Motorhome Glossary
A • B • C • D • E • F • G • H • I • J • K • L • M
• N • O • P • Q • R • S • T • U • V • W • X • Y • Z
A
ABS: Trade name that has become a generic term for anti-lock braking systems
Accord technique: A system used by Renault to indicate that a motorhome has met its requirements for manufacture procedure
A-class: A motorhome built on a base vehicle from the chassis up
Al-Ko: Chassis extension used to increase improve length, payload and handling of coachbuilt motorhomes
Annexe: A framed tent structure which can be attached to a motorhome and left as a free-standing unit in its own right if you drive away
Approved motorcaravan: See Habitation code.
Awning: Like a large blind, awnings usually wind out from 'cassettes' fitted to the side of a motorhome
B
Best of British: An organisation representing a number of leading caravan sites in Great Britain. Contact: 01328 878803
Base vehicle: The vehicle - usually either a panel van or a chassis cab - that provides the base for a motorhome conversion. Leading base vehicle suppliers include Citroen, Fiat, Ford, Mercedes, Peugeot, Renault and Volkswagen
Berths: Refers to the number of people a motorhome can sleep
Blown air heating: A method of heating the living quarters of a motorhome. Common trade names are Carver, Truma and Propex
Butane: Gas usually in blue bottles. Most commonly used by UK motorcaravanners, although many switch to propane in severely cold weather conditions
C
Calor: The main supplier of propane (red) gas cylinders and significant seller of butane (blue) gas
Camping and Caravanning Club, The: An organisation with over 400,000 members. Contact: 024 7647 5442 or visit www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk
Campingaz: Trade name of butane gas
Camper: A term usually used for 'van conversions, either with a fixed roof, elevating roof or a High-top. Also one who camps
Caravan Club, The: Another organisation with over 30,000 motorhome members. Contact: 01342 327410
Caravanette: An old brand name often used erroneously today as a generic term for a motorhome
Carbon monoxide: Odourless toxic gas
Carbon monoxide/CO alarm: Device used to detect carbon monoxide
Cassette: See chemical toilet
C-class: See Coachbuilt
Certficated location: A small five-van only site with limited facilities, part of a network operated by The Caravan Club. The Camping and Caravanning Club offers a similar style of site, called Certificated Sites
Chassis cab: A combined chassis and cab from a commercial vehicle manufacturer, on which many coachbuilt motorhomes are built
Chemical toilet: Most modern motorhomes have them, with more upmarket models having a fully plumbed-in flushing version. Brand leader here is Thetford who have the Cassette model with its own removable holding tank plus, more recently, a swivel-bowl version
Coachbuilt: Sometimes referred to as C-class, this is the type of motorhome conversion built on a chassis cab
Conversion: Literally the transformation of a base vehicle into a motorhome
Cowl: Unit converted by A-class builders
D
Dealer: A specialist retailer of motorhomes
Design Compatible Converter: A term used by Volkswagen to show a particular motorhome design meets their requirements
Dinette: A popular style of seating arrangement where two settees face across a table
Dormobile: See Caravanette.
