RV Glossary
Browse RV and towing terms
Browse RV and towing terms with practical definitions and related concepts used throughout our towing-capacity pages.
B
Black Water Capacity
Black water capacity is the amount of toilet waste an RV can hold in the black tank before dumping is required. It is an important factor for extended travel and camping convenience.
C
CCC
CCC, or Cargo Carrying Capacity, is the maximum amount of cargo, gear, fluids, and optional equipment an RV can safely carry. It is a key number for understanding real-world usability and payload limits.
Curb Weight
Curb weight is the weight of a vehicle with standard equipment and fuel but without passengers or cargo. It is often used when evaluating tow vehicle and payload calculations.
D
Dry Weight
Dry weight is the weight of an RV without cargo, fluids, propane, or passengers. It is often used as a starting point when estimating towing requirements.
F
Fresh Water Capacity
Fresh water capacity is the total amount of clean water an RV can store in its freshwater tank. It affects how long you can camp without needing to refill.
G
Gray Water Capacity
Gray water capacity is the amount of sink and shower wastewater an RV can store before it must be emptied. Larger gray tanks support longer stays between dump visits.
P
Payload Capacity
Payload capacity is the maximum combined weight of cargo, passengers, fluids, and gear that a vehicle or RV can safely carry. It is an important figure for both tow vehicles and RVs.
U
UVW
UVW, or Unloaded Vehicle Weight, is the factory weight of an RV before cargo, water, propane, or personal gear is added. It helps buyers estimate towing and carrying requirements.
W
Wheelbase
Wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear axles on a vehicle. A longer wheelbase can contribute to improved ride quality and towing stability.