RVing is becoming one of the most popular ways to travel. A successful and safe RV trip takes preparation and planning to make it a good experience. Whether you are new to RVing or not, these tips can help ensure that your trip will be a smooth experience.  As your insurance agent, we urge you to follow and read through these tips for insurance coverage, adapting to weather conditions, and driving your RV.

 

Learn How to Drive the RV You Plan to Use

If you are vacationing in an RV for the first time, practice driving first. If you don’t own your RV, then rent an RV for a day before your trip and take it driving! Keeping the RV between the lines, accelerating, braking, using only mirrors to see what’s behind you, and passing vehicles top the list of maneuvers that you will need to know while on the open road. RV’s handle very differently from a car, SUV, or pickup. Practice backing your RV up so that you can back into a campsite. If you have a passenger, it is a good idea to have a spotter to help guide you.  Many accidents and claims happen due to hitting tree limbs, picnic tables or other items that were in the driver’s blind spot.

 

RV Insurance and Road Service

Knowing your insurance coverage is important. Be sure to research road services that specialize in RVs. Only a few road service companies will tow the trailer, too.

  • What does your RV insurance cover?
  • Does your motorhome policy cover your towed vehicle?
  • Do you need separate RV insurance for road service coverage?

 

Check Road Conditions, Construction, and Closures

Save time and frustration by checking road conditions, closures, and construction. The U.S. DOT Federal Highway Administration website shows a map of the states. Use the following link to find out the current road conditions of the roads you will be traveling on.  https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/

 

You will also need to be mindful of overpasses, bridges and tunnel height restrictions. It is recommended to determine if your RV is compatible with the height restrictions before heading out of you driveway.

 

Weather

Knowing the weather forecast can help avoid problems. Rain, snow, ice, hail, wind – you might encounter all of these in one day! Below are just a few weather sites that give weather for all states.

 

Your motorhome is your second home (on wheels!), and you need to have proper insurance coverage. The last thing you want to worry about is being financially liable for causing an accident and not having proper RV insurance. Most states only require minimal liability insurance that protects others if you’re at fault.

 

 

Sources:

https://www.tripsavvy.com/safetip-tips-for-planning-rv-trip-500779