Driving a motorhome

The driving a motorhome is easier than you might think. It is advisable to check in advance what you should be aware of. Also take into account the size of the camper. Be careful when parking and reversing. Drive safely and carefully by keeping to the speed and keeping your distance from others. It is also good to check in advance which driver's license you must have. We are happy to prepare you for an unforgettable camper holiday† To work!

How do you learn to drive a motorhome?

A camper is slightly different from a car. Logical too. Since it is perhaps one meter wider than a passenger car. Also learn to steer closer to the left line on the road. Adjust the lower mirrors of the motorhome if necessary. This way you ensure that you can see where you are on the road.

Even when cornering, you notice that driving a camper differs from a passenger car. The rear wheels are not in the same direction as the front wheels. They opt for a shorter route, as it were. Therefore keep driving straight on until your own body has passed the objects on (or along) the road. Also check the mirrors to make sure you don't hit anything.

Another well-known phenomenon of driving a motorhome: swinging out. The rear of a motorhome tends to swing out when cornering. This makes it important to take the bend slowly and to keep an eye on obstacles through the mirror. Avoid short turns and make a wide, wide turn.

How do you park a motorhome?

Due to the size of a motorhome, it is already obvious that parking differs. From our experience, we recommend avoiding tighter parking spaces, especially if the view of possible objects is minimized. If possible, it is useful to have someone else (outside the motorhome) to give instructions. Furthermore, as a motorhome driver you have to learn to rely on your mirrors. In a passenger car, many people get used to constantly looking over their shoulder and rear-view mirror. This (unfortunately) does not work in a motorhome.

Also reversing monitors are not completely to rely on. Although this can be very useful when parking, you have to take even more objects into account. The camera is often aimed at the ground, so that higher obstacles (such as signs or branches) are not displayed. Furthermore, with a compact motorhome occasion reverse driving comparable to a regular passenger car. The mirrors should therefore be set in such a way that you can see the sides of the motorhome up to and including the bumper.

How do you drive a motorhome safely?

Safety first. That is the basis of driving a motorhome. Heavier vehicles take longer to brake than lighter vehicles. How much time this is differs, but the driving speed is in any case one element in traffic that you can control completely yourself. Therefore, reduce your speed while driving a camper. And immediately save gas. Win win!

We also often recommend increasing the following distance on the vehicle in front of you. In our opinion, this is perhaps the (very) best way to prevent accidents. Another advantage when you drive slower is that natural spaces are created. The distance between road users who do make an enormous speed to get to the location as soon as possible is increasing.

Which driver's license do you need for a motorhome?

A motorhome with a maximum weight of 3.500kg that transports a maximum of 8 people (without the driver) may be driven by a driver with driving license B. For heavier motorhomes you need a large driving license (C or C1). And for motorhomes with more than 8 seats, a bus driver's license is even required (D or D1). To give you a clear and complete picture, we have included the table below.