A Class A motorhome is a wonderful vehicle. Take all the comforts of home, like a shower and a decorated living room, on the road! Skip the high costs of the hotel. Get closer to nature at a campsite. Make road trips more comfortable. They are a great vessel for adventures!
But before you can embark on those adventures, you’ll need to drive there. We created a basic guide to driving Class A motorhomes below.
Brakes
With a car, you can hit the brakes suddenly and expect the vehicle to stop. The more pressure you apply, the more the brakes are engaged. This doesn’t work with Class A motorhomes. That’s because they use a different braking style. Normal cars use ABS while most Class A motorhomes use air brakes. The advantage of air brakes is they are more effective, but they do take some getting used to.
The pressure you apply doesn’t affect anything with air brakes. Instead, what matters is the length of time you press the pedal. It takes around one or two seconds pressing the pedal before the brakes get applied. The longer you hold down the pedal, the more stopping power it generates.
This different braking style means you’ll need to be extra cautious while driving. You won’t be able to brake suddenly like you can in a car. You’ll need to anticipate stops as much as possible. Never put yourself in a position where you may need to stop quickly. Be cautious when taking sharp corners. Scan the road often for pedestrians and animals that may dart into the road suddenly. Use a co-pilot as an extra set of eyes.
Following Distance
Because of the slower brakes, you will need to leave a greater following distance. Aim for 4 to 5 seconds between you and the vehicle ahead of you. If you need to break, this gives you more time and distance to do so safely.
Of course, leaving this much space can result in an annoying driving situation. Other drivers may take advantage and dart in front of you. This happens to all RV drivers (especially when people are frazzled during rush hour traffic). It’s annoying, but try your best to shrug it off. When someone cuts in front of you, be sure to slow down to get that following distance back.
If you have questions about driving a Class A motorhome or want to get personalized shopping tips, visit Zoomers RV. Our expert staff is happy to help however we can. Our dealership is located in Wabash, IN, Lamoni, IA, and Ina, IL.