Category: RV Safety

RV Safety Tips And Information That Could Save Your Life

In this article we’re going to be talking about a very important subject. And that is RV safety tips.

And we’ll cover items and procedures that can save your life.

Now I know that there’s a lot of folks that are a little hesitant to talk about safety issues.

Either it kind of bores them or they may feel a little uncomfortable talking about things that could possibly happen.

But as RV inspectors, it’s amazing how often RV safety items are not getting the attention that they deserve.

Maybe the owner is taking care of all the other items that are mechanical. Or maybe they are maintaining all of the RV appliances.

But very often they are not thinking about the safety items in the RV. And that’s really not a good thing to do.

Watch my video about the best RV safety tips

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Why Talking About RV Safety Is Important

You know, most of my articles and videos are usually about how to save money with RVing.

Or how to make your time spent RVing more enjoyable and that kind of thing.

But this article’s information is some of the most important that I can share with you.

And that’s because I’m really not going to be talking about saving money in this article. Instead, I’m going to be talking about saving lives.

So this is very, very important information to consider.

RV Safety Hazards When RVing

Now there’s several things that could become issues that can arise around an RV. And the first that could become very hazardous is fire!

I mean that could happen anywhere, almost wherever we go in an RV.

But you also have to be careful about inhaling too much LP or propane. That’s because propane is a big part of RV living for the most part.

You also need to be concerned about inhaling too much carbon monoxide as well.

Carbon monoxide is formed whenever there’s combustion of any kind of fuel.

And because there’s usually a few different kinds of fuels on an RV, there is the possibility of that being an issue.

Also there’s the whole subject of road safety. As you know going down the road, there’s the possibility of a tire blow out.

And that could cause a loss of control or you could get in an accident, things along that line.

So clearly there are hazards that we need to be aware of and that we need to prepare for.

And that’s what we’re going to talk about in this article. Ways to prepare so that we don’t get into a major issue and problem.

Or if a major incident does unfortunately develop, we know exactly how to handle it when it happens.

RV Safety Tips #1 – Smoke Detectors

Now the first thing we want to talk about is fire safety. And with fire safety, the first line of defense really is your smoke detectors.

So, along that line many wonder how many should you have?

Well for us, we have a 40-foot motorhome and I’m not comfortable with just one. We have one in the front and one in the back.

There is one important thing to note here. And that is no matter how many you have, you need to make sure that they’re not only there.

But you’ve also got to make sure they’re actually working and functioning.

To do that there’s usually a test button on it somewhere. So when you press the test button, you are making sure that the power is available for that smoke detector to actually work.

Now if it does not test as working, usually it’s just a battery or maybe a couple of batteries.

And if they need to be replaced, replace them right away!

Smoke detectors do no good if they don’t have the power to actually be able to function.

Now the other thing is, you need to make sure that smoke detectors are not out of date.

And it’s generally recognized that there’s a 10-year life span for most smoke detectors.

However, make sure that you consult the manufacturer for the ones that you have and follow their directions.

Generally speaking, in most cases it’ll be about a 10 year life span. And if they’re beyond that, don’t take the chance, just get rid of them.

Get some new ones. They’re not that expensive anyway, and once again, it’s really about saving your life.

RV Safety Tips #2 – Fire Extinguishers

Now the next line of defense on fire safety is fire extinguishers. If a fire breaks out, you want to be able to curtail it as quickly as possible.

The number one place to have a fire extinguisher is right by the entry door to the RV.

And that’s where you’ll notice almost all manufacturers put them, right by that front door. Why?

Well because that enables you to use the fire extinguisher both inside and outside. It’s quickly accessed for either place.

But now once again, if you have a bigger RV, you may consider having more than just one.

For instance, we have three fire extinguishers in our RV. There’s one by the front door and we have one in the very back closet too.

But we also have one right in the middle of the RV underneath the sink.

The point is to make sure you have a fire extinguisher that’s easily available to you.

And that you can access it within just a few steps from anywhere you may be in the RV.

