As a new part of the RV Community, it is important to know and understand common RV terms frequently used on forums and blogs. Below we have gone through common RV terms. After reading this guide, you’ll be ready to enter those forums and navigate RV owner groups with ease!

 

Dry Camping

If you’re camping without hookups, you’re dry camping because you don’t have access to an external source of water or electricity, nor do you have a sewer connection. Even though it takes planning, dry camping is a huge part of what your RV was built for, and it’s a great way to see some of the most beautiful campsites out there. Just keep in mind your water usage as you will have a limited amount in your tank. Dry camping is also referred to as boondocking. 

 

Moochdocking

Moochdocking is when you’re dry camping for free on someone’s property, such as a relative or friend.

 

Toad Vehicle

A “toad” vehicle is one that’s towed behind your main camper, to make shorter daytime excursions more accessible. It’s different from a tow vehicle, which is the one that goes in front of your camper when you’re hauling a trailer.

 

Fiver

This is another name for a fifth-wheel camping trailer. 

 

Gray Water

In your RV’s plumbing system, wastewater is held in two different tanks. The first one is gray water, which refers to all wastewater other than the stuff you flush down the toilet. Because it doesn’t contain human waste, in some states, it’s actually legal to dump gray water on the ground. However, the soaps from the water can do damage to the ecosystem, so we don’t recommend it. 

 

Black Water

Black water is the dirty water that you have flushed down the toilet…enough said! 

 

Shore Power

Whenever you’ve got an electrical hookup to power your RV’s appliances, that’s being plugged into shore power.

 

RV Acronyms

If you frequent online RV discussion boards or have been reading through RV-related literature, you may have come across some confusing acronyms. Here are a few of the most common ones, deciphered.

 

FHU

This refers to full hook-up campsites — ones where you have access to shore power, water, and sewer.

 

UP

This is short for upper peninsula. 

 

BLM

This is short for Bureau of Land Management, which manages wide swaths of public lands, many of which are prime locations for boondocking.

 

NPS

This refers to the National Park Service, the department that manages our country’s beautiful natural preserves and parks.

 

We hope this reference guide helped you feel more comfortable interacting with local mechanics and the RV community. If you are in or traveling through the Las Vegas area, make sure to give TNT RV Repair a call. We are an experienced RV Company who will make sure your RV is in tip-top condition before you take it on the road, or will fix your RV if you have something that is giving you an issue. Contact us here to obtain a free quote.