Featured RV Manufacturer: The General Coach, The Phantom

Jon's RV Driving Tips

On the Road

Driving an RV is much like driving a large car. You have power steering, power brakes and good mirrors to make your driving comfortable and safe. Most RV's also have surprisingly good visibility for the driver, although there is always a blind spot directly behind you.

By being constantly aware of your surroundings, the vehicles alongside and behind you in particular, you will have no problem with maneuvering in traffic.
Give yourself plenty of time for lane-changes, and use your signals. Do not dally once you decide to make a lane change, and do not slow down to merge. It is vitally important to match your speed as closely as possible to the traffic around you.
RV's are long, large and heavy, and will require more stopping distance and maneuvering clearances than you might imagine.

As a caravan we will always be nearly the slowest vehicles on the road. We will pull over into slow lanes whenever they are available (and there is traffic behind us wanting to pass.) When three or more vehicles are stacked up behind our caravan clearly wishing to pass, we will begin looking for a pull-out to allow them to do so. It will be partly the responsibility of the vehicle in the rear to keep the lead vehicle notified by radio when this is necessary. Likewise, the lead vehicle will make other vehicles aware of upcoming pull-outs or stops. We will nearly always travel in the far right lane on multi-lane roads (required by law for slower-moving vehicles).

Your vehicle is much wider and longer than even the biggest cars, and while you may begin to feel like you can park or maneuver it anywhere, watch out!

Take corners (sharp corners, like at intersections or into and out of parking lots) a little wider. Pull out straight, then turn, a little later than you would in a normal length car.
Keeping an eye on the road ahead, watch in your side view mirror on the inside of turns while you are making them at first. You'll soon have an instinct for how far you must pull out (probably after running the rear wheel up on a curb once… hopefully not after clipping a gate post!)
Check side and rearview mirrors every thirty seconds (no kidding), and be constantly aware of the cars around you, what they are doing, and whether they are keeping with you, passing or falling back.
Keep a distance of at least one vehicle length per 10 mph of speed between you and the vehicle in front of you. (24 ft. RV @ 50 mph = 120 ft.) My Grandfather used to tailgate sometimes and as a joke would say "look at this idiot driving so close in front of me… !" Let those idiots stay well out in front of you so you can stop for them in time.
Be prepared to be passed by large trucks (semis, lorries) going in both directions. They will rock your vehicle with their "wake", but it should not be necessary to correct your vehicle's direction by steering. When you see them coming you should have both hands on the wheel and hold it firmly, steady and straight ahead.
If there is a strong cross wind in the area you are traveling, you will notice "wind shadows" when you go under overpasses or past trucks that block the wind. Remember to try to maintain the wheels in a straight line, even while the RV yaws or rocks back and forth. If you over-correct, you may lose control.
Rely upon your passengers only to the extent you feel comfortable. They may tell you when it is safe to turn, pull out, merge, etc., but remember, YOU are responsible for the vehicle and everyone's safety. If they give you bad advice, it is only your fault for taking it!
When merging into traffic or changing lanes it is essential to match the speed of that traffic as closely as possible. This makes it possible to enter the traffic lane into a smaller opening, and is far safer than expecting the traffic to slow down or speed up for you. More often than not, it will be necessary to accelerate to merge or change lanes. Always use your turn signals (indicators) well in advance, but not too long in advance, either. And remember to turn them off.
There are a lot of animals crossing roadways in Oregon, especially in the morning and evening. If you find one in your path, do NOT swerve to miss it… hold your steering wheel rock-steady and use your brake. Better that the animal should die than you're your passengers or other motorists. When a large RV begins to swerve it can be deadly, and nearly impossible to bring back into control.