Being new to the RV world can be stressful at times when you don’t know all of the different jargon thrown around. So to take the stress out of figuring out what everything means, we decided to compile a list in alphaebtical order of some good words to know.  Here is a list of ten words that most newbies to the recreational vehicle world might not know. Maybe keep it handy for your next trip.

Amp Hour: A unit of electric charge, with sub-units milliampere-hour (mAh) and milliampere second (mAs). Whether your RV is 20, 30, or 50 amp, a simple way to look at the power available is to think of these numbers in terms of thousands. For example, at 115v AC, 30 amps equals 3,450 watts. For comparison a common wattage for a microwave is 1000 watts. Volts x Amps = Watts. The Amp Hour of a battery rating tells you how much amperage is available when discharged evenly over a 20 hour period.

Axle Ratio: The ratio between the pinion and ring gears in the differential that multiply the torque provided by the engine. It is the number of drive-line revolutions required to turn the axle one time. As an example, with a 4.10:1 axle the drive line turns 4.1 times for each full axle revolution. The higher the number, the more torque and thus more towing power. However, the higher the number also means less speed.

Camp Host: Also known as campground host, someone whose principal duty is to be a point of contact in the campground

Diesel Puller: Motorhome with the diesel engine mounted in the front of the vehicle.

Diesel Pusher: Motorhome with the diesel engine mounted in the rear of the vehicle.

Equalizing Hitch: Also referred to as a weight distributing hitch, this hitch allows for the weight of the trailer to be distributed both on the trailer's axle and the towing vehicles front axle by use of spring bars.

Full Hookup: The ability to connect to all three of the campground facilities; electric, water and sewer.

Inverter: A device that changes 12v battery power to 120v AC power.

Primitive Camping: Camping without any hookups. See Dry Camping, Boondocking.

Winterizing: A process of making an RV safe from the hazards of winter storage in cold climates. 
 

 

Rangitsch Bros RV

Rangitsch Bros would be glad to help with anything RV related. We carry a large and diverse inventory of great RV parts and accesories. Check out our online parts store that is stacked full of great items and accessories you will be sure to need for your next camping adventure!

If you need anything at all from parts to service to RV sales, at Rangitsch Bros RV we have it all!

We hope to see you soon!