What are your tips for merging with traffic when the lane you're approaching is at a near-45 degree angle from your lane? For example, a highway on or off ramp. As you get close to merging, you have a huge blind spot.

Use your mirrors and/or turn your head...no different than in a car...Dennis

Pretty much as Dennis stated. When I'm coming up an on ramp onto a highway, I have one eye on my left mirror, my back-up camera on, the blinker going and gaining speed the whole way. It really isn't difficult, and the majority of drivers are courteous. Not to mention, we are much bigger then most of the other vehicles out there...they will move...either out of courtesy or fear!!

Same as above. Usually merging with my Peterbilt long hood pulling a 53' Reefer behind it. Makes my 40' Bluebird seem tiny! No problem. Biggest key is SPEED! Get up to the speed of the traffic. If you do, then you only need a little hole to fit into. However, if you are only doing 20mph, and the traffic is doing 65, you need a BIG hole! MUCH more dangerous.

summerhouse wrote:Not to mention, we are much bigger then most of the other vehicles out there...they will move...either out of courtesy or fear!! That attitude is what causes accidents. All highway on ramps I have seen have a YIELD sign on the approach ramps. Have a safe day! Obey all the rules of the road.

Pulling 53' or tugging our little 19' TT, I take the same approach. Use the ramp to get up to speed, then merge. I will stop on that ramp if traffic is so heavy that merging is not safe ( I have to yeild, not them), but if there is room for traffic to move over...I am coming out. Traffic doing 70, me only doing 50 mph, Oh well, so sorry, go around or hit your brakes.Tractor trailer or travel trailer---it takes a bit to get em moving. Momentum is your friend. Most people respect that, I am not afraid to force the issue. If you try and WAIT until absolutely no one has to slow down, or move over---You will never get onto the road. Pick a time were traffic can see you, have time to respond, then boldly step out.More to the OP's point.... Typical merging from the right, normally allows you the ability to lean forward, back, or look out the window. Either will give you a differnt perspective, and eliminate many blind spots. Merging from the left will have more blind spots, so you need to recognize these approachs before you enter them, do a traffic "count", no where you plan to fit in, and be prepared that everything you think you saw may have changed by the time you get to the actual merge point. Put your head on a swivel, and always have an alternative "out".

Tips for merging | Good Sam Community

GMandJM
Explorer
Aug 13, 2015
holstein13 wrote:
GMandJM wrote:
Man! That should TOTALLY be a thread here!! :B
Is this coming from the #1 author on RV.net this week?

We've been working on an acceptance speech just in case there's an award. ;)

Who knew anyone even tracks that? Crazy!
holstein13
Explorer
Aug 13, 2015
GMandJM wrote:
Man! That should TOTALLY be a thread here!! :B
Is this coming from the #1 author on RV.net this week?
GMandJM
Explorer
Aug 12, 2015
Man! That should TOTALLY be a thread here!! :B
zach477
Explorer
Aug 12, 2015
GMandJM wrote:
Hey, Zach (OP)-

Ichabod just posted a link to something called Boardreader that says your Merge thread is the second-hottest topic of the week on RV.net.

Even higher than the "Would you let a stranger on the highway use your bathroom" topic.

Thought you'd be pleased to learn that. :)

Ha!

Maybe we should "merge" this thread with the stranger/bathroom question....

As in, if you and a stranger are heading for the same bathroom at the same time, what techniques do you use to get in before they can get their dirty stranger hands all over the door knob?
GMandJM
Explorer
Aug 12, 2015
Hey, Zach (OP)-

Ichabod just posted a link to something called Boardreader that says your Merge thread is the second-hottest topic of the week on RV.net.

Even higher than the "Would you let a stranger on the highway use your bathroom" topic.

Thought you'd be pleased to learn that. :)
rvcruiser
Explorer
Aug 09, 2015
Reader1 wrote:
Well... since I will be no help and my "scared" noises don't help my husband, I close my eyes and count 60 seconds. By the time I open my eyes we are already down the road. (True, but I thought I would lighten up the mood a little here.)

....and I thought I was the only one who did that!!:D
rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Aug 09, 2015
holstein13 wrote:
No one has mentioned clover leafs yet. They are the bane of my existence on the highways. I just can't get up to speed on them with my MH.

I agree and quite often as soon as you get to the top, someone is bound to be wanting to exit right in front of you so they are slowing down at the same area in the road where you are trying to speed up. Lots of fun. :B
IAMICHABOD
Explorer II
Aug 09, 2015
mpierce wrote:

I drive semi all over the US. There are NOT yield signs on the approaches. Years and years ago that was true, but not any more.

As retired OTR driver, I agree, I like this one better.:B
holstein13
Explorer
Aug 09, 2015
No one has mentioned clover leafs yet. They are the bane of my existence on the highways. I just can't get up to speed on them with my MH.
GMandJM
Explorer
Aug 09, 2015
We see many people who get into the merge lanes and are so busy talking on their cell phones that they don't realize there's a 42' motorhome next to them that can't cede the lane due to a vehicle in the left lane.

They just mosey along, chatting away with the phone to their ear and their elbow on the windw ledge.

Those drivers almost always put on their brakes suddenly when their merge lane is about to run out. I worry that they're going to try to merge in IMMEDIATELY after the MH and take out the tow'd.

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