But, as with smoke detectors, you need to make sure that these fire extinguishers are not out of date.

Generally speaking, most fire extinguishers are out of date after 12 years.

However, once again, make sure that you follow the manufacturer guidelines on that extinguisher. And if it needs replacing, replace it immediately! Again, lives are at stake!

RV Safety Tips #3 – Exit Windows

Now there is a third point we want to make about fire safety. And this is one that I see a lot of folks do not follow.

They may be good about smoke alarms and great about fire extinguishers. But they don’t know where their exit windows are in the RV.

You know we all generally think, if a fire happens I’ll just run out the door. But what if there’s a fire by the door?

Well that makes things a lot more difficult. So manufacturers of RVs usually place an exit window somewhere.

This is a window that is easily removed. And one where it’s big enough that you can actually get out of your RV.

For us, in our RV, we have two of them. So, you need to know where they are. How do you do that?

They’re very often actually labeled and say “exit window” on them.

Or another dead giveaway is red levers on that window. If you see red levers where you pull them to push the window out, that’s usually where your exit window is.

So know where they are! And make sure everyone who’s going to be traveling with you in your RV knows where they are as well.

Again, it could really save a life!

RV Safety Tips #4 – LP Detectors

All right, let’s move along now from fire safety to LP or propane safety.

The RV manufacturers usually put an LP detector on every single RV out there.

You’ll find them usually kind of low to the ground in the RV. The reason for that is because propane often stays low to the ground.

And since it stays in a lower area, they put it down closer to the floor. Usually it’s on a wall or maybe a cabinet.

But it’s often going to be within about a foot or two from the floor. And when you find it, once again there’s a test button.

Usually that test button allows you to make sure that the detector has power, and it’s actually able to function.

If it’s functioning, the next step is to take the screws off. There’s usually one on each side of the detector.

After taking those off, then pull the detector out and look on the back plate.

And what you’re often going to find there is the manufacture date of that detector.

Now this is important because you don’t want one that’s beyond its lifespan.

Typically LP detectors are designed only to last for about five years.

Once again, check the manufacturer guidelines for the one you have. But most are around five years.

If it is beyond its lifespan, take that one out and get another one in there right away.

Is Your LP Detector Actually Detecting LP?

Now there is one more thing to do. So far, you have made sure you’ve got a current LP detector. And you made sure that it’s got power coming into it.

But all of this still doesn’t tell you if it’s actually working . So here is what I do to test a LP detector while I’m inspecting an RV.

It’s a little trick that inspectors like to use to test LP detectors. It helps make sure that they’re actually detecting LP gas like they should.

All you need to do is use a little butane lighter which is a very common thing to purchase.

First you pull the trigger and ignite the flame. After the flame is lit, while still keeping the trigger depressed, blow out the flame.

Now because the trigger is still depressed, there’s a little bit of butane that’s coming out of the end.

All you need to do then, is put the end of the torch down by the sensor of the LP detector.

It’ll still be emitting that little bit of butane. And usually within two to three minutes the detector will pick up on it and it will sound the alarm.

If it does, then you know everything’s working the way it should. Now if it doesn’t, have it examined by a qualified RV technician or just go ahead and replace it.

You don’t want an LP detector that does not detect. So this is a little trick that RV inspectors use to make sure that LP detectors are actually working.

So there you have it for LP safety. Make sure that you’ve got a current detector. And that it has power, and that it is actually detecting LP or propane properly.

RV Safety Tips #5 – Propane Leaks

Now next on our list is that we want to check for LP leaks too. You can forestall a lot of problems if you know that a leak is starting to happen.

So look for wherever there’s some kind of connection for the propane line coming out of the tanks. For instance, maybe going into the hot water heater or the furnace.

Or wherever else you find an LP line that has a connection.

Then get some soapy water that will allow you to be able to test those connections. Or there’s also solutions that are actually sold on Amazon for that purpose.

Now you never want to test those connections with any kind of flame. But what you can do is take that soapy water and spray it on the connection.

Initially you’re going to see some bubbling take place just from the soap that’s in the water. But that’ll fade very quickly.

