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Kentucky RV Camping – Camp in the Land of Bluegrass

RV camping is defined as camping in an enclosed vehicle that resembles a living space. Most of these recreational vehicles come with a sleeping area, dining area, kitchen and a basic bathroom. The more luxurious units come with enhanced features and often include a living space or entertainment area. If you own a recreational vehicle and are wondering about where to camp this summer, Kentucky can be a great option. Known for its fields of bluegrass and horse farms, this state offers numerous facilities for RV camping. The most popular attractions for most of the campers are Mammoth Cave National Park, Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge, Cumberland Gap National Historic Park, Abraham Lincoln's birthplace, locks along the Ohio River, Churchill downs, the Bluegrass Museum, and the Kentucky Derby. Better yet, Kentucky houses many RV campground and parks.

Most of the Kentucky RV campgrounds feature large open spaces and can accommodate the biggest rigs available in the market. You will find all kind of RV camping sites including full-hookups, water and electric only sites, primitive camping sites, back-ins, and pull-thru sites. Besides, they all offer easy access to the major highways and interstates. These RV campgrounds and parks also offers a wide variety of outdoor opportunities such as fishing, boating, hiking, swimming, horseshoes, volleyball, basketball, badminton, and playgrounds. Some of the RV camping facilities also organize special events and planned activities throughout summers.

The following are some of the popular RV Parks and campgrounds of Kentucky:

Cave Country RV Campground:
Located close to the Mammoth Cave National Park, Cave Country RV Campground is just off Exit 53 on Interstate-65 in Cave City, Kentucky. This RV campground features around 51 campsites with all kind of modern amenities. It has a comfortable clubhouse and a new fitness room. It is a pet friendly facility with fenced pet run area. Propane is available on-site and the camp store sells souvenirs, gift items and first-aid items. Cave Country RV Campground offers easy access to several area attractions such as The National Corvette Museum, Lost River Cave & Valley - Underground Boat Tours, American Cave Museum & Hidden River Cave, and Dinosaur World to name a few.

Bluegrass Music RV Park: This RV park is located in Franklin, Kentucky. It is only a few minutes from Opryland, Bowling Green, Nashville, and the Cave Country. Bluegrass Music RV Park is close to Interstate-65 at Exit 6. There are around 118 RV camping sites including 90 full-hookups and 28 water and electric only sites. The back-in & pull-thru sites can accommodate larger units and this RV campground offers repair and wash services. In addition, Bluegrass Music RV Park features one and two bedroom cabins and tent camping sites.

Indian Hills KOA:
In Russell Springs, the Indian Hills KOA overlooks Lake Cumberland, the most scenic recreational areas of Kentucky. This RV campground offers a combination of conveniences with comforts. There are around 180 RV camping sites. It also offers cabin rental and designated tent camping space. For recreational purpose, this RV campground features 18-hole miniature golf course, scenic trails, playgrounds, tennis court, TV lounge, swimming pool and a recreational building.

Kentucky Road Rules
The state follows a seat belt law and hence, all passengers are required to wear seat belts and children less than 40 lbs. need to be in a car seat, which should be federally approved. Though you can use hand-held cell phones while driving, texting is illegal in Kentucky as your drive.

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RV Repair & Maintenance Manual

RV Repair and Maintenance Manual is the most popular resource for owners who prefer to work on their own RVs, whether trailers, motorhomes, truck campers, fifth wheels or popups. The book features step-by-step procedures for maintaining and repairing RVs, presented in easy-to-understand layman's terms and simple-to-follow instructions. The fourth edition has been updated and expanded to keep up with the latest in RV technology and repair procedures. From trouble-shooting guidelines to quick diagnoses and repairs, this manual will keep you rolling down the highway and not in the repair shop. Packed with valuable information, checklists, photos, and charts, the RV Repair and Maintenance Manual includes topics on electrical systems, LP-gas systems, water systems, sanitation systems, AC generators, batteries, heating systems, air-conditioning systems, refrigerators, trailer brakes, trailer suspensions, solar-powered systems, dinghy towing, hitches, drivetrain systems, solar power systems, ovens and ranges, microwaves and ice makers, exterior and interior care, and accessories. This new edition includes step-by-step procedures for fixing components and improving the service life of virtually every item on your RV, plus expanded details on satellite dishes, camper jacks and tie-downs, awnings and slide-out systems.

