Safe Breaking for your RV

You already know that driving an RV is not like driving a Honda Civic. Whether you have a motor coach, tow-behind or a fifth wheel, your rig weighs much more than a standard car. And if your rig involves a tow vehicle like a truck, you've got the weight of that to consider, too. An accident involving an RV of any kind can cause much more damage and cost far more than an accident involving a standard truck or car.

An RV can't stop on a dime, and that presents a safety hazard. Here are a few things you can do to minimize risk and improve your chances of stopping successfully while on the road.

1. Lose weight
Yes, we're all trying to do this, but I'm talking about your rig. Remember Newton's first law of motion? (An object in motion tends to stay in motion). Well, the more weight traveling forward at 55 or 60 mph, the longer it's going to take to stop all that stuff that wants to remain in motion. Can you travel without that full weight set? Can you fill up with water at your destination, rather than dragging a full tank with you? Go through your rig and jettison anything you haven't used in the past two seasons. This is one of the simplest (and cheapest) ways to improve your braking safety.

2. Check your brakes and main braking system
Have your brakes checked by a certified mechanic before your next trip. Brakes are built of many different parts that all have to work together to get you to a standstill. Pads and shoes, drums and rotors, discs, brake lines, suspension, and even the lug nuts on your wheels should be double-checked. Don't forget to verify that your tires are properly inflated, too. Replace anything that's overly worn; if you see anything more than minor lines in the discs, for instance, it's time for replacement.

3. Ease up!
Slow down, and add extra space between your rig and the car in front. Yes, with that extra space, people will cut in front of you. That's pretty much a given. Don't get mad. If you leave for your trip understanding that it will happen, it makes it easier to let off on the gas because you know the guy who just cut in front of you is far more likely to get in an accident or receive a citation than you are. Remember that old saying: "Better late down here than early up there."

4. Consider a supplemental braking system
If you tow a vehicle, consider adding a supplemental braking system. A trailer, fifth wheel, or even tow-behind car can be outfitted with a supplemental braking system that's tied into your main vehicle's system. When the brakes are applied in your main vehicle (truck or coach), it activates the braking system on the tow-behind. This puts much less strain on your main vehicle's brakes, improves the life and efficiency of the main brakes, and gives you shorter stopping distances, since two sets of brakes are working to slow you down. You will still not match the braking distance of a standard vehicle, however, so the greater distances between vehicles on the road must be maintained.

5. Become comfortable with other methods of slowing down
You can shift into a lower gear to slow down. Never try this for the first time at highway speeds! Practice in an area of little or no traffic, preferably on a smooth, flat, dry road at low or medium speeds. Shift to a lower gear, and gently apply your brakes in a light, pulsing motion. Using this method of engine compression-braking can extend the life of your brakes, but should never be used as a primary braking method or in an emergency.

You use your RV for fun and relaxation. Even the best trip in the world will be ruined by an accident on the way home, so keep those following distances large and your brakes tuned up!