Your search for suitable diesel motor homes for sale is a testimony to your passion about mountains. Thanks to their higher torque, diesel rigs are just ideal for driving through the hilly terrains. Windy roads, steep ascend, sudden turns – all make high altitude driving a challenging task for a new RV-er. However, with proper safety tips, mountain driving becomes a wonderful and exhilarating experience for an outdoor enthusiast.
Keep Slow, Yield a Better Control
When you are driving in the mountains always maintain a slow speed. This will give you better control over your 40 feet long behemoths. It may take a little longer to reach your destination, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
Drive along the Right Lanes
While driving through the hilly roads, don’t move along its center. Always keep to the right side of the road. This will give you more time and more space to move your huge rig whenever you meet a vehicle coming from the other direction.
Apply the Brake Properly
While moving downhill, maintain a consistent speed throughout. Slamming the brake every now and then is not an option – step on your brake pedal only when you are shifting down to a lower gear. Zooming down a hill may give you some good deal of adrenaline rush, but avoid the urge at all cost. Frequent application of brake makes them hot, affecting their efficiency after a certain point of time, and this may prove dangerous on a hilly road, as it may mean a free-fall along a steep path.
Consider the Vehicles behind You
The thumb rule for mountain driving is you should give an overtaking vehicle adequate time to make it back to its original lane. Since vehicles tend to lose their horsepower at higher altitudes, a car may take more time to cover a distance of the mountains than at sea levels.
Slowing Down
Abrupt stoppage or sudden slow-down can be suicidal in a mountain road. Before you slow down, check in the rearview mirrors the amount of traffic behind you. If you notice there are more than three cars behind you, drive on till you find a safe pullout spot. Stop there and let the vehicles pass. Remember, in many states, inconveniencing other motorists by halting abruptly may lead to a traffic penalty.
Road Courtesy
Following road courtesy is crucial for ensuring the safety of yourself as well as others on the road. For example, when you are driving at night or under poor visibility conditions, dim your high beams as soon as you spot the headlight of an approaching car. Failure to do so may hamper the other driver’s vision, ultimately leading to a collision.
A Few Words of Caution
- Refrain from driving when you are tired. If you are the only person in the party who can drive, you should take frequent breaks to invigorate your fatigued muscles. If there are more drivers in the group, divide the task among yourselves. Everybody will then be able to get their share of time to relax and enjoy the scenery.
- In high altitudes, weather conditions may change abruptly. If you are aware of your surroundings, you can change your driving accordingly. Your alertness can be a lifesaver in the mountains.
- The thin air in high altitude tends to dehydrate you too quickly, so keep on sipping plain water or energy drinks while driving.
- Before setting off, make sure that the brake is in perfect working condition. Refill brake and transmission fluids if you have not changed them of late.
If you are passionate about scaling heights, touching the clouds and getting closer to the sky, a well-maintained diesel motor home for sale can help you get one step closer to your dream holiday in the mountains. Designed for unique maneuverability, these huge rigs can be your best friend when the terrains turn rough and rocky. However, refer to our tips and stay safe while driving.
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