Every great hobby and past time has its own words and phrases. Over time, as you become more familiar and passionate about what you are doing, suddenly, you too are using the lingo. RVing, too, has its own kind of language. See where you are at in learning the lingo. You may be surprised.
The RV
Rig, RV, motorhome, camper or motorcoach: interchangeable words for your new motorized unit.
RBR: Really big rig!
Fiver, 5er: fifth-wheel RV.
Cockpit: where the driver sits to drive a motorhome.
Cab, box: area with your bed.
Reefer: the RVs propane gas/electric refrigerator.
Dinette/galley: kitchen and eating area.
1-in, 1-out: when you bring something new into your RV, something else has got to go. 2-2-2:: a guideline for happy camping. Travel no more than 200 miles per day, arrive at overnight location by 2 pm to settle in, and stay at least two nights to enjoy the location. 2 Uses: Items in your RV should have at least two functions because single function items take up necessary space.
Hula skirt: a skirt installed on the back bumper of a motorhome to prevent debris thrown from the rear wheels from damaging vehicles travelling behind.
Wide body: A RV exceeding normal width.
Self-contained RV: A unit that has all the components for living like electricity, plumbing, heating, sleeping and more without relying on an outside power, water or sewer source.
Genset: generator.
Stinky slinky: The flexible sewer hose used to dump the RV waste tanks.
Doughnut: A rubber ring that seals the dump hose and the campsite sewer connection so that gases and odors do not escape.
Slideout: A motorhome feature that expands to create more living space; usually in the living room and bedroom areas.
Wheel chocks: Slanted blocks, usually made of plastic material but sometimes wood, used to prevent the RV from rolling.
On the Road
Chucking: violent back and forth motion while towing, usually caused by an unbalanced trailer or uneven roadway.
Tail swing: the extra distance the rear end of the RV uses during a turn. The longer the space between the rear wheel and the end of the RV, the larger the tail swing will be. It is very important to know how much tail swing your RV has when turning corners in tight situations.
Yaw: Fishtailing action of an RV that is being towed.
Porpoising: up and down motion in an RV while traveling.
Triple tow: a possibly very brave act of towing your RV trailer and another trailer behind that with a boat or recreational vehicles.
Sticks N Bricks: regular type of house.
Going dark: Full-timers are often overwhelmed by the endless opportunities for social interaction. When it’s time to buckle down and get some work done, some stop posting their location on social media for a stretch and “go dark” for a while (often announcing this will be happening first).
At the Site
Leveling: Positioning the RV for overnight stay so that the unit is level from side to side.
Basement: storage area below the main area of your motorhome accessed from the outside.
Batwing: the standard old school RV TV antenna which resembles a pair of wings.
Iron Ranger: A collection box used to pay fees at a campground without full-time attendants.
No-See-Ums: Those invisible bugs that bite.
Kerf: A cut made by an axe, machete or other blade.
Check out part 2 for more RV Lingo..