Common Terms in the RV World

All-Timer - people who live in an RV but don’t travel and are permanent residents of an RV park. Not usually considered part of the full-timer RV experience.

Boondocking - camping in your RV without any utility hookups

Bumper Pull Trailer - A travel trailer that is towed behind a tow vehicle. The hitch is rarely attached to the bumper; it is actually welded to the frame, but appears to be hooked to the bumper

Class A, B, C Motorhome - A self contained vehicle used for recreational purposes. This site has some of the simplest explanations of the differences.

Class A Motorhome - A large, bus-type self contained RV usually built on a production chassis but having a completely unique fully contained body

Class B RV - Typically referred to as a Camper Van, an RV that is built using the frame and body of a production van

Class C Motorhome - An RV built on a production “cut-away” chassis using a van or truck driver and engine compartment

Fifth Wheel (FW, 5ER) - a trailer that uses a fifth-wheel hitch setup in the bed of a truck rather than a rear attachment. The term comes from the “wheel” that the trailer pivots on.

Frog - a portable tank used to drain RV tanks and tow to a dump station

Full-timer - people who live full-time on the road in their RV (as opposed to a part-timer or long-timer)

Long-timer - people who live several months on the road in their RV

Part-timer - people who live several months on the road in their RV

Toad (or Towed) - a vehicle that is pulled behind an RV

Tow Vehicle (TV) - the vehicle used for towing a trailer

Travel Trailer (TT) - a trailer that is towed behind a vehicle, same as a bumper pull trailer

Truck Camper (TC) = a camper that slides into the bed of a pickup truck