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Important Tips for Campground Etiquette

RVing is supposed to be fun. And some simple campground etiquette helps to keep it that way for everyone. If you are starting out or need a refresher, here are 10 tips on minding your camping manners to make your stay enjoyable.

  •     Follow the rules:     Individual parks usually hand you a copy of their rules when you register. Adhering to these rules is one of the basics of campground etiquette. It makes things easier for everyone involved – you, your neighbors and the park operators. Typical guidelines include reduced speed limits on campground roads for the safety of all involved. You are typically expected to unhook a dinghy before driving to your site. There are usually defined quiet hours when you should keep the noise down, turn off outdoor lights, generators - basically, the party is over.

  •     Eliminate pet peeves:     Literally. Pick up after your pets. Stop excessive or extended barking. Don’t leave a howling dog unattended to bother the neighbors. Use a leash. Even if Spot is friendly, not everyone is an animal lover. Good pet-etiquette on your part helps ensure that the many RVers with pets are welcome at campgrounds.

  •     Parking the rig:     Sometimes it is very clear how to orient the rig on a site – you may even have a cement pad. But in many cases, the only guidepost will be the hookup for electric and sewer. General campground etiquette is to stay on your side of that hook-up, and not have awnings or slide-outs encroaching on the site next door. Look at the campground map for a clue about preferred orientation. Or, look around you to see how other rigs are angled, if they are centered on sites or close to the utility hook up. You will get the most out of the space you have (and so will your neighbors) if you are all situated the same way. There are bound to be exceptions – we have been in many campgrounds with no uniformity in the size, shape or orientation of sites. The main objective in these cases is to just “guess the site” and fit the RV into it. But even then, the idea is to park in a way that gets everyone their fair share of privacy and room under their respective awnings. Common sense and campground etiquette go hand in hand.

  •     Late arrivals:     If you are arriving at a park after normal quiet hours, attempt some degree of stealth behavior. Not that it is easy to be unobtrusive pulling in an RV. But keep the set-up to the minimum required for the night. Your neighbors will understand that you need to pull in and hook up. They have probably been in the same situation. But they will lose patience if they spend an hour listening to loud conversation, slamming doors and arguments over how to level the rig. Do what is essential and remember that tomorrow is another day. The same sort of courtesy should be used if you are making an early morning departure. Don’t keep the engine idling for an hour before you leave. Tidy up your campsite the night before.

  •     Sewer connections:     Do them right. Make them secure. No torn hoses. In most places, your sewer connection faces the side where you neighbor has their “patio” area. Another time where being discreet and careful is part of good campground etiquette.

  •     Washing the RV:     Most campgrounds will not allow washing to avoid wasting water, high water bills, muddy sites, etc. Read the rules. You usually have to get by with a small bucket and rag and/or waterless cleaner to just do minimal spot cleaning. If you are lucky enough to find a place where you can really wash the RV, use common sense. Don’t have the water flowing when you aren’t actually using it. Watch the spray – your neighbor may not be interested in having their rig washed. In fact, it makes for friendly campground etiquette if you let you neighbor know ahead of time that you plan to wash your rig. That way, they can close any windows or put away articles that might inadvertently get wet.

  •     No trespassing:     When we first started out, a fellow RVer came over and asked if he could look around on “our property” for something he had lost, a paper that had blown out of his car the night before. We appreciated his asking first, and were somewhat amused by the term “our property”. But in fact, one of the unspoken rules of campground etiquette is that you stay off occupied sites. For the time a camper is on a site, it is their space and their privacy should be respected. If you are taking a stroll around the campground, the operative word is “around”. Stay on roads and pathways – don’t cut through your neighbors’ turf.

  •     Around the campfire:     Before you light it, make sure it is permitted, and follow any rules the campground may have. Do not use your firepot as a garbage can. There is sure to be a trash can available in your rig or on the park premises. No one likes to pull into a site with a firepot full of beer cans or the remains from someone else’s dinner the night before.

  •     Keeping up the neighborhood:     In general, be tidy. RVing is an outdoor pastime and RVers are generally an easy going lot. But there is a point where too much stuff laying around outside the RV starts to look sloppy. Trash or anything loose that can blow around is a definite no-no.