Then before the water in the soapy solution actually evaporates, look for bubbles.

See if you see any bubbles happening while there’s still solution on there after that initial bubble up.

If you do, there’s a leak there. And that’s something that needs to be addressed right away by a qualified RV technician.

All right, so we’ve covered LP safety. Now let’s move along to talk about carbon monoxide detectors.

Why Carbon Monoxide Is Dangerous In An RV

We mentioned before that carbon monoxide takes place whenever there’s any combustion of fuel.

Well often, especially if you have a motorhome, you’re going to have a few sources of combustion.

Number one, you have your engine. So the engine itself is combusting fuel as it’s moving down the road.

Also, you could have other kinds of things running that could produce carbon monoxide.

You could have carbon monoxide being formed by your generator when it’s running.

Or by the propane that’s being used by your hot water heater or by your furnace.

All of these are things that can create carbon monoxide. And if you aren’t careful, sometimes these items may not be working like they should.

So some carbon monoxide can begin to build up inside in the living area and could be lethal to you.

RV Safety Tips #6 – Carbon Monoxide Detectors

So you need carbon monoxide detectors or “CO detectors” to warn you.

Now in order to do that you’ve got to have enough for the size of your RV. They’re similar to smoke detectors in that respect.

You need to have enough for your RV’s size. And once again, make sure they’re not expired.

When it comes to CO detectors, it’s generally a five year life span. But again, check with the manufacturer of the one that you have and follow their guidelines.

And make sure that you test them to verify that they’re actually working. You want to be sure that they have some kind of power going to them.

And if batteries need to be replaced, go ahead and do that immediately.

With CO detectors and smoke detectors, they need to be RV approved too.

So don’t go down to Home Depot and buy ones that are used in residential homes to put in your RV.

You really need RV approved smoke detectors and CO detectors.

Now sometimes the CO detector will be combined with the LP detector.

But if it’s not in your LP detector, make sure you have a separate CO detector.

RV Safety Tips #7 – Your Tires

So far, we’ve covered a lot of RV safety topics. Now let’s shift gears a little bit to start talking about road safety.

This is an area where I often see more problems than almost anywhere else. There are many RVs on the road not being handled safely.

The first way to make sure that you’re practicing road safety is to take care of your RV tires.

You know, tires are the thing that actually is gripping the ground.

So that’s the one thing that makes your connection with the road. And if something goes wrong with that, well you can easily lose control.

So the first thing you want to know is: what should the tire pressure be for the weight of my RV? That’s number one.

And the manufacturer of your RV tires usually makes a chart for this purpose.

Then you need to make sure that you keep your tires at the correct tire pressure.

And if you have a tire pressure monitoring system, well that makes it pretty easy.

In fact, you can at a glance make sure that the proper tire pressure is in your tires.

But if you don’t have one of those, then make sure that you regularly check that tire pressure manually. And that everything is what it really should be.

RV Tire Age Is Very Important

Now you also don’t want to run on tires that have aged out. And the truth is that RV tires usually age out before they wear out.

In your car, you run your tires so often that they usually wear out before they age out. But not so on RVs.

So there’s a need for you to monitor the age of your tires. How do you do that?

Well on the tire sidewall just look for a four numeral code.

Know your RV tires date code for RV safety tips
A typical RV tire date code

It may be difficult to find sometimes. But if they’re located on the outside of the tire, that’s when it’s easy.

There are other cases when it’s on the inside of the tire because that’s just the way it was mounted.

Now after locating this four digit code, notice the first two digits of that code. This is the week that the tire was manufactured.

The second two digits is the year of its manufacture. And check to see if that year of manufacture date is more than six years old.

Why? Because most tire manufacturers recommend that you replace them at six years of use.

So make sure you know the age of your tires. That way you won’t be driving on tires that have aged out. That could be potentially a very serious safety hazard.

So monitor the age of your tires very, very closely.

RV Safety Tips #8 – Highway Speeds

Now the next point we want to make on road safety is to drive at a safe speed.

