If you're relatively new to the caravanning world, you'll no doubt have noticed that there are a lot of technical terms and abbreviations flying around.
It can be really difficult to discern what's being referred to in an article or video without a working knowledge of caravans, which puts off a lot of people tentatively taking their first steps into the market.
Thankfully, most aren't nearly as complicated as they sound, and with the help of our handy caravan terminology glossary, you'll be an expert in no time!
A
Ah (amperage hour/amp hour) -
The amount of energy charge in a battery that enables 1 ampere of power to flow for an hour.
Awning -
A tent like structure that attaches to the outside of a caravan. There are a huge variety of awnings on the market of all different shapes and sizes. Traditional awnings use a system of poles that are threaded through fabric channels on the outside of the awning, to form a frame.
Awning rail -
A metal rail through which awning beading is thread, to attach the awning to the caravan. Rails can be both at the top and bottom of a caravan.
Awning skirt -
A small piece of fabric that threads through bottom awning rails, used as draught excluders.
Airbeam awning -
Modern style of awning that has massively increased in popularity over the past few years. Airbeam awnings don't use poles to create a frame - instead, they have a system of tubes that are inflated to a specific pressure to provide a rigid frame. Coupled with an electric pump, they are essentially self-erecting.
B
Barrel lock -
Used to lock the hitch of a caravan to a tow ball to prevent theft. Most barrel locks also come with a separate ball that can be locked in place to prevent unauthorised hitching when the caravan isn't hitched to a vehicle.
Berth -
Sleeping space inside a caravan, for a single person. Small caravans usually range from 2 - 4 berths, meaning they can sleep 2 - 4 people.
Blown air heating -
Modern caravan heating system that warms & blows air around a caravan via a fan & ducting.
Breakaway cable -
A legal requirement on all caravans & trailers, a breakaway cable is a thin piece of wire, attached to a caravan, that is wrapped around the tow ball of the car during the hitching process. In the event of the caravan decoupling from the car, the breakaway cable is pulled which will apply the caravans brakes.
C
Cassette toilet (AKA camping toilet) -
A toilet with separate "cassettes" that collect waste. The cassettes are removable to allow disposal. Usually built in versions are used in larger caravans, while it's common for portable versions to be included in smaller caravans with less space.
Chassis number (also referred to as VIN - Vehicle Identification Number) -
A unique identifier assigned to each caravan, usually displayed on a metal plate attached to the hitch bar.
Compressor fridge -
Also known as a 2-way fridge, a refrigerator unit capable of running on both 230v mains electricity or an onboard 12v leisure battery. Compressor fridges cool more efficiently, regardless of the ambient temperature, than non-compressor coolbox type fridges due to the powerful compressor.
CRIS -
The Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme, a national organisation who manage and maintain a database of caravan owners. Their aim is to deter caravan theft by making it easy to identify the legal owner of a caravan via the chassis number.
Control panel -
Panel used to control the electrics inside a caravan (lighting, mains or 12v power etc), among other things. There are two main varieties; manual control panels and smart control panels.
D
Dinette -
Seating area in a caravan, usually with a table in the centre for eating. Sometimes converts into a bed via pull out slats.
Dual-fuel -
Indicates that the appliance can run on either 230v mains electricity or gas.
E
EHU -
Electric Hook Up. Usually used to refer to the cable used to connect the caravan to mains electricity on a pitch.
F
Fixed bed -
A caravan bed in a fixed position, unlike dinette style beds which use a system of slats and cushions to convert a seating area into a bed.
Fresh water container/carrier -
Container used to store fresh water supply. Sometimes integrated into a caravan, but usually a separate container for smaller caravans. Supplies fresh water to the taps via an electric pump. Truma are one of the best known brands.
Front box/locker -
A box that is usually attached to the front of a caravan. Provides extra storage space and sometimes houses a gas bottle which is plumbed through to various appliances.
G
Gas bottle -
Metal bottle that contains gas, used to power certain caravan appliances. LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) is the most common form of gas in the UK, which consists of a mix of propane & butane.
Gas BBQ point -
Socket plumbed through to an onboard gas bottle, used to supply gas to external appliances. Gas BBQs are the most common appliance connected to the gas point, but some caravanners will run additional fridges or heaters.
Grab handles -
Handles positioned on the front or rear, used for manually manoeuvring the caravan.
H
Hitch head -
Device at the front of the caravan used to attach the hitch to the tow car. Also referred to as the 'hitch coupling'.
Hitch lock -
Available in different forms, the most common being a rectangular metal box that locks around the hitch head. An additional security measure to prevent unauthorised hitching.
I
Island bed -
A double bed with space on all 3 sides, to allow ease of access.
J
Jockey wheel -
Small wheel at the front of the caravan, usually directly behind the hitch head. The wheel pivots and the height is adjustable to assist with coupling the hitch head with the vehicles tow ball.
K
Kerb weight -
The total unladen weight of a towing vehicle, without luggage or passengers. Also referred to as the 'gross weight' of a vehicle.
