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We are developing an online Manual so that you may enjoy your RV to it's fullest. This is a work in progress and is subject to change at any given time. It is also a generic peace of work and is meant only as a general guide, it should not be taken as absolute fact. Each RV is distinct and individual in it's own right, do not take anything written here literally as it may or may not apply to the exact RV you will be using. Some information provided in these pages are only suggestions. Please read Your RV page as we have more helpful information.
Driving any vehicle safely is the responsibility of the driver.
Driving a 10+ ton RV can be done with safety after you get proper education and a little experience. Physical size or stature is not important; but health, alertness, mature judgment, dexterity, driving experience and common sense are. There is a reason that professional drivers of trucks and buses are required to get appropriate initial training, licensing and continued training. That reason is to reduce the risks related to driving heavy vehicles on our highway and byways. RV'ers are not required to get any special license or any training.
Vehicle Inspection and Safety Check Lists
The following is a starting list of items that you should do before you drive the first mile, because it is the most dangerous mile you might drive. Failure of any of these items may cause loss to person or property.
Check List for equipment:
- Check Engine Oil Level
- Check Automatic Transmission Oil Level
- Check Coolant Level
- Look under the Coach for any signs of Fluids
- Thump all Tires especially Dual tires
- Check all head lights, turn signal lights, clearance lights, and lights on the Toad
- Look for anything that is not closed like bay doors
- Make sure the Bat Wing Antenna is down
- Make sure the Jacks are retracted
- Check tow bar, safety cables, and brakes on the towed vehicle
- Check disconnect of sewer lines, water lines, cable TV, Phone, and Power lines
- Remove and store any leveling devices or aids.
- Test the effectiveness of the safety braking system
- Test the effectiveness of the service brakes.
- Close roof vents.
- Lower satellite dish.
Add to this list as you RV and be religious about executing this list every time you start out in the morning.
Checklist for Person:
- Drivers health
- Drivers alertness
- Drivers attitude
- Passengers conditions and attitudes
There are times when you just should not be driving. Having the common sense, and sometimes for men the humility, to recognize warning signs of potentially deadly conditions and acting to correct them, saves lives. If there is recent consumption or drugs or alcohol, then don't get behind the wheel. If you have recently taken prescription drugs that cause drowsiness, don't drive. Many single vehicle accidents result from driver inattention or drowsiness. Passenger and driver with significant emotional upset should also not drive until the situations in corrected. Anger or rage needs to be controlled you risk causing an accident.
Two Hour Break Checklist - These are the activities you should perform while doing your stretch break every two hours. Treat yourself to this break because you will feel better when you get there and will reduce you risk of accidents. Sitting for over that period of time causes reduction in circulation especially to the lower extremities and will limit response time when you might really need your muscles to respond to an emergency. The break will also help your vision and alertness. It will also help you avoid having equipment break down on the highway.
- Thump all the tires on the vehicle and the towed vehicle
- Feel for abnormal temperatures near the wheels
- Check the tow bar or hitch, safety chains, and brakes of the towed vehicle
- Check the head, brake, turn signal, and clearance lights.
- Check the engine exhaust and intake for debris
- Look for anything loose like an antenna or a storage bay door
It is important to know your own vehicle. Make sure all the basics are indeed covered. Air filters, power steering fluid, etc. Trailer tires need to be checked for more than just tread wear. Check for proper inflation. Check lug nuts as well. And check for wear on tire casing.
CAUTION
Pay attention to oil levels, make sure engine is not over heating or you will burn the engine.
Hand Positions on the Steering Wheel
Without an air-bag, the 10-2 o'clock hand position is the most maneuverable. With an airbag, keep your hands low, at 8 & 4 o'clock. If the air bag should deploy, it will do so with such force that it will throw your hands and arms back into your face if they are resting high on the wheel. At the 8 & 4 position, your hands will be tossed back at your sides. When you turn the wheel, use a "push-pull" method, ie. one hand pulls, the other pushes. Do not use the "flat palm" method. Have your seat at least 12 inches from the steering wheel, again to minimize air bag danger.
