How To Avoid A Crash While Driving Your RV

At Henderson’s Line-Up, we want you to feel confident and secure behind the wheel. By practicing these safety tips, you can trade “white-knuckle” driving for a relaxed, enjoyable journey. Preparation is the key to avoiding accidents and ensuring your RV experience is a pleasurable one.

 

Mastering the Size of Your Rig

  • Know Your Tail Swing: Tail swing is the distance the rear of your coach moves in the opposite direction of the front when you turn. Keeping this in mind in tight parking lots can prevent an expensive insurance claim.
  • Verify Your Height: Most RVs stand between 11 and 13 feet tall. Measure your exact height so you can approach overpasses, tunnels, and bridges with total peace of mind.
  • Adjust Your Mirrors: Take the extra time to adjust and readjust your mirrors. In a vehicle this size, every visual advantage helps you see what is behind and beside you.

 

Road Strategy & Etiquette

  • The “Magic 63”: Generally, 63 MPH is the sweet spot for RVs. It offers enough power for mountain passes while allowing you to stop safely and letting other traffic pass easily.
  • Braking Distance: Stopping an RV takes much longer than a car. Maintain at least 6 seconds—or about 400 to 500 feet—of space between you and the vehicle ahead.
  • Be Courteous: Stay to the right when possible. It keeps you close to the shoulder in case of an issue and allows faster traffic to pass, reducing road rage around your rig.

 

Environmental Awareness

  • Watch the Weather: A large RV can act like a sail in high winds. If visibility is poor or gusts are high, allow yourself a “weather window” and wait for safer conditions.
  • Stay Alert: Driving a motorhome requires your full attention. If you feel drowsy, take a “siesta” in your own comfortable bed—that’s the beauty of traveling in your home!

 

The team at Henderson’s Line-Up in Grants Pass, Oregon, is here to ensure your rig is as safe as possible. Whether you need a professional inspection or a suspension upgrade to handle those high winds, we’ve got you covered.

We invite you to book an appointment with us today, and remember, Jesus loves you!

P.S. If you would like to see the first chapter of Robert Henderson’s new book, Living Life One Mile At A Time, click here.

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