  •     Do unto others:     When in doubt, follow the golden rule. If you aren’t sure of the proper campground etiquette for something, think about how you would like to be treated. If you are concerned that something might bother your neighbor, your best bet is just to ask them. If you find yourself in a situation where your neighbors or park operators are doing something that you find intolerable, politely address the subject with them. If that doesn’t work, consider moving to another site or another campground. You are in an RV after all.

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Glossary of RV Terms

The RV community is just like any other—it has its own set of words, abbreviations, and slang terms. In this glossary we define the common terms and some of the more unusual slang.
  • Amp - Amp is short for ampere, the electric current unit of measure. RV sites with electric hookup will specify the maximum amps supported, which generally come in units of 20, 30, or 50 amps. The RV power connector must match the various plugs of the site amp rating.
  • Articulation Point - A joint between two objects which allows movement. In the case of RV's, an articulation point is where two vehicles are coupled together by a ball or fifth wheel hitch. When a truck is pulling a travel trailer or fifth wheel, a single articulation point exists. If a boat is towed behind the trailer then two articulation points exist.
  • Awning - A roof-like structure made of canvas or other artificial materials which extends from the RV body to provide shade. Awnings are generally placed over entrances. Some extend and stow manually while others are operated electrically.
  • Back In - A slot in an RV park with a single entrance, designed to be backed into with the RV.
  • Basement - The storage compartment of RV's under the main living area. Basements are generally found on motor homes and fifth wheel trailers.
  • Batwing Antenna - TV antenna on the roof on an RV characterized by two horizontal elements. Batwing antennas are generally raised and rotated with a hand crank from inside the RV living compartment.
  • Black Tank - Holding tank connected to the toilet, designed to hold sewage until it can be dumped into a septic system.
  • Black Water - Waste water from the toilet; sewage.
  • Boondocking - Strictly speaking, boondocking is camping far away from civilization without any facilities such as water or electricity; roughing it. In a more general sense it has come to mean camping or parking anywhere without facilities, relying strictly on the comforts provided by the RV. Many RVers refer to spending the night in an interstate rest area, shopping center parking lot, or truck stop, as boondocking.
  • Brake Controller - Electronic device mounted in the tow vehicle to control the trailer brakes. It is connected to the tow vehicle brake system to sense when braking needs to be applied to the trailer. It has a lever for manually engaging the trailer brakes.
  • Breakaway Switch - An electrical switch on trailers designed to engage the breaks in case the trailer breaks away from the tow vehicle. The switch is connected by a cable to the tow vehicle. Breakaway is detected when the switch cable is pulled out during vehicle separation.
  • Bus Conversion - A passenger bus converted to an RV.
  • Cabover - This term can refer to one of two things: 1) a Class C motor home, or 2) the sleeping area which is over the cab in Class C motor homes and truck campers.
  • Camper - Another term for an RV, especially smaller RVs that are towed behind or carried on top of light trucks. Truckers generally refer to all RVs as campers in their CB conversations.
  • Cargo Weight - Cargo Weight is the actual weight of all items added to the Curb Weight of the vehicle or trailer. This includes personal cargo, optional equipment, and Tongue or King Pin Weight.
  • CB Radio - Citizens Band radio is a general use, short distance, two-way radio primarily used by truckers. CB's are also helpful to RV drivers to call for help in an emergency and listen for driving conditions. Many CB's on the market today also have weather channels with alerting features.
  • Chassis - The frame of a vehicle or motor home including the engine, transmission, drive train, axles, and wheels. When referring to a van or truck, the chassis also includes the cab.
  • Chassis Battery - Battery in motor homes and tow trucks for operating the engine and vehicle components. Gas engine vehicles generally have one chassis battery and diesels two. Also referred to as the starting battery.
  • Class B Motor Home - A motor home created from a mini van. Most models have raised roofs, but otherwise the living space is constrained by the dimensions of the van.
  • Class C - A motor home built on a cut-away van or truck chassis, including the cab. It differs from the class A motor home in that the class C uses the cab designed for the chassis. 
  • Coach - A vehicle with enclosed passenger accommodations. In the broadest sense of the term, coach can be applied to most recreational vehicles. When used by itself, it usually refers to a motor home, most likely a Class A.
  • Commercial Drivers License - License issued by states to drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMV). Some states require special licensing or endorsements for large RV's, but a commercial driver's license (CDL) is rarely required for non-commercial RV's. 
