| SAFETY
CHAINS |
| |
A
set of chains that are attached to both the trailer A-Frame and the tow
vehicle while towing. Safety chains are intended to keep the trailer attached
to the tow vehicle in the event of a hitch failure, preventing the trailer
from completely separating from the tow vehicle.
French: Chaîne de sécurité
|
| SAIL
SWITCH |
| |
Micro switch with an arm that extends into the blower air stream which closes when the blower reaches approximately 75% of its rated speed.
|
| SCREEN
ROOM |
| |
Term
for screen enclosure that attaches to the exterior of an RV for a bug-free,
outside sitting area. Some screen rooms have a canvas roof for rain protection
as well.
|
| SELF-CONTAINED |
| |
An
RV that needs no external electrical, drain or water hookup. Thus, it
can be parked anywhere overnight. Of course, self-contained units can
also hook up to facilities when at campgrounds.
French: Caravane autonome
|
| SEPTIC
TANK |
| |
The
black water holding tank.
French: Réservoir d'eau noire
|
| SHORE
POWER |
| |
Electricity
provided by an external plug to an external power source.
French: Prise d'alimentation aux quais
|
| SHANK |
| |
Same
as Hitch bar.
French: Barre d'attelage
|
| SLABS |
| |
The
Slabs is a nickname for Slab City, an old military base in the desert
along the Salton Sea in Southern California. Camping is free, and thousands
of RVers visit Slab City every winter.
|
| SLIDE-IN |
| |
A
term for a type of camper that mounts on a truck bed. Often, this type
of camper slides into the truck bed.
French: Campeuse sur camionnette
|
| SLIDE-OUT |
| |
Additional
living space that slides out, either by hydraulics, electricity or manually,
when the RV is set up for camping.
French: Rallonge escamotable
|
| SLIDER
HITCH |
| |
A
sliding hitch used on short bed pickup trucks to enable them to tow fifth
wheel trailers, allowing them sufficient clearence to make turns without
having the trailer hit the cab on the truck.
|
| SNOWBIRD |
| |
An
RVer who follows the sun south during the winter months.
French: Hirondelle d'hiver
|
| SOCKET |
| |
Wiring
connector used on the car end of a trailer wiring connection. The plug
is the end used on the trailer.
|
| SPRING
BAR |
| |
The part of a weight distributing hitch which does the lifting. A lever bar typically is made of spring steel.
|
| STABILIZING
JACK |
| |
A
set of two or four are used to stabilize the RV once it is level.
French: Vérin stabilisateur
|
| STINGER |
| |
Same
as Hitch bar.
French: Barre d'attelage
|
| SURGE
BRAKES |
| |
A
hydraulically-operated braking system used on some lightweight trailers.
Pressure against the hitchball activates the brake system, eliminating
the need for electrical brake controls.
French: Système de freinage à inertie
|
| SUV |
| |
Sport Utility Vehicle.
French: Véhicule utilitaire sport
|
| SWAY |
| |
Fishtailing
action of the trailer caused by external forces that set the trailer’s
mass into a lateral motion. The trailer’s wheels serve as the axis
or pivot point.
French: Lacet
|
| SWAY
BAR |
| |
A
device connected from the A-frame of the trailer to the hitchball platform
of the tow vehicle in order to reduce sway.
French: Barre stabilisatrice
|
| SWAY
CONTROL |
| |
Device
designed to damp the swaying action of a trailer, either through a friction
system or a cam action system that slows and absorbs the pivotal articulating
action between tow vehicle and trailer.
|
