RV Slang Terms & What They Mean

We’ve put together a quick list of some of the most common terms you’ll see and hear as you start your RV and camping journey! We hope you find these helpful!

1. Back-In: A campsite where you have to back your RV into the site to park. This is the most common type of campsite.
2. Basement: Storage space under the living area of the RV, accessible from outside compartments.
3. Black Water: The dirty water that comes from the toilet in your RV.
4. Blue Boy: A container to hold waste water that can be taken to a dump station without moving the RV.
5. Boondocking: Camping without any utilities like water or electricity. Also called dry camping.
6. Bumper Pull: Another term for a travel trailer.
7. Bunkhouse: An RV that has bunk beds.
8. Bus: Usually a big Class A motorhome.
9. Camp Side: The side of the RV that faces your campsite.
10. Captain: The person driving the RV.
11. Caravan: A group of RVs traveling together.
12. Cassette: A type of toilet that you carry to a restroom to empty, instead of having a tank.
13. CCC: Cargo Carrying Capacity, the weight an RV can carry including people, pets, and belongings.
14. Coach: Another name for a Class A motorhome.
15. Cockpit: The area where the driver and passenger sit in a motorhome.
16. Crackerdocking: Overnight parking at places like Cracker Barrel.
17. Diesel Pusher: A motorhome with a diesel engine at the back.
18. Dinghy: A vehicle towed behind a motorhome.
19. Dispersed Camping: Camping in natural areas without designated sites.
20. Dogbone: An adapter to connect different electrical plugs such as 30 amp to 50 amp or 50 amp to 30 amp.
21. Dually: A truck with four tires on each rear axle.
22. Dump Station: A place to empty RV waste tanks.
23. Fiver: A fifth-wheel trailer.
24. Flat Towing: Towing a vehicle behind a motorhome without a trailer.
25. Fresh Water: Clean water stored in the RV’s tank.
26. Full Hook-Ups: A campsite with water, electricity, and sewer connections.
27. Full-Timers: People who live in their RVs full-time.
28. Galley: The kitchen in an RV.
29. Gasser: A motorhome powered by gasoline.
30. Glamping: Fancy RVing, short for Glamorous Camping.
31. Go-Go Juice: Fuel for the RV.
32. Grey Water: Used water from sinks and showers in the RV.
33. GVWR: The maximum weight an RV can carry.
34. Head Banger: Bumping your head on the RV slide-out.
35. Hitching Post: The place where the RV plugs into electricity.
36. Honey Bucket: Portable waste water tank.
37. Honey Wagon: Truck that empties RV tanks at gatherings.
38. Hook-Ups: Campsite with water and/or electricity connections.
39. Hot Box: Storage under the RV’s bed.
40. Improved Campsites: Designated campsites with utilities.
41. Land Yacht: Another name for a motorhome.
42. Landing Gear: Jacks that level the RV.
43. Lot-Docking: Overnight parking in lots like Walmart.
44. Moochdocking: Camping at friends’ places.
45. Navigator: Passenger who helps with travel planning.
46. Park Model: RVs for rent in RV parks.
47. Pigtail: Adapter for different electrical plugs.
48. Pilot: The RV driver.
49. Pull-In: A campsite where you pull in front-first.
50. Pull-Off: An area for briefly stopping an RV.
51. Pull-Through: A campsite you can drive through.
52. PUP: Pop-Up Camper.
53. Rally: Gathering of RVers with activities.
54. Rig: Another word for an RV.
55. Schoolie (Skoolie): Converted school bus.
56. Self-Contained: An RV with everything you need inside.
57. Shore Power: Electricity at a campsite.
58. Sticks and Bricks: Regular house, not an RV.
59. Stinky Slinky: RV sewer hose.
60. Street Side: The side facing the hook-ups.
61. TAG: Motorhome with extra rear wheels.
62. Tail Swing: The space behind RV’s rear wheels.
63. Tin Can: Vintage metal campers.
64. Tinkle Tote: Another term for a Blue Boy.
65. Toad: Vehicle towed behind an RV.
66. Toy Hauler: RV with a garage for toys.
67. Towable: Any RV pulled by a vehicle.
68. UVW: The weight of the RV without belongings.
69. Wagon Master: Plans activities for a rally.
70. Wallydocking: Overnight parking at Walmart.
71. Weekend Warrior: Part-time RVer who camps on weekends.
72. Wet Bath: Small bathroom with combined shower and toilet.
73. Wet Bay: Exterior compartment for water connections.
74. Winter Texans: RVers who spend winter in Texas.
75. Winterize: Prepare RV for freezing weather.
76. Workamping: Working for camping in return for a campsite.