First RV trip/drive

One really nice thing about a motorhome is that you can easily stop and enjoy the house in bad weather. Our first trip early in the spring was through some high areas and we had a blizzard making travel difficult. We spent our first night in a rest stop, enjoying it very much.

Go slow. Don't freak out when someone's on your tail. Just pull over to let traffic pass when it's safe. Downshift. Stay off the brakes when possible. Start off with short distances.

In our RV - when the brakes are getting hot, I feel the front end shudder when applying the brakes. That's when I know to pull over and let things cool for 20 mins or so.


We were all newbies in our RVs at one time. :)

Thank you all for the suggestions. I am putting all the info together. I appreciate the help.

Lani

Use a GPS unit to help you prepare for merges and off ramps well in advance. If (horrors) you miss an off ramp, use the GPS to get you back on track, never risk a sudden unsafe lane change. Watch for vehicles ahead suddenly slowing or stopping, leave enough room between you and next guy to stop. Keep loose items secured so they can't fall from the overhead in a sudden stop. The glass thing in the microwave can fall out and break, stow it safely.

Tiger4x4RV wrote:
I agree with the person who said to first try a trip with less elevation change. The coast is nice. Perhaps Morro Bay.

The least traumatic route, though far from the shortest, to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is probably:

east via I-8 to Ocotillo, which has at least two lanes each way but sometimes high winds can affect high profile vehicles or even close the road. North on S-2 through the southern portions of the park. Or, adding many miles, North from El Centro on 86 and enter the park from the east side.

Next choice:
Go east via Ramona, turn north on 79 at Santa Ysabel. Turn right onto S-2, do not turn on the obvious S-22, go straight down the more gentle San Felipe Valley on S-2 to S-78. Turn left (east), proceed to Borrego Springs Road, go north (left) on that into the town. This route involves a lot of winding two-lane, but avoids the steepest grades and the big scary cliffs.

There is no route which is totally without trauma. Perhaps scout first with a daytrip in the car if you are really worried about getting there. Watch out for folks in a big hurry to get to the off-road areas.

I agree with what Tiger 4x4 RV Said, And I would say Morro Bay.

mikeleblanc413 wrote:
Know the feeling. However, sometimes the less treacherous roads are also less scenic.

HOWEVER.....I think he/she is showing a good measure of common sense for his first long drive. Safety is always more important than scenery.

IMHO, the ONLY way for a rookie to go through the mountains is on the Interstates.

My experience with a 30-foot C is that the narrow, winding steep roads are not what is treacherous. I've driven quite a few in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona. I find most of this mountain driving to be at rather low speeds, with speed well controlled by engine braking.

The really treacherous roads for a RV are crowded urban freeways with aggressive drivers trying to get around and ahead of you: passing on right, not yielding on merge, cutting across in front to brake hard for their last second exit. I'll route way around to avoid that traffic, but those are going to be really hard to avoid in Southern California.

If you enter Death Valley from the east and exit back the same way the road is fairly benign. I doubt you would enjoy coming in from 395 on the west or even just going out that way. The drop down to/climb back up and out of Panamint Springs is one seriously hairy road - 5,000' of sheer climb and drop, not many guard rails or shoulders but wow, what a view.

I too vote for first timers to stay on the relative flat of the coast. Morro Bay is awesome but Big Sur, north up to Monterey, also could be more of a challenge than you are currently seeking. Use the Tow Haul mode on anything but the flats and very minor downhills and you won't need to worry about shifting. Most "30 footers" are actually a lot closer to 33 or 34' with large blind spots. Good luck!

:C

Thank you all. Tiger., I greatly appreciate the detailed directions. Will also look up Morro Bay

You've got a great Holiday Strategy. Have a wonderful time!

I've only been to Death Valley out of the destinations you mention. It's been a few years, but I believe there was one overlook that was marked "NO RVs." If a location posts that, please consider it treacherous enough to avoid.

Other than that, I'd say go for it and have fun. Remember to turn a little later than you would in a car, AND that the rear swings out, opposite your turn. So, on a hard right in a two lane road, your back end may be in the oncoming lane

Soo many, Too many, gas stations are set up with the lanes facing the building and very hard for an RV to get through and out. Nothing wrong with deploying a spotter to make sure you're clearing everything. I'd rather look like a Noob than crunch something.