I can’t tell you how many times that we’re going down the road and we get passed like we’re standing still.

By RV’s, big RV’s, going 80 to 85 miles an hour and sometimes more. I can tell you that those tires were not made to be traveling at that kind of speed.

So it’s better to slow down a little bit. Most tires for RVs are made to travel somewhere between 60 and 65 miles per hour.

Maybe a little bit more at times, but don’t make a habit out of it.

If you run those tires at the right speed, then heat doesn’t build up excessively in the tire. And that is what often causes a blowout in many cases.

So that’s the number one reason for driving at a reasonable speed. It’ll make sure that your tires have the optimum conditions for traveling.

Keep Your Distance On The Highway

But there’s a second reason that you want to slow down and keep a normal speed. And that is because your RV weighs a lot.

So since RVs have a lot of weight behind them, what happens if you’ve got to stop them quickly?

Well the longer you have to do that, the better the likelihood you will stop safely.

I personally like to have plenty of space between us and the vehicle in front of us.

That way if anything happens, then I can stop that RV as quickly as possible. And without fear of running into something when I do.

So it’s important to make sure that you keep that space between you and the next vehicle.

By the way if you’re traveling at a little bit slower speed that kind of happens automatically. Because people just go around you and pass you and go way ahead.

And that’s great because that gives you plenty of room in case something does happen.

So for road safety make sure that you keep a safe speed. And that you keep those tires in really good condition as you’re traveling down the highway.

Why RV Safety Is So Important

Well my friends, RV safety is just not that exciting until your life is in danger.

And then it becomes very exciting! But the wrong kind of excitement at that point.

That’s the kind of excitement we can all live without, right?

We just don’t want to be in those stressful kinds of situations. And remember you can’t unring that bell when tragedy has already struck.

So the solution is prepare well beforehand. Put safety first!

And that’s the way that very often you can avoid different kinds of bad situations. Or maintain control if they do happen.

Now we don’t want to say that you’ve got to live in fear of RVs. Or worry about traveling in RVs. That’s going a little too far in the other direction.

But what we can say is this. If you practice the safety procedures that we have talked about today.

And if you keep them as part of your regular RV maintenance routine.

Then most likely that will ensure that you can safely enjoy your RVing adventures pretty much anywhere you want to go.

Have safe and happy travels my friends… until next time.

RV Inspectors – What They Do And How You Can Find Them

RV inspectors – increasingly more RVers are realizing the value of these skilled RV experts when its time to buy an RV.

But there is still a lot of confusion about them as well.

What exactly do they do? How do you find them? How much do they charge? When should you hire them?

These are all great questions that need to be answered. The good news is that I am an NRVIA certified RV inspector and I will be happy to explain what you need to know.

Watch my video about RV inspectors

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RV Inspectors – What Do They Do?

Probably the best way to think of RV inspectors is to think of them as the equivalent of a home inspector.

In other words, buyers often hire the services of a home inspector before they buy a house. And that inspector goes through the house thoroughly and provides a detailed report about its condition.

Many people these days would not even consider purchasing a home without a thorough home inspection beforehand.

Well, an RV inspector does essentially the same thing, only with RVs.

RV inspectors are like home inspectors
RV inspectors are like home inspectors

Why RV Inspections Are Complicated

One advantage that home inspectors have is that their subject doesn’t have to move. It’s only for living in as a residence.

But RV inspectors have to be knowledgeable with more than just the living area of an RV. That’s because RVs are mobile and can travel long distances.

So this means that the inspector has to also be familiar with the mobile components of this traveling home as well. Because it is actually a blend of both a house and a vehicle.

In addition to that, it can often have multiple fuel and power sources. And some appliances can run on more than just one source of power.

For instance, a typical RV refrigerator usually needs 12 volt, 120 volt and LP gas lines to function correctly.

So clearly, RV inspections require experts with specialized training and experience.

What Does An RV inspection Cover?

First of all, it’s important to note that RV inspections do not involve repairing any problems that are found.

