It can be scary to consider driving an RV for the first time. RVs and motorhomes are much larger than the vehicles most of us drive every day, and getting used to the larger size can feel intimidating.
This article will share the best RV driving tips for beginners. You’ll learn important aspects of RV driving, plus some tips for easing into and planning your first trip.
It’s true that RV driving is fundamentally different from driving a car, because RVs are bigger and heavier and handle differently. But with some research and careful planning, you can feel confident the first time you drive an RV!
Practice in a Spacious Parking Lot
One of the best things you can do to get comfortable driving a much bigger vehicle than you’re used to is to practice! Hearken back to the days when you were first learning to drive and take some practice laps around the lot before heading out on the road in your rig.
Why It Matters
Your RV handles much differently from your car. It’s longer, taller, and heavier. You’ll want to drive to get a feel for your vehicle. Learn how to slow down and how wide your turns are going to be. Practice braking to see whether it takes much longer than in your car.
Also, just like driving any vehicle you’re unfamiliar with, the controls on the dashboard may be in different spots, or may not be what you’re used to. You’ll want some time to get familiar with all of the indicators for vehicle speed, gas, engine temperature, and everything else. You’ll even need to practice changing the radio, heat, and air conditioner so you’re not fumbling while you’re on the freeway.
How to Do It
If you’re renting an RV from RVshare, your first step in RV driving should be to have the owner walk you through the rig you’re renting. Along with explaining how to set up everything for camping, they should show you how to actually drive the RV and walk you through the controls. If you’re purchasing an RV instead, the seller or dealership representative should demonstrate these things.
Next, find an empty lot. On the weekends, a large school parking lot can be a good option if no extra-curricular activities are going on. During weekdays, a large church parking lot can often provide a good practice space.
Practice driving straight, turning, and backing up. Get used to the length of your vehicle and know how much rear overhang you have. Practice using your backup camera and other instruments. Even practice changing radio stations and turning the air or heat on and off.
Once you’ve practiced in the parking lot, take your RV for a careful drive around neighboring streets, working your way up to busier roads and freeways.
Pro Insight
RV Geeks recommends bringing some orange traffic cones to set up in the parking lot. You can use them to practice turning as you drive.
Understand Your RV’s Size & Tail Swing
Part of practicing your RV driving in a parking lot and slowly through neighborhood streets is to get a feel for its size and tail swing.
Why It Matters
The tail swing of your RV is the amount the rear of the vehicle swings out in the opposite direction when you turn. That swing depends on your overhang – the distance from the rear wheels of your RV to the back bumper. The longer the overhang, the bigger the tail swing will be. Many Class C and smaller Class A motorhomes have a tail swing of 2 to 4 feet, but larger Class A motorhomes can have a swing of 5 feet or more.
All of this means that if you make a left turn, the back right corner of your RV will swing outward. If you make a right turn, the back left corner swings out. Not being conscious of your tail swing means you could clip a pole, another car, or even a pedestrian.
How to Do It
Write down the height, width, and length of your RV in case you need it for tunnels, bridges, or other obstacles on your trip. Then, practice turning and note the tail swing on the back of the vehicle.
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Make sure you always check your mirrors and surroundings when you turn. Leave extra clearance on the outside of turns to account for the tail swing.
Plan Your Route – Don’t Trust Your GPS
It’s a good idea to have a physical map and to have your route planned out ahead of time. Use your GPS as a supplement to your planning instead of as your only source of information.
Why It Matters
Depending on where you’ll be RV driving, your GPS may have trouble connecting. You don’t want to be lost if it stops directing you at some point along the way! And even though GPS technology has come a long way, it does still sometimes make mistakes. When you have a route planned out ahead of time, you’ll know whether to question when your GPS takes you down a strange-looking road or heads in an unfamiliar direction.
Planning your route also means you can avoid any low bridges or roads that don’t allow larger RVs if necessary. Finally, you can plan stops along the way and decide where you’ll stop to camp each night as well.
How to Do It
As you plan your trip, look up your route using an RV-friendly GPS app like RV LIFE Trip Wizard or Good Sam Travel. These apps can help you find roads that are suitable for RVs, plan fuel stops, and discover campgrounds. They’re more likely to warn you of low clearances, switchbacks, and weight restrictions than regular GPS apps.
After you’ve consulted an RV-friendly app, check it against a paper map to make sure you know where you’re going. Download any directions or maps from your app ahead of time, and bring the physical map in case you don’t have cell service where you’re driving.
Pro Insight
Have a Plan B for your overnight stops each night. You could be slowed down by weather, traffic, or a mechanical mishap, so you’ll want to have options if you don’t make it to your destination. Check out our list of where to find free overnight parking, and consider apps like Harvest Hosts or RV Overnights to help you find places.
