Driving a Class A Motorhome

If you’re new to the RV lifestyle, you probably haven’t had much experience maneuvering a large vehicle like a motorhome. For some new owners, the thought of actually driving their motorhome can be intimidating, and while it shouldn’t be scary, it should definitely be taken seriously. If you’re going to spend some time behind the wheel, learn how to drive correctly using these guidelines!  

Braking 

The size and weight of RVs change the physics of braking. To account for this, RV manufacturers equip most Class A motorhomes with air brakes as opposed to the type of hydraulic brakes that are found in passenger cars. Both of these elements change the dynamic of braking.

One of the main differences between hydraulic brakes and air brakes is the way they apply force to the brake rotor or drum. Hydraulic brakes apply an amount of force that correlates to the pressure you apply to the pedal with your foot. 

Air brakes apply an even amount of pressure to the brakes, regardless of how hard you push the pedal. This pressure builds the longer you hold the pedal down. The result of this is that you can’t count on being able to break as quickly as you would in a normal car. 

Follow Distance 

The decrease in braking responsiveness means you’ll need to increase your following distance in order to keep enough space to keep from hitting the car in front of you. The basic formula for determining the following distance in a passenger vehicle is to add one second between yourself and the car in front of you for every ten miles per hour of speed at which you’re traveling. 

At 30 mph, you’ll need to give yourself three seconds between yourself and the next car. With a Class A motorhome, however, you’ll need to double that. At 50 mph, you’ll need ten seconds of following distance, not five. Keep in mind that all of this is only true if the roads are in perfect condition. If you’re dealing with rain or other types of precipitation, you’ll want to add even more distance. 

Turning 

Because a Class A motorhome is so long and wide, you’ll have to account for a much larger turning radius. While in your daily drive, you might feel comfortable gunning it to make a gap in traffic or take a turn at a yellow light, these aren’t good ideas when it comes to motorhomes. 

With some turns, you might need to swing into the lane of oncoming traffic in order to successfully clear the corner. This is especially true when you have obstacles on the inside of the turning radius. You don’t want to hop a curb or scrape up against a tree because you took the corner too narrowly. It’s best to take corners wider than you think you’ll need and use your mirrors to make sure you don’t run up on anything. 

Parking & Reversing 

Parking and reversing are essential skills in a motorhome that take some time to master. Try going to an empty parking lot to practice. You can use the parking space lines to guide yourself and you won’t have to worry about damaging your RV if you make a mistake. With both of these tasks, you’ll need to learn how to rely on your mirrors. If your motorhome didn’t come with a backup monitor, it’s worth investing in one so you can always be confident when you reverse. 

Stop by our location in Nacogdoches, Texas, to view our inventory of new and used Class A motorhomes for sale. Motorhomes of Texas is also proud to serve our customers in the cities of Lufkin and Henderson, Texas.