Forum Discussion

caseffie's avatar
caseffie
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015

Leaving seat while driving

Newbie here to RVing. In making plans to hit the road with our motorhome, much discusion has been generated about moving about the cabin while driving.

One group talks about the wife getting up to prepare meals while on the road, use the bathroom, or her sleeping in the bed while husband is driving.

Another party was horrified at the thought, and insisted that they all remain seated and buckled up while driving, just like in a car.

What do you experienced travelers do?

And despite the intimidating size, are you as protected in a MH as you are in a semi? Everyone knows that generally in a dispute, the semi wins. Do you win in a MH too?
  • Passengers will move about from time to time for various reasons. Is it safe? Probably not the smartest thing to do. Is it legal? I suppose it varies by state. Here in SC my understanding is no. Will you get caught doing so? Bet not.

    I have heard of cases where the pilot and copilot will swap seats while in motion. Again not too bright but does happen.
  • If you leave your seat while traveling...don't forget to activate the Cruise Control.............

    Seriously, wife likes to make lunch and such when we're running the road. No problems. We pull over anyway every 3 hours or so to let the dog out.
  • It depends on the road. If we are on a back road where there is stop and go traffic and a lot of turns, I just pull over for the wife to use the facilities or get something out of the refrig.
    If we are on a nice straight stretch of interstate, she will use the bathroom or get something out of the refrig, while we are moving.
    Obviously care must be taken and this is not the best thing to do but we are adults and able to make our own decisions about what is best for our own comfort.
  • DW gets up to use the toilet or get a snack/drinks for us while underway but, otherwise, stays seated.
  • We'll use the bathroom, if we really need to go, but other than that, we generally stay buckled up. Besides, it is kind of hard to stand up anyway.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    caseffie wrote:
    And despite the intimidating size, are you as protected in a MH as you are in a semi? Everyone knows that generally in a dispute, the semi wins. Do you win in a MH too?


    Motor home perhaps 25,000 pouds
    Semi possibly 40,000, or 80,000 or for my brother's rig 160,000 pounds

    That said, if you get rear ended, you have like 30 feet of "Crumple zone"

    I have moved around in a moving RV, but it was "Traffic Jam" speeds (You know, rush hour, when you can make better time on foot).
  • Leaving seat "while driving"


    You really need to change the subject line! :B

    For us When sharing driving on long trips one gets to sleep in the bed while 'traveling' down the road. And trust me it isn't the softest ride in the bed in the back. Mostly we grab the shuteye on the couch up front!

    I did have one friend that when I looked back he had strapped one of the couch seat belts around him while laying down sleeping, said he didn't want to fall out if I had to change lanes quickly!!
  • We stay buckled. Though once DW stayed in bed while I began the day at 5:30 AM.She has also got up a few times when a cupboard opened! Or the dog got off his bed.

    Safest is to stay put. In the boat we would cook, make coffee, get drinks, visit the head etc but that was at about 8 knots, not at 80 to 100 Km/H