Glossary

AC (alternating current) Power is the same power type used in your home (110 to 120 volts of 60 cycle/hertz alternating current).  AC power for an RV is also referred to as Shore Power - a term also used in a Marine environment.  In your RV, several items are powered exclusively from AC Power.  Such as:

• Air Conditioner
• Ceiling Fan
• Fireplace
• Microwave Oven
• Refrigerator
• Television
• Vacuum Cleaner
• Washer/Dryer

A 12 volt DC (direct current) battery is required for all coaches.  Heartland supplies a battery with some coaches while the dealer supplies the battery for other coaches.

12 volt DC power us used in your coach for such things as lights, furnace fan, refrigerator control, vent fans, water pump, brakes etc.

When you are connected to shore power, the power converter in the coach supplies power to the 12 volts items in the coach and it charges your battery.

Black water is a term that describes the waste water/contents of the commode/toilet system.  Black water should always be very carefully conveyed into a legitimate septic or sewage system.

Condensation is a result of warm moisture-laden air contacting cold window glass.  Keeping a roof vent open helps to reduce the humidity levels.  Using the roof vent fan when showering or the stove vent fan when cooking also helps prevent excess moisture buildup.

All Heartland coaches contain a Power Converter.  The converter converts 110 volts AC power into 12 volts DC power.  The DC power is routed to the DC fuse panel and supplies power to DC items such as lights, furnace fan, refrigerator control, vent fans, water pump, brakes etc.

The converter also charges your coach batteries.

DC (direct current) Power is the same power type used in your car or truck, as produced by your alternator and stored in your vehicle's battery.  In your RV, there are two sources of DC power.  The Power Converter in your RV converts AC or Shore Power into 12 Volts DC power.  This DC power is used to charge your RV battery and to power DC items in your RV.  There are many items powered from DC Power in your RV.  Such as:

• Brakes
• Furnace fan
• Lights
• Refrigerator control
• Vent fans
• Water pump

The Door-Side (DS) of an RV typically describes the opposite side of the RV that has the primary entry door.  On most RVs, this would be on the road side or in the context of your tow vehicle, the driver side.

Most RVs come standard with Single Pane windows.  Single Pane windows have a single sheet of framed glass.  An upgrade on many RVs are Dual Pane windows.  Dual Pane windows have 2 sheets of glass with a dead air-space between them.  This dead air space slows the transfer of air temperature between the inside and outside of the RV.  It also provides more effective acoustical barrier to the outside.

RVers that RV in extremely hot or cold climates will usually want to have Dual Pane windows for an extra measure of climate comfort.  And many RVers enjoy the the ability to attenuate a noisy camping environment by closing their Dual Pane windows.

Most Heartland coaches are equipped with two emergency exits.  They are both large windows.  The emergency exit windows have a special easy open RED handle that allows you to open then push out the window for a fast exit.  Typically, the emergency exit windows will be in the bedroom and in the rear cap.  It is important that you try each of these windows to ensure you know how and are capable of operating them in emergency mode.

Like Gelcoat, a Filon exterior uses glass fibers for strength and resins for the final finish.  Unlike Gelcoat, Filon, upon close inspection will have visible fibers in the finish.  Filon is considered to be an upgraded exterior from aluminum.

Full-Profile is typically used to describe a certain style (taller in height) 5th wheel RV.  A 5th wheel such as the Heartland Big Country or Bighorn are Full-Profile products.  This, compared to the Heartland Sundance which is shorter in height and is a Mid-Profile product.

Like Filon, a Gelcoat exterior uses glass fibers for strength and resins for the final finish.  Unlike Filon, Gelcoat is very smooth and will have little to no visible fibers in the finish.  Gelcoat is considered to be a premium exterior and an upgrade from Filon.

Gray water is a term that describes the waste water/contents of the sink, shower and laundry systems.  Gray water should always be very carefully conveyed into a legitimate septic or sewage system.

Truly the most value packed RV's available in the market today.

In the context of a 5th Wheel RV, this is the same as Pin Weight.

The amount of your RV

An inverter is an electronic device that inverts DC power from a battery bank into AC power.  This allows you to power AC items (eg. TV, Coffee Maker, Microwave etc.) in your RV without being using a Generator or being hooked up to Shore Power.

