Driving an RV or towing a camper can be a serious challenge in winter conditions. With snow and ice on the road, maintaining a safe pace while keeping your vehicle under control is challenging. It becomes a delicate balance that requires close attention when conditions are poor.

With some guidance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, some reminders will guide you through winter driving. They call it the “Three P’s,” which stand for Prepare, Protect, and Prevent.

To prepare, you must ensure that your RV or tow vehicle can be operated during winter conditions, starting with vehicle and trailer maintenance. This includes the batteries, keeping the windows cleared, the washer fluid full, and adding anti-freeze to your cooling system. You also want to have some items on hand, such as jumper cables, sand or kitty litter, ice scraper, and snow brush.

If you are stalled or stopped due to weather, please stay with your vehicle and keep warm. You may want to have a flashlight on hand, in case you need it.

When you are setting off on your winter trip, plan accordingly. Check weather reports to determine a route that will be safe for you to travel. While you are at it, try practicing cold-weather driving in your RV or trailer-vehicle combination. Daytime hours are the best for optimal visibility. Also, learn how to control your vehicle when traction is lost, including steering into a skid. Allow more time to stop your vehicle, too, keeping in mind that the extra length and size of your RV will require a much more strategic, longer stop than an average vehicle.

You must also protect yourself from anything that comes your way, starting with fastening your seatbelt. Seatbelts also help prevent further injury inside your vehicle. If you have children, make sure they sit in the rear seats of your vehicle. Child seats should never be placed in front of an airbag. Also, it’s smart to never let anyone ride inside a towable camper.

Preventing accidents is a major consideration during the winter, especially when you are towing a trailer or driving your RV. The first thing to consider is to always drive sober. That means never driving while drunk or under the influence of any illicit drugs. Also consider slowing down and keeping a longer distance between you and other vehicles in your lane. Keep your eyes out for pedestrians walking on the side of the road. If you happen to be tired while driving, please take a break or have another licensed driver take over behind the wheel.

These tips are based on common sense, as well as the laws of our region. At Valley RV Supercenter, we believe that our customers know the challenge of driving during the winter across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. If you have any further questions about caring for your RV during this time of year, please contact us.

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