Tips for Driving a Large Motorhome

Stepping behind the wheel of a large motorhome for the first time can be intimidating. After years of driving regular cars, suddenly piloting a 7-9 metre vehicle that weighs several tonnes requires adjustment. The good news is that with understanding and practice, most people adapt quickly. The skills aren't difficult—they're just different from what you're used to.

This guide covers the essential techniques and knowledge you need to drive a large motorhome confidently and safely. Whether you're new to motorhome driving or looking to refine your skills, these practical tips will help you enjoy the journey rather than stress about it.

Know Your Vehicle's Dimensions

Before you drive anywhere, know exactly how big your motorhome is. This isn't just about length—height, width, and weight all affect where you can safely go and how the vehicle handles.

Height Clearance

Height is critical because low bridges, service station canopies, and parking structures don't forgive mistakes. Write your motorhome's height on a card and attach it to your sun visor where you'll see it constantly. Add 10-20cm to the actual height for safety margin—aerials, air conditioning units, and roof racks may extend beyond the main body.

Many GPS units designed for large vehicles allow you to enter your dimensions and will route around low clearances. Invest in one of these systems if you'll be driving regularly in urban areas. Never assume a route is clear because you've driven it in a car.

Length and Overhang

A motorhome's length affects turning radius, but overhang is often the greater challenge. The rear of your motorhome extends well behind the rear axle, meaning it swings outward when you turn. This tail swing can hit objects, vehicles, or people positioned beside your rear corners during turns.

Be especially careful in tight spaces, service stations, and parking areas. When turning, the front of your motorhome needs to go wider than you'd take a car to allow room for the rear to swing. Practice in empty parking lots until this becomes instinctive.

Handling and Manoeuvring

Large motorhomes handle differently from cars in several important ways. Understanding these differences helps you anticipate vehicle behavior and respond appropriately.

Acceleration and Speed

Heavy vehicles accelerate slowly. Allow more time and distance when merging onto highways or pulling out at intersections. What feels like adequate gap in a car may be insufficient in a loaded motorhome. Patient driving isn't just safer—it's less stressful.

Maintain speeds appropriate for your vehicle, not what faster traffic is doing. Motorhomes have higher centres of gravity and respond to steering inputs more slowly. The posted speed limit may be safe for cars but inappropriate for your motorhome in certain conditions, particularly on winding roads or in crosswinds.

Braking Distances

This is perhaps the most critical adjustment new motorhome drivers must make. A heavy motorhome needs significantly more distance to stop than a car—potentially three or four times the distance. Increase your following distance accordingly; the common rule of keeping three seconds behind the vehicle ahead should extend to five or six seconds in a motorhome.

Begin braking earlier than you would in a car, using gentle pressure rather than hard stops. This is easier on your brakes, more comfortable for passengers, and keeps items from flying around inside. Anticipate stops by watching traffic well ahead.

Cornering and Curves

Take corners more slowly than you would in a car. The higher centre of gravity makes motorhomes more susceptible to rollover in sharp turns or if you need to make sudden steering corrections. Reduce speed before entering curves, not during them.

Off-camber corners (where the road slopes away from the direction of the turn) are particularly dangerous for tall vehicles. Be especially cautious on mountain roads, highway on/off ramps, and rural roads where camber can vary.

Reversing with Confidence

Reversing a large motorhome intimidates many new drivers, but with proper technique, it becomes manageable. The key is patience, good visibility, and willingness to try again if your approach isn't working.

Preparation

Before reversing, get out and walk the area. Look for obstacles at ground level, overhead obstructions, and surface conditions. Identify a clear path and note any hazards. This reconnaissance takes two minutes and prevents expensive mistakes.

Use your mirrors, but don't rely on them alone. Reversing cameras are invaluable—if your motorhome doesn't have one, consider adding it. Multiple cameras covering rear and sides provide the best visibility. Even with cameras, blind spots exist; always walk the path first.

Technique

Have a spotter whenever possible. Agree on clear hand signals before starting—miscommunication causes accidents. The driver should stop immediately if they lose sight of the spotter or don't understand a signal. There's no shame in stopping, reassessing, and starting again.

Move slowly and make small steering adjustments. Overcorrecting in reverse often makes the situation worse. If your approach isn't working after a couple of attempts, pull forward and try a different angle. Persistent attempts from a poor position usually end badly.

When parking without a spotter, consider using traffic cones or bright objects to mark your target area. Some drivers drop a cone where they want their rear to end up, providing a visual reference through the backup camera.

Dealing with Challenging Conditions

Wind

Large, flat-sided motorhomes act like sails in strong wind. Crosswinds can push you across lanes, and gusts when overtaking or being passed by trucks create sudden instability. Grip the wheel firmly (but not tensely) and be prepared to correct. In severe conditions, reduce speed significantly or consider stopping until conditions improve.

Rain

Wet roads increase braking distances dramatically. The weight of a motorhome can actually improve grip in light rain, but aquaplaning remains a risk in heavy downpours. Reduce speed, increase following distance, and avoid sudden inputs. Ensure your tyres have adequate tread—minimum legal tread is inadequate for heavy vehicles in wet conditions.

Night Driving

Night driving in a motorhome presents challenges including limited visibility, fatigue, and wildlife activity. Australian roads see increased animal activity at dawn and dusk. High-beam headlights help spot animals earlier, giving you more time to slow down. Never swerve violently to avoid animals—it's better to brake firmly in a straight line than risk a rollover.

Sharing the Road

Large motorhomes affect other road users. Courteous driving improves everyone's experience and reduces conflict.

Use pullover bays to let following traffic pass on single-lane roads. You might be comfortable at 80km/h, but the line of cars behind you wants to go faster. Regular pull-overs reduce frustration and dangerous overtaking attempts. It costs you almost nothing timewise but makes the road safer for everyone.

When road trains approach from behind, give them room to pass safely. These massive vehicles need significant space to overtake. Move to the left edge of your lane and maintain steady speed until they're completely past. Avoid braking suddenly when trucks are close behind—their stopping distances are even longer than yours.

Fuel Management

Large motorhomes consume significantly more fuel than cars, and range planning becomes important, especially in remote areas.

Know your vehicle's fuel consumption rate and tank capacity. Calculate range conservatively—consumption increases in hilly terrain, with heavy loads, or at higher speeds. In outback areas, never pass a fuel station on less than half a tank; the next servo might be hundreds of kilometres away or closed unexpectedly.

Some service stations have height-restricted canopies. Know which fuel brands typically accommodate tall vehicles (many truck stops do), and have a plan for refueling when standard servos won't work. Bowser-side refueling where you park beside pumps rather than under canopies is often possible.

Building Confidence Through Practice

Confidence comes from experience. Before your first major trip, spend time practising in low-pressure situations. Empty shopping centre car parks on weekends offer space to practice turning, reversing, and parking. Practice until the techniques feel natural rather than stressful.

Consider a professional driving lesson specifically for large vehicles. Many driving schools offer motorhome familiarisation sessions. A few hours with an instructor can establish good habits and correct problems before they become ingrained.

Start with shorter trips and progressively extend your range as confidence grows. Your first journey shouldn't be a three-week outback expedition—build skills gradually, and you'll enjoy the process much more.

Remember that every experienced motorhome driver started exactly where you are now. The skills feel unfamiliar at first, but with practice, they become automatic. Soon you'll wonder why you were ever nervous.