Set your flat mirrors so that you can see the trailer in the first one inch of the mirror, with the rest of the mirror being reserved for your view backwards and to the sides.
Because the driver is on the left, the view from the left mirror is much better than the view from the right side mirror. Adjusting the mirrors properly will improve the safety of the ones traveling in the motorhome.
Check the caravan/RV Interior Before Departing
Make sure everything is closed & latched. A couple of minutes walk through can save a great deal of time and expense.
Check the hitch for wear, lubrication, etc. before you go. Safety chains on travel trailers need to be strong enough to hold the weight of the trailer -- and MUST be crossed.
Check daily oil, water, tires, turn signals. Walk all the way around, looking for disconnected utilities, open outside storage compartments, TV antennas, or awnings, etc.
Okay, now you're ready to go. It's time to take it out on the road. But even before you drive it the first time, measure it from the ground to the top of the highest point on the roof -- often the air conditioner. Then measure its width -- how wide -- outside mirror to mirror. Made a 3x5 card with these measurements on them, and take it along for quick reference. Please read our Height and Width page for more information.
Once your ready, first adjust your mirrors. Then have someone walk around your RV, and find out where your "blind spots" are -- because that's where the small car will be. When you first start driving, go first to a big empty parking lot. Put up some water jugs or boxes and experiment with how close you are to them. Practice making right turns -- see how close you can come without hitting them. Learn how to make that turn so your rear wheels easily clear the turn -- but not so widely another little car could sneak into the vacant space. Do some maximum starts. This tells you what the maximum your RV can do to merge safely. You may find you need more clear space before you attempt to merge.
Do a panic stop. Same lonely road. Do two in a row, as you need to know what your RV will do with brakes already heated up. By knowing what your RV can and cannot do, you can avoid situations which you can't handle.
Turning....High speed lane change. Try it, slowly at first, on a deserted road.Practice backing. It's an acquired skill, but it can be done. Know the turning radius -- again by practice. If you must, do it w/the two party system. Practice communicating! Use finite signs. If solo, stop & go look. Always leave enough space in front of you as front turning space. If you're backing a trailer, move your hand to the bottom of the steering wheel. If you want the back of the trailer to go left, turn the bottom of the steering wheel to the left; if you want to turn the back of the trailer to the right, turn the bottom of the steering wheel to the right.
Getting a 10+ ton rig up to speed safely takes practice. Having tested the operating condition of the parking and service brakes you can now practice your starting skills. This practice should happen on a road or street where the risks of accidents can be minimized. Look for a flat back road where you can do several maximum acceleration sequences. This will help you judge the space that is required to safely merge into traffic. Next find an incline where you can stop the rig and apply the parking brakes. Practice uphill starts both driving forward and in reverse. Proper release of the parking brake in conjunction with the gear shift, clutch if used and accelerator will allow you to start the rig safely without equipment failure.
The average driver has less than 50% of his attention span devoted to the actual process of driving. The more you can increase your attention span, the more safely you can drive. Your focal point should be down the road, not under the front of the rig. Watch far enough ahead to anticipate obstacles. Make focal point on the road far enough out so that you're not constantly making tiny steering corrections -- which are essentially unnecessary. You will find that this technique also keeps you more alert.
Stopping should also be practiced on traffic free side roads or empty parking lots. Perform maximum braking stops from various speeds so that you will be able to judge how your rig will perform when you need to stop. This may seem like it will tear up or wear out your rig, but you will be happy you did this when you really have to perform a panic braking operation. Air brakes can take getting used to, since they have an additional 1 second response time that is not present in hydraulic braking systems. The pedal on an air brake is much softer than on a hydraulic brake because it is an air valve not a push rod in a hydraulic cylinder. Practice is the only way you can be safe using air brakes. With RVs weighing 20,000 lb. and more, braking technique is very important. An exhaust brake enhances both gas and diesel engines ability to help with the braking process by turning the engine into a compressor and using that horsepower to help slow the rig. They are especially important descending long and steep grades. More on this later.