  • Commercial Motor Vehicle - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration definition: A commercial motor vehicle is any self-propelled or towed motor vehicle used on a highway in interstate commerce to transport passengers or property when the vehicle: (1) has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or gross combination weight rating (GCWR)or a gross vehicle weight (GVW) or gross combination weight (GCW) of 4,536 kilograms (10,001 pounds) or more, whichever is greater; or (2) is designed or used to transport more than 8 passengers, including the driver, for compensation; or (3) is designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver, whether or not it is used to transport passengers for compensation; or (4) is used in transporting material found by the Secretary of Transportation to be hazardous under 49 U.S.C. 5103 and transported in a quantity requiring placarding under regulations prescribed by the Secretary under 49 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter I, Subchapter C.
  • Converter - A device that converts alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) used to charge the RV batteries and to operate 12 volt DC devices while plugged into an AC source.
  • Curb Weight - Curb Weight is the actual weight of a vehicle or trailer, including all standard equipment, full fuel tanks, full fresh water tanks, full propane bottles, and all other equipment fluids, but before taking on any persons or personal cargo. For additional details see Understanding RV Weights.
  • Direct Spark Ignition - A feature of new propane appliances whereby the gas is ignited by an electrical spark and monitored electronically.
  • Domicile - One′s fixed and permanent legal residence. Among RVers this generally refers to the state of legal residence. Difference between domicile and residence, as explained by the State of New York Court of Appeals:
  • Residence means living in a particular locality, but domicile means living in that locality with intent to make it a fixed and permanent home. Residence simply requires bodily presence as an inhabitant in a given place, while domicile requires bodily presence in that place and also an intention to make it one′s domicile.
  • Dry Camping - Camping in an RV without external water or sewer hookups.
  • Dry Weight - Dry Weight is the actual weight of a vehicle or trailer containing standard equipment without fuel, fluids, cargo, passengers, or optional equipment. For additional details see Understanding RV Weights.
  • Dual Rear Wheels - A truck having two wheels on each side of the rear axle for a total of four wheels.
  • Dump Station - Facilities for emptying gray and black water from the RV holding tanks.
  • Exhaust Brake - A device installed on the engine which causes deceleration by restricting the exhaust gases. Exhaust brakes are used to supplement the service brakes of a vehicle and to increase stopping power. Especially useful to slow heavy loads down steep grades.
  • Exhaust Temperature Gauge
  • Gauge indicating engine exhaust gas temperature as measured by a probe inserted into the gas flow. Temperature is generally measured directly after the exhaust manifold or after the turbo. Useful in preventing engine overheating.
  • FMV - Abbreviation for Fair Market Value.
  • Fresh Water Tank - Tank for holding fresh water for drinking, cooking, and bathing while not connected to a city water supply.
  • Full Hookup - An RV site with water, electric, and sewer facilities.
  • Fulltimer - A person living full-time in an RV, having no other home.
  • GAW - Gross Axle Weight (GAW) is the actual weight placed on a single axle. For additional details see Understanding RV Weights.
  • GAWR - Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) is the maximum number that the GAW of a single axle should never exceed. For additional details see Understanding RV Weights.
  • GCW - Gross Combination Weight (GCW) is the actual weight of the fully loaded tow vehicle plus the towed vehicle (trailer, car, boat, etc.), including all cargo, fluids, passengers, and optional equipment. For additional details see Understanding RV Weights.
  • GCWR - Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the maximum number that the tow vehicle GVW plus towed vehicle GVW (or GTW) should never exceed. For additional details see Understanding RV Weights.
  • Gooseneck - A trailer and hitch configuration connected to the tow truck directly above the rear axle by way of a standard ball hitch in the truck bed and a vertical, slender arm on front of the trailer. Gooseneck hitching is common on horse and utility trailers, but rarely found on RVs.
  • Gooseneck Adapter - A device that attaches to the fifth wheel trailer's king pin and extends down about two feet. It couples with a ball hitch mounted in the bed of a truck, enabling the fifth wheel to be towed like a gooseneck trailer. For additional details see Fifth Wheel Gooseneck Adapter.
  • Grade - The degree of inclination of a road. A grade of 6% or higher is considered steep.
  • Gray Tank - Holding tank connected to the sinks and shower, designed to hold waste water until it can be dumped into a septic system.
  • Gray Water - Waste water from the sinks and shower
