What does rv stand for? Definite answer.

What does rv stand for?

A recreational vehicle, also known as an RV, is some type of van or vehicle with space for cooking, entertainment or most importantly a place to sleep. These recreational vehicles are great for people who love going on adventures, love camping, or just love sleeping out in the wild.


Recreational Vehicle

There are many different types of Rvs

6 different types of recreational vehicles

You can have just about any size RV, the main thing that will hinder us from purchasing the largest and best one is the cost, RVs can become very expensive fast depending on all the features it has and the size. The size will contribute to the high cost as most manufacturers set a certain MSRP on all their vehicles based on how many different people can sleep in them at any time. It might be hard to believe, but there are RVs around the world that cost upwards of $3 million, and then you have some costing as low as $1000 used.

The choice is yours as to which RV might fit you or your budget best. Since you are thinking about RV prices then that must mean you are probably going to be in the market for one soon.

For help with choosing the best RV for you, visit my other page on this website at Which camper to buy

3 jeeps converted to popup campers

If you have the money and want to make something unique, then it is possible in so many ways. Many people just take an older van and modify it into becoming a recreational vehicle. This can be a much cheaper way to go as you can buy older vans at a very low cost.

Different classes of rvs
List of 9 different types of rvs

Below you will see a list of all the different types and sizes of RVs. There are many types to choose from and each type has its pros and cons.

Motor Homes

These types of recreational vehicles are some of the best as they are the best fit for long journeys. This is because they are the largest and ultimately offer the most comfort. They usually come with their own means of power in the form of an engine, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a bedroom. These however are the most expensive types of Rvs as some will cost over 1 million dollars.

Class A Motorhomes

three different class a motorhoomes

Class A Motorhomes the largest of all the types of motorhomes as mentioned above. These are the types of RVs that come fully equipped as if it were a real home. I do not know of one person who wasn't amazed at how spacious and luxurious these motorhomes can get. These types of RVs can be anywhere between 26 feet and 45 feet and usually weigh between 13000 and 30000 pounds. With these types of motorhomes, you get options like bottom storage where you can store a boat or another vehicle, full kitchen and bathroom, awnings, and slide-outs. The bedrooms are even big enough to fit a queen or king-sized bed.

Class B Motorhomes

three different class b motorhoomes

These RVs weigh between 4000 to 9000 pounds and are between 17 to 23 feet in size. They are often called camper vans and are mid-sized compared to Class A and C RVs. To build these, the common types of vehicles used are the ford transit, Mercedes Sprinter, and the Ram Promaster. Your only sacrifice in getting one of these compared to the class a would be the limited space. But some of these class b vehicles come with dining rooms, bathrooms, and some even sleep six. One option to owning a class b vehicles is that some do have the four-wheel-drive and do have good gas mileage. They are also able to fit in more parking spots than a class and are much easier to handle on the road.

Class C Motorhomes

three different Class C motorhoomes

The Class C motorhome is usually built on the chassis of a van or a truck that was designed for a motorhome. They usually come with an overhang area just above the cab of the van or truck. This hangover is usually used for storage or a sleeping area. These types of RVs come with almost all the same amenities as the Class A but at a much cheaper price. You won't get better fuel economy as the Class B but you will get better fuel economy than the Class A. These are usually too large to fit in a regular garage and some will not even fit in your driveway. Before purchasing one of these, you need to think about where you will be storing it during the offs-seasons or just daily. These are great for adventures but you might want to purchase something a little bit larger if you plan on living full-time in a recreational vehicle.

Travel Trailer

When you talk about a travel trailer, you are ultimately talking about the most popular type of RV. It comes in many different styles, types, and sizes. This abundance of choices is perfect for every different type of preference that people may have. There is a travel trailer out there to fit almost anyone's needs. A travel trailer is essentially a compact home that you tow behind your vehicle. One thing you have to check before purchasing a travel trailer is that your vehicle can tow the weight of the travel trailer without any problems. For this, most people choose trucks like Rams, Ford F150s, or Chevy Silverados. Travel trailers come in many different sizes, they usually range in sizes from roughly 12 feet to 35 feet long. The simplest ones come in the 12-foot versions and offer enough comfort for one or two people. The 35-foot versions will allow space for up to 10 people. A travel trailer comes in at a price of roughly $10,000 to $18,000. Motorhome can go for up to a hundred times this price and make for a good start to someone who wants to get into rving.

