CHAPTER THREE

On the Road Again

To boldly go where you haven’t been before, or something like that.  The adventure of seeing new things, meeting new people, having new experiences.  That’s what living on the road is all about.  It is freedom.

According to the law:
It’s a vehicle, no, it’s a home, no it’s both, but not at the same time.  According to the law when your RV is on the road it is considered a motor vehicle and subject to all the laws of a motor vehicle.  When it is parked at a campsite it is legally a home.  This means that when you are moving, if you have guns on board they will need to be unloaded and the bullets stored in a separate place.  If a law enforcement official suspects you have drugs they can detain you until K-9 units arrive (there are variations in this from state to state).  Your RV can be impounded for driving under the influence and everything else that applies to motor vehicles.  If you are going into Mexico or Canada your RV is subject to immediate search.  If you are staying at a state park, it is likely that your handgun is prohibited.  Whatever state you are in the laws of that state will apply.

Driving the RV:

Everybody needs to drive.  All licensed drivers must be able to operate the RV efficiently. No one knows when the other spouse will need to take over.  Each driving member should be familiar the following driving activities:

Learn where the wheels are:
It’s wide; learn where you are on the road.  Park it on the side of the road and know how far it is from the curb.  Pick a mark or put a piece of tape on the windshield so you can line it up, then when you are moving you will know exactly where your right front is.

Learn how long it is:
It’s long.  Corners must be taken wide.  Learn when to start turning in order for the rear wheels to clear the sidewalk.  Good idea to take it to a parking lot with some road cones.  Practice turning, backing up, and parking on the white lines.

Backing in:
If you are traveling with a companion, backing into campsites can be eased by the use of two-way radios. Rearview cameras with sound are also extremely useful. Just remember the mirror limitations also pertain to these cameras. Everything is much closer than it looks on the view screen.

Sccrrapppe:
Dragging the trailer hitch: Care should be taken when driving into a restaurant or business establishment.  The driveway entrance may be too much of an uphill incline which will cause the rear to go down, thus trailer hitch drag.  Lots of noise, damage to the road, and embarrassment.  Sometimes approaching the incline at an angle can make the difference.

Mountain driving:
Enough fuel but not too much.  Slow down to a crawl before starting down a steep grade, and then use brakes intermittently to keep speed low. Brake firmly, slowing way down before letting up completely and letting your speed creep back up to just below the speed limit, then brake firmly again, repeating the cycle as necessary. Constant pressure on the brake can cause brake failure.  Use a lower gear if too much braking is required to keep your speed down. Your parking brake is a parking brake. The expression “emergency brake” is a misnomer; don’t expect it to stop you in an emergency.

How tall is your rig?:
What are you going to do when you see a sign saying 11-foot clearance?  If you know how much clearance you require, it is not a problem.

What if you get a blowout?:
Blowouts or going off the shoulder, in either case be very careful about brake use.  Applying brakes can cause loss of control.  Slow down but don’t apply too much pressure, none is best if possible.

If you are towing a vehicle:
The weight of the trailer needs to be matched to the tow vehicle.  Control is also dependent upon a correct match.  Check the numbers and don’t take the risk.

Practice cornering with your new length in an empty parking area. Take boxes, cones or something with you that can be used to simulate corner curbing. It’s long, corners must be taken wide.  Learn when to start turning in order for the rear wheels to clear the sidewalk.  Practice turning, backing up and parking between the white lines.

A tip I read once has proven quite effective in helping unravel the secret of backing a trailer. Place your hand at six o’clock on the steering wheel, the trailer will turn whichever direction you move your hand.