When it comes time to unplug, flip the breaker back off, pull the surge protector from the socket, and put the surge protector and power cord away. Ensure youve got plenty of bottled water, extra food, blankets, and lots of clothing. Some popular amenities include a bathtub, an RV prepped for solar, lithium batteries, heated seating, and fold-away furniture. Before you know it, driving your motorhome or truck and trailer combination will become second nature. With a little practice, youll look like a pro pulling into your first RV park. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Be sure not to use the regular automotive kind! They were not only strong 40 mile per hour winds, but also unpredictably gusty. The CCC on a class C can be very limited, so keep that in mind as you shop. Finding parking for an enormous rig can be a pain in the neck. If you can combine a grease monkey with a computer geek, throw in a touch of information nut and organization freak, combined with a little bit of storyteller youve got a good idea of who I am. (Read this article to find out how to choose the right RV for you.) Leave way more space between yourself and vehicles in front of you than you are used to with a normal car.4. Of course, you will need to refuel from time to time throughout your journey. Gather these things and youll be well-equipped for your first RV adventure. Chances are, once you take the leap and secure your first RV rental, your only regret will be that you didnt do so sooner. Not only that, you will want to pay careful attention so you can begin braking earlier than you normally would. Believe it or not, with an automatic transmission, power brakes, and plush captains chairs, an RV can be just as easy to drive as other vehicles. This is truly making 2021 the year of the RV, whether you're an experienced RVer or a newbie. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. I've owned, used, and repaired almost every class and style of RV ever made. For this reason, you will want to adjust your mirrors right away. This will help you further narrow down your options so you know just what youre looking for when you start shopping for an RV to rent or buy. If these benefits appeal to you, a small class C or campervan might be the best pick for you. It seems like working out a deal one-on-one with a private RV owner could be a much longer, more drawn-out process. Situational awareness and lane positioning, Proper road separation (forward, sides, and rear). We mentioned before that some routes are more challenging or even impossible for RVs to use. Theyre also located right by the highway for convenience. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Yes, I want to receive promotional emails from RVshare. If youre not sure, check with your local motorhome specialist to see what steps you need to take. Most smaller RVs require a 30-amp hookup. If you already own an RV but arent using it right now, consider renting it out on Campanda. Winter driving presents its complications and can depend on which type of vehicle you drive: front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive. The most important thing to remember during your first days behind the wheel of a motorhome is to go slow and build your confidence one step at a time. After about 30 minutes, the storm passed and it was a calmer last hour to our destination. When parking, its helpful to know your rigs width, and this measurement is also important for driving. There isnt a set rule for how much wind is too much, but crosswinds cause more problems than winds that align with your vehicles direction. Motorhome driving tips for beginners - Practical Motorhome Drivers cut me off or wouldnt allow me to change lanes. Dont Gun The Engine!Many newbies think gunning the engine will help push their RV up those tough hills. You can opt out at any time via the unsubscribe link in each email. Know what route you plan on taking and stick to it. Tips for Driving an RV for the First Time - Driving an rv comes naturally for many. I'm by no means a pro when it comes to driving a motorhome, but here are a few things I've learned in the last 9 months with our 39 foot Newmar gas motorhome.1. This is easy enough if you own a motorhome of your own, but if this isnt the case, you will want to look into renting one. Here are a few tips to guide you as you prepare for driving a Class C motorhome for the first time. Class B RVs, for instance, are built into traditional truck chassis, so it feels almost exactly the same as driving a pickup truck. Dont be a fool! MLB All-Star Game 2023: NL defeats AL, highlights, more - USA TODAY You dont want to get a ticket, but more importantly, you dont want to be on roads that cant comfortably accommodate your RV. If you turn the wheel immediately when you reach the corner, you will find yourself running over curbs, road signs, pedestrians and small dogs. Related The most difficult kind of traffic for an RV driver especially a new one is what I call fast-and-busy traffic. Pay closer attention to the traffic in front of you. Remove Ads Before you drive your rig When your tanks