Truck Camper

A truck camper is just a step down from the larger Motor Home. They do not have their own means of power to move so they do have to be towed by another vehicle. Not all vehicles can tow a camper as they are on the large and heavy side as they do come with a bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom. People use these for short journeys and camping trips that do not last too long.

Fifth Wheel Travel Trailer

Just like the Conventional travel trailer above, the Fifth Wheel Travel Trailer will have the same amenities. These are equipped with regular conveniences such as showering, sleeping, dining, cooking. There are also some luxury versions of Fifth Wheel Travel Trailers that have slide-outs which allows the RV walls to move outward up to three feet. You activate this outward movement by just the click of a button and this gives you extra living area space. Getting your truck unhitched from the Fifth Wheel is very easy if you want to run any type of errand with only the truck. Just like other RVs that need to be towed, you will have to make sure that the truck you decide to use for towing can handle the weight.

Pop-Up Camper

These types of RVs are some of the smallest. Pop up campers are usually easy to tow and do not come with all the amenities of Motor Homes or regular Campers. These have been getting more popular in recent years as more and more people are getting interested in the camping hobby.

Toy Hauler

Toy haulers are most popular amongst people who are involved in motorsports. These types of RVs can accommodate golf carts, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, kayaks, Motorcycles and so much more. They come with a large storage/cargo area to haul any of these types of vehicles. They also come with heavy-duty doors which in turn doubles as a ramp to get vehicles in and out of the RV or just to load heavy gear. This type of RV is different from other RVs. This type falls in the sub-category of RVs as it is available in both towable and motorized versions but they mostly come as fifth wheels. A toy hauler is perfect for everyone who wants to have their grown-up toys with them wherever they want to go. Instead of riding say for instance a motorcycle to your friend's house 600 miles away, you can take your car with a toy hauler equipped with your motorcycle.

These RVs are the perfect basecamp with its comfortable living area and spacious garage.

Teardrop Campers / Teardrop Trailers

It would be very hard to mistake this type of recreational vehicle for any other type of recreational vehicle. This is because it is shaped like a teardrop. This is usually a perfect fit for the weekend warriors who are comfortable with basic amenities. Just like class b RVs, the teardrop camper trailer is built with folding sinks, swivel toilets, convertible beds, and a lot more. With these in place, it makes the camper trailer more functional. Teardrop campers are not heavy, they come in at weights below 4,000 lbs which makes it easy to tow.

People who own theses types of trailers are usually very proud and friendly. They gather at rallies such as TearStock which is hosted in Mackinaw City, Michigan.

Sport Utility RV

Sports utility RVs are more suited for the most adventurous of all rvers. These RVs are specifically built for someone who wants to take their motorized toys with them on the road. It is equipped with a rear-end that drops down and forms a ramp so that you can get your motorized toys in and out easily. There will always be a wall separating the garage area of the motorhome from the living quarters.

The Vw Van

This van has become an icon in so many different car scenes. They can be had for cheap if you look around or keep an eye open on the market. However, if you need one that is in great condition then you might be paying a pretty penny.

Old orange VW van with a white roof

This Vw van is the perfect example of how good one of these vans can become. Who would not want a perfectly restored VW van as a recreational vehicle. You have to understand though that these types of recreational vehicles are on the small interior side. They are fun to own, but it would be wise to stay inside one for a few minutes first. Sit in the back and pretend to use your laptop, stand in the back, and pretend to cook on a stove, lay down in a certain area of the vehicle, and pretend to sleep.