Drive Slowly — Control Is Everything
One big way to make sure you stay safe is to drive slower than you would in a smaller vehicle. You’ll want to plan on driving fewer miles each day and taking longer for your whole trip to be done.
Why It Matters
An RV is heavier, taller, and longer than a car or SUV, which means it takes longer to stop. As we discussed earlier, it also behaves differently when going around turns. When you go too fast, it’s harder to brake or turn safely in an RV. When you go slower, you have more time to react to slower traffic or changing road conditions.
How to Do It
In order to make sure you’re driving slower, you can have your own speed cap. Pick a speed limit, and make sure you don’t drive faster than that in your RV. You can also set your cruise control in flatter areas, so you’re going a slower speed than you would in a smaller vehicle.
Pay attention to when you’ll be stopping at red lights, in traffic jams, or when you’ll need to slow down while going downhill. Instead of slamming on your brakes, begin gently braking earlier and reducing your speed as you approach these slowdowns. Be cautious and go slow when making turns and using highway on and off ramps as well.
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Listen to your tires. If you can hear them, feel extra sway, or sense a vibration at higher speeds, that’s a sign to slow down.
Maintain Safe Distance
Along with driving more slowly, keeping a safe distance from vehicles ahead of you is one of the most important RV beginner tips!
Why It Matters
Keeping a safe distance means you’ll have plenty of time to slow down, brake completely, or change lanes if you need to during a drive. Thanks to your RV’s weight and size, slowing down requires more time. Maintaining a safe distance ensures you have the time you need to make adjustments.
How to Do It
Leave 5-7 seconds between the car ahead of you and your own RV. Pick a fixed point on your drive, like a speed limit sign. After the car in front of you passes that point, count how many seconds go by before you pass that same point. If it’s not at least 5 seconds or longer, slow down to allow more room.
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Many RVers who leave extra room and take things slow also end up less stressed and fatigued at the end of each day. A little extra caution can help you mentally as well as prevent physical problems!
Choose the Right Lane
When you’re first-time RV driving (and actually RV driving anytime), stay in the right lane on large roads and freeways. In fact, in many states, it’s the law.
Why It Matters
If you’re following the above two tips – taking things slowly and keeping plenty of distance between you and the car ahead of you, you’ll likely be slowing down the vehicles behind you that might want more speed. The right lane is the lane for slower vehicles, and cars that pass can do so in the left lanes.
Staying in the right lane also means you don’t need to try to merge with other vehicles in faster lanes on the freeway. And you won’t have to try and figure out how to get across several lanes of traffic to exit the freeway, either.
How to Do It
When you pull onto the freeway, you’ll be in the right lane. Instead of merging to the left, just hang out in the slow lane for your drive. Only move to the left if you need to pass a slower vehicle, then return to the right lane.
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Follow a semi truck at a safe distance and just hang out behind it. Semis will (hopefully!) be going a slower speed that you can follow. They can also act as a shield against impatient cars that zigzag all over the freeway to get ahead, and that might zip in front of you.
Know Your Weight & Cargo Capacity
Your RV has limits on how much it can carry and tow. You’ll want to know what those limits are and make sure you don’t go over them while you’re on the road.
Why It Matters
Going over the weight limit for your vehicle can be downright dangerous. It can strain the tires, brakes, engine, and transmission. In the worst-case scenario, you could have a blowout or cause an accident.
How to Do It
Many people don’t realize how quickly their food, clothing, camping gear, paddleboards, passengers, and everything else going into the vehicle can add up.
Look up the weight numbers for your vehicle. There should be weight stickers inside a cabinet or near the driver’s seat. You’ll want to know the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), which is the maximum total weight your RV can carry, including passengers, gear, and fluids. If you’re towing anything, you’ll also need the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR), which is the maximum total weight of your RV, plus anything you’re towing. Finally, know your Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC) – the weight of everything you can safely load into your rig.
After you know all your weight numbers, head to a CAT scale. You can usually find them at truck stops. Weigh your fully loaded RV and compare it to your numbers.
Pro Insight
Don’t forget about your liquids. A full 50-gallon water tank adds over 400 pounds to your total weight, so decide if you want to travel with completely full tanks or not.
Also, it’s best to have your weight at 80-90% of the vehicle’s actual capacity. That gives you some cushion and doesn’t push your rig to the limit.
Monitor Tires & Maintenance
Make sure your RV is well-maintained and has good tires before taking it out on a long road trip.
Why It Matters
All of the systems in your RV, plus your tires, have a big job to do! They keep your whole rig running. Your tires obviously keep your RV rolling, but they also keep a good grip on the ground and need to be in great shape. A single tire blowout can seriously damage the body and suspension on your RV and could lead to a crash.
Good maintenance on your RV, like good maintenance on a car, can ensure it lasts longer. It also keeps you and your passengers safer, is more fuel efficient, and gives you more peace of mind that your motorhome will get you where you need to go.