  • GTW - Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) is the same as Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) when referring to a trailer. For additional details see Understanding RV Weights.
  • GVW - Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is the actual weight of the fully loaded vehicle or trailer, including all cargo, fluids, passengers, and optional equipment, as measured by a scale. For additional details see Understanding RV Weights.
  • GVWR - Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the maximum number that the GVW or GTW should never exceed. For additional details see Understanding RV Weights.
  • Half Ton - Truck rating originally conceived to indicate cargo carrying capacity of a half ton (1,000 lbs). Today, tonnage rating is no longer an accurate indication of cargo carrying capacity—it is more of a relational indication among trucks in different categories. Common one ton pickup truck models are the Chevrolet 1500, Dodge 1500, Ford F-150, and GMC 1500.
  • Hauler Back - Truck body installed on a chassis in place of a bed, designed to tow or haul various loads. Most hauler backs look like a typical car wrecker without the lift. Hauler backs intended for RV towing have a flat surface and a hitch installed above the rear axle. Common options added to hauler backs are storage compartments and tool boxes.
  • Heavy Duty Truck - Commercial truck designed for heavy duty. Heavy trucks are suitable for towing the heaviest of trailers, though they are rarely used for RV towing. A few examples: semi trucks, Chevrolet Kodiak C8500, Ford F-750, GMC TopKick C8500. For additional details see Truck Classification.
  • Holding Tank - One of several storage tanks on an RV designed to hold fresh and waste water. Common holding tanks are the fresh water tank, gray tank, and black tank.
  • Honey Wagon - Euphemism for the sewage pumping truck. Honey wagons are used to empty RV holding tanks in places where full hookups and dump stations are not available.
  • House Battery - One or more batteries in a recreational vehicle for operating the 12 volt lights, appliances, and systems. House batteries can be 12 volt units tied in parallel or pairs of 6 volt batteries tied in series (to double the voltage). The term house battery is of more significance in motor homes because they contain one or more other batteries for the operation of the engine, referred to as the chassis or starting batteries.
  • RV Inverter - A device that converts direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) for powering AC equipment while the RV is not plugged into an AC source. Typical DC sources are batteries and solar panels.
  • ISP - Abbreviation for Internet Service Provider.
  • King Pin - The pin by which a fifth wheel trailer attaches to the truck. It slides into the fifth wheel hitch and locks in place.
  • King Pin Weight - King Pin Weight (also called Pin Weight) is the actual weight pressing down on the fifth wheel hitch by the trailer. The recommended amount of King Pin Weight is 15%-25% of the GTW.
  • Leveling Jack - A jack lowered from the underside of trailers and motor homes for the purpose of leveling the vehicle. A leveling jack is designed to bear a significant portion of the RVs weight, even lifting it off the ground on certain models.
  • Light Duty Truck - Personal truck designed for light duty, typically rated at one ton and below. Light trucks are suitable for towing small to medium trailers. A few examples: Chevrolet Silverado 3500, Ford F-250, Dodge RAM 1500. For additional details see Truck Classification.
  • LPG - Liquefied Petroleum Gas, commonly written as "LP gas". Two examples of LPG are propane and butane. LPG is heavier than air in gas form and about half the weight of water in liquid form.
  • Medium Duty Truck - Commercial truck designed for medium duty, typically rated above one ton. Medium duty trucks are built with heavier frames, brakes, and transmission compared to light trucks. A few examples: Chevrolet Kodiak C4500, Ford F-450/F-550, International 4200.
  • Motor Home - A motor vehicle built on a truck or bus chassis and designed to serve as self-contained living quarters for recreational travel. Also commonly spelled as motorhome.
  • MSRP - Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price
  • NCC - Net Carrying Capacity (NCC) is the maximum amount of persons, personal cargo, optional equipment, and Tongue or King Pin weight that can be added to an RV. The formula for NCC is GVWR - UVW. NCC differs slightly from the more widely used "payload" term, by including full fresh water and propane tank weights.
  • One Ton - Truck rating originally conceived to indicate cargo carrying capacity of one ton (2,000 lbs). Today, tonnage rating is no longer an accurate indication of cargo carrying capacity—it is more of a relational indication among trucks in different categories. Common one ton pickup truck models are the Chevrolet 3500, Dodge 3500, Ford F-350, and GMC 3500.
  • Park Model - A travel trailer that requires park facilities to function. It lacks holding tanks and dual-voltage appliances, requiring to be plugged into water, sewage, and electrical facilities. A park model is more of a small mobile home than a recreational vehicle, in appearance and function.
  • Payload - Payload is a weight rating. It is the maximum weight that persons plus cargo should never exceed.
