Everyone loves going camping — it’s a pastime for many Americans, and there’s nothing like getting back in touch with nature. With that being said, many people avoid camping simply because they’re afraid of really “roughing it”. That’s okay — there’s nothing to be ashamed of if you don’t like traditional camping, or if you don’t yet feel confident in your ability to do so. This doesn’t mean that you and your family have to miss out on camping entirely. This is why many people take trailers on their camping trips. There are so many benefits to going camping with an RV, as you’ll discover below. With that being said, you need to take your RV seriously. It’s certainly not a toy, and for that matter there’s a big difference between an RV and a typical vehicle. An RV is much larger than your average car, it has more wheels to deal with, and it often needs to be driven over rocky, unpaved areas. For that matter, an RV is a vehicle you’ll be concerned about more than any other — because it will carry your loved ones. In order to have the safest journey possible with your RV, you may want to invest in safety measures like an RV sway control system and electric trailer brake controllers. Electric trailer brake controllers could be the difference between a fun trip and total disaster. Let’s look into using RVs, how we can do so as safely as possible.
RVs: How We Use Them, And Why
So, what is the big difference between using an RV and piling your family into a minivan? An RV combines living quarters with travel. You don’t have to load up an RV with a tent, and you don’t have to worry about cooking over a campfire, as many RVs are equipped not only with living quarters but cooking and dining areas. Perhaps the main reason why people love RVs as much as they do is that they come with built-in bathrooms, something that anyone going camping worries about. There are two categories of RVs — motorhomes, which obviously are motorized, and towables, which are towed behind a car, van, or pickup truck. The towable RVs clearly lack some of the convenience of motorhomes, but many people nonetheless prefer them due to the fact that they can carry more at times. For that matter, their limitations can be overcome through electric trailer brake controllers and trailer sway control. People just love RVs, period. It’s estimated that there are about 30 million RV enthusiasts in the country, including RV renters. With that being said, there’s a difference between simply driving an RV, and driving an RV safely.
RV Safety: The Basics
As with any large vehicle, you need to be at the top of your game when using an RV. You should first take into account how many people are traveling in a single trip, and how much weight the RV will have to withstand. Weight distribution systems should be applied if your trailer weight is at least 50% of the weight of your vehicle. This can be done through weight distribution hitches. There are two weight ratings: the gross trailer weight and the tongue weight. Furthermore, you should be certain about how you’re using your electric trailer brake controllers. This involves checking your trailer feed. Usually blue, the wire connects the brake controller to the six to seven way trailer connector to the back of the tow vehicle. When it comes to sway control, there are two different devices to take into account. The two types are those that reduce sway and those that work to prevent sway completely. Finally before driving you should inspect the brake drum surface. Be aware of any excessive wear or heavy scoring — if wear marks are worn more than .020 inches or the drum has worn out of a round by .015 inches then the drum surface should be turned.
