10 Essential RV Safety Tips
Are you gearing up for a road trip in your RV? Before hitting the open road, it's crucial to prioritize safety for you and your passengers. Whether you're a seasoned RVer or a newbie to the RV lifestyle, taking preventive measures before travel can make all the difference in ensuring a smooth and enjoyable journey. To help you navigate the highways and byways with confidence, we've compiled a list of 10 essential RV safety tips to keep in mind before embarking on your next adventure.
- Complete Regular Maintenance Checks: Ensure a safe journey by prioritizing RV maintenance! Before you hit the road, conduct thorough checks on tires, brakes, lights, and essential systems. Inspect seals and roof for wear, and seal seams to prevent water intrusion should you encounter inclement weather on your trip. You also want to check that any egress windows on your rig are accessible and working.
Get warranty work done before hitting the road for the season to protect your RV and your wallet from unexpected repair expenses. For new RV owners or those with new RV components on their rig this year, remember that many crucial components like your water heater, furnace or air conditioner can be protected with extended warranties from the manufacturer, so always check to see if there is additional coverage available for your RV and its systems.
- Consider Weight Distribution: Proper weight distribution is crucial for maintaining stability and control while driving your RV. Be mindful of how you load your belongings and make sure to distribute the weight evenly to avoid swaying or tipping.
- Learn Safe Driving Techniques: RVs require a different set of driving skills compared to regular vehicles. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the handling and braking distances of your RV, and always drive at a safe speed to avoid accidents. Also, not all roadways are RV friendly, so be sure you’re taking time to plan your route according to your vehicle size.
- Prepare an Emergency Kit: Be prepared for unexpected situations by packing an emergency kit with essentials such as first aid supplies, any needed medications, tools, flashlights, and extra batteries. Having these items on hand can make a big difference in times of need. If there is a chance of severe weather, you’ll also want to be ready for power outages and limited access to resources, including food and water, for a period of time even after the storm clears.
- Use Safety Mechanisms like Surge Protectors and Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Safeguard your RV's electrical system from power surges by using surge protectors. Just imagine how many elements of your RV would be rendered useless if your power system went down. Dicor Power’s line of RV Surge Protectors were designed to shield against voltage spikes caused by faulty hookups or weather events to protect your RV investment.
You’ll also want to install a carbon monoxide detector in your RV to alert you of any dangerous levels of this odorless gas commonly used in RV furnaces, cooking appliances, and water heaters. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be deadly, so it's crucial to have a detector onboard for added safety just like you want smoke detectors on board. There are many dual sensors available that combine smoke and carbon monoxide detection in one unit.
- Monitor Weather Alerts: Stay informed about weather conditions in your area by monitoring local weather alerts and updates. Familiarize yourself not only with the county and town you’re in, but also the surrounding areas so you can understand the progress of the storm as news reports come in. And if necessary, have a plan in place for evacuation.
Also understand that if you are caught in bad weather while RVing that can mean having to spend extended amounts of time in your rig waiting for the weather to clear. In these cases, it can be incredibly advantageous to have ventilation components that will work in a range of weather conditions so that no matter what’s coming down outside, you are still able to maintain a certain level of comfort inside. Installing a Maxxair cover over your rooftop vent or powered fan means knowing that unit is now able to operate in any weather conditions.
- Know Your Insurance Coverage: Review your RV insurance policy to understand your coverage in case of storm damage. Consider adding comprehensive coverage for protection against weather-related incidents if your travel plans take you places inclement weather can happen.
- Protect your Personal Safety: When overnighting in your RV, consider the importance of window coverings when it comes to protecting your personal privacy. Be it cockpit shades, window treatments in the living areas, bathroom window coverings, bedroom shades, or door coverings; having quality RV window treatments is an important step to securing your personal privacy and safety while on the road.
- Invest in Professional Help: When dealing with complex components like propane systems or air conditioners, it's wise to seek professional assistance. These critical components can completely derail a trip if they go down, and there are also safety concerns involved when working with an explosive gas like propane or with electrical components. That’s one reason why Airxcel offers a free Service Center Locator, to help RV owners connect with qualified technicians in their area for routine maintenance or service work.
- Plan Ahead: For any RV road trip, you want to be knowledgeable about both the destination you’re heading to and the route you’re taking. For example, do you know when the peak of tornado season is in the Midwest? If you don’t, but your summer plans involve either travel to or travel through the region, that can be a problem that could manifest as unsafe conditions on the road. The better you plan for your trip, the more likely you are to have a smooth experience on the road, so invest the time beforehand to do research on your destination and route.
Additionally, many destinations can book-up or sell out during the busy season, making it of utmost importance that you plan ahead so you don’t find yourself vulnerable on the road with no place to stay.
By following these RV safety tips from Airxcel, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that you're taking the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones while on the road. Remember, safety should always come first when it comes to RV travel.