Many Americans love the idea of hitting the open road. It’s a tradition imprinted on our DNA, like national appreciation of baseball or a collective appetite for barbecue. From the first pioneers that packed up wagons and bounded for the Pacific, to the dreamers in Kerouac’s On the Road, the American story is one of travel and adventure.
The RV vacation is one way that this tradition still carries on today. For the novice, the idea of taking to the road is far more exciting than the logistics of actually driving a recreational vehicle. Let’s visit some fundamental rules of the road for the rookie RV driver.
First things first. In most of our 50 states, no additional driver’s license is required to operate an RV. Often the vehicle will be categorized as Class C, which is essentially driving a truck. Some states (e.g. NY, NM, PA) mandate that a special license is required for vehicles weighing over 26,000 pounds. Other states have rules regarding vehicle length exceeding 40 feet. Fortunately, most RVs are well under these requirements. Unless you are hitting the road with a true behemoth, or are towing a boat and a jet ski, you should be just fine with your standard driver’s license.
Before you fire up that engine, always map out your course. Don’t simply rely on a GPS device. While you absolutely should have an electronic device with GPS and mapping capabilities (e.g. tablet, smartphone, etc.), do not let this be your sole navigator. Devices can falter sometimes. Spring for the costs of highway maps and/or print out pages from Google maps. Use the satellite view features so you can identify which lane you should use. Jot down notes. Everything takes much, much longer when driving an RV. If an exit ramp sneaks up on the left, while you’re in the far-right lane, you’ll be able to plot a new course before you are ever able to merge in time. Be prepared. Make a game plan and anticipate where you are along the plotted course.
Anticipation is a common theme in recreational vehicle operation. More than anticipating just the route, you must anticipate the road and how traffic unfolds. Most of the other cars on the road are oblivious to what driving an RV entails. For you, every maneuver is deliberate, slow going. For the college student in the Civic, driving decisions are made just seconds before the action is taken. Anticipate drivers’ fickle decision-making. Leave a sizable berth before the car in front of you. But be aware that a sports-car swerving in from the left lane sees that as open territory. The right-hand lane is your friend and where an RV belongs. Usually, knucklehead drivers are making their questionable decisions to your left. Leave them there. Keep right.
Always remain aware of what’s going on behind you. Like the pilot fish species that tow in a whale’s wake, you will get drivers tailgating your RV. Keep checking those mirrors, or better yet, invest in an RV with a rear-camera.
One general guideline is to do as the truckers do. They are out there with the biggest of vehicles driving in all sorts of traffic. When in doubt, take cues from these captains of the road. Hop on the CB radio for some real pro tips, in real-time.
The main thing that will improve your “on the road” skills? Being out there! Practice is the key. So pick a destination, pick an RV from our huge selection of both new RVs for sale and used RVs for sale, and hit these great American roads.
