Class A Motorhome Driving Tips

Class A motorhomes are the biggest and most luxurious classification of motorhome. They’re often equipped with the latest in features and the most luxurious trim packages. That greater length and heavier weight tend to make driving a more complicated task.

If you’re feeling a little bit of anxiety about driving a Class A motorhome, don’t worry because we’re here to help. Below, you’ll find our best tips for driving a full sized RV. Read on to learn more, and if you’re still trying tofind the right motorhome, come to Broadmoor RV Superstore. We’re located in Pasco, Washington and we proudly serve the areas of Seattle, Spokane, Wenatchee, and Richland, Washington.

Braking

Brakes are probably the most important system on any motor vehicle, and RVs are no exception. With all that extra weight, braking requires a little bit more thought than it does in your everyday passenger car.

Motorhomes often use air brake systems because they work better for heavy vehicles. Passenger cars usually use ABS or hydraulic brakes which respond to the amount of pressure you put on the pedal. Air brakes, on the other hand, won’t apply more braking pressure just because you put more pressure on the pedal. Instead, they apply an increasing amount of brake pressure the longer you hold the pedal down.

Braking in a Class A motorhome requires that you give yourself plenty of time to slow down. You also won’t be able to just slam on the brakes if something happens in front of you.

Follow Distance

Because the braking system doesn’t work in the way you might be used to, you’ll need to adjust your follow distance if you want to avoid accidents. You’ll need to basically double the amount of follow space you’d normally take. When driving on the highway, the general rule of thumb is that you should leave yourself one car length for every ten miles per hour of speed you’re traveling at. For 70 mph, you’ll need seven car lengths between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. With a Class A motorhome, you’ll want to take 14 car lengths between your vehicle and the next.

Turning

Class A motorhomes aren’t just heavier than other cars, they’re also a lot longer. Length has some of the largest impact on turning dynamics. A Class A motorhome requires a significantly larger turning radius than you might think. Turning in a Class A motorhome can sometimes require that you cut turns so wide that you actually turn into the lane of oncoming traffic for a moment in order to get back on track. When you turn, it’s easy to hop a curb or hit something on the inside of the turn. For this reason, you’ll have to get used to using your mirrors when you turn.

Parking & Reversing

Parking and reversing can be quite challenging when you’re in a Class A motorhome. Reversing is hard because your blind spots will be huge. Parking is difficult because it’s hard to control the huge frame of your RV with enough precision to be able to stop it in a small parking space. Learning how to be proficient in these skills simply requires practice. It’s worth investing in a backup camera if your RV doesn’t already have one. When you’re first learning, make sure you work with a spotter so you don’t do any damage to your rig or anything else.

Hopefully, this short guide has given you some helpful tips for driving a Class A motorhome. If you need more advice or you’re still looking for the right RV, stop by Broadmoor RV Superstore in Pasco, Washington. We proudly serve the areas of Seattle, Spokane, Wenatchee, and Richland.