Before you go on your next RV adventure, make sure you take the proper steps to have a safe trip. There are plenty of proactive steps you can take to increase the chances of a smooth traveling experience, which we discuss below. If you want more traveling tips or if you want to check out RVs for sale, visit Herold Trailer Sales. Our dealership is located in Indianola, Iowa. We also proudly serve those in Des Moines, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska.

Pack a Roadside Toolkit

Sometimes your RV or tow vehicle can encounter a minor issue on the road. If you have the right tools, you can address the issue and get back to traveling. You'll want to bring along emergency tools such as a spare tire, jacks, and a standard toolkit to be prepared for minor issues.

Check the Weather Forecast

On the day of your RV trip, look up the weather forecast one last time. There may be a sudden change in the weather that can affect your trip. For example, maybe there is an unexpected storm coming, so you will want to alter your departure time or get to a certain spot on your route to wait out the storm. Always use your best judgment when deciding whether to keep traveling during poor weather conditions or to wait it out. Remember that the extra weight of your RV can make it harder to safely drive in poor weather and road conditions.

Invest in a Tire Pressure Monitoring System

An important part of safe RV driving is ensuring your tires are inflated properly. When tires are not at the right air pressure, they can have a higher chance of a blowout. They can also have their tread worn down faster, which hurts their ability to maintain traction with the road.

Sure, you can manually check your RV tires. But this is fairly time-consuming as you'll have to pull over to do this. A better approach is to utilize a tire pressure monitoring system. This RV upgrade can make your life much easier. It will give you regular updates as to the state of your tires, and some models can even give you minute by minute reports. The system will also store the data so you can easily look for trends and changes over time. This can help you catch issues that suggest a problem with your RV.

Do a Pre-Trip Inspection

Before you take your RV on the open road, make sure it’s ready for the adventure. A pre-trip inspection involves looking over your RV for any potential issues that could turn into problems on the open road. It's much better to catch a red flag in the safety of your driveway then going down the highway! 

Start with your tires of your RV and tow vehicle. Are they inflated to the right levels? Do they have enough tread? Next, check that the electrical system on your RV and tow vehicle is working well. Go for a quick ride around the block to test out lights, brakes, acceleration, and so on. If you notice any problems with your RV, bring it to the service department at Herold Trailer Sales and we can repair it in no time.

We hope you found these tips helpful! If you want more advice or want to check out RVs for sale, visit Herold Trailer Sales in Indianola, Iowa. Our staff is happy to chat with you about your needs and help you find the right RV.