Use gears wherever possible. If speed increases 5 miles per hour in less than 5 seconds, you need next lower gear. Do so by braking gently to get you into next lower gear. Watch your cruise control when climbing -- it is advisable not to use it on steep grades.
Allow more time to brake, change lanes and enter a busy highway, since bigger vehicles take more time to accelerate and slow down.
High speed turning requires practice for safety because the geometry of a typical RV rig. In general, the mass of 10+ tons causes a momentum that makes the rig want to go straight much more so than an automobile. This 10+ tons has a much higher center of gravity and thus turning causes a lot more tipping. The suspensions of RV's are not as capable as a car and you need to practice to know how your rig handles. Practice turning maneuvers on a traffic free side road so that you will be prepared to dodge any hazard that you will encounter. And you will -- its just a matter of time. Do simulated emergency lane change turns at graduated speeds so you will know what the rig and yourself can really do when it's required. Start this practice at a speed of 20 mph and work your way up to 60 mph. It is always easier to turn a rig than it is stop it, so this practice develops an important skill. Low speed turns require practice since the longer wheelbases of RV's require you to make wider turns. Knowing where the rear axle is during these maneuvers is as crucial as knowing where the rear bumper is swinging and proper use of mirrors will assist you in doing these turns safely. Practice these maneuvers on traffic free side streets using traffic cones to simulate rocks, ditches, poles, etc.
Judging space is important for starting, stopping, and turning and requires good depth perception and practice. RV's are 9 feet tall or taller and that requires special driver's judgment and awareness to recognize low overhanging obstacles like trees and bridges.
Another space that is important to judge is following distance. This is the distance between your RV and the vehicle you are following. In good weather and on roads with good visibility, you need to have a following distance that is equal to the distance that you travel in four seconds. Pick a landmark that the vehicle you are following will pass and then count four seconds until your vehicle gets to the same spot. The higher the speed the greater the following distance must be. For bad weather, add at lease one second. For poor visibility, add at least one second. Thus if it's raining, and the roads are wet, the following distance should be the time it takes to cover 6 seconds. Judging space in a parking lot or a driveway entering a fuel station properly can significantly reduce the risk of damaging your RV.
Always "see" a forward motion path out of any parking lot, before you enter it. If you get into a situation that requires backing up, you have made a mistake. Backing up is risky under even the best conditions so try to avoid having to do it. Since RV's have relatively long wheelbases and long overhangs compared to automobiles, getting into an uneven driveway can be a real challenge. Taking the "trough" of a driveway on a 45 degree angle is the safest way to perform the maneuver. If there is not enough room to take it on an that angle, try to get the angle closest to 45 degrees. There are many driveways that you don't want to take or you will leave part of your rig on the roadway. Scraping the hitch or bottoming out your chassis can cause significant damage to rig and the driveway. Long rear overhangs on vehicles cause many problems getting into and out of fuel stations, parks, shopping centers, and parking lots. You need to learn the worst case for your rig and practice judging that situation from the driver's seat.
Account for your vehicle size when turning. The front and rear wheels will track paths much farther apart than those of a car.Judging Road Conditions and Signage
Scanning is a skill necessary to drive any vehicle. Your scanning should include all the information that will allow you to judge how fast to be traveling. Traffic signs give you good information about the road ahead. You should heed that advice. Surface traction is sometimes difficult to judge while driving. Conditions like "black ice" are hard to detect. An outside thermometer, $12 at JCWhitney, can give you a continuous temperature reading near the front bumper. One model of thermometer gives an audible and visual alarm when the temperature approaches freezing. Knowing this temperature will warn you of black ice conditions that happen at close to 32 degrees F. It is also very difficult to install and remove chains as well as coping with the temperatures that accompany snow.
Please read our Traveler Help page for more information such as weather.