are full enough to dump, open your black water tank valve first, allowing everything to drain from the tank. The first miles passed easily along wide, suburban boulevards with courteous drivers and a nearly deserted toll road. Generally speaking, interstates are plenty wide enough for any RV. If you plan on boondocking, the size of your holding tanks becomes very important. Fortunately, we're here for you. Having a rear camera on the RV has been priceless.3. Continue with Recommended Cookies. But in truth, emptying an RVs waste tank is just about as simple as turning on a faucet, and possibly even cleaner (especially if the faucet in question is one in a public restroom). Think about it this way: driving an RV doesnt require a special license, so how much different from regular driving can it be? As an option, some motorhomes will have rear vision cameras, giving you a clearer picture of whats happening behind you. RVs dont drive like carsthey accelerate and brake slower, and your blind spots are much larger. To do this, locate the freshwater fill label on the outside of your RV (sometimes labeled as city water or similar). A downpour of rain came after the winds. Icy roads and snow-covered shoulders add a whole new level of hazard to driving any vehicle, let alone one big enough to hold an entire house. What you need to know before driving your RV for the first time Driving a Motorhome for the first time! Underestimating the dimensions of your vehicle is one of the most common causes of accidents involving motorhomes. Check your wipers and blades to make sure theyre in working order. Attentive driving will give you as much warning time as possible. Taking it slow is the key to safety and success when driving an RV. Dont overreact. During our hour-long rest, we took stock of our trip: We were three and a half hours in and had traveled almost 150 miles. As we were being pushed around, I learned not to fight the steering wheel. (Read this article to find out how to choose the right RV for you.). When planning your adventure, keep in mind that youll be driving slower than usual. When the time comes to back up into unfamiliar surroundings be sure and be safe! Or is there hope for the first time motorhome driver? For this reason, a trip that should take 5 or 6 hours according to the GPS can easily take all day. To reverse, you pull the component up and move the stick into the "R" gear. Now that you have an idea of how to get from point A to point B, lets talk about the next step of RV operation: setting up camp. Well, not exactly. Low bridges and tunnels often have height restrictions posted, as do some roadways. You can move over one lane to let traffic in and then change back to the far-right lane, but since youre already on the highway, you have the right-of-way. You feel very wide in a motorhome, but youre probably not more than one to two feet wider than you would be in a car. This post may contain affiliate links. Tips for driving an RV for the first time - THOR Industries Police said they think it was a drive-by shooting. If you commit at least 1 hour per day for a week to learn how your new RV handles, youll be more comfortable behind the wheel and improve your RV driving skills. Our eventful drive was filled with many lessons learned, and I felt much more confident and prepared for all the driving to come. They will ensure youre safe along the way and that you always know where youre going, no matter where you may wander: Once you arrive at camp, these are the items youll want to have on hand in order to get set up and ready to enjoy your stay: One of the biggest fears people have when operating an RV for the first time is that theyll make a huge mistake and mess up the rig. Most of the time the reason RVs cant take these routes is because of size. First, you will need to get access to an RV. First time driving a motorhome? : r/GoRVing - Reddit I then made small steering corrections to get us back on course. We couldn't find an existing Roadtrippers account using that service. If you buy thru these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. By gunning the engine you put extra stress on your engine which in turn could cause a serious breakdown. But nothing could be further from the truth. They are built on van chassis, meaning they drive very much like a vanand of course, the smaller the rig is, the easier it is to maneuver. Leaving yourself lots (& lots) of time to get to your destination means you can take on any challenges calmly & slowly - and reward yourself with a breather/beautiful view after conquering each one! My other interests include cooking, living with an aging dog, and dealing with diabetic issues. Even if youre towing, keep in mind that youve got a lot of weight behind you, and if you brake too late or too hard, that weight will push your vehicle around to say nothing of the risk of jack-knifing, should the trailer skid. I will never forget that first mountain pass we drove over in our 42-foot RV. Learning to rely on my side mirrors and rear camera was a big adjustment. In addition to using an RV-specific GPS, we also recommend having a passenger close by to help with navigation. After emptying your tanks, its a good idea to put a few gallons of water down the toilet and one of the sinks, along with some tank cleaner to keep things fresh. In actuality, driving a Class A motorhome is very similar, to driving any other passenger vehicle, as everything is located in exactly the same place, with the gas pedal on the right and the brake on the left. If the pros listed below sound like something youd enjoy, go for a class A or at least a larger class C. Generally speaking, the bigger your RV is, the more storage space youre going to have. I check, double check, and then check again. 