An RV journey is always memorable, but you should take precautions so you only make the good kinds of memories. Things can go wrong if you’re unprepared, whether they be roadside emergencies, injuries, or frustrating loss of communication. There are a few best practices you can implement to avoid these issue, so read this brief guide from Country Road RV of Sundre to learn everything you need to know about safe RV travelling. If you ever have any other questions or need repairs, feel free to come visit us at our dealership in Sundre, Alberta. We also sell a great selection of travel trailers and other RVs, so stop on in whenever you need a new vehicle for your next trip!
Important Safety Equipment
No matter the travel type, you need some good equipment that’ll keep you safe and comfortable throughout. For instance, although this sounds obvious, make sure you bring sunglasses, sunscreen, and bug spray. They might not seem like safety items, protecting your eyes and skin is vital when you plan to be out in the sun for a weekend. And let’s face it, bug bites are just annoying. Also, make sure you bring along a first aid kit. This will help you out in case of emergencies, because you never want to be caught without bandages and a way to clean up cuts and scrapes. Finally, consider bringing some two-way radios along. You won’t always have phone service, and if you’re taking multiple vehicles, it’s always nice.
Keeping Emergency Equipment on Hand
Aside from safety gear, you’ll also need some good equipment for serious emergencies. For one thing, you should get a good roadside emergency kit. These things have plenty of tools for basic repairs, as well as some extra first aid equipment. Keep in mind that some of these packages aren’t as great as others, and it’s worth spending a little extra cash for a kit that’ll help you out of any tight spot. Aside from this kit, also make sure you have a fire extinguisher. Fires can happen just as easily in a trailer as they do in a house, and they’re equally devastating. In fact, the compact design of an RV creates ideal conditions for a small fire to spread quickly, so if you have an extinguisher close by, you can douse it before it does serious damage. Make sure to have one in the kitchen, one in a storage compartment, and maybe one in the outdoor apartment in case of exterior fires.
Road Safety
Finally, after being prepared properly, you should keep a few safety tips in mind before hitting the road. Towing a trailer is much different from just driving a car, because the brakes and handling are much harder to control. Specifically, an RV has air brakes instead of an ABS, and these generate stopping power the longer you hold down the pedal, rather than through applying more pressure. This means you’ll have to start stopping well before you need to completely halt, and hold the pedal down consistently throughout the process. As far as handling goes, wind blows trailers around easily, taking corners too sharp can cause you to tip, and you have to account for the extra length when pulling out of parking lots and intersections. To drive safely with these warnings, just remember to drive slow. Don’t let yourself get above 55 mph on the highway, and always keep an eye on the back of your trailer during turns.
Ensuring you have all the necessary equipment is key to smooth travels in an RV, and you need to remember all the basic safety tips every time you hit the road. This guide will help you out with the basics, and if you have any other questions, come visit us at Country Road RV in Sundre, Alberta. We serve customers from Canmore, Cochrane, Lethbridge, and Edmonton, as well as Calgary, Airdrie, Red Deer, and Kamloops, Alberta, so never hesitate to check out our inventory if you’re from any of these areas!
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