Traveling in an RV is a popular way to experience the United States, especially for longer road trips. An RV lets you explore the country in comfort and at a leisurely pace, and you don’t need hotel rooms, just an RV campsite. Here are some helpful tips to make sure you stay safe and properly insured while youre on the road.
Learn How to Drive the RV You Plan to Use
If you just purchased a new RV, make sure to practice driving it before you head out on your trip. And if you’re renting an RV, pick it up a few days early so you can get accustomed to driving it. RVs are much heavier, wider, and longer than a typical car, so they handle much differently than the car or truck you’re used to driving. Get used to how it accelerates, brakes, and turns. It’s a good idea to have a travel companion stand outside the vehicle to help guide you as you learn. Many accidents with RVs happen due to hitting tree limbs, picnic tables, or other items that were in the driver’s blind spot., which is much larger than that of a regular car.
RV Insurance and Road Service
It’s important to know what insurance coverage you have for your RV. Your regular personal auto policy won’t be enough. Like auto insurance, you are legally required to purchase a basic liability policy to cover you while you’re driving. But you will want comprehensive coverage for protection beyond the bare minimum, such as property coverage, replacement cost coverage, and coverage for damage caused by weather events. You will also need vacation liability coverage to protect you while using your RV as a vacation residence.
Before you leave, make sure to find roadside assistance services that specialize in RVs and cover the area where you will be travelling. Don’t automatically assume that your insurance policy includes all of the roadside assistance you might need. If you will be towing a trailer, make sure to include that, too, as not all RV insurance policies and roadside assistance services will include a trailer by default.
Check Road Conditions, Construction, and Closures
Before you leave for your trip, and each morning before you head out on the road, make sure to check road conditions, closures, and construction sites. The US DOT Federal Highway Administration website has a map showing current road conditions in each state. You will also need to be mindful of weight restrictions on overpasses and height restrictions on bridges and tunnels. Make sure to note the height and weight of your RV and avoid roads that cannot tolerate it.
Weather
Make sure to check the weather forecast each day, and pay attention to National Weather Service alerts that may pop up on your phone. Depending on where you are travelling, you could encounter rain, hail, fog, strong winds, wildfire smoke, or dust storms.
Motorhomes are your home-away-from-home while you’re travelling, and you need to have proper insurance coverage. The last thing you need to worry about is being financially liable for an accident on the road or damage to your vehicle due to weather or theft. And make sure you have the roadside assistance you need line dup before you head out on the road.
Kamm Insurance Group is an independent insurance agency and can provide coverage from many insurance carriers so you receive the RV insurance for your budget and needs!
Source: https://www.tripsavvy.com/safetip-tips-for-planning-rv-trip-500779