27 Essential Motorhome Tips & Tricks for Beginners But if you have a specific destination in mind, many RVshare owners offer to deliver and set up the rig at your campsite for you. Our preferred travel distance is around 250 miles and never more than 300 miles. Driving a motorhome for the first time Click Here to Login: Portal: Register: Library: Registry. After about an hour and a half on the road, traffic began to thin out as we left the Southern California metropolitan area and got out into the desert. (Camper driving Tips for newbies and beginners)I drove our motorhome for the first time- which is the first time I've. Safety should always come first. Youll be glad you did! For this reason, were using this section to explain the benefits of both smaller RVs and larger RVs. If you stay within the power band you will limit the stress on the engine, and you will climb the mountain safely. RVs don't drive like carsthey accelerate and brake slower, and your blind spots are much larger. You may think that renting through a peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace like RVshare is unreliable or complicated, or maybe youre concerned that once you spend your money, the RVs owner will leave you hanging. Marissa started driving a straight stretch on cruise control in the right lane, but many people start in a parking lot. How to Drive a Motorhome; Tips & Tricks for Beginners As soon as you hop in the drivers seat of your motorhome, check the mirrors. The average RV weighs nearly 5,200 poundswhich is more than 2 tonsthat youll need to stop safely again and again. My other interests include cooking, living with an aging dog, and dealing with diabetic issues. Cold weather decreases battery performance, and you dont want to end up stalled out or without access to heat. Have you rented a moving fan and driven it across town? What luck! The big picture-window windshield broadens your range of vision, and the high front seats place you higher than regular automobile traffic. One of our best planning tips is to use an RV trip planning app. Youll find that getting comfortable in the captains chair is also an important part of your pre-drive routine. Many of them have over 25K shares. Money-Saving Tips For Repairing vs. Cheers to your own first drive! For this reason, you will want to know the size and weight of your RV before you begin RV operation, so you know whether a route will work for you. That said, there are some smaller roads that do get quite narrow. Slowing yourself down, leaving plenty of space between yourself and other vehicles, and hanging out in the right-hand lane whenever possible will make your travel a lot less stressful and a lot safer. Making corrections for wind is similar to the steering adjustments needed when being passed by a big rig, or driving on ice or rough pavement. Finally, there is campsite size to consider. Keep it between the lines. First time driving a motorhome? If your site doesnt have a spigot, you will need to fill the freshwater tank before you park. Do not ride the brakes or you will cause excessive wear. Given the complexities of navigating a large RV on the road, consider a professional driving school. The class C RV is what many people think of when they think motorhome. This is the rig that looks a lot like a moving van. And even though the lane was wide enough for our vehicle, I had less margin for error. Driving a Motorhome for the First Time - YouTube 0:00 / 9:05 Driving a Motorhome for the First Time Average Campers 7.22K subscribers Subscribe 159 Share 9.7K views 6 years ago Driving a. Remember to adjust your speed, tap your brakes, and downshift as needed. Close the gray tank. Your RV journey will take longer than you expect. Motorhome Hire for Newbies: Getting It Right First Time - Roaming in Luxury You do not want to lay on the brakes. Driving a motorhome- final tips. Originally published on March 17th, 2021. This is the sweet spot. The important thing is that you DO IT. Additionally, you may want to request pull-through sites at first until you get some practice with backing your RV up. Lets start by listing our favorite benefits of camping in a small motorhome. I also discovered that motorhomes require more reaction time and stopping distance than a normal passenger vehicle. Driving a Motorhome For The First Time. Fortunately, were here for you. Mountain passes or low overpasses can also sneak up on you.

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