RV TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
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- A Frame: The front section of the trailer or caravan chassis to which the coupling body is attached with bolts, nuts, and locking washers.
- ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass): The total weight of a caravan or trailer on all wheels, plus the tow ball mass and whatever you add as personal payload (e.g., water, gas, luggage). The ATM is specified by the manufacturer and must not be exceeded.
- Awning: A tent-like structure that fits to the side of a caravan to extend the living space.
- Berth: The number of people that a caravan can sleep.
- Bulkhead: A structural wall within the hull of the van.
- Boondocking: Camping in remote or undeveloped areas, often without access to amenities like water or electricity hookups. It's all about self-sufficiency and enjoying nature off the beaten path!
- Camper Trailer: A trailer equipped with amenities for camping, often with a pop-up or expandable section for additional space.
- Campervan: A smaller self-propelled vehicle, often a van converted to include basic living facilities.
- Caravan: A wheeled vehicle for living or travelling in, typically towed by a car.
- Chassis: The frame of a vehicle or motorhome including the engine, transmission, drive train, axles, and wheels. When referring to a van or truck, the chassis also includes the cab.
- Compressor Fridge: A refrigerator that uses a compressor to keep items cold, similar to household fridges, and is typically more efficient than absorption fridges.
- Coupler: The part of the trailer that attaches to the ball of the hitch.
- Diesel Heater: A heating system that runs on diesel fuel, commonly used in RVs for heating the living space.
- Dry Bath: A bathroom in an RV where the toilet and shower are in separate areas, typically separated by a shower curtain.
- Dump Point: A place where wastewater or grey water tanks are emptied. It usually includes a small concrete pad with a brass fitting for connecting a sewer hose from the RV. It should be cleaned up after use.
- Fifth-Wheeler: A large caravan that is connected to the towing vehicle by a hitch mounted in the bed of a ute or truck.
- Flat Towing: Towing a vehicle with all four wheels on the ground behind a motorhome, allowing the towed vehicle to be unhooked for local driving.
- GCM (Gross Combination Mass): The maximum laden mass of a motor vehicle plus the maximum laden weight of an attached trailer, not to exceed the rating provided by the tow vehicle manufacturer.
- Grey Water: Wastewater generated from sinks, showers, and washing machines. It excludes water from toilets (black water).
- GTM (Gross Trailer Mass): The total weight of a caravan or trailer on all wheels, plus your personal payload, including water, gas, and any accessories. This does not include the mass supported by the tow ball and must not exceed the axle group's rating.
- GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass): The maximum allowable total mass of a fully loaded motor vehicle, including the tare mass plus the load (including passengers).
- Guy Lines: Cords attached to the outside of an awning or trailer tent to stabilise and tension the fabric.
- Holding Tanks: Tanks that collect waste or grey water and also freshwater.
- Jockey Wheel: A small wheel at the front of a caravan used to support the forward end while it is not hitched up, allowing the caravan to be manoeuvred by hand.
- Leaf Spring Stabiliser: An add-on device that helps prevent instability by controlling the ease with which the caravan hitch can pivot about the tow ball.
- Levelling: The process of ensuring that a caravan or motorhome is level when set up, important for comfort and correct functioning of the water systems.
- Levelling Blocks: Blocks used to level the RV when parked on uneven ground.
- Payload: The maximum load, specified by the manufacturer, that can be carried in a vehicle or trailer. Exceeding this can affect safety, insurance, and warranty.
- Personal Payload or Load-Carrying Capacity: The total permitted load that may be legally carried in the van or trailer, including items like clothes, food, tools, water, gas, and accessories. It is the ATM minus the tare mass.
- Single Axle: A caravan with a single pair of wheels on one axle.
- Six Axle: A caravan with three pairs of wheels on three axles.
- Slide-On Camper: A camper unit designed to be slid onto the back of a ute (utility vehicle) or truck.
- Slide-Out: An addition that extends beyond the normal outside walls to expand the living, sleeping, dining, or galley areas.
- Solar Panels: Devices that convert sunlight into electricity, commonly used on RVs to provide power for appliances and devices.
- Stabiliser: A safety device that helps prevent instability by controlling the ease with which the caravan hitch can pivot about the tow ball.
- Sway or Snake: When the towing vehicle begins to swing back and forth while moving.
- Tare Weight or Tare Mass: The total weight of a caravan or trailer on all wheels, plus ball weight. It does not include personal payload, water, and gas.
- Tow Ball Mass: The weight imposed on the tow vehicle’s tow ball by the trailer or caravan’s coupling, ideally 8-15% of the ATM.
- Twin Axle: A caravan with two pairs of wheels on two axles, providing greater stability and load-carrying capacity.
- VIN (Vehicle Identification Number): A unique code including a serial number used by the automotive industry to identify individual motor vehicles and towed vehicles.
- Waste Water or Grey Water: Water used in the kitchen or bathroom area, collected for later disposal at a designated emptying point.
- Wet Bath: A bathroom in an RV where the shower and toilet stall are combined into the same room.
- Wheelbase: The distance between the centre of the front and rear wheels of a vehicle.
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