehicle that controls the brakes of the towed trailer or RV. It ensures that the trailer’s brakes are activated simultaneously with the towing vehicle’s brakes, allowing for safer and more effective stopping.

Breakaway Switch: A safety device found on towed trailers and RVs. It’s designed to activate the trailer’s brakes automatically if it becomes disconnected from the tow vehicle. The switch is connected to a cable, which, when pulled by a disconnection, triggers the braking system, helping to safely stop the trailer.

C

Cabin: Is basically the living space of the RV.

Caravanning: Travelling and camping with other RVers, where everyone has their own trailer.

Chock: Wedge-shaped blocks placed against a vehicle’s wheels to prevent accidental movement.

Clamshell: This is a type of Teardrop trailer characterized by its rear section that opens upward, similar to a clamshell. This rear hatch typically reveals an outdoor kitchen or galley, making it a convenient and compact design for travellers who enjoy outdoor cooking and simplicity.

Control Panel: A panel where you can control and adjust the RV’s systems for climate, water, and power. Many modern RVs include touchscreen panels for ease of use.

Converter: An electrical device for converting 110v AC power into 12v DC power.

D

Dinette: Booth-like dining area.

Dogbone: Is an electrical adapter needed to connect your RV to any appropriate electrical outlet.

Dry Camping: Similar to boondocking, it’s camping without hookups, but often in designated campgrounds.

Dry Weight: The manufacturer’s listed weight of the RV without cargo, passengers, or full tanks (water, waste, or propane).

Dump Station: A facility for safely disposing of wastewater from the RV’s holding tanks.

E

Extended Stay: A campsite that allows you to stay for longer periods, like a whole season or a few months.

Camper in Winter decorated for Christmas

F

Fresh Water Tank: A tank on the RV that holds clean water for drinking, cooking, and bathing.

Full Hookup: A campsite equipped with connections for electricity, water, and sewage.

Full-Timers or Full-time RVer: RV slang for people who live in their RV year-round.

G

Galley: The kitchen area in an RV.

Genny: Short for generator, this is an electrical unit that is either powered by gas or diesel and generates electricity for an RV. Generators are mostly used by those who boondock without connections.

Gray Water: Wastewater from sinks and showers, stored in a separate tank from sewage.

GCW: Gross Combined Weight. The combined weight of the tow vehicle and the trailer.

GTW: Gross Trailer Weight. This is the weight of the trailer fully loaded in its actual towing condition.

GVW: Gross Vehicle Weight. The weight of the vehicle.

H

Hitch Weight: The weight exerted by the trailer onto the hitch of the tow vehicle.

Holding Tanks: All tanks in an RV, including the black, grey, and freshwater tanks.

Honey Wagon: A mobile waste disposal system, often used in campgrounds to service RVs without sewer hookups.

I

Inverter: A device that converts DC power from the RV batteries to AC power for electronic devices.

L

Levelling Jacks: Devices used to level an RV in a campsite for stability and comfort.

M

Moochdocking or Driveway Surfing: Staying in your RV on the property of friends or family, often utilizing their utilities.

N

Non-potable water: Water that is not intended for human consumption. This water is not put into your freshwater tank. Instead, it is only used for flushing your black tank out when dumping.

O

Overlanding: Exploring remote lands with a self-contained RV, emphasizing the journey over the destination.

P

Pad: The name given to a parking spot for an RV on a campground (usually concrete)

Part-Timer: Someone who lives in their RV for part of the year, but not full-time.

Potable Water: Water that is safe to drink and use for food prep. Can be used to fill up your freshwater tank.

Pull-Through: A campsite that allows you to drive through when entering and exiting, without needing to back up.

R

Rig: Slang for an RV, regardless of type or size.

RV nomad: A person who chooses to travel continuously to new destinations by RV. A nomadic RVer has a different mindset and rarely chooses to stay in the same place for extended periods of time.