You do all these things first to see if it would be comfortable for even a night. The aim of renovating one of these is to at least be able to sleep in it for a couple of hours. So try to follow the simple steps above to see how comfortable you would be in one of them.

The next step to take is to try and get the chance to test drive one of these recreational vehicles. I am the type of person who loved driving small sports cars and SUVs so getting into driving recreational vehicles was kind of a hard change. It is hard when you are just starting because the larger the recreational vehicle the more skill is needed to maneuver it. When driving one of these vehicles, you have to remember that you are not in a regular vehicle, almost everything you learned while driving a regular vehicle has to be tweaked a little bit.

  1. You will have to learn to apply your brakes earlier in order to stop.
  2. You will have to take corners more carefully as you will be maneuvering a larger vehicle.
  3. You will have to use your mirrors way more and you will have to adjust them to fit your driving style.
  4. Depending on the type or size of recreational vehicle, you have to know the type of roads that are legal for that size to drive on.
  5. Backing up and parking can become a chore really quick.
  6. You can up your brakes on certain high hills if you do not learn how to use them properly.
  7. The height of your recreational vehicle might hinder you from taking certain highways.

Some people convert cars into rvs

1. Honda Element
Honda Element with bed inside the interior

You will be surprised to know that you will see a couple of people turning their cars/SUVs into recreational vehicles. This idea of using the honda element comes from a website called doityourselfrv. This can be a cheap way of getting into the RV scene if you happen to have an extra honda element laying around. It is not the most spacious car/SUV available today but they are at a good price range right now to be considered. A 2010 Honda Element with a little over 100,000 Miles is listed at $10,990 at the time of writing this on KellyBlueBook. With that price point, I wouldn't overlook this vehicle.

2. Honda Crv
Blue Honda CRV with bed inside the interior

Another SUV on the list of cars that can be used as a recreational vehicle is the very reliable honda crv. The back seats in this SUV can be easily removed so you can convert the rear into a sleeping quarter. There is enough space in the back for two people to enjoy a great nap while bugs chirp away int the night. This is also a great vehicle to consider for conversion.

What Do RVs Come With?

  • A good quality rv will come with its own bathroom with all the bells and whistles.
  • Rvs that have the space will come with a complete kitchen. This will include a microwave, a stove, and maybe a small fridge.
  • Some Rvs come with a full entertainment package: television, satellite, surround sound system
  • Rvs usually come with a bedroom, even tho some will be larger than others depending on the price and size of the said rv.
  • Luxurious Rvs will come equipped with a dining room.

Benefits of living in an rv

One benefit of living in an RV is that you can save money by boondocking(dry camping). Boondocking is when you park at places like Walmart or a cracker barrel for free instead of staying at a campground or RV resort. This practice must be used with discretion as you will not be allowed to park for days on end at these businesses.

Just imagine feeling like you are always on vacation, this is what living in an RV feels like. You will have the option of deciding where to live at any given point without worrying about getting things packed or hiring a mover. With some RVs, you will feel like you're just at home because they come equipped with all amenities like dining rooms, living rooms, kitchen, bathrooms, sleeping areas, and plenty more to enjoy. Just imagine being able to take your place of residents with you whenever there is the threat of any type of natural disaster in your area.

New Rver Tips
  • It's best to get a diesel engine for rvs over 37 feet.
  • Plan your route and stops when going on long journeys.
  • If you have problems reversing, practice in an empty parking lot.
  • High Beams do not help in a fog.
  • Use a polarity tester before hooking up your rv to outside power supplies.
  • Know the level of your fuel at all times.
  • Get an aerodynamic rv to save on fuel.
  • Know the height and size of your rv to know where is safe to travel at all times.
  • Clean every aspect of your rv before and after using it.
  • Practice hitching and unhitching before leaving home.
  • Get a good size patio mat for when you're at a campground or rv resort.
  • Do not overload your rv.

