Tips for driving, parking and backing up your RV

If you’ve never driven an RV before, or you’ve recently upgraded and gotten a bigger motorhome, there are a few things you should do and understand before heading out on your first big trip.  

RVs are significantly larger and heavier than other vehicles – generally twice the weight of a car – and maneuvering them on and off the road is quite different. After you’ve made a major investment in an RV, the last thing you want is to damage it in an accident.

Here are a few tips on driving, parking, and backing up your RV, camper or trailer.

Know your RV dimensions and weight

Knowing the size and approximate weight of your RV can help you avoid getting stuck somewhere (literally!) if there’s a low clearance area, short garage, weight-restricted bridge, etc.

You’ll also want to be aware of any mirrors, vents, roof ladders or other items that stick out beyond the main frame of your vehicle that could catch on something and get damaged.

Be especially cautious when pulling into gas stations or retail parking lots in towns. Large travel stops along on the interstate and major highways are designed to handle semis and big motorhomes that need high clearance, but a small mom-and-pop shop in town may have low light fixtures, curbs, or an overhang that you may need to avoid.

Practice makes perfect

This one’s a must: Before you take your first major trip, practice driving, parking, and backing up your RV or camper in a wide-open area like a large, empty parking lot where you won’t risk hitting anything.

Get a feel for driving and turning going forward and backward, braking, and parking. Doing this will give you a much better understanding of how much you can see (or not) so you can adjust your mirrors, determine where your blind spots are, see how much longer it takes to slow down and speed up or maneuver your RV.

Go slowly and use helpful tools

If you need to back up or get into a smaller parking space, it’s often helpful to stop, get out and assess the situation first. Most recent RV models have cameras to help you back up and park, so you can use these along with your mirrors, but it’s still wise to do a preliminary check to see if there are obstacles in your way, such as tree branches or other vehicles.

However, even with cameras and mirrors, the best tool of all may be a traveling companion. Let them out, open the windows so you can hear, and have them guide you as you go.

Sometimes, even with help, the best solution may be just to find another spot!

 
Slow down and move to the right

Once you’re out on the open road, remember what you’ve learned in practice about braking and speeding up. In a car, it’s much easier to speed up, pass other vehicles and switch between lanes. In an RV, you’re going to need to slow down and, in general, stick to the right-hand lane when passing lanes are available. It’s better for everyone!

Also, RVs use a lot of gas – for example, a Class A motorhome averages between 6 -10 miles to the gallon – so going more slowly will help your mileage. Mileage will vary depending on what type of RV you have, but you’re going to have to fill up a lot more often, even if you have a dual tank.

With a bit of practice, patience, and common sense, you’ll be ready to hit the road for many safe and memorable adventures in your RV.
 

Need a secure, easily accessible space to store your RV between trips? Contact the team at Max RV in Clovis today!