RV Driving Tips – How to Avoid an RV Accident?

RV Driving Tips

Getting to your favorite camping destination is only half the fun – especially when you’re driving a motorhome. 

What’s important, however, is the journey. More specifically, you need to be as safe as possible so that your trip doesn’t come to an unfortunate stop. 

Not only that, but you are also responsible for the safety of hundreds of other smaller motorists around you who might not be used to maneuvering around such an imposing vehicle. 

Tips to Avoid an RV Accident

With a great responsibility on your shoulders, here are some tips that might take the pressure off. 

Tip 1: Understand Tail Swing

If you don’t already know, the tail swing is the distance that the body of the coach behind the pivot point moves in the opposite direction of the front when you make a turn. As you can imagine, reckless tail swings can wreak havoc on the road. 

Here is how you can measure your tail swing: 

  • Park your RV parallel to a long striping in an empty parking lot. Your back tire should align perfectly with the lines. 
  • Have a friend stand near the tire with a measuring tape. 
  • Turn in the direction away from the tire that you aligned with the line. For example, if your back left tire is positioned near the line, then turn right. 
  • Your friend will then measure how much the body swings out of the line. 

Different RVs will have different tail swings, ranging from 15 to 30-plus inches. When you turn on the highway, you have to account for your tail swing, so other vehicles don’t crash into you.

Tip 2: Signal Prematurely

When you’re operating a behemoth such as an RV, it’s good practice to be courteous to the other motorists, so you don’t unnerve them.

The most polite thing you can do on the road is signal as early as possible. If you know you have a turn coming up, flick that turn signal immediately. This will give plenty of time to the others to maneuver around you. 

So, start indicating your turn even if you don’t have to turn for a while yet. 

Tip 3: Keep to the Right

It’s good to stay out of people’s way as much as you can.

If you drive smack-dab in the middle of the road, you’ll likely be slowing other people down. While you are entitled to the whole street, remember: you want to be as courteous as possible.

Even if you don’t care much about being chivalrous, driving in the middle or far left of the road can be dangerous.

In contrast, keeping to the far right means that you’re closer to the shoulder should you need to stop. Moreover, you’ll be able to make the most of your driver’s side mirror when you’re on the extreme right.

Tip 4: Know When to Apply Brakes

Even small-vehicle motorists severely underestimate their braking time and stopping distance. As an RVer, you’ll be trying to slow down 7,000-plus pounds of metal bulk- it’s not an easy feat. 

There are four phases of braking: 

  • Perception time
  • Reaction time
  • Brake lag
  • Stopping distance

The scary part is, you only have control over the first one: perception time. The rest are just a combination of external factors and your RV’s mechanical conditions. 

Therefore, you need to stay super alert and minimize the time it takes you to contemplate; you need to apply the brake. 

Tip 5: Keep Your Distance

Since you have very little control over your reaction time when it comes to braking, it’s always good practice to maintain a good distance. 

Exactly how much distance should you keep? At least 400 feet. This translates to at least four seconds’ worth of space between you and the vehicle in front of you. 

And remember: never, ever tailgate!

Tip 6: Never Drive When Tired

No matter how far behind the itinerary you are, never compromise on sleep to make up for the lost time. It may very well be the last thing you do.

When you’re operating such a large motorhome, you need to be much more alert and vigilant. Think about the braking distance; your perception time is the first and most decisive factor in determining whether you apply those brakes on time or not.

Well, if you’re tired, it’s going to take you much longer to realize that you need to slam down the brakes.

So, if your eyelids are feeling heavy, pull over at the nearest truck stop and get a good shut-eye. 

Tip 7: Keep Up the Maintenance

A driver is only as good as his vehicle. If your RV is not ready to cooperate with you, good driving skills alone can only get you so far. 

Always keep your RV in tip-top shape, especially before making a long trip:  

  • Run the generator
  • Service the brakes
  • Re-lubricate slideouts
  • Check your seals
  • Lubricate metals
  • Test safety equipment

Tip 8: Never Drive in Bad Weather

When you’re operating a smaller vehicle, you could get away with driving in bad weather. But when it comes to an RV, you’ll be doing everyone— including yourself— a huge favor by pulling over and waiting out till it settles —  even if it means camping out for a while. 

Stay on top of the weather by regularly using weather apps. Drizzles and fierce winds should be okay. But the moment the air starts getting foggy and the road starts getting slippery, pull over immediately!

Tip 9: Mirrors Are Your Best Friends

It can be difficult to keep an eye on what’s going on behind you when you’re operating such a large vehicle. Sideview mirrors offer better visual access compared to rearview mirrors. Therefore, you should never compromise on the quality and maintenance of your mirrors. 

Another way you can have better rear visuals is by installing a backup camera. You can find one on Amazon with prices ranging from $39 to $500+. 

Conclusion 

With a massive motorhome such as an RV comes even greater responsibility. 

Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned RVer, it’s important to remember that driving an RV is not as easy as driving a car. Additionally, you need to be mindful of everyone else on the road. 

As long as you stick to these tips, you should be good to go!

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