Driving a motorhome is a simple process of practice makes perfect. You’ll soon get used to driving a large campervan or motorhome and in no time be manoeuvring confidently in even the tightest car parks. To give you a headstart, read on to find out all about the unique experience of owning and driving your very own motorhome.
Higher
Don’t be caught out by height restricted car parks by memorising the height of your camper. You can either measure the height of the vehicle or check its spec sheet online or in the owner’s manual. Always be on the lookout for height restrictions and even for low lying branches.
Height will also affect the performance of your camper when there are strong winds. Be particularly careful on exposed roads – and roads that are susceptible to crosswinds. Read the road signs and look for a black sock flag symbol within a red triangle. This is the road sign that recommends slowing down in high winds.
Longer
Turning and parking is made more difficult by the length of a motorhome. If your motorhome has an overhang that continues past the rear wheels, then you must be extra careful. When travelling, try to find areas with dedicated campervan parking spots.
To make parking easier, there are many products on the market that will help you. Before the days of parking sensors, extra mirrors made light work of parking a large vehicle. Spot mirrors to cover your blind spots and a downward facing rear windscreen mirror are good places to start.
Heavier
The girth of a campervan means extra weight, which means longer braking distances, a higher centre of gravity and a general tendency to plow up surfaces like cottage cheese – whether that’s a muddy field or a historic, cobblestoned high street. Bear all these things in mind when driving your vehicle. Also, use engine braking on long hilly descents to avoid overheating the brakes.
Thirstier
Check that fuel gauge often to avoid embarrassing walks to the nearest pumps! To use less fuel, read up on efficient methods of driving and you’ll save hundreds of pounds annually.
Other Considerations
You’ll want to carry lots of loose camping equipment in your campervan, which means it’s best to store these items securely before you drive away. Also, the majority of campervans and motorhomes have manual gearboxes. This is the most versatile option and allows the driver to adapt the gear changes to the road and conditions. However, if you only have an automatic license, you’ll have to find a motorhome with an automatic gearbox.
Glenns Motorhomes provide quality campervans and motorhomes in Nottingham, Chesterfield and Derby. All of our pre-owned motorhomes have been thoroughly checked by our experienced team of mechanics for their safe and reliable operation. We even offer on-commission sales if you’re looking for a reliable sales team to handle the tendering of your beloved motorhome. For more information about any of our services, contact our friendly team today. We’re always happy to help.
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