That is not the function of the inspector. Instead, the inspector focuses on testing and examining all components of the RV. And the goal is to determine whether they are in workable and acceptable condition or not.

To do this, the RV inspector will go over the RV from the roof all the way down to the tires. The inspection will include every major system on the RV.

These include roofing, plumbing, electrical, safety equipment, waste systems, appliances, and much more. It’s really a time-consuming and comprehensive endeavor!

If a problem is found, the inspector will note it and often take a picture of the issue. Then a brief recommendation about how to address the issue is provided.

And this brings us to the RV inspection report. Because that is what communicates the inspector’s findings to the prospective buyer.

The inspection report readability is absolutely critical for the RV buyer. Because it doesn’t matter how much the RV inspector knows about RVs, if that knowledge isn’t communicated clearly.

What To Expect From An RV Inspection

In addition to a written report that is comprehensive and understandable, the inspector should be available for questions afterward.

Most RV buyers aren’t familiar with all of the components of an RV rig. So naturally, they may not understand some of the report information.

That’s why a good inspector makes themselves available to help answer questions on the part of the prospective buyer. It’s best to save this question and answer session until after the inspection is finished though.

Post-inspection phone call with an RV inspector
Post-inspection phone call with an RV inspector

That way the RV inspector can focus on the job at hand while involved in the inspection process.

But here are a couple of insights about what questions an RV inspector can’t answer:

  • Don’t expect the inspector to provide an estimate of the cost of repairs for issues found. RV inspectors are not necessarily RV repair technicians or service people. So any estimate they provide could often be inaccurate. But armed with the information in the report, an accurate repair estimate can be ascertained. Just a few phone calls to local RV repair facilities is usually all that’s needed.
  • The other question RV inspectors won’t answer is “Would you buy this RV?” Of course, that is what many prospective RV buyers want to know. But the answer to that question is irrelevant. It doesn’t matter what the inspector would decide about the buying decision. What matters is whether the prospective buyer feels the RV is still worth buying after learning its true condition. So please don’t try to shift the buying decision to the RV inspector.

Qualified RV Inspectors – How Do You Find Them?

The best way to find a truly qualified RV inspector is to visit NRVIA.org online. The NRVIA is an organization that trains and certifies RV inspectors.

Once an inspector passes their certification process, they can be recommended by the NRVIA for use by the public.

Then the NRVIA tracks the locations of their certified inspectors nationwide. Then all prospective buyers have to do is visit the organization’s website to find a local available inspector.

You can find certified RV inspectors by clicking here

To find an inspector, just click on the link at the top of the page entitled “Locate An Inspector”. On the following page, enter your location and a list of local certified inspectors will be provided.

The NRVIA map of RV inspectors

From there, just contact them and inquire about their availability for the RV inspection. Some may not be available when you inquire. So just expand your search further outward from your location to find one that is available.

In some cases, an RV inspector may not be found easily though. If that is the case, just email the NRVIA or call them at the contact information they provide on their website.

If you explain that you have done all you can to find an inspector, they often can still help further. To do this, they put out a notice to all inspectors in their network for help.

Many RV inspectors are willing to travel since they are RVers too. So they may be willing to come to your location to help out.

What Does An RV Inspection Cost?

I get a lot of questions about how much an RV inspection costs. The answer is that it depends on what the RV inspector chooses to charge for the inspection.

RV inspectors are allowed by the NRVIA to set their own fees and charges. So you may find a fairly wide disparity in what each one charges for an RV inspection.

And there can be quite a bit of difference in how labor and time intensive inspecting different types of RVs can be. For instance, a small travel trailer will not take nearly as much effort to inspect as a 40+ foot diesel pusher motorhome.

Having said all of that, let me provide some general expectations for RV inspection costs.

Larger RVs like big fifth wheels and larger motorhomes can cost on average between $600 – $1100 in most cases. Smaller RVs like travel trailers and shorter motorhomes are often less.

You may find an inspector that charges more than the range mentioned above. But you may also find someone who charges less as well.