Backing up should be avoided if at all possible since there are many blind spots around your RV. School Bus drivers are trained to never need to back up because of the limited visibility around the bus and kids present most of the time. School Bus drivers are required to have a guide assist them when backing up is absolutely necessary. Even in traffic, leave enough room in front of you, so you can go forward if the car in front becomes disabled. This is especially true for motorhomes with a dingy in tow. When you have to back up without assistance,
Most RV parks try to give you a left side (driver's side) backup for parking. This is because it's far easier to see where your trailer is going if you're backing up to the left. But you *always* need someone to provide guidance and direction, because you simply cannot see all that you need to whenever you're backing. If you can't see the person directing you in your mirror, the simple rule is... STOP. Wait 'til you can. If another person is not available, the driver should inspect the area behind the vehicle. By evaluating the situation before backing, drivers can avoid surprises and accidents.
Look ahead, down the road to see where you will be in 15 to 20 seconds. This is to sense potential problems. When turning, remember that you will need more head and tail room than a car does. Your rear tires track inside your front ones. Use your mirrors to look behind every 8 to10 seconds. Your convex mirror should take care of the "blind areas" along the sides of the coach, but be aware that small cars, bikes, etc. can creep up beside you.
We spend most of our time and miles on the freeway sharing the roadway with vehicles of all descriptions. Maintaining safe legal speeds is most important, and drivers training courses teach that the safest speed on a freeway is the speed of traffic. This causes a dilemma most of the time because most drivers go a little faster than the speed limit on the freeway. On two lane freeways where there are a lot of trucks, and if you choose to drive the strict speed limit, these 80,000 to 120,000 lb. behemoths will be passing you. So you have to decide for yourself if you want to run with the trucks in the right lane or drive a few miles per hour slower and continually get overtaken. Running with the traffic is the safest technique. If you have more power to weight than the trucks, you will normally move to the left lane when ascending a grade and then contend with automobiles that want to go faster.
Use rear the mirrors, so that you always know what's happening around you. This is especially important if there is traffic going slower or faster than you are. Look way down the road so that you can anticipate conditions that will happen in a few seconds. This allow you to be at the right speed or in the lane to avoid dangerous braking maneuvers.
Getting on and off the freeway so as to merge into and out of traffic causing the least amount of problem is also a challenge because of the limited acceleration of most RV's. If you are in the right lane and see ahead where a truck is attempting to merge, of course move into the next lane to the left if it's safe to do so. If not, give the merging driver a break and adjust your speed to help him get into traffic safely.
Some people do not recommend the use of "Cruise Control" at any time for several reasons. First, if you are using it because you leg or foot is stiff, then you should be taking your "tow hour" break and do more than just moving your foot and leg to relieve stiffness. Second, by using the cruise control to manage you speed, you are not paying attention to one of the most important controls of you rig, and that is highway speed. This inattention lulls you into a state of non-attentiveness that can be dangerous and increases your response time to emergency situation.
Following distance is important -- one second of following distance for each 10 feet of combined length. Double it for adverse conditions, including night or twilight driving. Thus a tow vehicle and fifth wheel with a combined length of 40 feet would need 4 seconds of following distance during favorable daylight driving conditions, and 8 seconds of following distance during adverse or night conditions.
Safest is the speed of traffic, rather than posted. If traffic is greater than posted, go with the flow. You can avoid this freeway phenomenon by driving the blue lines. Pick time of day if you must go through LAX type places. Don't drive at peak traffic times. Practice high speed lane change, as heavy RV can turn easier than you can stop them.
The art of defensive driving is developing a couple of skills to help you not get into accidents.
The first technique is to learn how to be defensively "offensive", and telegraph your intentions to other drivers. You can't be timid in today's traffic, especially near large cities and at high traffic times. Turn signals should be used with purpose to help let others know your intentions. You can also do this by being in an appropriate position within your lane before any maneuver. For example, when turning right, do not leave enough room between your vehicle and the side of the road for some aggressive automobile driver to get into. This will always prevent the squeeze in your blind spots. Driving on the freeway always look far enough ahead so that you can use all the room available to you to get your RV into the safest lane.
