2017/2018 148 Snowbirds & RV Travelers - Dec/Jan

Driving Skills
JAYCO DEALERS
RV WINTER
DRIVING
REMINDER
By STEVE ROCK
BIG BOY’S TOYS
1421 East Island Hwy
Parksville, British Columbia
1-800-492-2869
www.bigboystoys.ca
FRASERWAY RV LP
9039 Quartz Road
Whitehorse, YT Y1A 4Z5
1-867-668-3438
www.fraserway.com
DRIVING A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE-SIZED RV
through a Canadian winter to reach sunnier climes can
often be stressful, but adopting a professional attitude
before you turn the ignition key will make a significant
difference between being an average driver and being
a good driver. Being a better driver, in turn, is bound to
make a positive difference to the trip for you and your
passengers should bad weather hit.
The vehicle has been serviced, possessions are
packed, and the route double-checked, but are you
ready to operate an RV in adverse conditions? RV drivers
can often choose when to travel, but professional drivers
don’t have that luxury and so they should be prepared
to operate in all situations, plus they have a responsibility
to do it safely, as should you.
Thoroughly circle your RV and check for issues. It
doesn’t matter that it just came out of the shop, lights
can blow, and oil leaks can occur on even the most
rigorously maintained vehicle at any time, so get in
the habit of doing a daily under-hood check and walkaround.
It’s a legal requirement for the professional
driver, but for the RV driver, it helps to protect your
investment.
Tires are often forgotten, and it’s not so much the
tread depth we’re concerned about, but more the tire
type and operating pressure. Pressures change with
ambient air temperatures -roughly 1psi for every 10°F,
so it’s important to check them several times during the
trip, as under and over-inflated tires can seriously affect
the vehicle’s braking and handling capabilities. Also,
remember that even though snow tires are available,
most RV’s are fitted with highway (summer) tires that
don’t have a winter tread pattern or compound, which
makes them unsuitable for driving on snow and ice.
Most commercial trucks don’t have snow tires
either, but they do have a weight advantage. Being
heavier enables the vehicle to bite down through the
snow to find traction. This is great to get going, but
unfortunately, it’s a significant disadvantage when it
comes to cornering or stopping when inertia usually
overpowers the capability of the summer rubber. Your
saving grace here is to employ defensive driving techniques;
truckers that are piloting an 80,000-pound
rig can’t stop on a dime in the best of conditions
and need to drive defensively to remain in complete
control of the vehicle. Using your wealth of driving
experience, you know that the green light ahead will
soon be changing to red, and you can also ‘read’ the
actions of other motorists around you, enabling you
to adjust your driving accordingly and in plenty of
time. Smooth and steady steering, acceleration, and
braking are essential to keep a large vehicle under
control in adverse conditions.
Good all-around observation is also essential, and
the mirrors should be kept clean and set correctly to
achieve this. A small spray bottle of windshield washer
fluid and a squeegee will keep the muck off, and you
should make mirror adjustments so that you can see
what’s going on behind and alongside you. If there’s
more than a small strip of sky along the top of the
mirror or more than a tiny column of vehicle visible
on the inside edge, then the mirrors aren’t set quite
right. You’ll never eliminate the vehicle’s blind-spots,
but correct mirror adjustment will go a long way to
reducing them.
Nothing is ever guaranteed, but careful preparation,
a patient, professional attitude, combined with
smooth and steady driving should ensure your RV trip
through another Canadian winter is an uneventful
one, and that your knuckles aren’t as white as the
snow you’ve just driven through when you reach your
destination.
TRAVELAND RV SUPERSTORE
Sainte-Hélène, Trois-Rivières,
Châteauguay, Saguenay, Laval
1-888-791-2727
www.roulotte.ca
RV SALES
7610 Sparrow Drive
Leduc, Alberta
1-780-986-1333
www.rvcity.ab.ca
RV SALES, PARTS & SERVICE
8704 100 St,
Morinville, Alberta
1-888-438-8588
www.rvcity.ab.ca
SMITH RV CENTRE
940 Cobalt Crescent
Thunder Bay, ON
1-807-346-9399
www.smithsrvcentre.com
VOYAGER RV CENTRE
9250 Hwy 97
Winfield, British Columbia
1-800-668-1447
www.VoyagerRV.ca
54 SNOWBIRDS & RV TRAVELERS December 2017/January 2018