Top 10 RV Safety Tips For Newbies

Why stay at the Four Seasons when you can have a blast in an RV?

There’s nothing like RVing on the open road. Sleeping in a forest. And spending 6 days in a picturesque setting where everyone can relax and soak in the vitamin D and sounds of nature. Even the squabbling teens calm down. Maybe it’s because they know, that anything could happen in the middle of nowhere…

But while RVs are far bigger than most other vehicles, that doesn’t mean they’re impervious to risk. The good news is, by being proactive and aware, you can minimize safety risks and maximize your time spent arguing about who’s turn it is to drive.

Here are 10 RV safety tips so you can enjoy the ride, keep your family safe, and create lasting memories. 

The Top 10 RV Safety Tips

1. Making a List. Checking it twice.

Embrace your inner dad and complete an RV safety check before beginning your journey and every time you get back on the road. 

Think:

• Are all the doors securely latched?
• Are extractable amenities (awnings, steps, etc) still out?
• Do you see any liquid pooling under the RV?
• Did you disconnect from water and sewer lines?
• Are the propane tank and all related safety features in working order and secured ?
• Are kitchen cooking appliances turned off?
• Do the brakes work?

 

2. Turning the Corner

You’re not Mario Andretti, and the National Forest Road you’re driving down is not a Formula 1 racecourse.

So slow your roll.

When turning an RV, not only do you need to consider your vehicle, but also the smaller ones around you that may get confused about which direction you’re turning. 

To avoid an accident, slow down, and then slow down some more. Turn on your signal to show your directional intent. Pull further forward than you would in a car (as your front tires are actually behind the driver’s seat). Now make a controlled turn without veering into the adjacent lane, which could cause accidents and road rage.

3. Give Yourself Space

When RVing, remember the tortoise and the hare: slow and steady wins the race.

If you’ve ever been stuck behind a semi-truck, you know that acceleration in a big rig is slower than in a car, and slow down begins earlier. 

The size and weight of the vehicle make it harder to get moving, and harder to slow down. This means you have less time to react to sudden changes in traffic, such as an accident, someone cutting you off, or the driver ahead of you executing an abrupt stop. 

So because an RV takes longer to stop, maintaining RV safety means you have to give yourself ample space between you and the vehicle in front of you.

But how do you know the appropriate distance to maintain? 

Try this: Find a fixed point ahead, such as a restaurant or an electric pole.  Wait for the car in front of you to pass the identified object.  Now count to 10. If you passed the object before you finished counting, you’re too close, my friend.

4. Know Thy Height

You’d think this wouldn’t need to be said, but there’s always one…so, as a reminder: An RV is taller than a car.

This means you might not fit under every bridge or similar overhangs, such as drive-thru’s, toll booths, and gas stations.

Don’t be the traffic-blocking bozo — measure your RV before you head out. Write it down. Tape it to the dashboard. Pay attention to traffic signs indicating height. And you should have smooth sailing. 

5. Protect Your Tires

Don’t get stuck with a flat tire on a desolate highway 50 miles away from the nearest town. With no cell service. 

Keep the following RV safety tips in mind to keep your wheels rolling:

• Buy a tire pressure monitor so you can proactively address potential risks before they become problems. Just like Goldilocks, you want your tire pressure to be just right — not too high, not too low — to avoid a blowout. If a tire pressure monitor is not in your RVing budget, manually check at least once a month, before driving, as warm tires could result in a false positive.
• Cover, block, and level your RV when you plan on staying put for a few days. This protects the tires from excessive, unnecessary wear and tear caused by dirt and cracks along with UV exposure. 
• Replace your tires10 years after the date of manufacture (at most), regardless of how often the tires were used during that time frame.

 

6. Safety in Numbers

This may be tough for some of you to hear, but it’s okay to ask for help.  In fact, you should ask for help.

Okay, well, maybe not when it comes to asking for directions, but certainly when it comes to maneuvering an RV into a parking spot. Sometimes it takes a village to ensure RV safety. 

If you’re RVing in a Planet Fitness parking lot for the night (getting that fancy shower in the morning, we see you), you can probably pull into a spot.

But if you’re pulling into a campground or roadside campsite, you’ll likely back into a tight spot riddled with obstacles (sticks and ruts below, branches and wires above). Do us all a favor and just ask your travel buddy or a fellow camper to guide you into the spot.

Roll down your window so you can hear cues. Tilt your mirrors so you can see the person waving frantically. And pull in safely.  

7. Take a Practice Run

RVing is not the same experience as driving your Mazda CX3 or Dodge Caravan. 

Rather, it’s more like driving a semi-truck. For instance, there’s no rearview mirror or back windshield, so your view is limited to side mirrors and what’s directly in front of you. 

So, whether embarking on your first RV trip or returning to RVing after some time, you should take the RV out for a spin before you begin your journey.

Hit up a Walmart parking lot to practice turns and stops. Run a highway test drive to practice accelerating while staying between the lines (it’s harder than you think). Drive during rush hour to avoid stress when faced with driving your big rig in heavy traffic. Practice backing in when parking so you can avoid running over your campsite’s fire pit.

8. Settle Oneself

You may think one of the benefits of RVing is having the extra space to stretch your legs, grab a snack, or go to the bathroom on a long road trip — all while the vehicle is in motion. 

Unfortunately, this is not the case. Walking around in a moving RV is a big no-no for RV safety. 

Similar to how it can be difficult to stay upright on a moving bus or train, walking around in a moving RV challenges balance. And, when combined with abrupt braking, bumps, or too-sharp turns, it can result in falling and possible injury.

To arrive alive, stay seated while the RV is in motion. Let the driver know you need to get up and move around. Wait until the driver pulls over. Now you can get up. 

9. Tie It Down 

You know that giant lump in your stomach when you’re driving home from the grocery store and step on the brakes just a bit too hard, causing your groceries to clang around the trunk? You begin to fret if the eggs broke or the apples bruised.

The same cacophony can arise when RVing, except now it’s your entire home-away-from-home crashing around. Your dishes? Forget about it — it’s paper plates for you. The chocolate for tonight’s smores? Shattered. Oh, and those dishes that broke? They broke on grandma’s head.

Save yourself the stress. 

Grab some bungee cords and secure the RV’s cabinets and refrigerator. This trick will keep your valuables and foodstuffs from flying and your family safe when you hit an unavoidable pothole. 

RVing with a kid? Take it one step further and seat them away from any items that could shift while on the road. 

10. Lock It Up

Did you know that 75% of RVs share the same lock and key system? The key, known as CH751, is used on most RV outside storage locks. It’s so popular it’s found on truck beds and garages all over the U.S., which means even people without an RV can still gain access to yours. Don’t let your stuff get stolen. Replace your locks! 

PS – Hit the Road, Jack.

Ready to head out? Not so fast. Take a second look through the 10 RV safety tips above. Are you locked down, sitting down, slowed down? 

Perfect.

It’s time to hit the road. Here’s to an exciting, freeing, safe RVing trip that you’ll remember for a lifetime. 

For a seamless RVing experience, rent from a business that considers your safety a top priority, RVnGO. Simply find the perfect RV for your family and book it all in one place using the RVnGO website — and you’re all set! It’s time to head out on your journey with peace of mind you can depend on with RVnGO’s 24/7 roadside assistance guarantee should anything go amiss.