SLEEPING CAPACITY WEIGHT RATING (SCWR) — The manufacturer's designated number of sleeping positions
multiplied by 154 pounds (70 kilograms).
SLIDEOUT — A compartment added to an RV to increase interior space. It slides into the body during travel and slides
out when parked
SNOWBIRD — Term for someone in a northern climate that heads "south" in winter months.
STINKY SLINKY — Sang 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
STREETSIDE — The part of the vehicle on the street side when parked. (Also referred to as the off door-side or ODS.)
SURGE PROTECTOR — Device (customer supplied) that is installed at the power supply location designed to prevent
“surges” or “spikes” in electrical current that may damage the RV’s electrical/electronic components.
SWAY — Fishtailing action of the trailer caused by external forces that set the trailer's mass into a ateral (side-to-side)
motion. The trailer's wheels serve as the axis or pivot point. Also known as “yaw.”
THERMOCOUPLE — A thermocouple is a device that monitors the pilot fame of a pilot model propane appliance. If
the pilot fame is extinguished the thermocouple causes the gas valve to shut off the flow of gas to both the pilot fame
and the main burner.
TIP OUT — The term used for an area or room in an RV that tips out for additional living space. The Tip-Out was general-
ly used in older RVs. Newer RVs mainly use a slide-out.
TIRE RATINGS — The MAXIMUM LOAD that a tire may carry is engraved on the sidewall, along with a corresponding
COLD infation pressure. A reduction in infation pressure requires a reduction in load rating. Tire manufacturers publish
charts that establish the load capacity at various infation pressures.
TOE (WHEEL ALIGNMENT) — Toe is the measure of whether the front of the wheels (looking down from the top) are
closer (toe-in) or farther (toe-out) than the back of the wheels.
TONGUE WEIGHT, TONGUE LOAD, VERTICAL LOAD (TWR/TLR/VLR) — Tongue Weight, Tongue Load, Verti-
cal Load Rating Different terms for the MAXIMUM VERTICAL LOAD that can be carried by the hitch UNLOADED.
TRAILER BRAKES — Brakes that are built into the trailer axle systems and are activated either by electric impulse or
by a surge mechanism. The overwhelming majority of RVs utilize electric trailer brakes that are actuated when the tow
vehicle's brakes are operated, or when a brake controller is manually activated. Surge brakes utilize a mechanism that is
positioned at the coupler, that detects when the tow vehicle is slowing or stopping, and activates the trailer brakes via a
hydraulic system (typically used on boats).
TRAVEL TRAILER (TT) — Also referred to as “conventional trailers,” these types of rigs have an A-frame and coupler
and are attached to a ball mount on the tow vehicle. Travel trailers are avaiable with one, two or three axles. Depending
GLOSSARY
To Next Page
Loading...