E
Elevating roof: A type of motorhome describing a van conversion with a lift-up roof section. Sometimes referred to as rising roof or pop-top, the roof may have solid or material sides
F
Fixed roof: A type of motorhome where the base vehicle roof remains unchanged from the original after conversion
Flame Failure Device: An FFD ensures any gas escape is kept to a minimum if a flame goes out accidentally
Floorplan: See Layout
Flyscreens: Mesh fittings for windows
Franchise: A dealer's licence to sell a particular make of motorhome
G
Galley: A kitchen area - usually not as well equipped as the norm
GRP: Glass-reinforced plastic, but more commonly known as glass fibre (not fibreglass, which is a trade name). Used by most motorhome manufacturers, for everything from bumper surrounds to side skirts to complete bodyshells
H
Habitation Code: The Habitation Code of Practice 201 is a joint initiative between the SMMT and NCC. The current Habitation Code is designed to ensure that there is European harmonisation for methods and standards of construction of motorhomes
High-top: A van conversion to which a motorhome manufacturer has added a high roof as part of the conversion
I
Ingress: In motorhome terms this usually means water ingress, a possible problem where older coachbuilt bodies have let water seep in at the joins
Insulation: Needed if you intend to use your motorhome all year round. Usually some kind of foam for insulation between aluminium exteriors and backed plywood inner walls
J
K
Kombi: A name used by both Ford and Volkswagen to signify base vehicles that are made to a motorhome specification with factory-fitted windows
L
Lap belt: Seat belts fixed in only two positions. Avoid where possible
Lap and diagonal: Preferred three-point seat belt as used in modern cars
Layout: Interior design of a motorhome. Where furniture units are placed in relation to each other
LHD: Left-hand-drive vehicle. May be preferable if you'll use it a lot abroad
Low-profile: The term used for a coach-built design which does not incorporate an overcab bed
LPG: Liquid Petroleum Gas, i.e. butane or propane
Luton: Derived from lorries with overcab sections, in motorcaravans, it refers to the section over the cab which usually accommodates a double bed
M
Mains hook-up: A campsite facility whereby, if your motorhome is designed as such, you can plug into a mains electricity supply
Micro camper: Term often used to describe a small motorhome or camper
Motorcaravanners' club, The: The biggest owners' club with motorcaravanners as its sole members. Contact: 0181- 893 3883
Motorhome Information Service: Ideal starting point for beginners and a source of information regarding all matters motorcaravanning. Contact: 01444 453399
MPV: Multi-Purpose Vehicle, a term hijacked by the car trade to describe their latest generation of estate cars which do not carry a lot of people, and are anything but multi-purpose
N
O
P
PDI: Pre-Delivery Inspection. A complete check of a motorhome carried out by a dealer before a vehicle is handed over to its new owners
PAS: Power-assisted steering. Think twice before you buy a motorhome without it
Payload: The amount you can put into a motorhome. Specifically the difference between its maximum gross weight and kerbweight
Propane: Gas used by motorhomes in colder conditions. Supplied in red cylinders
Pusher: An American motorhome with its engine at the rear
Q
Queue: None exist
R
RCCB: Residual Current Circuit Breaker. See also RCD
RCD: Residual Current Device. Part of the motorhome's electrical system which will 'trip' if there is a fault
Recognised converter: A term adopted by Volkswagen meaning a motorhome manufacturer has met its requirements in terms of motorhome conversions and company status
S
Sandwich construction: A standard method of constructing the walls/ roof/floor for many coachbuilt motorhomes. The sandwich for a sidewall is usually of an aluminium or glass fibre exterior, backed plywood interior and insulation filler such as Styrofoam
Second (or auxiliary) battery: A leisure (as opposed to vehicle) battery for supplying power to the 12V system in the motorhome
Slats: Sometimes used for beds. Improves ventilation to mattress cushions
SMMT: The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders - a body which has incorporated a Motorcaravan section since 1984. Represents the motor industry at government, European, consumer group and media levels. Also operates an arbitration service for consumer disputes. Leading UK motorhome manufacturers are members of the SMMT as well as the National Caravan Council
Space heater: Type of heating equipment used in the living quarters
Swivel: Usually refers to a fitting to one or both cab seats which means they can be turned around to face the rest of the living quarters when the vehicle is parked
T
Thermostat: A motorhome may have thermostatically-controlled luxuries such as an oven or heating
U
V
Van conversion: Usually a motorhome manufacturer will have added a High-top or elevating roof section as part of the conversion
W
Warranty: Different manufacturers offer different types of warranties covering both the base vehicle and caravan aspect. Dealers also offer schemes on secondhand vehicles. Worth checking before purchase
Wheelbase: Long, short or medium. Your overall length of motorhome usually depends on the wheelbase length of the base vehicle
Wild camping: Term used for staying overnight away from a campsite. Illegal in many countries, but permission may be granted by individual landowners
Winnebago: Common generic term for American motorhomes, but actually a brand name
Winterisation: Preparation of a vehicle's systems for winter
X
Y
Z
Zig unit: Trade name for an electrical distribution system control panel
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