A cabinet that is typically fixed to the floor in the kitchen of an RV.  The cabinet is typically 18

Most RVs are equipped with jacks of various types.  On travel trailers, there will be a front jack on the A-frame.  Also on travel trailers may be front and rear stabilizer jacks. 5th wheel RVs will always have front jacks (legs) and in most cases, rear stabilizer jacks.

The King Pin is the pin under a 5th wheel pin box, on the RV.  This pin slides into and is captured by the 5th wheel hitch in your tow vehicle.

Describes a process in which Heartland builds some of our floor, wall and roof systems.  The process is generally described as follows: A sandwich (layers) of structural frame members, wood sheathing, insulation, moisture barriers and exterior coverings.  These layers are adhesive-bonded (glued) under pressure (pinch-rolled) and/or heated and/or air-evacuated (vacuum-bonded) to form a floor, wall or roof system that has high structual integrity and performs well thermally.

Liquified Petroleum Gas (LP-G), known as Propane is used in your RV as a fuel source.  LP Gas is stored in metal cylinder tanks in outside accessible compartments.  Items in the RV that use LP Gas as a fuel source may include:

• Furnace
• Refrigerator
• Stove
• Oven
• Water Heater
• Generator
  

Mid-Profile is typically used to describe a certain style (shorter in height) 5th wheel RV.  A 5th wheel such as the Heartland Sundance is a Mid-Profile product.  This, compared to the Heartland Big Country or Bighorn which are taller and are full profile products.

Manufacturer

The Net Carrying Capacity (NCC) of an RV is the maximum weight of fuel, water, propane, supplies and passengers that can be added to an RV without exceeding the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).

The Off-Door-Side (ODS) of an RV typically describes the side of the RV that has the primary entry door.  On most RVs, this would be on the curb side or in the context of your tow vehicle, the passenger side.

Cross-linked polyethylene, commonly abbreviated PEX or XLPE, is a form of polyethylene with cross-links. It is formed into tubing.  In an RV application, it is used primarily for hot and cold potable water distribution within the RV.

In the context of a 5th Wheel RV, this is the same as Hitch Weight.

The amount of your RV

Rig is slang to describe an RV or the combination of an RV and its tow vehicle.

RV is an acronym for Recreational Vehicle.

RVDA is an acronym for the Recreational Vehicle Dealer Association. RVDA represents the interests of U.S. RV retailers through education, member services, industry leadership and marketing.

RVIA is an acronym for the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association. The national trade association represents more than 550 manufacturers and component suppliers producing approximately 98 percent of all RVs manufactured in the U.S.

A set of chains that are attached to the A-frame of a

AC power (electricity) that is provided to the RV by an external source other than the RV battery (eg. a campground power pedestal, an outdoor outlet at your home etc.).

See Door Side (DS)

Television.  A display device used to present or display moving images in color with sound form sources such as ground-based over-the-air broadcast television networks, satellite-based television networks and storage devices such as VCRs (video cassette recorders), DVDs (digital versatile discs), DVRs (digital video recorders) etc.

Tow Vehicle.  A vehicle, usually a truck with it

Tongue Weight (TW) isthe amount of weight borne by a

Universal Docking Center (UDC).  A centralized, enclosed area that is recessed into the off-door-side sidewall that contains most of the hookups used for RVing as well as the holding tank dump valve handles.

The area under the floor of the RV and above the axles.  In Heartland products, this area is enclosed, insulated and heated.

Unloaded Vehicle Weight (UVW) or Dry Weight is the weight of the RV without the weight of fuel, water, propane, supplies and passengers.  The UVW also not include any dealer-added options, accessories or supplies.

An anti-siphon device that prevents the backflow of contaminated water into the water supply system.  In an RV water system, these may be installed or built-into items such as the commode, the shower, the black tank flusher etc.

The upper portion of the soil stack above the topmost fixture through which gases and odors escape.  In an RV, Vent Stacks are used for the holding tanks as well.

A Weight Distributing Hitch (WDH) (also be referred to as an "equalizing" hitch) will tyically utilize spring bars between the hitch and the trailer