Driving A Class A Motorhome
In the world of RVs, Class A motorhomes represent the pinnacle of luxury. They’re often the largest and most well-equipped, and many manufacturers offer luxury trim packages to make sure the owners want for nothing. From families touring the national parks to professional musicians on tour, Class A motorhomes provide everything you need for an amazing trip. With all that size and weight, Class A motorhomes aren’t always the easiest thing to drive. If you’re not used to driving a vehicle that’s more than 30 feet long and stands more than ten feet off the ground, you might not feel like you’re ready to take on the challenge.
We here at Charlie Obaugh RV created this short guide to help teach you the basics of driving a Class A motorhome. If you’re new to ownership or hoping to buy your first motorhome, we offer a broad range of different motorhomes from different manufacturers. Located in Staunton, Virginia, we proudly serve the areas of Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, and Lexington, Virginia.
BRAKING
The physics are simple: heavy vehicles take more room and more force to stop. This is because heavier vehicles will build more momentum than lighter weight ones. In practical terms, this means you’ll need to greatly increase the amount of space you put between the next vehicle and your own. You’ll also need to start slowing down for stop signs or stop light about twice as early as you would in a normal car or truck.
But distance isn’t the only thing you’ll need to get used when driving a Class A motorhome. You’ll also need to get used to using air brakes as opposed to normal hydraulic brakes. Hydraulic brakes respond to the amount of pressure you apply to the brake pad and apply a corresponding amount of pressure to the brakes themselves. Air brakes apply an even amount of pressure no matter how hard you pushed the brakes, but that amount of pressure will increase the longer you hold the pedal down.
TURNING
Turning in a Class A motorhome is all about dealing with the added length and the increased blind spots that it creates. Class A motorhomes have a very wide turning radius. On many streets, you might need to actually turn into oncoming traffic in order to complete the turn. For this reason, it’s crucial that you give yourself more time and space to make turns. Getting a feel for how wide you’ll need to cut corners is something that will just take time and practice to get right. You can head to an empty parking lot if you want to get used to turning. Make sure you continue to use your mirrors when you turn, though, or you could end up running up on a curb or hitting something on the inner side of your turn.
REVERSING & PARKING
Parking and reversing are two of the most difficult elements of driving a Class A motorhome. If your RV doesn’t already have one, consider investing in a backup monitor to help make the process easier. This will also help when it comes to parking. When you’re new to driving a Class A motorhome, it can be helpful to have a spotter so that you can make sure you’re in the clear.
HIGHWAY DRIVING
Class A motorhomes aren’t meant to cut through traffic, they’re meant to get you to your destination in one piece. If you want to stay safe on the highways, you’ll need to slow down and be less aggressive with passing other drivers. Give yourself much more follow room (the distance between your car and the car in front of you) and make sure to give other cars as much space as possible. If wind becomes a problem, lower your speed. The best way to respond to hazards in a Class A is to slow down and take it easy.
Driving a Class A motorhome doesn’t have to be a nightmare if you’re willing to put in some practice and get better at the basic competencies. Hopefully, you feel comfortable giving it a shot! When you’re ready to check out RVs, stop by Charlie Obaugh RV in Staunton, Virginia. We proudly serve the areas of Waynesboro, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, and Lexington, Virginia, and we’ll make sure you get set up with everything you need for your first RV trip.