PRVCA Explore Magazine PRVCA Explore PA 2018 | Page 7

Be alert when driving. Check your mirrors frequently
and scan down the highway. If you are towing a vehicle
behind your motorhome, remember that you are towing
a vehicle when changing lanes on the highway.
RV Tips
101
Avoid driving long distances at once. Fatigue can
set in from driving hours on end which can strain
attentiveness. Schedule your drive time for a few hours
each day. Additionally, taking your time is an ideal way
to experience your journey and new places you’re
traveling through.
Read your owner’s manual and research any questions
that you have about how your vehicle’s systems
operate.
Check your motorhome’s fluid levels and tire pressure
frequently, and especially before taking a trip.
Nothing ruins a camping trip faster than a mechanical
breakdown which could have been avoided with a
routine check-up.
By Keith Paradise
For first-time recreational vehicle buyers, the decision
to take up the camping and RVing lifestyle can be
extremely exciting as well as somewhat stressful. Along
with the anticipation of camp fires and road trips
is the quest to find the right vehicle for your needs.
Everyone’s lifestyle varies and thankfully for consumers,
RV floor plans and features do as well.
Whether you prefer towing a folding trailer behind the
family vehicle or buying a 40-foot diesel pusher to tow
the car behind, the industry offers a wide variety of
vehicles to suit your needs. While you’re mulling over
your options, here are a handful of tips and suggestions
to help choose the right rig for you.

Before purchasing a motorhome or travel trailer,
considering renting or borrowing a unit to test out on
a small excursion. This will give you the opportunity to
learn how these vehicles handle on the road while also
learning about the different features and systems which
need to be hooked up, disconnected and maintained.
Avoid impulse buying a vehicle. Make a list of
priorities and features and then research to find the
appropriate model within your price range. There is
plenty of information on makes and models available on
manufacturer’s websites as well as at RV dealerships.
If you are purchasing a pre-owned motor coach, have
the vehicle looked at by an experienced recreational
vehicle owner. Veteran RVers might be able to detect
possible issues with the vehicle that could become
trouble spots down the road.
Wear disposable gloves when hooking up, unhooking
or dumping your vehicle’s waste water. These can be
purchased fairly inexpensively at an auto parts store.
Although your motor coach or trailer comes with plenty
of storage space, pack only the items you’ll need for a
trip. Remember, more things equ al added weight which
will decrease braking distances and fuel economy.
Prepare two checklists for a trip. The first should be
the items which you need to pack. The second is tasks
which need to be completed before breaking camp to
ensure everything is in order before departure.
If you must have the Internet while you camp consider
purchasing a WiFi hotspot to run from your cellular
phone. Although many campgrounds have wireless
internet the signals isn’t always the strongest since it is
being used by all campers at the facility.
Consider joining a recreational vehicle club – such
as the Family Motor Coach Association or Good Sam
Club. In addition to offering benefits such as roadside
assistance and discounts, these organizations also offer
classes and tutorials which could prove valuable. Lastly,
the organization will connect you to a national network
of RVers just like you.
Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions, especially when
talking to your fellow RVers at campgrounds, shows
or rallies. Your fellow RV owners can be a valuable
resource. Odds are someone around you had the same
concerns when they were starting out.
Test out every feature on the vehicle before leaving the
dealership’s lot and document each potential issue. Also
inquire about the process for having repairs made while
the vehicle is under factory warranty.
It’s important to remember while driving a motorhome
or towing a trailer that the vehicle can’t stop as quickly
as a car. Before taking a trip, take the vehicle out
to practice in an empty parking lot to become more
comfortable maneuvering the rig.
Photo Courtesy of GO Rving
7. EXPLORE PA 2018