Along with focusing on your own driving skills, make sure you’re doing preventative care on your vehicle as well. If you’re renting, check with the owner that they have maintained the car well. Don’t be shy – request records or maintenance logs if you want to be extra sure.
How to Do It
Make sure you’re taking your RV in for regular maintenance and oil changes, filter replacements, and generator service when needed.
Before each trip, check your tire pressure and make sure tires are inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended PSI. Inspect your tires for wear and cracks and look for uneven tread and sidewall bulges. Replace your tires every 5-7 years.
Also, torque your lug nuts. After you install new tires or wheels, you’ll want to re-torque the lug nuts after the first 50-100 miles in case they have come loose.
Before a long trip, you’ll also want to test your brakes and lights, check your fluid levels, inspect belts and hoses, and check your battery.
Pro Insight
It’s a good idea to establish a departure ritual so that you check everything every time you pack up. Before you leave your campground, do a walk-around of your entire RV. Check your tires, look for leaks, make sure all compartments are latched, and everything is stored. Make sure all slideouts are in.
Also, keep a Tire Pressure Monitoring System running while you drive. If one of your tires starts losing air, you’ll be alerted instantly so you can fix it before it becomes a big problem.
Start with Short – Reasonable Mileage
Driving an RV can be deceptively fatiguing, especially for new drivers. You’re learning a new skill, and thinking about a lot of things you didn’t previously have to worry about.
Why It Matters
You’re (hopefully!) paying a lot more attention to braking and speed when you drive a larger RV. You also won’t be going as fast as you do in a smaller, lighter vehicle.
The first few times you camp in an RV, you’ll also want to plan on arriving at your destination while it’s still daylight out. The natural light will make it much easier to set up camp, and if there’s a problem, you’ll have a lot longer to solve it before you need to go to sleep for the night.
All of these factors mean that for the first few times you go camping, you’ll want to plan short trips with reasonable mileage. Allow yourself plenty of time to get to camp, and allow yourself plenty of time to make mistakes while setting everything up the first few times. You may also want to camp in a more populated area so you can run to the store if you forget anything important. RVing is a skill, and just like any skill, it might take you a few practice runs before you get really good at it!
How to Do It
You may want to begin by camping in an area you’re familiar with, near your home. On your first road trip, plan for 200-300 miles per day. Also, add in extra time for stops. Take plenty of time to refuel, go to the bathroom, and eat. And you want some time to stop and see anything interesting you might pass on the road. Spontaneous sightseeing stops are one of the major perks of road trips – don’t rush them!
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Many RVers follow the “2-2-2 rule.” Drive no more than 200 miles, arrive before 2 pm, and stay at least 2 nights to avoid stress and fatigue. Also, be sure to listen to your body. If you’re tired, pull over at a truck stop or rest area and sleep. Don’t push yourself to try and make a predetermined mileage amount – that’s when mistakes and accidents happen.
Road Restrictions & Regulations
Some roads may be too narrow or may have overhangs or bridges that prevent RVs from driving on them. You’ll want to check regulations and plan your route to avoid those roads before starting your trip.
Why It Matters
Knowing the road restrictions can keep you and your passengers safe, prevent damage to your RV, and keep you from getting a fine (or from getting stuck!). Planning around these restrictions ahead of time means you’ll save the time and stress of finding an alternate route at the last minute and will prevent you having to backtrack after taking the wrong road.
How to Do It
You’ll first need to know your RV’s numbers – the height (all the way down to the inch, including your AC and antennas), length, and weight. Keep these numbers close by so you can refer to them quickly.
Use RV trip planning apps with GPS. These apps are designed to help you avoid common RV hazards like low bridges and restricted routes. Also, check the regulations for the states you’ll be driving through. Some states restrict rigs over a certain length, and some have special speed limits for vehicles towing trailers. Make sure you know any state-specific laws.
Also, research any national and state parks where you plan to drive. Some roads in these parks, like Going-to-the-Sun Road at Glacier National Park, prohibit large RVs because of the narrow, winding roads.
Finally, watch for signs. “Low Clearance,” “No Truck,” and “Weight Limit” signs are important to follow as soon as you see them! You may get to a point farther down the road where it’s too late to turn around.
Pro Insight
Don’t trust just one source when mapping out your trip. GPS systems can sometimes make mistakes, so back up any information you get from them by checking out a physical map and watching for signs along your drive. Don’t blindly follow your GPS alone.
Hopefully, this article has provided RV driving tips that make you feel more comfortable about your first excursion! Check out our other tips on RVing for beginners before you head out on the road. Also, if you’re renting from RVshare, know that the owners and customer service reps are here to support you! They’re happy to answer any questions you have and to walk you through your rental before you go.