RV Winter Driving tips

RV Tires

Usually, Motorhomes are delivered from the factory with highway tread tires.

They do this to give you the most comfortable ride and a highway tread will not add the extra noise of a traction lug to your driving style.  A highway tread tire will also provide an extended tire life but this can be a disadvantage because you may not feel the road or the slipping that occurs.

This does not help though when winter arrives. In some way you do have weight in your favor as the more weight can keep you stable in the icy conditions. The pressure applied per square inch of rubber on the road will help in maintaining traction

Front Wheel Drive

Most vehicles are now front wheel drive.  However, motorhomes are rear wheel drive; driving a motorhome is not like driving your truck or car. You have to steer with a slide while pumping the brakes lightly in order to attempt to regain control.

Getting into a slide can be dangerous; especially if you’re towing an RV trailer.

Applying more power may make matters worse. Unlike front wheel drive vehicles, where adding power may allow you to steer out of a slide; adding power to a rear wheel drive vehicle may compound the skid.

Number one! Make sure to leave extra space between you and other drivers.

Handling

When it snows, get off the road until the weather passes.

Sliding off the road in a motorhome may be much more expensive than just getting towed out of the ditch.

(Some lower states like Oklahoma and Texas are not very good at snow removal and salting the roads to remove ice.  It can take days before main highways like Interstate 35 have been cleared)

Towing a trailer on an icy highway can lead to a jack-knifed situation and the trailer pushing you out of control.  Even if you have snow tires on your truck, the weight of the trailer could overcome the traction of the truck and take you into a ditch others driver.

Stopping

Be prepared to find stay at a truck stop or somewhere off the highway for some length of time until the weather passes.

Many people think that a little storm is not dangerous and that they can drive through it. That is not the case  and that thinking can put you in dangerous situations rather quickly. Driving an RV is quite different from driving a car. Be prepared to stop and seek a place to wait it out.

If you recognize those times when continuing isn't worth the risk, then you will be more likely to have a safe trip.

Cold Temperature

Fall is a beautiful time to travel in your RV.  The leaves are colorful and the scenery is changing. Although, you should be aware that a little shut-eye can give the weather enough time to change on you. A little drizzle could very soon become ice or snow.

Make sure to prep your RV for winter before you leave.

Just remember, driving an RV in winter conditions can be a surprising so if it starts to get nasty while you’re driving, find a place to pull over. Your safer to let the storm pass than to try and beat it.