But there is an important point to keep in mind here. And that is that whatever an RV inspector charges, within reason, will usually save you money in the long run.

That’s because an RV inspection provides a true picture of the condition of the RV you may be considering. And in many cases, the inspection will reveal issues that you would never have known about otherwise.

And very often, the issues found during an RV inspection will give the buyer bargaining power with the seller. So if a repair is found to be needed, you can either ask the seller to handle it or negotiate for a lower price.

Either way, a quality RV inspection often saves the buyer money in the overall deal.

When Should You Hire An RV Inspector?

Clearly then, hiring an RV inspector before you buy an RV is a great idea. But I don’t recommend having them inspect every RV that you may be considering.

If you do, there may be several inspections that are performed before you find the one that is worth buying. And that could get very expensive.

So you only want to hire an RV inspector on the rigs that you are really convinced could be a good candidate for purchase.

Toward that end I recommend that the buyer learns enough about RVs to be able to perform a personal inspection first. This personal inspection isn’t really technical or difficult.

But if you know what to look for, you can spot many serious issues without having an advanced knowledge of RV components.

I explain the whole process of how to perform a personal inspection before the RV inspector is hired in my new ebook. It’s entitled “How To Avoid Buying An RV Money Pit”.

Used RV buying guidebook
My used RV buying guidebook

The ebook explains how to find a quality RV, how to personally inspect the ones you like, and how to hire the RV inspector.

There’s really nothing that I know of available online that compares with the information in the ebook. And I also make myself personally available to help you with any questions you may have.

And if you aren’t sure about any part of the personal inspection process, I’ll be happy to help.

Get my ebook “How To Avoid Buying An RV Money Pit” by clicking here

Conclusion About RV Inspectors

I hope that you can now appreciate the value of having a quality inspection before your next RV purchase.

If you get a certified RV inspector to do a thorough job on the prospective RV, it can be helpful in many ways.

Fisrt of all, if there are plenty of hidden problems with the RV, the inspection may help prevent you from buying an RV money pit.

Some RVers have spent many thousands of dollars on repairing problems with uninspected RVs they bought. But a thorough RV inspection helps prevent being surprised by hidden problems after the purchase.

And if issues are found during the inspection, it gives you more bargaining power before the purchase.

Finally, when you buy an RV that has been inspected and found to be worthy of purchase, it puts your mind at ease. You can now have more confidence that the purchase you are making is a good one.

So before you buy your next RV, get it inspected by an NRVIA certified RV inspector. You’ll be glad you did!

The Top 10 RV Travel Safety And RV Road Trip Tips

Whatever type of RV you own, there is a need to practice RV travel safety. That’s because RVs usually weigh more than passenger vehicles. And that means there is more that can wrong fast when you are on the road.

And the bigger and more heavy the rig is, the more attention is needed to operate them safely.

So, with that in mind, here are my top ten tips for RV travel safety:

Watch my video about the top 10 tips for RV travel safety

Table of Contents

#1 – Carry Extra Oil And Coolant

Regardless of the type of RV that you have, it has an engine somewhere that propels it.

And that means that some kind of oil and coolant is needed for safe operation of that engine.

So if a problem develops on the road, you will be glad that you have some extra engine fluids on hand.

And if you do, it can help you get where you need to go to get help and the proper repairs.

#2 – Carry Traffic Cones For RV Travel Safety

If you have a breakdown on the side of the road, traffic cones are an essential safety item. And if you have the collapsible kind, they don’t really take up much room either.

By deploying them out in back of your rig, you are warning approaching drivers that a problem is ahead.

That means that they can begin to move over before reaching you, keeping both your rig and their vehicle safe. And of course, it makes the whole situation more safe for travelers as well.

Some prefer warning triangles instead. And that’s fine too. Just make sure that you have some kind of warning system with you for roadside breakdowns.

#3 – Tire Pressure Check

This is one of the most important safety checks you can make on your rig.

After all, your tires are what actually touches the road as you travel. And if you experience a blowout, it often is not a very good thing in an RV.

So regularly check the pressure in your RV tires and any other tires in use if you are towing.