The second skill has to do with anticipating the worst thing or things that other drivers might do and be prepared to respond appropriately. Many drivers do not signal lane change intention because they think you might cut them off if they do, So especially in heavy traffic be ever alert to this possibility. In situations where you have three possible lanes and there are a lot of exits and the traffic is heavy, drive with the flow and in the center lane. This allows you the most flexibility when maneuvering to avoid problems.
Professional drivers are taught to use the same transmission gear to descend a grade as the one required to climb the grade. This is a good rule of thumb but road surface conditions, visibility, and other variables must be used. Proper use of an exhaust brake will save the service brakes for real emergency stops. If you must use the service brakes it is better to keep a continuous light application of the brake pedal. This is less likely to cause brake fade than to allow your vehicle to speed up and then pump your brakes to slow it down. Better yet descend in the correct gear so that you don't even have to use the service brakes. It may take a few seconds longer to get down, but at least the brake lining will be saved and you won't have white knuckle brake fade to deal with.
If your brakes do fail, look for a run off ramp designed for that event. If none is available try to scrub off speed by side swiping the mountain edge of the roadway. It is better to damage the RV than to go off a steep embankment and roll over, etc. Proper maintenance will significantly reduce this risk and you could take a few seconds in the Brake Test Area on the top of the hill to inspect and test your RV's brakes and tires. A few seconds is all it will cost.
You cannot accelerate beyond the engine capacity. Therefore, do not try to accelerate up steep inclines, but gear down for a smoother ride. We have tow options:
a) When you descend, use a gear one or two lower than the one you came up in. Below 1600 rpm, the jake brake will be of no help. Let the engine rpm rise to around 2400 then back off to 2000. When it gets back up to 2400, repeat the process.
b) Truckers rule is come down the mountain same gear, same speed as you did coming up. Try to keep from using service brakes. Modulate with transmission first . This may require downshift as you top the hill.. You can always speed up versus can't always shift down. You don't want to get service brakes hot. Hydraulic brakes -- okay too push slightly, let off. Pulse at low frequency. If air brakes, apply once, leave them depressed at a rate of speed you want to maintain. Don't pump air brakes!
We recommend not driving at all if there is serious weather facing you. Fog, snow storms and dust storms that limit visibility are perhaps the most dangerous. We all hear of the massive pileups that happen during these kinds of conditions. It is far better to get there a day later than it is to risk getting in one of those accidents. If you have to drive in heavy rain, snow, ice, or dust, slow down and keep to the right. We recommend finding a careful truck driver that is going a sane speed and follow him with a 7 second following distance, or just so you can see his tail lights. This is still dangerous and you should use all the illumination available and increase your vigilance.
RV'ers should be able to just not drive when the conditions are bad. If you do drive on slick roads, having practiced steering out of a possible spin, is a very useful skill. It is taught at race driving schools using special vehicles with outrigger wheels so that the vehicle will not roll over. If your rear end is spinning to the right then steer right. If left then steer left and be ready to correct just when the spin stops or you will just spin around the other way. This can happen if you are on very slick surfaces and you happen to lock the rear wheels braking. Some of the newer RVs have ABS antilock braking systems and you should try using them when you have a controlled situation like a very wide side street with no cars of obstacles. Stomp on the brakes and hold them down even though they pulsate the pedal under your foot. They are designed to get maximum braking without sliding the wheels.