S

Serendipity: One of my favourite words! Meaning a “happy accident,” serendipity is when things work out well, or even better than expected. While RV life can be filled with challenges and unknowns, there are also plenty of opportunities for new connections, memorable events, and amazing locations.

Shake-Down Trip: This is a short, close-to-home, excursion with your RV for the purpose of testing out all of its systems. This is when you get to know your RV, how everything works, and possibly what you need and don’t need on your camping trips.

Shore cord: The external electrical cord that connects the vehicle to a campground electrical hookup.

Shore Power: Electricity supplied to an RV via a connection at a campsite. This term originated in the boating world. You will need a specific type of electrical cord to connect an RV to shore power.

Stabilizing Jacks: jacks under an RV that are used to stabilize the unit. These help prevent a back-and-forth or rocking movement while in the RV, and are not meant to bear a large amount of the RV’s weight.

Sticks and bricks: A regular, fixed location, place of residence, whether owned or rented.

Stinky Slinky: The flexible sewer hose used to dump the RV waste tanks.

Sway Control: A device or system used to stabilize a trailer and prevent it from swaying.

T

Teardrop Trailer: Smaller, lightweight RVs in the shape of a teardrop. They come in a variety of sizes from only holding a bed all the way up to sleeping 4 people (like our TAB 400 “Nellie”).

Tongue Jack: A mechanical or electric device located at the front of a trailer’s tongue, used to raise and lower the front end of the trailer for connecting or disconnecting it from the hitch of the tow vehicle. It also stabilizes the trailer when parked, particularly during loading and unloading.

Tongue Weight: The weight that is pressing down on the hitch ball located on the tow vehicle. This is usually 10-15% of the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW).

Nellie and our Tow Vehicle at Turkey Point

Tow Rating: The maximum allowed weight your tow vehicle can safely tow. This is determined by the vehicle’s manufacturer.

Travel Trailer: Refers to any RV that isn’t motorized, but instead, is towed behind a vehicle. Travel trailers can come in a variety of shapes and sizes (including Teardrops).

Trailer Brakes: Brakes that are built into the trailer and are activated either by electric impulse or by a surge mechanism.

Tribe: The affectionate term used by many full-time RV nomads to describe their community of fellow full-timers.

U

Umbilical Cord: Refers to the electrical cord that connects a towed RV or trailer to the towing vehicle. It’s responsible for transferring power for the trailer’s brake lights, turn signals, and brakes from the tow vehicle, and can also include connections for charging the trailer’s battery and powering other electrical systems.

Underbelly: The underside area of an RV, which often houses important components such as plumbing, wiring, and storage tanks. The underbelly can be sealed and insulated to protect these components from road debris and weather and to help control the interior temperature of the RV.

W

Wallydocking: Informal term for overnight parking and staying in an RV at a Walmart parking lot. Walmart founder Sam Walton was an RVer and made it a corporate policy to welcome RVers to stay overnight free in Walmart lots.

Weekend warrior: People who live in “sticks and bricks” homes, but get out and explore in their RVs on weekends.

Campfire at McCrae Point Provincial Park

Wet Bath: A compact bathroom in an RV where the shower and toilet share the same waterproof space.

Winterizing: A process of making an RV safe from the hazards of winter storage in cold climates.

Y

Yamping: Yard camping, or camping in someone’s yard or property with their permission.

Final Thoughts on RV Terminology for Beginners

And there you have it – a quick guide to some of the most common RV terms you’ll come across as a beginner.

While this isn’t a complete list, it’s packed with the most important terms to get any newbie headed in the right direction. We know it can be overwhelming, which is why we stuck to the basics.

Remember, diving into the world of RVs doesn’t have to be difficult. Knowing these basics will not only make your journey smoother but also a lot more enjoyable.

Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway, a cross-country adventure, or considering the RV lifestyle full-time, understanding the lingo is your first step into this exciting and free way of travel.

Common RV Terminology and Slang for Newbie Teardrop Owners

What Does RV Mean?

Beginner’s guide to RV lingo

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Final Thoughts on RV Terminology for Beginners

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