Why not to buy an rv

I know that many of us dream of owning an RV at some point in our life to go on the road and enjoy many adventures. But sometimes we don't think about the negatives that come along with owning one of the vehicles. There are individuals out there that are scared of driving large vehicles or even scared of driving large vehicles. If you are that type of person, then an RV is not for you. Then there is the cost of purchasing an RV that fits all your needs and the insurance cost that comes along with it. Insurance companies tend to charge more for RVs than other vehicles as it is seen to cause more risk to the insurance company because many RVs have things like a kitchen and a bathroom. Some RVs are just simply houses on wheels. The maintenance cost can get costly depending on what your RV is fitted with. You need to keep your RV in tip-top shape as you do not want to be inconvenienced with parts not working after driving 500 miles to a campground.

If you do not live in your RV full-time then you will need somewhere to store it. Storage facilities can be expensive depending on the size RV you have. Prices usually range from $100 to $200 if you are storing it outside and anywhere from $250 to $400 to store indoors.

Common RV Terms

  • Arctic Pack: An optional kit that is used to insulate RVs for winter camping.
  • Black Water: This is the wastewater that comes out of a toilet.
  • Bunkhouse: Bunk beds are used inside of this RV instead of regular beds.
  • Cassette Toilet: This toilet has a small holding tank on outside of an RV.
  • Coupler: part of the trailer that hooks to the hitch ball.
  • Curb Weight: the weight of an automobile without occupants or baggage but includes the weight of the automotive fluids in the rv.
  • Dry Weight: manufactures' weight without any consumables, passengers, or cargo.
  • Fiver: This refers to a
  • fifth wheel travel trailer
  • Gray Water: This is the wastewater that comes out of the shower or sinks.
  • High Profile: A fifth-wheel trailer that allows for more than 6 feet of standing room inside an RV.
  • Hitch: a fastening unit that joins an RV to the vehicle that pulls it.
  • Holding Tanks: This is where all the wastewater is contained when your RV is not connected to a hookup.
  • Pop-Up: When you need extra height or expansion area in an rv.
  • Self-Contained: This is a type of RV that has all it's plumbing indoors.

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RV Model Number Meanings

RVs have model numbers and there are meanings to these numbers and letters. Say for instance you see a listing for a 2004 Forest River Wildcat WILDCAT 27RK Fifth Wheel. The lettering and numbering will be broken down as being a brand of Forest River, Model WILDKAT 27RK Fifth Wheel which means it has a floor-length of 27 feet and has an RK = Rear Kitchen.

2004 Forest River Wildcat WILDCAT rv floor plan

QB: Queen Bed

KB: King Bed

RB: Rear Bath

RK: Rear Kitchen

  • Usually towable
  • Kitchen found on opposite side of where the hitch is located

OK: Outside Kitchen

  • A small kitchen area accessible on the outside of the camper.
  • Usually includes burners, grill, refrigerator, and small drawers for storage

RL: Rear Living

  • This is an RV with the lounge or living area located in the back of the unit.

Q: Queen Somewhere

  • A queen bed is somewhere in the camper

K: King Somewhere

  • A king bed is somewhere in the camper
  • A bathroom in the rear of the RV

FL: Front Living

  • Specific to towable trailers
  • The lounge/living area is located at the front of the RV.
FK: Front Kitchen

  • Specific to towable trailers
  • Kitchen closest to the tow hitch

RE: Rear Entertainment

  • Similar, if not the same, as rear living.

SLX, XLT, Xlite: Light Weight

  • A lightweight RV that is easier to transport

WS: With Slide

  • Unit includes a single slideout

S: Single Slide

  • Only one slide on this model of RV

SS: Super Slide

  • A long slide that runs the length of the main living area of an RV

DS: Dinette Slide

  • A slide that includes a dinette

BH: Bunk House

  • Small bed area designed for children
  • Similar to a bunk bed

FB: Front Bath

  • A bathroom in the front of an RV
  • Average Rv Prices

    After reading about all these different classes of RVs, you will be thinking about what are the average costs for each type of RV. For example, most motorhomes will be more expensive than travel trailers as these motorhomes are equipped with their own engine. Also depending on the different types of amenities equipped in your RV will play a major role in the final price of said RV.

