8 Tips for Timid RV Drivers

In April I had the opportunity to drive the RV on a 300 mile, 5 hour trip (one way) to help my sister pack up her apartment for an out-of-state move. Jeremy had to work, so it was just me and the kiddos on this trip.

I won’t lie; I was a bit apprehensive about the trip. I’d driven the RV the hour and a half to and from the RV dealership, but those three hours combined were the longest I’d driven the RV. Jeremy usually does all the driving on our road trips; he likes driving, while I tolerate driving but don’t find it relaxing.

I’ve driven big vehicles: I was a UPS driver one summer in college and I drove our moving trucks when we moved (because I’m a control freak), so I know how to do it, but I don’t necessarily enjoy it and I tend to find it stressful.

The size, the creaking noises as things shift, it all just makes me worried that something is going to break or fall off while I’m driving down the road. Irrational, I know, but there you have it. I’m sure this has nothing to do with driving clunkers in high school and college that did indeed have important things fall off while I was driving down the road. True story. In fact, it happened twice with one vehicle.

So I may be just a teensy bit paranoid.

Despite my anxiety, we drove down to NC without any problems, and I even started to feel somewhat relaxed and confident. We drove home in the rain, which did stress me out a bit, but I still felt confident. I wasn’t focusing on the noises so much and I was able to relax and find my groove. While I was driving, I realized there’s a few things other reluctant or timid drivers (I know you’re out there!) can do to feel more comfortable when driving an RV or pulling a travel trailer.

1. Just do it.

Take that scary first step and don’t shy away.

2. Go for a drive.

Preferably a long one on familiar roads so you can just worry about your driving, not where you’re going.

3. Don’t worry about driving a little slower than the speed limit.

Driving over 65 mph down a freeway in a big RV can leave you feeling like you’re driving a runaway train. Slow down and hang out in the right lane. People may get a little irritated, but that’s what passing lanes are for.

Besides, a lot of bigger vehicles drive a bit slower than the speed limit, so you’ve got a built-in excuse. Bonus points if you happen to have out-of-state plates; you’ve got another excuse for driving slow in a {presumably unfamiliar} area. In addition, it’s just unsafe to drive too fast when towing.

4. Give yourself extra time.

You might be driving under the speed limit, but you also want to allow for missed turns, getting lost, or having to re-route around a low bridge. Decrease potential frustration by not adding to the stress with a time crunch.

5. Take corners and curves slow.

Get a feel for how much space you take up, how your vehicle(s) move, and don’t rush the process. Make sure you have clearance on both sides so you don’t run into other vehicles or objects on the side of the road.

6. Get comfortable using your mirrors and cameras.

But not too comfortable. Know what they show, but more importantly, know what they don’t show. Large vehicles can have wide blind spots and knowing where they are can help you avoid changing lanes on top of someone, or worse.

7. Practice parking.

Pick a location where you won’t be blocking traffic, and, if possible, where you won’t have an audience. Take your time and practice until you can backup smoothly while staying in a specific space. This will save a lot of stress when it comes time to park in a busy campground.

When we picked up our travel trailer a few years ago, Jeremy was out of town, so I got to drive it home on our narrow country roads and park it. I think it took me a good hour and a half to back it into its spot in our driveway. During that time I was hopping out every 30 seconds to check my positioning and sweating bullets the whole time.

But I figured out how to do it and I was often the one to back the trailer into our various campsites since I was better and faster at it than Jeremy because of that initial learning experience. The intense “training” was the best thing I could have done.

8. When you’re feeling more comfortable, try different roads.

Freeways, residential roads, narrow country roads, busy roads through town, etc. You never know what you’ll encounter while road tripping, so try to get experience with as many road types as possible beforehand.

Let me know if these tips help you get more comfortable with your RV or tow vehicle. If you have any tips to add, don’t hesitate to share them!

Did you know you can rent an RV or travel trailer to try out before you purchase one of your own? Skip the big corporate rental companies and rent from someone local. Look on RVShare or Outdoorsy to find a rig that will work for you.