Hitting the Road this Easter Long Weekend?

Vehicle Weight and Weight Distribution

Taking all the creature comforts of home with you on your travels is becoming more common for the RV enthusiast – we don’t like to go without; so why should we? And a common mistake many make is packing more than what’s really required. We have all been guilty at some point of overpacking and taking personal items that didn’t get any use – no matter how big or small.

So why does this matter? If you overpack and add more weight to your vehicle than it is allowed to legally carry, it will create an unsafe and unstable vehicle which will increase the risk of on-road incidents. It’s also worth noting that people caught overloading their RVs will be faced with hefty fines and void insurance policies.

While we’re on the topic of vehicle weight, it’s important to note that the distribution of the load you carry will also affect the stability of your RV. For those towing a caravan or camper trailer, the way in which you load your RV will affect the tow ball weight and balance of the vehicle. It’s best to keep heavy items centralised over the axles or with lighter items balanced out with some up front and some down the back. A correctly loaded caravan/trailer will make it easier to handle and will also reduce stress on components such as brakes, tyres, and suspension.

Obviously, tow ball weight isn’t an issue if you own a motorhome, but we’ve still got some valuable advice when it comes to safe loading. The same principle of a low centre of gravity applies. Be sure to load your heavy items down low, with lighter items up high. And don’t forget to pack everything away. While something not secured can be noisy and annoying, it can also easily become a forward firing missile in the event of an accident.

Tyres

We can’t stress enough how important it is to check your tyres before each trip. Tyres are often forgotten, leading to serious incidents on our roads. Checking your tyre pressure is an absolute must. Tyres on RVs typically carry more weight than standard vehicles which makes it even more important to have the correct tyre pressure. The tyre placard will stipulate the recommended tyre pressure for your rig, and we recommend checking your tyre pressures before heading off on your trip.

It is also worth noting that tyres degrade with age. Even if they look near new and have plenty of tread, they may be unsafe to drive on. Several factors lead to tyre degradation including sunlight and heat, so it is worthwhile getting them checked for degradation annually if they are more than five years old.

Rest

Driving any RV is a lot more strenuous than a standard passenger vehicle, making rest even more important. Whether you’re travelling a short or long distance, always ensure you have had adequate sleep beforehand. And it’s important to avoid driving at times when you would usually be asleep. Driver fatigue is one of the top three contributors to the road toll, with a lack of sleep making you less alert and affecting your coordination, judgement, and reaction time. It is also important to factor in rest breaks into any trip when driving for extended lengths of time. We recommend planning to stop for 15 minutes every two hours.

If you experience any signs of fatigue, please pull over somewhere safe. A short 20-minute nap works best – if you have the opportunity. We suggest sharing the responsibility of driving as a way to avoid excessive fatigue. For this reason, it’s important that your travelling companion also has the ability to drive or tow your RV – especially in situations where the main driver would be unable to drive so you don’t find yourself stuck.

Download the rvSafe Checklist App

The few things we have addressed only cover a fraction of safety checks and things you should do in preparation of a trip. If you’re unsure about all the things you should be doing, download our free rvSafe Checklist app. Here you can access a detail safety checklist tailored to the type of RV you drive including caravan, motorhome, camper trailer, bus, slide-on and motorhome with a secondary vehicle. Our app also features a customisable packing list, so you don’t forget anything important. Search rvSafe in the App Store and Google Play Store today.