Safe RV Driving Tips.
- January 18, 2017
- RV World Showroom Tips
Safe RV Driving Tips.
Driving a Class A motor-home can be intimidating. But it’s a skill that can be easily learned — with a little practice. A Special Thank you to www.RVWorldShowroom.comDriving a large RV requires more turning radius. A sharp turn and you could find your rear tires up on the curb , so simply pull out farther into the intersection before starting the turn. The RV may not stop as quickly and you will need more following distance. Defensive driving in an RV requires making changes slowly, braking gradually, and being familiar with its handling characteristics. Prior to driving check your mirrors & open all side window blinds, check rear view cam "if equipped" .
When making turns, the back wheels don’t follow directly in the path of the front ones; they take a shortcut. With long vehicles, like RVs, the difference can be meaningful. If turns are not negotiated properly the back tires clip curbs and the middle section of the RV can swing into objects. To prevent this, identify the objects you want to avoid hitting (curbs, street signs, cars, puppy dogs) and drive straight until your hips are past them. Only then crank the wheel in the direction you want to turn. As you turn, keep an eye on the side mirrors to make sure you’re middle and back wheels don’t hit anything. If it gets close, straighten the wheel out some and continue past the obstructions. In some cases, when turns are especially tight, you may need to swing a little in the opposite direction first to give the RV a wider turning radius. Go slow and use your turning signals to let everyone else on the road know what you’re doing.
Most RVs require greater braking distances. You must allow more time for the vehicle to slow or stop. If you are towing a Car you must also worry about brake fade. Brake fade can happen when the brakes are overheated from prolonged use or the brakes are out of alignment. To help avoid brake fade on downgrades, Use the lower gears to allow the engine to help slow the vehicle.
RVs are big and are naturally slower than passenger vehicles. It takes longer to climb a hill in an RV because it's heavier than a passenger vehicle. Keep this in mind, practice good manners. Use the right lane let the others pass.
Balance your weight in the RV, Be sure to equally distribute your gear to both sides of the RV. It's best to empty all water tanks prior to driving, while not required it will save you $$ on gas.
When you begin to driving on small streets, one-way roads, tree-lined avenues, and parking lots, the size of your RV becomes apparent. Parking your RV is easiest if you have someone directing you in, if you are alone, do a walk-around before backing in. If you can find a pull through parking spot because you completely avoid backing up. Avoid Backing up if at all possible.