Motor homes used for family pleasure and long distance travel are priceless. There is no feeling more liberating than hitting the open road in your RV and not dealing with the stresses of schedules, airlines, hotels and restaurants. However, when you travel, there are a few safety tips that one should adhere to. One of these items is to check your tires on a regular basis to make sure that they are in good condition and worthy to travel the open road.
Many times, RV travelers don’t realize that they are being kept off of the road by inflated rubber tires, and that all of them are completely necessary to arrive at your destination safely. If you don’t keep track of the condition of your tires, you could experience a blow out. This, at best, will put you in the break-down lane of the highway. At worst, you could end up in an accident, suffering sever consequences.
Pedata has issued a list of safety tips for travelers. Most of the items are just common sense, but we can all use a reminder from time to time to exercise our “common sense muscles!”
- Choose a Shady Spot to Park – As the temperature rises, the air in your RV tires expands. In fact, for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit that the air temperature in your tires increases, the inflation pressure can increase to one pound per square inch.
- Check Fluid Levels – This check should include topping off the windshield cleaner fluid, the brake and transmission fluids as well as the motor oil.
- Tire Rotation – This important safety precaution is simply a matter of changing the position of each tire on the vehicle to maximize and even out the wear on the tires. This step should be taken approximately every 7,000 miles, or every six months; whichever comes first.
- Check Brakes and Pads – Close monitoring of your brakes, pads and shoes is very important. Your brakes are nothing to take lightly, especially when you are traveling mountainous roads and highways.
- No Over Weighted Loads – Hauling too much weight in your RV can eventually cause the deformation of your tires. Check the owner’s manual for the recommended maximum weight capacity.
- Carry the Proper Supplies – Be sure that in the event of a flat tire, you have the proper tools to fix it, such as a jack and a lug wrench.
- Use the Proper Tires – Choose a tire that offers lower rolling resistance. This will improve fuel efficiency by minimizing wasted energy as the tires roll. This will ultimately lead to savings for the traveler.
Pedata RV Center offers used motorhomes for sale, as well as used RVs, travel trailers, fifth wheels, and campers. Their full inventory is accessible online, and due to their low overhead costs they are able to offer some of the most competitive pricing in their industry.