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RV
Manual We are developing an online Manual so that you may enjoy your RV to it's fullest. This is a work in progress and is subject to change at any given time. It is also a generic peace of work and is meant only as a general guide, it should not be taken as absolute fact. Each RV is distinct and individual in it's own right, do not take anything written here literally as it may or may not apply to the exact RV you will be using. Some information provided in these pages are only suggestions. Please read Your RV page as we have more helpful information.
We recommend not driving at all if there is serious weather facing you. Fog, snow storms and dust storms that limit visibility are perhaps the most dangerous. We all hear of the massive pileups that happen during these kinds of conditions. It is far better to get there a day later than it is to risk getting in one of those accidents. If you have to drive in heavy rain, snow, ice, or dust, slow down and keep to the right. Find a careful truck driver that is going a sane speed and follow him with a 7 second following distance, or just so you can see his tail lights. This is still dangerous and you should use all the illumination available and increase your vigilance. RV'ers should be able to just not drive when the conditions are bad. If you do drive on slick roads, having practiced steering out of a possible spin, is a very useful skill. It is taught at race driving schools using special vehicles with outrigger wheels so that the vehicle will not roll over. If your rear end is spinning to the right then steer right. If left then steer left and be ready to correct just when the spin stops or you will just spin around the other way. This can happen if you are on very slick surfaces and you happen to lock the rear wheels braking. Some of the newer RVs have ABS antilock braking systems and you should try using them when you have a controlled situation like a very wide side street with no cars of obstacles. Stomp on the brakes and hold them down even though they pulsate the pedal under your foot. They are designed to get maximum braking without sliding the wheels. Weather and road conditions can be unpredictable, so you must adjust your speed for these varying situations. You must have traction in order to steer or brake, and there are scenarios which will drastically reduce it. When driving on slippery surfaces, slow down! On a wet road, reduce your speed by about one-third; on packed snow — by one-half or more; on ice — reduce your speed to a crawl and stop driving as soon as you can safely do so. On wet highways, be on guard against "hydroplaning". This phenomenon may occur at speeds as low as 30 MPH, and is more likely to occur if your tire pressure is low or the tread is worn. Remember, it doesn’t take much water on the surface of the road to cause your rig to begin hydroplaning. If it happens, don’t use the brake. Reduce your speed by taking your foot off the throttle and try to keep things going in a straight line. Once you’ve regained traction, keep your speed down. |
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