RVs are pretty popular as of late. It seems like everyone is chomping at the bit to buy one. And why not? The prospect of owning an RV and traveling the country in a Steinbeck-esque fashion is pretty attractive after all. But are RVs hard to drive? Well driving an RV definitely isn’t like driving a car, that’s for sure. 

It turns out RVs aren’t all that tricky to navigate

According to Camper Report, RVs can be surprisingly easy to drive. Of course, there is a learning curve when it comes to driving an RV. Go Downsize recommends having a good understanding of your RV’s turning radius. In many cases, Go Downsize reports, you’ll have to drive a little further out when making a right turn. You might also have to angle your RV in the opposite direction before making a turn. It’s important to give yourself extra braking distance too.

But the best way to get used to driving an RV? Getting behind the wheel of one, obviously. To build your confidence, try heading to an empty parking lot or quiet road. Doing so will give you a good understanding of how to maneuver your RV and make you feel more comfortable and confident every time you hit the road. 

But some RVs are harder to maneuver than others

While RVs can be relatively easy to drive, some RVs are harder to maneuver than others. According to Camper Report, longer RVs can be challenging to drive. If you’re not used to driving a longer RV, you should practice turning without swiping the vehicles on either side of your RV. Camper Report says that heavier RVs can be tough to keep control of too. Not only can they be harder to stop, but the weight is distributed differently than in a car, which will likely take some getting used to.

Keep these tips in mind when driving an RV

There are some things that you should keep in mind before getting behind the wheel of an RV. First things first, Go Downsize recommends double checking that everything in your RV is tightly secured before hitting the road. It’s important to inspect the exterior of your RV before heading out too. It’s much easier to tie things down or secure that loose part before you leave for your destination, rather than when you’re half way there.

Camper Report recommends being conscientious of everyone around you and having a good understanding of where your blind spots are as well. Keeping a good distance between you and the vehicle in front of you is also important, especially since RVs typically take longer to stop than cars do. Keep your speed in check too. It can be harder to manuever a fast moving, heavy RV, especially once it really gets moving.

And, as always, be courteous to other drivers. The prospect of driving in close proximity to an RV can be daunting for some, so don’t do things like tailgate or honk your horn. Keep in mind that the safer you drive, the safer your passengers and those around you will be too.

What’s the easiest RV drive?

At this point, you might be wondering what the easiest RV to drive is. Unfortunately, that tends to vary. In the end, the best way to determine how difficult a particular RV is to drive, is to actually get behind the wheel of it.