  • Pull Through - A slot in an RV park with an entrance and an exit, designed to pull the RV in one end and out the other, without having to back up.
  • Pusher - Motor home with rear mounted engine. Most pushers are equipped with diesel engines, but some gas engine models are also available.
  • Rear Differential - A set of gears found in the rear axle of vehicles, designed to distribute drive shaft power to the two wheels. It applies power to both wheels while allowing each to spin at different rates during cornering.
  • Recreational Vehicle - Vehicle or trailer with living accommodations used for traveling and recreational activities.
  • RGAW - Rear Gross Axle Weight (GAW) is the actual weight placed on the rear axle. For additional details see Understanding RV Weights.
  • RGAWR - Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (RGAWR) is the maximum number that the GAW of the rear axle should never exceed.
  • Special equipment or gear used for a particular purpose. In the RV world it generally refers to an RV or truck.
  • RVCG - Abbreviation for the RV Consumer Group organization.
  • Shore Power - A boating term adopted by the RV community to mean an electrical power hookup supplied to the RV by a fixed, external source (not by a portable generator). A full hookup RV site has shore power.
  • Slide - A compartment added to an RV to increase interior space. It slides into the body during travel and slides out when parked.
  • Snowbird - A person who moves from cold weather to warm in an RV, generally staying a season.
  • Solar Panel - Device containing an array of solar cells which convert sunlight to electricity. Typically mounted on the roof of RVs and used for charging the batteries.
  • Stabilizing Jack - A jack inserted under or lowered from trailers and motor homes for the purpose of stabilizing the vehicle. A stabilizing jack is not designed to bear a significant portion of the RVs weight, only a small amount to reduce movement during occupancy. Stabilizing jacks are generally found toward the back of trailers, under the king pin of fifth wheels, and under some slides.
  • Stinky Slinky - Slang for the sewer hose, constructed from a spiral wire covered with vinyl. One end attaches to the RV piping and the other into the local sewer dump facilities.
  • Three Quarter Ton - Truck rating originally conceived to indicate cargo carrying capacity of three quarter tons (1,500 lbs). Today, tonnage rating is no longer an accurate indication of cargo carrying capacity—it is more of a relational indication among trucks in different categories. Common three quarter ton pickup truck models are the Chevrolet 2500, Dodge 2500, Ford F-250, and GMC 2500.
  • Toad - A vehicle towed behind the RV. That which was "towed".
  • Tongue Jack - A jack lowered from the frame of a travel trailer, directly behind the tongue, for the purpose of leveling the trailer. A tongue jack is designed to bear a significant portion of the trailers weight, called the Tongue Weight (10% - 15% recommended).
  • Tongue Weight - Tongue Weight (also called Tongue Load) is the actual weight pressing down on the hitch ball by the trailer. The recommended amount of Tongue Weight is 10%-15% of the GTW.
  • Umbilical Cord - Wiring harness which connects the trailer to the tow vehicle during transport. The umbilical cord supplies the trailer with DC power for charging the batteries and operating DC equipment. It also operates the trailer brakes and signal lights.
  • UVW (Unloaded Vehicle Weight) - Unloaded Vehicle Weight (UVW) is the weight of a vehicle as manufactured at the factory. It includes full engine and generator fuel tanks and fluids, if applicable. It does not include cargo, water, propane, or dealer-installed accessories. It may or may not include factory installed options. Be aware that some manufacturers weigh each unit to determine UVW, while others provide only the average or estimated weight for each model.
  • Water Pressure Regulator - Device installed on water hose attached to city water to limit the water pressure entering the RV. Most regulators limit water pressure to 40 psi.
  • eight-Distributing Hitch - A ball hitch system that distributes some of the tongue weight to all axles of the tow vehicle and trailer. With standard ball hitches, all of the tongue weight rests on the tow vehicles rear axle; the weight-distributing hitch uses spring tensioned bars to distribute it among the axles. This provides more weight on the front axle for better steering control, and less weight on the rear axle to allow towing a heavier trailer that may otherwise overload the rear axle.
  • Wheelbase - Distance between the center of the front and rear wheels of a vehicle, usually expressed in inches.
  • Wide-body - An RV having an external body width greater than 96 inches (8 feet). The most common wide-body widths are 100" and 102". Also widebody.
  • Winterize - The process of introducing non-toxic antifreeze into the water lines of an RV for winter storage to prevent freezing and line breaks.
  • Wireless Internet - Technology that enables computers equipped with wireless network cards (also called WiFi) to connect to the Internet without requiring wired connections such as phone lines or cables. This service generally requires an additional fee and a sing-up process.
  • Work Camper - A person living in an RV and working. Many spell it as workamper after the web site and service by that name.

