#4: How to Drive (or Tow) an RV
Driving an RV for the first time can seem scary. When we test drove our first RV, a 45′ Class A motorhome at an RV show, we were sweating! But we got comfortable in the driver’s seat pretty quickly.
Our best suggestion is to find a big, empty parking lot, and practice driving there. Practice tight turns to see how much room you need and watch how the rear (aka the overhang) of your RV swings out. Practice backing up, especially if you’re towing a trailer or a fifth wheel.
In short, get used to the way your RV moves and the space you require.
You can make this fun, too. Set up some cones or upturned buckets in a “slalom” pattern, and see how close you can get to them without actually hitting them or running them over with your rig.
By the time you’ve spent a couple of hours practicing, with no danger of damaging your rig or other vehicles, you’ll feel ready for the road. When you do drive, non-crowded highways are easiest. You won’t have tight turns, narrow roads, or traffic lights to worry about.
Even if you’re an experienced RVer—but especially if you’re first starting—we recommend using a pre-departure checklist before you travel. When you arrive, follow it in reverse order to set up camp. It’s the best way to make sure you don’t forget something important, like retracting the awning, latching drawers or unplugging your power cord from the pedestal, before you head down the road.
We don’t use this gadget anymore since our current rig is small (we have a Class B camper van), but when we first started in our Class A RV, an RV-specific GPS unit was indispensable. You can also use software like RV Trip Wizard to plan your route in advance.
Bottom line, make sure you don’t attempt any road that can’t handle your RV’s dimensions. There’s nothing worse than approaching a bridge or low overhang and not being sure if it will clear your roof (and air conditioner!).
