RVs are very different beasts than regular vehicles. Although getting behind the wheel of an RV doesn’t require you getting a different kind of license, there are still some precautions you need to take under advisement before hitting the road.
RVs aren’t necessarily hard to drive; They just require a bit of knowledge, some practice, and a few tools to take with you as you set off on your adventure!
RV Weight and Braking
In a smaller vehicle, when you hit the brakes, there is an instant response. RVs, by contrast, don’t have the same ability to stop on a dime.
The main reason for the lack of responsiveness is due to RVs’ weight.
Even if you’re driving a smaller Class C RV, the average starting weight barreling down the highway is 10,000 to 12,000 pounds. And this is before the addition of your personal belongings, increasing the RV’s total weight.
Due to this, braking takes a little more time. If you’re used to following cars up close and personal, it’s time to rethink that kind of driving style.
If you’re driving an RV and follow cars too closely, an accident is just waiting to happen…
And you really don’t want to get into an accident in an RV!
So, be aware that you’ll need to leave adequate room between your RV and the cars ahead of you, giving yourself enough space to hit the brakes and slow or stop in a safe way.
Water + Waste Tanks Add Weight
An often forgotten source of weight is an RV’s water and waste tanks.
The average tank size for an 18′ Class C is 30 gallons, with the size going up to 60 gallons for larger RVs.
Having either- or both- of your fresh water or black tank full will add some serious weight to your vehicle.
Pay attention to how your RV feels pre- and post- tank dumps: You’ll be able to feel just how much those gallons of liquid really weigh you down.
Weather Considerations
It would be great to always drive our RVs in sunny, 75 degree weather, but nature has other plans.
On the road, we confront rain, snow, sleet, black ice, high winds and anything else Mother Nature decides to throw our way.
Bad weather can make driving regular vehicles difficult, and in an RV, it’s even more dangerous.
As already stated, weight can plan a role in mobility difficulties in regard to RVs and adverse weather conditions.
Why?
Imagine driving a 18,000 pound vehicle down the road, and it starts raining.
Hard.
It’s not uncommon for vehicles to hydroplane or lose control, and in an RV, fishtailing off a road in the rain is a definite possibility.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7Kfl97b57s
Slipping and sliding in snow or ice is another possibility.
Even seemingly less hazardous weather, like high winds, can cause unexpected problems for RV drivers.
The average height of an RV is between 10′ to 13.5′ tall. When high winds start battering the side of your vehicle, the entire RV can sway back and forth.
If you’re hit with high winds, keeping control and evening out your RV can be difficult- but it’s necessary.
Before taking a trip, make sure to check the weather forecast so you get an idea of what kind of environment you’ll be driving through.
Preparing yourself and your RV properly for adverse weather is the prudent way to travel.
RV Blind Spots
RVs range in size from 17′ all the way up to 40′. With all that length, you’re going to have some major blind spots.
The blind spot least concerning is the driver’s side.
This is because the driver’s side mirror typically makes that side of the RV highly visible.
However, there are many other blind spots that need to be addressed: The passenger side, and the rear.
The passenger side has a large mirror to help the driver see, however, due to the size of RVs, high visibility from the mirror alone is not always possible.
If you’re lucky enough to have a travelling companion, you can share some of the responsibility of right turns or lane changes with the person in the passenger seat.
This can help reduce anxiety and ensure you’re “clear” on that side of your RV.
The rear is another difficult blind spot to overcome.
Regardless of rear view mirror access, it’s difficult to see what’s behind you.
It’s easy to overlook small cars too low for you to see behind you, or fast cars speeding toward you then zooming past…
The height and length of your RV combined with the minimal height and speed of surrounding cars, makes the rear blind spot one of high consideration.
Not only that, but backing up for any reason can be problematic- as you often have little to no visibility.
Without help, RVers are ‘flying blind’!
A good tool to have installed is a backup camera: A helpful tool that can guide you into/out of tough spots, while maintaining visibility.
A highly rated backup camera like the LeeKooLuu can make maneuvering your RV much easier by giving up visibility in your rear view blind spots.
There are many backup cameras available on the market; Any tool that increases safety and ease of driving is an excellent investment.
RV Height + Clearance
As mentioned earlier, the average height of RVs range between 10′ and 13.5′.
This means that your RV does not have clearance to enter drive thrus (fast food, mechanical car washes, ATMs), or even some bridges!
Knowing the height of your RV before you come across something that will tear your roof off, will proof pretty handy!
(And don’t worry: The man in the video (above) survived, uninjured… a very lucky man!)
Steep Dips + Road Imperfections
Steep dips in the road, giving us “air” is normally a little fun… in a regular car. Not so much in an RV.
Large dips, pot holes, uneven pavement- these road imperfections can cause problems while driving down the road.
First, steep dips in the road can do damage to your shocks and axles- remember your “home” weighs over 10,000 pounds, so “getting air” might be fun for a split second, but you’ll feel all that weight come crashing down.
When your RV hits a steep dip or incline, the bottom pipes, tanks, and everything under the carriage can scrape, scratch, and brake.
Not only can you seriously tear up your RV, but everything inside your cabinets, drawers, and closet can come flying out!
On some of our first outings in our own RV, we weren’t as knowledgeable as we are now… On occassion we’d take a dip too quickly and “got air”, which was followed by the loud shattering of glass flying out of our kitchen cabinets.
So, be aware of the road ahead to the best of your ability: It’ll save your vehicle from unnecessary damage.
Conclusion
So… Are RVs hard to drive?
Not if you’re aware, prepared, and careful! And the more experience you have driving your RV, the more comfortable and easy it’ll become.
Just remember that RVs do drive differently than regular-sized vehicles, so some extra considerations should be taken into account before you press the pedal to the metal and ride off into the sunset!