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Class A RV Details

Class A RV
Conversion Vans vs. Mini Motorhome (Class B RV)

How many people know the difference betwixt a Conversion Van, Camper Van, or Mini-Motorhome? Knowing the differences can help an individual make “Good Purchase Decisions”. The right Van can be your daily transportation or RV. The differences become important for simple reasons like:How much will it cost me to insure my vehicle?

    
How do I determine a fair “Blue Book” price to buy or sell?
    Does my neighborhood association allow me to park my Van at Home?
    Safety: Is my Vehicle Crash Tested by a Government Agency?
    Who will service my Van when I need repairs or maintenance?

Conversion Vans ar non Motorhomes, but they can offer many of the features of a Motorhome. So let us clear up the differences!

Keep in mind there is room to stretch from one class of vehicle to another; and there is no defacto industry definition; just guidelines. Search the listings astatine RVTRADER.com and you’ll find many Class C’s mixed into the Class B listings non to mention the Class B’s in the Bus Conversions. You’ll even find ordinary Conversion Vans in the mix. It seems people really don’t know what they have! Confusing isn’t it? We love vans and own several different types and is how we at Conversion-Vans.NET define the Vehicle Classes.

Cargo Van – A Cargo van is a vehicle provided direct from the Manufacture with no rear seats, carpeting, or windows. These vans can be “Up fitted or Converted” to meet the needs of a variety of purposes.

Camper Van – This is the simple conversion of a stock cargo van to add features helpful for “camping”. So a Camper Van is any van that has been reborn for the purpose of camping – simple enough! Yes and No. There is no such thing as a commercial “Camper Van” – unless you get outside of the USA where the terminology changes. Camper Vans are typically “Homemade” modifications. A Class B Motorhome can be Called a Camper Van if you please, but you can non call a Camper Van a Class B Motorhome unless it has some very specific features!

Class B Motorhome (Class B RV) – Any full mature Motorhome reinforced on a Cargo Van Chassis by a licensed up fitter. The van may have the top distant or the sides widened, but it is still essentially a van in size and shape. Additionally in order to qualify as a Class B Motorhome the van moldiness have built-in sleeping, eating, and bathroom facilities (Including properly climbing fresh and grey water holding tanks). If the frame of the van has been cut down clear to the floor level (they come direct from Ford, Chevy, and Dodge this way – just a frame and a cab) and built up completely from the floor it’s a Class “C” not a Class “B”.

Conversion Van (aka Luxury Van, Custom Van) – Any van that has been customized for comfort can be considered a conversion van. These ar really luxury vehicles used to transport 6-10 people in comfort. Conversion vans can have some of the features of a “Camper Van” or even a “Class B Motorhome”, but ar typically more upscale and intentional for day use and luxury transportation. These vans may have a raised roof, fancy paintjob, Custom Wheels, Leather Seats, 4 Captains chairs, dual stereo, TV/VCR Combos etc.

Mini C’s & B+’s – These ar really Class “C” Motorhomes masquerading as Class B Motorhomes. They feature sleek aerodynamic body styles – often made of a single fibreglass shell. The Chinook line of Motorhomes by TrailWagons, Inc. is probably the best example. These are also sometimes referred to as B+ Vans. They ar in fact built from the same chassis as a Class C, but ar made more to look like a Call B. Confusing? Ultimately it doesn’t matter, as long as you find what you want.

So there you have it! The Van is an incredibly versatile mode of transportation that can be “converted” to suit the needs of a variety of individuals and purposes. Vans offer large storage capacity for trucking cargo to completely self contained luxury travel. So don’t just rush out and get a giant RV until you have considered a Conversion Van or Class B RV.

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