Are you new to the RV lifestyle? Here are some must-know motorhome terms and definitions commonly used in the campground.

RV

Recreational Vehicle. Becoming a more common term in New Zealand, in the USA it refers to all vehicles used for camping.

Self Contained

A self-contained campervan is designed to completely meet the ablution and sanitation requirements of the occupants (for a minimum of three days). Fresh water for drinking and cooking is stored in tanks. Waste water is collected in waste water tanks and disposed of via a dump station. Self-contained vehicles protect the environment from indiscriminate dumping of waste. A self-containment certificate provides local and regional councils with a way to recognise that a vehicle poses minimal risk to the environment and public health. That way they are able to accommodate motorhomes & caravans at reserves and other areas where there are limited or no external facilities.

Grey Water

Sink and shower waste water, usually held in a grey water tank.

Black Water

Toilet waste held in ‘black water tank’ or toilet cassette. Should be disposed of at Dump Points. See a list of dump points at our resources page.

Dump Station / Dump Point

A special disposal location for emptying sewage from motorhomes and caravan.

Porta-Potti

A common box shaped, portable toilet (usually Thetford or Dometic). The waste is held in a removable tank which you carry to a household toilet or dump point after detaching it from the top unit.

Cassette Toilet

A common type of Toilet found in motorhomes. The waste is held in a removable cassette tank which is accessed through a door in the side wall of the motorhome. The cassette tank is emptied in a household toilet or dump point.

Deep Cycle Battery

A battery designed to withstand frequent charging and discharging. Deep cycle batteries are perfectly suited as the ‘house battery' in a motorhome as they can handle larger discharges than starting batteries.

House Battery

House batteries is a term used for the ‘Accessories’ battery in a motorhome. It is often recharged by solar power, the vehicle alternator or a battery charger connected to 240v power.

Shore Power

230v electricity supplied to a motorhome from a power lead. The supply source can be a house / caravan park power point or from a petrol generator.

Three-way Fridge

A fridge that operates on 240v power, 12v power while travelling or on LPG (when 240v power is not available). Common brands include Vitrifrigo and Dometic.

Two-way Fridge

A fridge that operates on 240v power and LPG only.

Compressor Fridge

Uses a quiet motor that can only be run on electricity. It is usually powered from the house battery. Common brands include Waeco, Engel and Vitrifrigo.