Secondary roads are usually narrower than most freeways and require skill in judging where your wheels are and how far your mirrors extend. There are frequently ruts just off the right side of the pavement that can catch the right front wheel of your rig and cause you great problems. This is one of the most frequent causes of RV accidents. I recommend finding a lightly traveled side road that has one of those ruts and practice how to control your rig if the right front wheel happens to fall into the rut. Start at speeds less than 20 mph and work your way up and you will experience what forces that must be controlled. You should lift your foot off the accelerator and gently apply the brakes while you steer straight ahead letting the wheels stay in the rut until you are at a slower speed. Then gently turn to left and slowly get out of the rut. Over correction by jerking the steering wheel left, when the momentum of the rig wants to go straight ahead, will cause jack knifing or overturning of the rig. Traffic at right angles to secondary roads is also a potential problem. Even if there is a stop sign, rural drivers are notorious for running the sign, since there is never any traffic any way. You must keep scanning all possible traffic so that you can anticipate problems since you don't have very much room to maneuver. Beware of blind corners, since there may be a farm tractor right in the middle of the road on the other side of the corner. Drive, "see", as far down the road as possible and keep your speed down and enjoy the sights. If you can't see down the road a sufficient distance, then you must slow down. I like to be able to see at least 15 seconds down the road. Pick a place ahead and count the seconds it takes for you to reach that spot and if it isn't 15 or more, then slow down.
Keep a consistent speed. Pull over to let faster traffic pass whenever possible. When you are passing a slower vehicle, back off enough so that, when traffic permits, you can accelerate before pulling out into the passing lane.
Trucks are often restricted to the two right lanes. If you decide to drive in the middle lane, be aware that you are preventing any 18 wheeler from passing you. Again, be considerate, and use the far right hand lane if you are traveling slowly.
Plan the route accurately and schedule the arrival to avoid commuter traffic. It is possible to drive through Los Angeles from Riverside to Ventura in about one hour, but it has to be done at 3 am. It takes about 2+ hours to do that drive at 10 am or 2 PM, but it takes 4+ hours to do it at 7am or 4 PM. Since we are not on schedules, we should leave the freeways in large cities during commuter hours to the commuters. It just takes a lot less effort and causes a lot less stress on the driver and copilot if you schedule to avoid high traffic times. When you have to drive in large cities on the side streets, you need to have very good maps and do a lot of planning so as not to get lost or drive into an area that will put you at great personal risk. The GPS Navigation systems are most helpful in these times and the good ones will guide you with verbal instructions for every turn and never get you lost or on the wrong or a dead end street. Even if you happen to make a wrong turn, the good navigation systems immediately plan a new route to get you to the street address you have chosen.
Likely you'll need to change seat adjustment to accommodate the current driver. Same for mirror adjustment.
When parking parallel to a curb, be sure to allow for poles or obstructions as the front and rear portions of the motor home swing wider than an automobile. When parking on an incline, turn the front wheels into the curb in the direction of the roll to aid the parking brake. When parking, always shift the transmission to PARK ("P") and set the parking brake, if applicable.
WARNING
DO NOT PARK OR IDLE THE MOTOR HOME OVER COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS SUCH AS TALL GRASS OR DRIED LEAVES. THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED. COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS MAY CATCH FIRE FROM THE HOT EXHAUST GASES, SOOT OR SPARKS THAT COULD ESCAPE THROUGH CORROSION HOLES OR CRACKS.
If operating, parking or idling your vehicle off-road is unavoidable, as is often the case in recreational use:
Be aware that combustible materials could catch fire from the vehicle's hot exhaust system.
Avoid driving your vehicle through or over combustible materials such as leaves, grass, vegetation or stubble high enough to touch, catch or collect on its hot exhaust system.
Parking or idling should be done only in an area where there are no combustible materials under the vehicle.
Getting a rig situated in tight campgrounds is one of the biggest challenges we face because everyone is watching. Tight turns and mud holes are typical especially in some of the smaller campgrounds. Maneuvering the RV should be practiced in a large empty parking lot using traffic cones or small cardboard boxes to simulate roads and camp sites. Once you have mastered using the mirrors to judge where the wheels are on the parking lot, then you are prepared to try in actual campgrounds.
