Tips for Driving an RV in the Rain
TL;DR: When driving an RV in heavy rain, ensure preparedness with supplies. Check tires, wipers, and headlights for optimal visibility. Drive cautiously, maintaining distance, and using headlights. Use 4WD for towable RVs. Adapt to regional weather patterns and exercise judgment, pulling over if necessary with a backup plan in place.
Heavy rainstorms or thunderstorms can present additional challenges when driving or towing an RV. As with driving any vehicle in inclement weather, caution must be taken, and RVs are no exception to that rule. We’ve covered the best tips for driving your RV during winter weather, but rainstorms should be treated cautiously as well. While it is wisest to wait out any inclement weather when traveling in your RV, sometimes weather can quickly change course, and knowing what to do if this takes place is essential. See the tips below for suggestions for driving in any type of heavy rain or storms.
Supplies
It’s best to be prepared before heading onto the road. After all, flash floods or downed trees can strand travelers for undetermined amounts of time. Stock up on groceries, drinking water, fuel, propane, and anything else you need, just in case you become stranded at a rest area, for instance. Thankfully, most RV refrigerators run off of propane, and most cooking can be done off of propane as well. It’s also important that your RV has an emergency roadside kit with flares and reflectors. This is helpful anytime you drive your RV, should you need to pull over on the side of the road for any amount of time. While special tires or tire accessories are not required for driving in the rain, it’s still important to check them before driving at all, but especially during inclement weather. Be sure to check your RVs tires using our handy guide to ensure your tires are properly filled and are not past their expiration. It’s imperative to have good traction when the roads are wet. Check the quality of your wiper blades before hitting the road to ensure they will provide you with the best-possible vision. Depending on how often they’re used, windshield wiper blades may need to be replaced yearly. If they’re just a little dirty, grab a towel to wipe them off to enhance their wiping abilities. Additionally, RVers can consider using RainX or other repellants on their windshield to increase visibility. Lastly, be sure to check your headlights before driving in the rain to ensure maximum visibility.