    List
    • Class A: $50,000-$100,000
    • Class B: $40,000-$150,000
    • Class C: $60,000-$150,000
    • Fifth Wheel: $15,000-$50,000
    • Travel Trailer: $10,000-$65,000
    • Pop-Up Trailer: $8,000-$20,000
    • Truck Bed Camper: $3,000-$40,000

    One thing to remember is that these prices are generally just the starting price or starting average cost for each type of RV. These prices will vary depending on the amenities included or if the client requests any type of custom job to be done on the rig. There are class a RVs on the road that cost over 2 million dollars because of all the amenities and custom work that has been done to them.

    If you can get a good deal on a used RV in good working order then that might be the route to take. However, if purchasing a used RV, I would suggest purchasing from some type of dealer as you would like to have some type of warranty. Whether it be a 1 year or even 6 months, as you won't necessarily get any type of warranty if you decide to purchase from a regular seller.

    What is RV short for?
    • Recreational Value (Community)
    • Roma Victor (Miscellaneous)
    • Race Version (Sports)
    • Relief Valve (Business Products)
    • River Valley (Regional)
    • Rendezvous (French)
    • Revised Version (News & Media)
    • Right Ventricle (Medical)
    • Reverse Video (General Computing)
    • Random Variable (Mathematics)
    • Remote Viewing (Internet)
    • Radial Velocity (Physics)

    Different

    In the military

    In this form, the abbreviation RV means rendezvous. Rendezvous just simply means a place that two or more people agree to meet on a specific date and at a specific time. You will most likely see people in the military referring to it as "Rendezvous Point".

    In Finance

    In this term, RV stands for Rateable Value. Rateable Value is defined as the value a piece of real estate that is dependent on the rent the owner would charge a renter for a year.

    In Medical Terms

    In this term, RV stands for Residual Value or Rotavirus. Residual value is the amount of air that is left in the lungs after maximum forceful expiration while Rotavirus is the cause of diarrhea in children over the winter period.

    In cars

    RV stands for recreational vehicles whenever you are referring to them in car terms.

    In texting?

    RV can mean many different things in texting. Some of which are; Royal Vegas, Rendezvous, Remote View, and Received Votes (sports ranking) among others.fre

    What is the difference between a trailer and an RV?

    The difference between a trailer and an RV is that a trailer is pulled by another vehicle while an RV has a broad range of vehicles under its umbrella. An RV is also a trailer, a pop-up trailer, camper, motorhome, and many others. So a trailer is just a type of RV.

    What's the difference between an RV and a camper?

    Whenever someone mentions an rv, they are usually talking about a motorized home or any type of trailer that can provide the amenities of a home. However, a camper is usually a trailer that is towed by a truck or any vehicle capable of towing it, or sometimes a camper can even be on the bed of a truck.

    What are the best RV memberships?

    1. Goodsam
    2. Passport America
    3. Escapees Rv Club
    4. Boondocker's Welcome
    5. Harvest Hosts

    Conclusion

    So what does rv mean? By now you should have a firm understanding of what an RV is or what the abbreviation means in different lines of work. If for some reason you have not fully grasped the meaning of what an RV is, you can contact us through the contact page and we will be more than happy to help. An RV is a fun grown-up toy for some people and a home on wheels for some. Remember to research the RV you choose to purchase before making a final decision.

About Author:

image of Kevin Pommells

Hi, I'm Kevin Pommells, a lover of camping and the great outdoors as everyone says nowadays. I'm also a passionate soccer fan and the proud owner of CamperRules.com, a website dedicated to helping campers and outdoor enthusiasts make the most of their adventures. With years of experience exploring the wilderness and a deep love for the sport of soccer, I'm always looking for new ways to combine my two passions and share my knowledge with others. Follow me for tips, tricks, and insights on all things camping and outdoor recreation.

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