Many people think if they know how to drive a car, they know everything the need to handle a motorhome. Whether you buy or rent, there is much you should know in addition to basic car information.
1. Save Your Brakes Unlike a car, stopping an RV requires a lot of friction in the breaks. This is particularly true with sudden stops. While your brake pads are built for the extra weight, take care to down shift to slow your speed.
2. Getting the RV You Need Before you make the decision to buy an RV, give some serious thought to what you need. Dont make an impulse decision. Figure out how you will use it, how many people will be involved and then purchase.
3. RV Drivers License For years, advocates have proposed the idea of requiring special drivers licenses for people driving RVs. As of January 2007, no such requirement exists nor is any legislation pending.
4. RV Travel Trailers RV Travel Trailers are essentially a motorhome without the engine. They have all the amenities of an RV, but are towed behind your truck. Prices range from $6,000 to $80,000 depending on what you want.
5. Spare Tire Problems Every RV should have a mounted spare tire. Check it before you go on trips. If it is exposed to the sun, it can over inflate and crack as it heats up and cools off.
6. Fast Lane RVing First off, going 80 in an RV is very risky. Stay out of the fast lane. Even if you can handle it, you stick out like a thumb, which means tickets from your friendly highway patrol.
7. The RV Lane The best lane to pick on a freeway is typically the one next to the slow lane. Use this lane and you can avoid dealing with people coming on and off the freeway.
8. RV Internet Shopping Before you ever go to a dealer, you should go RV internet shopping. Look at the various models and prices to figure out what you like and can afford without suffering under the pressure of a salesman.
9. Class A Motorhome Prices Class A motorhomes are the top of the market luxury vehicles. That being said, you are going to pay for the luxury. Minimum prices start around $100,000 and go up to whatever you can spend.
10. RVs in Big Cities In general, you should avoid trying to drive in big cities, particularly in congested areas such as downtown. Use your common sense. Do you really think a 30 footer is going to do well?
The world is full of nice, paved roads. For a person with a RV, this makes it your oyster. Get out there and eat to your hearts content!