It is always preferable to park during the daylight but there will be a time when you have to do it at night. A remote control flood light helps, docking lights help, strong backup lights help, and a copilot on channel 13 of a hand held CB helps if you have practiced giving and receiving verbal directions. Go "that" way doesn't help much if you can't see the finger pointing where that way is. Go right is also a confusing direction unless both or you know which way is right.
- NEVER tailgate. Stay at least 2 seconds or more behind the vehicle ahead and, if driving an RV, make it at least 4 seconds. That extra time will allow you greater stopping distance in the event of an emergency.
- If you're following a truck (or RV), keep his rear-view mirror in sight. If you can't see it, he can't see you.
- Don't stay along side of a truck. Each side has blind spots, so move away from him.
- After passing a truck and before pulling in ahead of it, be sure you can see it in your rear-view mirror (the flat mirror -- not the convex mirror!).
- NEVER pass on the right. He might begin to turn, pinning you between him and the curb.
- ALWAYS watch closely for his turn signal whenever you're near a truck or RV.
Truck Category. Each state has a different category for “truck”. If you are towing a car/dinghy, you will often be considered a truck, and must abide by the truck posted speed limit.
Hooking Up and Disconnecting a Towed Vehicle
Connecting and disconnecting the vehicle in tow is very important to do correctly. There are many accidents caused by inattention to detail that can wind up with a loose towed vehicle or serious accident. Learn how the hitches, tow bars, etc whatever you are using really works and the correct way to connect and disconnect them. Keep your head about yourself when you are doing this so that you are not injured on a towed vehicle that was not properly braked or blocked.
Please read our Towing a Vehicle page for more information.
Anticipating and Handling Emergency Medical, Vehicle, and Accident Situations
Emergency situations just happen to us sometimes. Being ready and practiced will help you minimize the bad things that just happen. Contact your local Red Cross and take First Aid and CPR training. Get a local fireman to train you on the proper use of a fire extinguisher. Have a real good First Aid Kit in the rig where you can get at it quickly. Check your propane system frequently with a pressure test so that you won't encounter that fire cause. Keep the rig free of debris and combustible material. Install an additional Fire Extinguisher in the bedroom, in the towed vehicle, and one accessible from the outside of the rig. Periodically check the charge status of each extinguisher and replace or recharge as required. Periodically test your smoke detector and replace the battery once per year. First of all, don't panic! When you come upon an, accident and there are two of you, one should manage the accident scene and the other should contact Emergency Services using a Cell Phone, the CB, or driving to a pay phone. The one managing the scene should know the most about first aid and go through the steps you have been trained to perform. Use all the resources available, like other motorists to manage traffic. Be calm and do all you can safely to minimize the damage and injury.
Please read our Safety & RVs page for more information.
- Do a personal attitude checkup. Don't drive if you have a bad attitude -- or if your copilot has same. Worst accidents when you're preoccupied, angry, etc.
- Daily checklist: oil, coolant, hydrolic fluid. Tire pressure. Look for leaking. De-park -- pick up jack pads, jacks up, TV antenna, doors. Lights, turn signals, etc. Start engine, walk around look and listen w/engine running. Parking brake (in gear w/some pressure). Shouldn't move an inch. Test electric brakes on trailer by manually applying brake. Power steering -- crank wheel over each way and listen for unusual noise
- Take a break at the end of each two hours' of driving. Find a rest stop and walk around. Engine still running, so do a walkaround. Sense heat and note smells.
- Safe & Legal.-- No state is giving citations for persons w/wrong license. Know your own RV's weight. Engineers are forced to rate things at their top capacity. So really you need to build in your own safety rating by going only to 90% of rating. Salesman will often sell you an RV which is at the ragged limit of weight capacity. Problem is not acceleration, but rather stopping or maneuvering under unusual circumstances.
NOTE: This online manual is a work in progress and is subject to change at any given time. It is also a generic peace of work and is meant only as a general guide. Each Caravan/RV is distinct and individual in it's own right, do not take anything written here literally as it may or may not apply to the exact Caravan/RV you will be using.