RV Driving Tips – How to be Prepared for Any Driving Condition

RV Driving Tips are helpful because RV driving requires extra attention behind the wheel. They are big and burdensome boats on wheels that can often be a chore for even the most experienced drivers around. RV’s can come in many different shapes and sizes and each one demands an alert and skillful operator to insure the safety of passengers and passerby’s alike. As with any vehicle, different driving conditions necessitate different driving methods to tackle anything mother nature can throw out on those long highway miles. Here are some tricks and tips to safely control your RV and keep things cruising in any season and any condition.

The Basics

The first thing to note with any large vehicle is that it’s big. Obviously. It takes extra time, effort, and control to speed up, slow down, turn left or right and maneuver in general. This seems apparent but many a novice RV captain has slammed on the brakes or taken a turn too fast only to have unsecured items go flying though the interior, or worse. Safety should be your main concern. Leave at least 3 car lengths, even 3 RV lengths, between your rig and the vehicle in front of you in case you need to maneuver out of a sticky situation or come to an abrupt stop. Don’t accelerate when taking sharp turns, instead ease the rig around corners. Down shift when descending steep inclines or mountain passes and try not to ride the brakes. Not only will this keep you and others inside safe, it will prolong the life of your RV and make common maintenance issues (brakes, transmissions, tires) last a bit longer and save you some cash. Learn how to use your side mirrors, determine blind spots, and place spot mirrors where needed.

Night Driving

Night driving can be a demanding condition that every driver will experience when the sun goes down. Things change at dusk on the highways. Visibility is limited both in how far you can see in front of you and peripheral aspects as well. Make sure you have adequate headlights that are both fully operational and pointed exactly how you like them to light up the road. There are several different headlight options and it comes down to personal preference but check out this post to help you pick out the headlights that are best for you. It also comes recommended to drop your overall speed at least a bit at night. Reaction time will be shortened if any animal, object, or otherwise pops in front of you while driving at night and a decreased speed will allow you to maneuver more safely. A 5 MPH decrease in speed can increase your ability to stop, turn, and handle the rig and it’s always better to be safe than sorry in the dark.

Rain

Driving in the rain can be fun and mystical but it can also mean slick roads, foggy conditions, and poor visibility. Make sure you have windshield wipers that are fully operational and in good condition. Change your wipers at least once a year. Every 6 months or so is even better if you are in a hot and dry climate where the rubber can wear out quickly. Trico makes some great wipers that should fit most RVs. Another easy trick that goes a long way to seeing clearly even in heavy rain is using RainX products on your RV’s windshield. RainX works wonders at repelling water off glass and you’ll be surprised and how well their spray or wipe-on glass cleaning and water wicking formula works to help you see clearly when it’s pouring outside. If the rainy conditions turn to fog, turn on your headlights (you should in any rainstorm anyways) and reduce speed. Foggy conditions can be some of the worst visibility conditions and you never know what hazard might be just up ahead. Your defroster can also be your friend in rainy conditions and a little trick to quickly de-fogging a windshield is to turn on the A/C as well. This will eliminate excess moisture and get the steaming window clear quick.

Snow

Snow storms and RVs don’t really mix. It’s more than possible to drive your rig through a blizzard but if you can avoid that situation, please do. Winter driving conditions can be downright unsafe and if you are in a mountainous region with lots of up and down over passes, things can become treacherous in a heartbeat. If you do plan on taking your RV out in the winter, first things first is to get adequate tires. You don’t necessarily need snow-specific tires but if you can get a set with excellent tread it will help immensely. Also keep snow chains on-board and practice putting them on before you attempt a snowy drive. Chains can be tricky and it’s best to have a little experience with how they fit on your rig. When driving in the snow, keep extra distance between yourself and the vehicle up ahead. Never slam on the brakes as that will lead to a slide or jackknife if you’re towing. Instead, pump the brakes to ease the deceleration process and use your transmission (stay in a low gear) when going downhill. Take it easy and play it safe when those snowflakes are falling.

Related Read: RV Winter Driving Tips

Wind

A high profile vehicle such as an RV can be dramatically affected by the wind when driving. A larger surface area gives a gust a stronger chance at pushing you into the next lane, or even tipping the RV in a worst case scenario. If it’s a really dangerous wind storm or tornado warning, try to pull over under an underpass or bridge to escape violent gusts. If the wind is strong and steady but navigable, be sure to keep two hands on the wheel and maintain an easy, comfortable speed. You might have to steer into the wind a bit to keep things on track. This sounds intense but once you get the hang of it, you’ll feel like you’re in a ship out at sea.