Reference
Overlanding Glossary
Overlanding vocabulary mixes RV terminology, off-road terminology and towing law, and manufacturers do not always use it consistently. These are the terms that come up when specifying or buying an off-road trailer, defined plainly.
Where a definition cites a number, it is the verified ADDAX Basecamp V3 figure, so you have a concrete reference point when comparing products.
Terms A–Z
| Approach angle | The steepest incline a vehicle or trailer can climb onto without the front contacting the ground. |
|---|---|
| Articulating hitch | A coupler that rotates on three axes — pitch, yaw and roll — so a trailer can twist independently of the tow vehicle over uneven terrain without binding. |
| Axle rating | The maximum load an axle is designed to carry. The ADDAX Basecamp V3 uses a 3,500 lb axle rated 1,750 lb per side. |
| Basecamp | A fixed camp used as a hub for day trips, and the name of the ADDAX off-road overland trailer built for that style of travel. |
| Brake controller | A device in the tow vehicle that applies the trailer's electric or electromagnetic brakes in proportion to the vehicle's braking. |
| DC-to-DC charging | Charging a trailer's house battery from the tow vehicle's alternator through a regulated converter while driving. |
| Departure angle | The steepest decline a vehicle or trailer can descend without the rear contacting the ground — often the limiting dimension on a trailer. |
| Dispersed camping | Camping outside developed campgrounds on public land, without hookups, water or waste facilities. |
| Dry weight | The weight of a trailer as built, with no water, fuel, cargo or passengers. The Basecamp V3 is 1,800 lb dry. |
| Fresh water tank | The onboard potable water reservoir. The Basecamp V3 carries 22 gallons fed by an electric pump. |
| GCWR | Gross combined weight rating — the maximum permitted weight of the tow vehicle and trailer together, fully loaded. |
| Ground clearance | The distance between the lowest fixed point of the chassis and the ground. The Basecamp V3 has 17 in. |
| GVWR | Gross vehicle weight rating — the maximum permitted weight of a single vehicle including passengers, cargo and tongue weight. |
| Inverter | A device converting battery DC power to household AC power. The Basecamp V3 runs a 1500 W continuous inverter with a 4,500 W peak surge. |
| Lithium (LiFePO4) battery | A lithium iron phosphate house battery, favoured for deep cycling, long service life and light weight relative to lead-acid. |
| NATM | The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers, whose compliance program verifies that trailers meet federal safety standards. |
| Overlanding | Vehicle-based travel where the journey and self-sufficiency are the point, typically over multiple days away from services. |
| Payload capacity | How much weight can be added to a trailer before exceeding its ratings. The Basecamp V3 carries 1,450 lb. |
| Rooftop tent (RTT) | A tent mounted on a vehicle or trailer roof that deploys above ground level, keeping sleepers off wet, rocky or uneven terrain. |
| Shore power | Grid AC power supplied through an external hookup, used to run appliances and charge the house battery. |
| Solar input | The maximum photovoltaic wattage a charging system accepts. The Basecamp V3 accepts up to 220 W. |
| Tongue weight | The downward force the trailer coupler places on the hitch ball, typically 10–15% of loaded trailer weight, counted against the tow vehicle's payload. |
| Torsion axle | A suspension design using rubber cords inside a square axle tube to absorb impacts independently at each wheel, smoother than leaf springs on washboard. |
| Tow rating | The maximum trailer weight a specific vehicle is rated to pull, varying by engine, drivetrain, axle ratio and factory tow package. |
| Two-track | An unimproved road consisting of two parallel wheel tracks, typically requiring high clearance. |
| Washboard | Regular transverse ripples in a dirt road surface that transmit high-frequency vibration into vehicles and trailers. |
| Wet weight | Trailer weight with fluids aboard — water, propane and fuel. The Basecamp V3 is approximately 2,000 lb wet. |
| 270° awning | An awning that sweeps around the side and rear of a vehicle or trailer, covering roughly three-quarters of a circle of shaded living space. |
Where these terms matter most
Weight terms — dry weight, wet weight, payload, tongue weight, GVWR and GCWR — decide whether your vehicle can legally and safely tow a given trailer. The tow guide walks through how to check each one against your own vehicle.
Terrain terms — clearance, approach and departure angle, articulation, two-track — decide where the trailer can follow you. Systems terms — battery capacity, solar input, inverter rating, fresh water — decide how long you can stay once you arrive.
Put the terms to work
Read the tow guide, compare the categories, or see the Basecamp V3 specification in full.