In this blog post, we will answer the following question: How far can you drive an RV in a day? We will discuss how many hours you can drive an RV in a day before taking a break, and other important data and tips for a safe drive.
How far can you drive an RV in a day?
It is recommended to drive no more than 500 miles (800 km) with an RV in a day. Driving a motorhome is not the same as driving a car. The first thing to keep in mind is that, regardless of whether it is a camper van, a trailer type caravan or an RV, we are literally talking about travelling with the house in tow and that, of course, compromises driving behaviour and the braking system of the vehicle.
Visibility is different too, if only because of the size of these RVs. Therefore, it is always advisable to do a pre-test drive before embarking on a long trip, to familiarize yourself with the vehicle and get used to its reactions. Even better if you do it with the vehicle loaded.
Here a few more things to keep in mind before making long trips with an RV:
- Choose an energy-efficient RV. Some models consume 14 to 16 litres per 100 km, which is almost half that of more fuel-hungry models.
- Use the GasBuddy app. Enter your route in this app and it will calculate the total cost of your trip while suggesting places to refuel at good prices.
- Choose a less distant destination. Obviously, the shorter your trip, the less fuel it will cost you.
- Travel light. The more you carry a large load of items of all kinds, the more gasoline it takes to move that weight. There’s probably no shortage of space, but be selective anyway.
- Slow down. Adopt the good habit of driving at 80-90 km / h.
- Consider taking advantage of rewards points. By paying for gasoline by credit card, you will accumulate rewards program points linked to your card.
When planning the route, it must be taken into account that in most cases you will not be able to circulate as fast as with a car. Therefore, you must count and schedule longer travel times. Still, the same tips apply when travelling by car: take regular breaks and, if necessary, plan a change of driver.
And one last important tip: do not blindly trust the directions of the navigator, because it can put you through streets that are too narrow for a motorhome.
How many hours can you drive an RV in a day?
Not only is it necessary to rest during a trip, but it must be done for a long time and take advantage of it to stretch the legs. The time between stops varies depending on the conditions, but an average of two hours, two and a half hours can be estimated. The body loses its faculties due to fatigue and driving and, especially on fast roads, it can be monotonous and general fatigue.
Tiredness causes inattention, less precision in movements and errors in decisions. Under normal conditions, it takes a motorist a second to react to an unforeseen event. Fatigued, it can take twice as long. This means that if you are travelling at a speed of 75 mph you will travel a distance of 66 meters before pressing the brakes or turning the steering wheel.
What are the ideal driving times?
Ideal driving times should not exceed five continuous hours during the day and four hours at night. In the case of drivers of passenger transport service vehicles, they must not exceed the daily, weekly or monthly limits and must also respect their hours of rest, to prevent possible health problems.
Uninterrupted driving: The maximum uninterrupted driving time is 4 and a half hours. After this time, the ideal is to rest for at least 45 minutes in a row, without interruption.
If it is impossible to rest for 45 minutes, the driver must, at least, make interruptions of 15 minutes at different destinations along the way, as deemed convenient to reach the recommended number of minutes.
Daily driving: According to studies, the maximum daily driving time should not exceed 9 hours, except twice a week which could reach 10 hours.
After six days of daily driving, the driver must take a weekly break.
Biweekly driving: Driving time in two consecutive weeks cannot exceed 90 hours.
If in one week you drive for 56 hours (the ideal maximum allowed), in the next you can only drive for 34 hours, since the sum of both reaches the maximum of 90 hours.
Recommended break times for drivers: If you are very tired, it is best not to drive in this condition, fatigue can be similar to a state of intoxication in terms of loss of reflexes. You have to take into account the number of hours of rest prior to the next day at the wheel.
Daily rest: Within 24 hours a day the driver must have a daily rest of ten to eleven consecutive hours. However, the daily rest can be reduced to 9 consecutive hours as well.
The 11-hour uninterrupted rest can be replaced by a consecutive 8-hour rest in two or three periods during the 24 hours.
After driving for six consecutive days, the driver should take a break of 45 uninterrupted hours, which can be reduced to 24, if he is in a population other than the city of origin.
The bottom line
When it comes to RV driving, the driver must rest for at least two hours between each driving shift during a trip. Likewise, the driver must not drive more than twelve accumulated hours in a 24-hour period.
It is best to take into account the ideal number of hours to drive, in this way you can drive calmly, in addition to avoiding fatigue, stress, and even accidents.
Please let us know if you have any further questions or comments about the content.
FAQ on How far can you drive an RV in a day?
How long should you drive?
According to studies, the maximum daily driving time should not exceed 9 hours, except twice a week which could reach 10 hours. After six days of daily driving, the driver must take a weekly break
How many hours can a vehicle be running?
Taking a break every two hours is most recommended. Not only is it necessary to rest during a trip, but it must be done for a long time and take advantage of it to stretch the legs. The time between stops varies depending on the conditions, but an average of two hours, two and a half hours can be estimated.
How do you know if an RV can take a long trip?
To know if an RV can take a long trip you must:
- Check the engine.
- Measure the engine oil.
- Check the other liquids
- Check the clamps and other pipes that connect to the engine and radiator.
- Check the lights.
- Check the condition of the shock absorbers and suspension.
- Check the tire pressure.
- Check the battery.
What happens if I leave my RV’s engine running overnight?
The problem is that this creates considerable fuel waste. In turn, it increases engine wear. Do you want to save gas, money, extend the life of your car, pollute less and take care of your health?
