Driving an RV

Road trips are a favorite American pastime, and taking long trips in the comfort of a recreational vehicle makes them even more enjoyable. Becoming familiar with driving such a long vehicle may take some effort. It is crucial to learn valuable safety tips while you are mastering your motorhome or hauling a travel trailer.

Depending on where you live and how big your motorhome is, you might need special certification before you can hit the road. Check with your state officials to learn the unique RV driver’s license requirements. Even if your state doesn’t require you to become certified for a recreational vehicle, you might benefit from taking a hands-on training course.

The size of these vehicles can be intimidating to most Americans who are used to driving passenger cars. Practicing driving in a controlled setting is a great way to learn the basics of driving an RV while keeping yourself and others on the road safe.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

An RV’s long body can make it difficult to change lanes or spot drivers following too closely. It is important to keep track of vehicles behind, in front and to the sides of your motorhome.

This can be made much easier by utilizing extended mirrors, windows and even cameras on some models. Always be cautious when changing lanes as blind spots are much larger in an RV.

Practice Braking

The size of a recreation vehicle makes stopping much different than a passenger vehicle. If you are towing a travel trailer, it will have a brake system that is wired into your towing vehicle’s brakes.

It is dangerous to ride the brakes when towing, as it allows unsafe levels of heat to affect braking performance. Conserve the amount of braking you do by decelerating before exiting an off-ramp and keeping a safe driving distance from vehicles in front of you.

Check Your Tires

Due to the weights RV tires must support, it is crucial to keep them in peak condition. The Department of Motor Vehicles recommends checking your RV’s tire pressure at least once a week.

Properly inflated tires make driving a recreational vehicle much easier and safer.