Glossary

hitch

a device which attaches directly to a tow vehicle providing the connection between the tow vehicle and the trailer

class 1 (Class I) hitch

trailer hitch with capacity of up to 2,000 lbs gross trailer weight and 200 lbs tongue weight

class 2(Class II) hitch

trailer hitch with weight carrying rating of up to 3,500 lbs gross trailer weight and 300/350 lbs tongue weight

class 3(Class III) hitch

trailer hitch with weight carrying rating of up to 5,000 lbs gross trailer weight and 500 lbs tongue weight

class 4(Class IV) hitch

trailer hitch with weight carrying rating of up to 10,000 lbs gross trailer weight and 1,000-1,200 lbs tongue weight

class 5(Class v) hitch

any trailer hitch with capacity greater than 10,000 lbs gross trailer weight and 1,000-1,200 lbs tongue weight

frame-mount hitch

class II and higher hitches are designed to be bolted to the vehicle frame or cross members; this type of hitch may have a permanent ball-mount, or may have a square-tube receiver into which a removable hitch bar or shank is installed

class A motorhome

an RV with the living accommodation built on or as an integral part of a self-propelled motor vehicle

class B motorhome

also known as a camping van conversion; these RVs are compact units made from a cargo van, customized to include sleeping, eating and bathroom facilities with raised roof to provide additional headroom; they are popular because they can often be parked in family garages, used to tow a boat or driven as a second vehicle

class C motorhome

an RV with the living accommodation built on a cutaway van chassis; a full-size bed in the cabover section allows for ample seating, galley and bathroom facilities in the coach. Sometimes referred to as a mini-motorhome

awning

the canvas or aluminium shade which is mounted on an RV; they may be automatic, in which case the awning is installed on a spring-loaded roll-up, or they may be manually propped up by a pole

battery

the auxiliary battery installed in some RV units to provide 12 Volt lighting when the tow vehicle is not connected; when installed with an automatic charging solenoid, it charges through the tow vehicle alternator system, assuming the tow vehicle is wired with a charge line

deep cell

a battery used exclusively by the living area of an RV, and not to start the vehicle; the more deep cycle batteries, the greater the longevity of your onboard power

stabilizing jack

a set of two or four are used to stabilize the RV once it is level

hitchball

the steel ball attached to the towing vehicle that connects with the travel trailer

frame

the part of a vehicle which all other parts attach to; frame usually refers to a non-unibody chassis

camber

wheel alignment - number of degrees each wheel is off of vertical; looking from the front, tops of wheels farther apart than bottoms means positive camber; as the load pushes the front end down, or the spring get weak, camber would go from positive to none to negative

safety chains

a set of chains that are attached to both the trailer A-Frame and the tow vehicle while towing; safety chains are intended to keep the trailer attached to the tow vehicle in the event of a hitch failure, preventing the trailer from completely separating from the tow vehicle.

castor

wheel alignment - the steering wheels’ desire to return to center after you turn a corner

chassis

the frame of a vehicle. this is a main structure of a vehicle, which all other parts attach to regardless whether it is unibody or frame construction

breakaway switch

a 12 volt switch in the trailer's electric brake system that is tripped by a cable connecting the trailer to the tow vehicle; if the trailer should become detached accidentally, the cable pulls a pin out of the switch, causing the brakes to activate

brake controller

a control unit mounted inside the vehicle that allows the electric brakes on the trailer to become activated in harmony with the braking of the tow vehicle; the controller can also be used to manually activate the trailer brakes

converter

a device for changing 120-volt AC into 12-volt DC electrical power

coupler

the part of the trailer that attaches to the ball of hitch

shore power

electricity provided by an external plug to an external power source

levelling jack (camper)

one of four lifting systems located at each corner of the RV to provide a solid and level foundation

add-a-room

a structure consisting of three walls that can be attached to an RV awning to create an additional room; they are sometimes available in hard-walled versions called "Florida rooms"

holding tanks

there are three different holding tanks on most RVs: - fresh water tank (holds fresh water that can be stored for later use), - grey water tank (holds the waste water from the sinks and showers), - black water tank (holds the waste water from the toilet)

pop-out

the term for a room in an RV that pops out for additional living space; usually extends out from the front or rear of the unit, normally a place for sleeping

fixed tongue hitch

a hitch with an integral ball platform (tongue) that cannot be removed

trailer brakes

brakes that are built into the trailer and are activated either by electric impulse or by a surge mechanism

electric brakes

the trailer brakes which are activated when the tow vehicle brakes are applied

generator

an electrical device powered by gasoline, diesel, or sometimes propane, for generating 120 volt AC power

uni-body

a vehicle that has frame and body integral; usually has a sub-frame for the front end which mounts the engine and suspension

inverter

a device for changing 12-volt DC into 120-volt AC power

LP gas

liquefied petroleum gas; propane is one formulation and butane is the other; propane fuels RV appliances, such as the stove and refrigerator

gas pressure

LP gas pressure must be 11" of water column (6.25 oz per sq. in.), checking and adjusting requires a manometer

slide-out

additional living space that slides out, either by hydraulics, electricity or manually, when the RV is set up for camping

regulator

the LP valve controlling the gas flow through all appliances, and maintaining the appropriate pressure in the LP gas system

fifth wheel hitch

a hitch that mounts in the bed of pickup truck

underbelly

area between the frame that normally contain the holding tanks and could be covered with cloth lining, plastic lining or aluminium sheeting

basement

refers to a storage area accessible from the outside, usually from the floor level down

ball mount

the portion of the trailer which holds the hitch, ball, and the connecting device for the sway bars on a weight-distributing hitch, and the ball alone on a weight-carrying hitch

dual electrical system

RV equipped with lights, appliances which operate on 12-volt battery power when self-contained, and with a converter, on 110 AC current when in campgrounds or with an onboard generator or inverter

anode rod

when used in a water heater, attracts corrosion causing products in the water; these products attack the anode rod instead of the metal tank itself; the anode rod should be inspected yearly and changed when it is reduced to about 1/4 of its original size

tongue jack

the lifting device which raises the trailer tongue hitch off of the hitchball

running gear

a general term referring to the suspension system, axles, brakes, bearings, wheel and tires

towed vehicle

the term for a vehicle that you are towing with your motorhome; it is also know as a Dinghy

tow vehicle

the vehicle that pulls a trailer

genset

a generator that is permanently mounted in one location

Abbreviations