Driving The "Hotel on Wheels"....safely:)Mar 09 '02 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line A responsible motor home driver is all it takes to enjoy awesome places in the nation never seen. Might I suggest Lake Couer D' ALene, Idaho or Missoula, Montana?
Hmmmm....where to begin (pondering)....I could write about how much fun it is to drive a motor home or how beautiful the scenery is as I drive by. But what is most often neglected about driving a luxury motor home is the basic know how of the road, safety and handling of a very large "customized hotel" on wheels. First, let me start this review with information about my experience with motor homes: Many years ago I moved to Elkhart County, Indiana. While looking for a new job, I discovered I moved to the RV Manufacturing Capital of the nation. Of course I had seen RVs on the road and had even traveled in one but I had no idea how they were made, sold, delivered, serviced, etc. This embarked a new found curiosity and learning experience. Because the economy is so good here and jobs are plentiful, I accepted a production position with a well-known manufacturer. My quest for knowledge has taken me to new manufacturers over the past six years. I have worked in production, engineering, quality control, sales, service and finally transportation. Currently, I drive for a nationwide RV transportation service. I deliver RVs from the manufacturer to the dealers all over the country. I have delivered everything from travel trailers and 5th wheels to the most expensive luxury motor coaches on the market. One national manufacturer has placed a picture of me driving their high end model in Chicago on their sales literature. I have delivered to all four corners of the country and all the states in between. Overall, my favorite recreational vehicle to drive is the Class A Luxury Motor Coach. The Basics The majority of Epinions readers owns and operates a personal vehicle of some kind. We sit in the driver seat, turn the ignition key and off we go. Driving a motor home is not that simple. Even semi-tractor trailer drivers find driving a motor home a totally different driving experience. As a professional transporter I am required to hold a Commercial Vehicle License (CDL). This is a special license the Department of Transportation (DOT) requires me to have. I must know and utilize every law and guideline of all states while driving a vehicle over 26,000 pounds. Most class A motor homes are over 26,000 pounds. This requirement is for professional drivers and is not a requirement for individual owners of recreational vehicles. Although, in my personal opinion, I feel every owner of a recreational vehicle should be required to have this special training and be CDL licensed to own and operate a RV. Luxury motor homes owners would greatly benefit from the education and knowledge required to operate such huge and dangerous machines. And the road would be a safer place. Why? Wind, weather, road construction and irresponsible car/truck drivers as well as other driving components present many hazards to a RV driver. Luxury motor homes are heavier and wider than personal vehicles. Because of their weight, they require a greater stopping distance. Their length impairs the driver's perception of space relations; basically this means the driver cannot see the cars behind him or on either side of the RV very well. The driver must solely depend on his side mirrors. Most personal vehicle drivers do not have comprehension of the limitations an RV driver has on the road and they present a large accident risk to the motor home driver. Inclement weather presents a hazardous risk. Snow, rain, ice, heavy winds all affects how a motor home driver handles the vehicle. I have seen many, many, many RVs overturned and involved in serious fatal accidents due to weather. A few good examples: *In Utah during the winter months, tire chains are required on certain highways for vehicles over 26,000 pounds. There are signs posted and pull off sections of the road to both install and remove chains. Personally owned RV drivers don't think this applies to them. As a result, the motor home slips and slides up, down or sideways of the mountains causing disastrous results. *Wyoming often has very high winds. I have seen RV drivers cruising along at high rates of speed blowing from lane to lane with no concept of how this affects other drivers on the road. And I have seen RVs flipped over due to high winds. *In Ohio and Pennsylvania, there is often black ice on the interstates as well as road construction. I have seen RV drivers approach these conditions as if they were driving a Honda Civic inspiring many rear end collisions with semi drivers and cars. Safety "It is so easy to pack up a motor home, load up the family and take off for a week vacation." Think again! I over heard this statement from a customer shopping for a motor home while I delivered to a dealer. Aside