L
Layout -
Also referred to as the 'floorplan', this is the configuration of furniture and fixings inside a caravan. Commonly, the seating/sleeping area is positioned towards the front of the caravan, with the kitchen and bathrooms located at the rear.
Leisure battery -
A small 12v battery used to supply power to the caravans electrical system if not connected to mains hookup. Available in different amperages, the most common ranging from 70Ah to 110Ah.
M
Micro tourer -
Small touring caravans under 750kg in weight, and usually small enough to fit inside the average garage. Micro tourer caravans often have all of the same amenities as larger, traditional caravans, but in a more compact package. The Go-Pod Micro Tourer Caravan is a great example of this!
MiRO -
Mass in Running Order, also referred to as the 'factory weight' of a caravan. This is the weight of a caravan without any payload.
MTPLM -
The Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass, which is the total weight that a caravan cannot exceed when loaded. To find the payload of a caravan, deduct the MiRO from the MTPLM.
Motor mover -
An electronic motorised device which engages a gear (a small metal cog) to the caravans wheels. When engaged, a remote can be used to manoeuvre to the caravan. Especially helpful for manoeuvring on rough terrain and inclines/declines.
N
NCC -
The National Caravan Council, an organisation that represents entities in the caravan industry, from suppliers to dealers & workshops. The NCC provides advice on best practices in the caravan industry, and represents its members when talking to government and regulatory bodies.
Nose weight (caravan) -
The weight of the caravan at the hitch head, otherwise referred to as the nose.
Nose weight (car) -
The maximum recommended nose weight suitable for a car, determined by the manufacturer.
P
Payload -
The weight allowance for personal effects and supplies in a caravan. Found by subtracting the MiRO (Mass in Running Order) from the MTPLM (Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass).
PDI -
Pre-Delivery Inspection. These are the final checks carried out by a dealer or supplier before a caravan is delivered. PDI checks typically include testing of electrical systems & appliances, as well as checking the critical safety components such as the hitch and brakes.
Pitch -
Spaces in camping/touring sites for 'pitching up' a tent or a caravan. There are varying sizes and types of pitches. Most have EHU posts for connecting your caravan to mains electricity supply, but more remote sites may not have this facility. Some pitches even have mains water connections, eliminating the need for fresh water containers!
Pitching -
Not to be confused with 'pitching up', pitching is the term used to describe a 'bobbing' motion when towing. This is commonly caused by unevenly loading the caravan, e.g. placing too much weight at the front.
R
RV -
A term mostly used in the USA, RV stands for 'Recreational Vehicle'. Caravans and trailers fall into this category, but RV has mostly become a stand-in word to describe the gargantuan motorhomes, more akin to a public bus in the UK, that dominate the US leisure industry.
S
Sports Camper -
A new breed of camper, usually of the teardrop variety, designed for use off-road or off-grid. Sports Campers have significantly more robust designs than traditional campers and often have upgraded suspension to deal with tough terrain. The MINK 2.0 Sports Camper is probably the most well known.
Snaking -
Unstable motion when towing a caravan, can be caused by high winds, unsafe towing speed or a caravan design that isn't aerodynamic, therefore applying high drag force to the caravan. More commonly experienced by owners of larger caravans.
Stabiliser -
A device fitted to the hitch of a caravan, used to prevent snaking by applying friction pads to the tow ball. AL-KO are the most common brand.
Staycation -
Popularised during the COVID-19 pandemic, a staycation is slang for holidaying domestically.
T
Tyre savers -
Small, usually plastic, blocks that are flat on the bottom and curved on the top. A caravans wheels are rolled into the blocks to prevent contact with the ground and reduce wear of the tyres.
Tow ball -
Circular metal ball attached to the tow bar (see below) on your car. The caravans hitch coupling or stabiliser attaches to the tow ball.
Tow bar -
Metal bar that is attached to the chassis of a vehicle. The tow ball is attached to the tow bar and protrudes from the rear of the vehicle to allow coupling with a caravan.
Twin axle -
A caravan with 2 axles, each with a pair of wheels. Most small caravans have a single axle, while 4 + berth caravans are usually twin axle.
U
Unladen weight -
Also referred to as the MiRO (Mass in Running Order) or factory weight, the unladen weight is the weight of the caravan without any personal effects or supplies.
W
Washroom -
Combined toilet/shower room in larger caravans.
Waste water -
Also commonly referred to as 'grey water' (as the external waste water pipe is often grey to distinguish it from other inlets/outlets), this is the water that has been used in the basins, toilets & showers inside a caravan. Most small caravans have an external waste water outlet and a container is positioned underneath this outlet to catch any waste water that is drained away from the caravan.
Water ingress -
The term used to describe water penetrating the body of a caravan, usually via a compromised seal or join between panels. If not identified and rectified quickly, water ingress can result in serious damage to the structural integrity of a caravan. Caravans with monobloc (one-piece) shells have rapidly risen in popularity in recent years, as there are no joins or seams to leak between panels.
Wheel clamp/lock -
A security device used to prevent the wheels of a caravan from turning when stationary. There are a number of different designs but all work similarly.
Window stays -
Telescopic poles attached to the window of a caravan. They can be used to adjust the opening of the window.
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