RV Towing Tips

An RV is the perfect choice for those who love to go on camping trips. Just pack your gear and supplies and then hit the road, looking for the next exciting destination. While towable RVs are easy to haul from one place to another, following some simple tips and tricks can help make your towing experience safer. Read on to learn more!

Preparation

The first thing you have to make sure of is that your tow vehicle is compatible with your RV. If the latter is small in size, you won’t need anything heavy-duty to tow it. However, if you’ve got a big camper, you’ll need something big and sturdy. If any part of your towing unit becomes overwhelmed, it can become a major hazard. Find out the towing limitations of your commuter vehicle (including the gross combined weight rating) and figure out if they line up with your RV, or if you’ll need to upgrade.

When loading your RV, be careful about how you’re distributing the weight. Don’t add too much weight to the back as this leads to swaying problems and makes it more difficult for you to drive. Most towable RVs require a weight-distribution hitch, which will automatically help keep sway and weight distribution in check when you’re on the road.

Turning Your RV

Once you’re behind the wheel, you have to remain aware of the challenges you’ll encounter. It’s important to know how to handle them so you can stay safe and be a more confident driver. Luckily for you, turning can seem more challenging than it really is. Remember that your RV will go where the tow vehicle goes. This means if you have a longer camper, you’ll need to pull forward farther to clear the turn. Avoid hairpin turns as much as possible. Right angles are fine, but anything tighter than that and you’re going to start struggling.

Backing Up

Backing up is something that requires patience to learn and should be taken slowly even after you’ve gained enough experience. The first thing to do is minimize any external pressures around you. This means avoiding backing up in the middle of a busy road. Turning and backing up at the same time can be a little counterintuitive from what you’re used to, so it’ll take some time to master.

While backing up, if you want your RV to turn to the right, you need to turn your steering wheel to the left. If you want it to move to the left, you need to turn your steering wheel to the right. This is because your rig is going to move in the opposite direction of your tow vehicle. We highly recommend asking a friend or family member to guide you, because you’ll have a few blind spots to deal with.

We hope you find these tips useful for your future RV camping trips! If you’re looking for RVs for sale in Jane Lew, WV, visit Mountaineer RV & Outdoor Center and have a chat with one of our friendly staff members. We proudly serve the city of Morgantown, along with all our West Virginia customers.