Driving a Class A Motorhome

It’s that time of year again: camping season! If you’ve recently invested in a Class A motorhome to upgrade your overall RV experience, then you’re probably excited for all the great features and interior space….and maybe less excited when it comes to the driving part. Because it’s a motorhome, you’ll have the convenience of simply hopping in the driver’s seat and taking off, but the size of a Class A can create a serious challenge, especially if your RVing experience is fairly limited. To help you get started, Golden Gait RV has provided some tips for becoming a more confident Class A motorhome driver. For tips from other owners, stop by our location in Concord, North Carolina, near Charlotte, Columbia, Raleigh, Asheville, and Greensboro.

Practice

While we’re happy to get into some specific tips, you’ll want to keep in mind that the only way you’re truly going to improve is if you spend some time practicing. Find a large empty parking lot and spend some time relearning some of the basics, like turning, braking, reversing, and parking. You’ll also want to find a time of day when the highways aren’t too busy to help you get used to high-speed driving and merging.

Brakes

With all that in mind, let’s start with one of the most noticeable differences between Class A motorhomes and commuter vehicles: the brakes. You’ll probably notice right away that things feel a little different. This is because, unlike commuter vehicles, Class A motorhomes use air brakes. You’ll start to press on the brake pedal and won’t notice a change for a moment or two. Then the brakes will engage at a steady pace until you come to a stop. This means you won’t be able to slam on the brakes in order to stop quickly, which should automatically signal some driving habit changes you’ll need to make...

Following Distance

...like following distance. The amount of space between you and the vehicle in front of you is going to need to increase, even double for when you’re traveling at high speeds. It’s dangerous enough to tailgate in a car, but if you’re following the vehicle in front of you too closely and traffic suddenly changes, you immediately endanger the people in the vehicle in front of you. Don’t get us wrong, there are plenty of commuters that will make this difficult by cutting you off. Just do what you can and try to be patient.

Highway Driving

Another change you’ll notice, specifically when traveling at high speeds, is that the wind is a much bigger challenge in a big vehicle than it was in your smaller vehicles. The sheer height of a Class A motorhome can act like a sail and catch everything that blows through, from natural wind gusts to drafts from passing vehicles. You’ll want to exercise caution, first and foremost, so if you notice there’s a high wind warning in an area you’ll be driving in, or if you notice the wind start to pick up while you’re on the road, then simply pull off and wait for the storm to pass. However, it’s impossible to avoid all wind gusts, so if you find yourself getting pushed around on the road, simply try to guide your rig back into the center of your lane. And try to remain calm. The worst thing you can do is overcorrect and make a bad situation worse.

Ready to hit the road? You’re probably still a little anxious, but that’s what the practice is for. Take all the time you need to become more comfortable with your particular model, regardless of how much RV or Class A motorhome experience you may have. If you still need the right rig for your family, then stop by Golden Gait RV and we’ll show you what we have available right now. We proudly serve Concord, Charlotte, Columbia, Raleigh, Asheville, and Greensboro, North Carolina.