from all the planning, preparations and packing, yes, it looks easy to just whisk away for a week. But most RV shoppers think they can just climb in and go. There is so much involved with securing the RV for ultimate safety before and after a trip. Before, during and after each and every trip a RV driver MUST do the following: Pre-trip Inspection - A pre-trip inspection involves inspection of the chassis, interior and exterior of the motor home. (I am unable to list every inspection detail in this review but intend to highlight a few important inspection issues. A copy of your state's DOT manual can be obtained at no cost at any Division of Motor Vehicle Agency) Chassis: All components involving the frame, tires, wheel wells, struts, axles, engine parts, fluids, hoses, wires, brakes, etc. Look for leaks, cracks, loose and missing parts. Always check the leveling jacks. Ice, "road kill" and other foreign objects can knock the jack leveling out of alignment. Most trips are more than a 1,000 miles. An inspection of these parts should be done before the trip, the first 150 miles after the beginning of the trip and every 300 miles there after. Breakdowns are costly and sometimes hazardous. They are very time consuming and bring great stress to the trip. Check your chassis manufacturer's warranty for what is covered, how long and for how many miles. Exterior: The entire RV should be inspected on the outside. Windshield, wipers, lights, lens covers, mirrors, seals around door and window openings, tire condition, lug nuts, loose exterior panel walls, screws, hitches, luggage racks, spare tire, vent lids, slide out room travel locks and storage compartment doors. Oh, and don't forget the TV antenna. I left a rest area in Iowa behind a couple driving a motor home that had left their antenna up. As they accelerated leaving the rest area, the antenna met a phone line and knocked the antenna off the roof causing it to fly into my windshield. Bridges and antennas do not get along either! Interior: Many accidents and personal injuries result from the interior of the motor home. Make sure personal belongings are secured in their compartments. If you decorate with nick knacks make sure they are secured or put away. Close all doors and cabinets. DO NOT cook while driving. DO NOT watch the TV while driving. Always transport passenger in approved seats with seat belts. These seats are labeled as to whether they are approved or not. Sleeping on the bed while the RV is in motion is illegal. AND if the motor home has bunk beds, please make sure the ladder is on the floor and not on the bunk bed!! I sustained 6 stitches in the back of my head due to a flying bunk bed ladder as I applied the brakes! Safety Supplies: It is very important to have the appropriate safety supplies in a motor home. Aside from the basic safety kit most people carry it is recommended (some states require) to have a travel road kit. Most kits include flares, triangles, and fire extinguishers. These kits are sometimes provided with the motor home depending on the manufacturer. You can also obtain safety kits from the dealer or in a department store. Back Up Monitors: Contrary to what the RV industry thinks, back up monitors aren't all they are advertised to be. Sure, you can see what is behind the RV… to a point. But the perception of the objects behind the motor home is distorted. What may look to be 5 feet from the rear of the home is actually closer than you may think. The cameras for the monitor are installed above the rear of the motor home adjusted to view on an angle to the ground. This means if you are standing flush up against the back of the RV, you will not be seen in the monitor. A back up monitor is an option and should not be used by itself when backing up the motor home. Always get out of the home and check periodically as you back. Use your mirrors on either side of the RV and ask another person to assist you. Towing A Vehicle: Most vacationers will tow a personal vehicle behind their motor home as they travel. It is recommended that the towed personal vehicle be small or compact. A Cadillac, Lincoln or ¾ ton pick up is not recommended. But if you must tow a large vehicle, check the weight of the vehicle as this may conflict with DOT guidelines for combined maximum weight restrictions when added to the weight of the motor home. Make sure you are using an approved tow bar and always check the tow bars joints and connections to the vehicle. Pins, screws and nuts can loosen during transportation and should be retightened at each and every stop. Always check your light connections to the towed vehicle. Depending on the height of the towed vehicle, it's lights, and blinkers may be the only lights the vehicle behind you sees. And if you are looking to purchase a tow bar, do not purchase the Blue OX brand as the company has recalled its tow bars due to faulty welding.  |
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