Truck Camper - a camper shell unit that is affixed to the bed or chassis of a pickup truck.

Folding Camping Trailer - also known as a pop-up, is a light-weight unit with sides that collapse for towing and storage. Suitable for towing by many vehicles.

Hybrid Trailer - a blend between a travel trailer and a folding (tent) trailer. One type has rigid sides and pull-out tent sections (usually beds) while another type's top section of walls and its roof can be lowered over its bottom section to reduce its height for towing.

Fifth Wheel Travel Trailer - designed to be towed by a pickup or medium duty truck equipped with a special hitch in the truck bed

Toy Hauler - a motor home, 5th wheel or travel trailer, it is designed to be part living space, and part garage for storing things such as motorcycles and ATV's.

Park Model - designed for occasional relocation and will require a special tow vehicle and a highway movement permit

Motorhome ("Winnebago", a product of Winnebago Industries, which pioneered the mass-market motorhome in the early 1960s under a group of Midwestern investors, still serves as a synonym for a "motorhome".) Winnebago still leads the market in all classes of motorhome sales, though its main competitor, Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc., of Riverside, Calif., also has come on strong since the late 1970s.

Class A Motorcoach - constructed on either a commercial truck chassis, a specially designed motor vehicle chassis, or a commercial bus chassis. Sizes run from 26 to 45 feet.

Diesel Puller - The term for a class A motorhome with the diesel engine mounted in the front of the vehicle. Also known simply as a Puller.

Diesel Pusher - The term for a class A motorhome with the diesel engine mounted in the rear of the vehicle. Also know simply as a Pusher.

Class B Campervan - built using a conventional van, to which either a raised roof has been added or had the back replaced by a low-profile body (compared to a Class C). Sizes run from 19 feet to 24 feet.

Class C Motorhome - built on a truck chassis with an attached cab section, which is usually van based, but may also be pickup truck based or even large truck(freightliner) based. Size can vary from 21 feet to 34 feet, and is characterized by a distinctive cab-over bunk. Also referred to as "mini-Motorhomes."

Toterhome - This is not a common term but when used indicates a motorhome built around a semi truck chassis such as a Freightliner. This type of motor home allows you to pull large and heavy trailers while having all the conveniences of a large motor home. Large motor homes not built on a semi truck chassis can also be capable of pulling heavy loads.

Axle ratio - Ratio between pinion and ring gears in the differential that multiplies torque provided by the engine. It describes the number of driveline revolutions required to turn the axle one time. With a 4.10:1 axle, the driveline turns 4.1 times for each full axle revolution. Higher numbers mean more torque and less road speed for a given engine speed; i.e., a 4.10:1 ratio provides more torque than a 3.73:1.

British thermal unit (BTU) - A measurement of heat that is the quantity required to raise the temperature of one pound of water 1 degree F. RV air-conditioners and furnaces are BTU-rated.

Genset - An abbreviation for Generator Set.

Brake Controller - A control unit mounted inside the vehicle that allows the electric brakes on the trailer to become activated in harmony with the braking of the tow vehicle. The controller can also be used to manually activate the trailer brakes.

Break-Away System - A system designed to automatically lock the trailer brakes in the event of a hitch failure, where the trailer may break away from the tow vehicle.

Gross axle weight rating (GAWR) - Maximum to which the axle can be loaded, according to the manufacturer; includes all weight placed on all tires on a given axle.

Gross combination weight rating (gcwr) - Maximum allowable combined weight of the tow vehicle and the trailer, according to the vehicle manufacturer; includes the weight of both vehicles, plus all fuel, water, supplies and passengers.

Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) - Maximum to which a vehicle can be loaded, according to the manufacturer; includes dry weight of the vehicle plus all fuel, water, supplies and passengers.

Gray (Water) Tank - The container for gray waste that can be held in the RV. Gray water is waste from the sinks and shower.

Black (Water) Tank - The container for black waste that can be held in the RV. Black water is waste from the toilet, and sometimes the bathroom sink.

Kilowatt (KW) - A measurement of electrical power; each kilowatt equals 1,000 watts.

Laminate - A sandwich of structural frame members, wall paneling, insulation and exterior covering, adhesive-bonded under pressure and/or heat to form the RV's walls, floor and/or roof.

LP-gas - Liquefied petroleum gas; propane is one formulation and butane is the other. Propane fuels RV appliances, such as the stove and refrigerator.

120 AC/12 DC/LP-gas - The power sources on which RV refrigerators operate; 120 AC is 120-volt alternating current (same as in houses); 12 DC is 12-volt direct current (same as in motor vehicles); LP-gas is liquefied propane gas. Some RV refrigerators can operate on two of the three sources, others on all three.

Underbelly - The RV's under-floor surface, which is protected by a weatherproofing method or material.

Unloaded vehicle weight (uvw) or dry weight - Weight of the vehicle without manufacturer's or dealer-installed options and before adding fuel, water or supplies.

Wet weight - Weight of a vehicle with full fuel and freshwater tanks.

Wheelbase - Distance between center lines of the primary axles of a vehicle. If a motorhome includes a tag axle, the distance is measured from the front axle to the center point between the drive and tag axles.

Fiver - Another name for a fifth-wheel RV.

Hula Skirt - A skirt placed on the back bumper of a motorhome to stop debris that is thrown from the rear wheels from damaging vehicles behind the motorhome, either the vehicle you are towing or other vehicles behind the motorhome.

Dually - A pickup truck, or light-duty tow vehicle, with four tires on one rear axle.

Dinghy - The term for a vehicle that you are towing with your motorhome. It is also known as a Toad.