Here is a link to an article I wrote on tire pressure safety.

It’s better to solve any tire problems before you get on the road than deal with them while traveling!

#4 – Have Roadside Assistance

These days there are some very good choices for roadside assistance for RVs.

The three companies usually used for RV travelers is AAA, Good Sam, and CoachNet.

Truthfully, any of these roadside assistance providers can do a great job for you. And you will be very glad to have them when a breakdown occurs.

So compare their features and what they cover first, and then make your choice.

The only really bad choice you can make is not having some form of roadside assistance at all.

#5 – Use A Departure Checklist For RV Travel Safety

A lot of problems happen on the road because someone forgot to do something before leaving.

And honestly, nobody can remember everything at all times. There is just too much to do to get an RV ready for travel.

So make a checklist of all of the items that you will need to accomplish while departing. And then carefully follow that departure checklist every single time before you leave.

#6 – Perform A Final Walk Around

Even if you have a reliable departure checklist, make sure to perform a final walk around anyway.

It’s amazing how something important can still be left untended even when using a checklist.

So your best defense against omitting something important is to carefully review the entire rig before you leave. If you have a towable RV, this means both the RV and the tow vehicle.

Most of the time, you won’t find a problem. But on those occasions where something was missed you will be glad you did the final walk around!

#7 – Make Good Use Of Rest Areas For RV Travel Safety

Driving an RV rig on the road can wear on you fast. There is a lot that you have to keep track of while on the road.

And it’s easy to become weary and lose your focus when you spend a lot of time behind the wheel. Especially when you don’t take a break!

So try to plan rest stops in your travel schedule to take a break and freshen up.

Maybe get out and take a walk, have a snack, and check over your rig before leaving again.

If you do, you will feel much better and be more alert while piloting your rig.

#8 – Maintain A Safe Driving Distance

We are all taught to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front while using our passenger vehicle. But that distance needs to increase even further when driving an RV.

There is usually a lot more weight and bulk in an RV as compared to a personal vehicle. So it takes much longer to bring that much weight to a stop.

And if you haven’t allowed enough room between your rig and the vehicle ahead of you, it can be trouble.

I highly recommend allowing much more room than you think necessary to be safe on the highway.

To accomplish this, I like to drive 5 – 10 MPH below the flow of traffic and well within the speed limit. By doing this, most vehicles will pass you on the left and go far ahead if they return to the right lane.

Whenever there has been a need for a sudden stop, this practice has always kept us safe on the road. Besides, RVing isn’t about hurrying and rushing around.

So drive safely!

#9 – Use Main Roads For RV Travel Safety

The larger your rig, the more important it becomes to stay on main roads. Getting off onto secondary roads can introduce all kinds of challenges.

For instance, many secondary and smaller roads have little to no paved shoulders on the road. This means that you have a much smaller margin for error when driving on them.

And traffic is much easier to negotiate on larger roads and highways too.

But you also have to consider that on smaller roads you could run into unwanted surprises as well. These could be low bridges, low-hanging limbs, or low-hanging wires.

None of these issues are usually found on main roads and highways. So it pays to keep your rig on main roads as much as you can.

#10 – Get Diesel Fuel At Truck Centers

If you have a motorhome or a tow vehicle that has a diesel engine, where you fuel up is important.

It may be tempting to pull into a regular fuel station to fill up. But if you have a larger rig, this is often not a good idea.

You may be able to get into the station, but getting out can be another thing altogether.

Instead, there are many large truck centers like Loves, Petro, T/A, etc. that are better choices.

That’s because they are usually located very close to a main highway with easy on and off ramps. And once inside, you usually have plenty of room to drive around safely without damaging your rig.

And if you use the diesel fuel discount card that I mentioned in this article, it will also save you money.

Conclusion

These 10 RV travel safety and road trip tips have worked very well for us. We use all of them on a regular basis.

And we can confidently say that these RV tips have saved us often in time, money, and much more.

So be sure to stay safe on the road with your rig by using the tips that I have shared with you!

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