We sent out thousands of renters over the years and we spent more time talking about how to drive the RV than anything else. There are 5 key factors to consider when you compare driving an RV to driving a car. Individually each of these factors is easy to understand, but when they are combined with one another they create special circumstances that you will need to be aware of and prepared for.
RV Driving Factors
- Height: Most RV’s are over 10 feet tall (11.5 feet with the roof air conditioner)
- Width: Including the mirrors is 8 feet
- Length: 25-40 feet
- Weight: Average over 12,000 pounds
- Visibility: What can you see and not see
Height
Height is the first thing most first time RV drives notice. REMEMBER the roof air conditioner makes the RV about 1 foot taller than the roof. The key problem areas for height are:
- Gas station canopies
- Fast food drive through windows. (Don’t even try it! Park the RV and walk in)
- Bridges
- Tree Limbs
The height also affects the RV’s aerodynamics, which can play a significant role in fuel economy and driving control in high wind conditions. RV’s are considered HIGH PROFILE vehicles – take precautions when wind advisories are issued.
Width
The width of the RV is something you need to consider constantly whenever the RV is moving. Your RV will be 2-4 feet wider than your car depending on how far the mirrors stick out. The average traffic lane is approximately 10-13 feet wide, so keeping the RV between the lines on the highway is harder than driving a car. The key problem areas for width usually are:
- Toll booths (Highway, parking lots, etc.)
- Congested parking lots (your front end clears another vehicle easily in the turn, BUT the back end doesn’t.)
- Gas station island barriers (your front end clears the barrier easily in the turn, BUT the back end doesn’t)
Length
Length is usually only an issue when you turn, and there are two key factors to consider, the turning radius and the rear end overhand/swing out. The length of the RV generally has a direct relationship to the length of the wheelbase.
- The longer the wheelbase, the wider the turning radius.
- The wider the turning radius, the more room you need to make a turn.
PLAN AHEAD and THINK AHEAD
RV’s are designed with an overhang behind the rear wheels. Not understanding and thoughtfully consider the overhang is the number one cause of damage to the RV and other property.
The rear-end overhang is a unique feature of RVs. You won’t see it on city buses, semi-trailers, or moving vans. Their rear wheels are very close to the end of the vehicle – just like your car.
- Your RV rear overhang is usually 6-7 feet. This means that the rear of the RV will swing out 6-7 feet beyond the rear wheels when you turn. (Think of it as a long tail – that will damage anything in its path)
- The wheelbase length also affects the RV in sharp turns. Because of the length of the wheelbase, the rest of the RV follows a tighter pattern than the front. You’ll need to think ahead and plan a wider approach to allow for the needed extra room.
Weight
Your RV can easily weigh 2-3 times more than your car, this will dramatically affect the way the vehicle accelerates and stops.
The RV will take much longer to accelerate than a car
You must plan for slow acceleration when you are entering onto a freeway, or attempting to pass another vehicle.
Stopping the RV
The RV’s greater weight creates much more forward momentum and inertia than your car; this requires more effort from the braking system and creates tremendous heat. Hot brakes are not a desirable condition.
To brake safely follow these suggestions:
- Allow 4-5 times more distance for stopping than you would in your car.
- Increase the space between you and the vehicle in front of you by at least 4-5 times more than you would when driving a car.
- Always brake early
- When traveling down steep grades, be cautious NOT to OVERHEAT the BRAKES. Shift to a lower gear to use the engine to slow the vehicle. This is called compression braking. (Please be careful NOT to shift the RV into a gear that will create excessive RPM on the engine.)
- When dealing with extreme downhill driving conditions for extended periods, consider pulling over to allow the brakes to cool. Make sure you ONLY pull over to a safe location.
Visibility
How you see to drive your RV is very different than your car. You will have to get used to several key differences.
- It is easier to see straight ahead.
- It is much hard see behind you, and you will have to use the externally mounted rear view mirror on the windshield either will not be there or will not do you good.
- You will need to adjust mirrors and practice using them before you depart
- The side mirrors are you only way to see behind you to change lanes or turn.
Backing UP an RV
Use a Spotter. How many times did we see damage from backing up an RV and the reason was always “I didn’t use a spotter.” It doesn’t matter how experienced you are (or think you are) you do not have eyes in the back of your head! Do not rely on the back up camera either – it too has blind spots. You have the LEAST visibility when you back up the RV, THERE WILL BE BLIND SPOTS even if you use the mirrors, and you WILL NOT be able to see object directly behind you.
Now for Driving Safety-
All of the things we have talked about so far are mechanical but is more. But how about you and how you manipulate your RV?
PLEASE REMEMBER you are moving down the road probably 2 to 3 times the weight of what everyone else is in their typical car or truck. Most auto’s weigh between 3000 and 4000 pounds. With your RV (whether it is a trailer you are towing or a motor home) you probably weigh in total somewhere between 7,000 and 24,000 pounds. So if you don’t think that requires a different way of driving; you are WRONG.
Everything moves slower and seemingly no one on the road with you understands. It will take you longer to stop and longer to get up to cruising speed. All of your maneuvers will be slower than in your personal vehicle. We always recommended a top speed of 65 and we stressed it! So many renters, when it was explained to them why, thanked us in the long run for encouraging them to put safety first.
