There are some unwritten rules RV travelers follow during their adventures.
You may be familiar with the popular 2/2/2 rule. It helps ensure that the driver and everyone traveling in the vehicle has a positive experience.
However, some RVers think the concept is entirely unrealistic. Where do you fall in the debate?
Let’s find out!
What Is the 2/2/2 RV Rule?
The 2/2/2 rule states RVers should drive no more than 200 miles, stop every two hours, and arrive at their destination by 2:00 pm. The idea is that by following this structure, it enables everyone to have a positive attitude and stay fresh during travel days.
Travelers stuck in vehicles for hours often develop negative attitudes and take it out on each other. This can ruin the traveling experience and leave everyone in the vehicle questioning why you’re going somewhere together in the first place.
Can You Only Drive an RV 200 Miles in a Day?
Most drivers and passengers can handle driving more than 200 miles in a single day. Driving 200 miles takes a little more than three hours if you’re driving at a maximum of 65 miles per hour. If you strictly follow the 2/2/2 RV rule, a trip from one coast to the other would take more than two weeks, and not everyone has that kind of time.
Driving no more than 200 miles in a day may work for those traveling full-time, but it’s not nearly as possible for most recreational travelers.
People traveling only for vacations have limited time off from jobs or breaks from school. They can’t stretch a drive they could do in two or three days into six or seven days. The more time spent traveling to and from a destination, the fewer days travelers can enjoy at their destination.
Pro Tip: 5 Ways to Stay Awake on Long Drives
Should You Stop Driving Every Two Hours When Driving an RV?
The second part of the 2/2/2 RV rule is to stop driving every two hours to rest. Again, this is a good practice in theory but can be challenging when strictly followed.
Pulling over for even a few minutes can add 15 to 20 minutes of travel time to your final destination. And if you’re following the first 2/2/2 rule (only driving 200 miles), you should only need to stop once during a travel day.
Many RVers will drive for much longer than two hours at a time. They’ll often plan their stops around meals, restroom breaks, or getting fuel. They’ll maximize their stops by eating meals and using the restroom when they stop for fuel. Doing so can help them be more efficient with their time and help them avoid unnecessarily stopping.
Families that travel will often fall into place and get comfortable during long travel days. Having plenty of activities and toys to entertain little ones can be helpful. However, just like you don’t wake a sleeping baby, you don’t stop when everyone has settled in for the ride. If everyone is getting along and not fussing, you keep on driving!
Why Should You Arrive to Camp by 2:00 While RVing?
Of the three 2/2/2 RV rules, this is one of the best. However, it may require some adjustment based on where you’re staying. Check-in times for campgrounds often vary based on the location. Arriving at camp by 2:00 pm allows plenty of daylight to set up camp and enjoy yourself.
If you have consecutive travel days, you want to make sure you have time to relax and rest up for another day of traveling. This helps ensure that you hit the road fresh the next morning. Pulling in late at night means you’ll climb straight into bed and not get a chance to relax before getting some shut-eye.
Safety Tip: What’s the Ideal Highway Speed?
Is the 2/2/2 Rule Followed by Every RV Driver?
Most RV travelers break the 2/2/2 rule as they simply want to go far and fast during their travels. They want to get to their final destination as quickly as possible, especially if they’re on a tight schedule. Successful RVers find a schedule that works for their travel style and stick to it.
The longer you RV, the more you can get a feel for the limits of those traveling with you and even learn tricks for keeping everyone in the vehicle happy. You’ll start to learn the signs that cranky behavior is on the horizon, and you can adjust accordingly.
RV Driving Tips
Driving an RV can be exhausting, but you can do a few things to ensure your trip goes as smoothly as possible. Here are a few realistic things you can do when driving an RV.
Check Your Tires
As a rule, you should check your tires before every RV trip. A tire blowout can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your RV.
Not only should you check the tire pressure, but also look for any signs of abnormal wear and tear on your tires. Uneven wearing can signal that something is out of alignment or you have too much weight on one side of your RV. Don’t forget to check the torque on the lug nuts of your wheels before every trip!
Keep Your Speed in Check
You can’t travel nearly as fast in a motorhome or when towing an RV. Larger rigs require more stopping distance. This can be difficult if you drive in stop-and-go situations or have a lead foot. You always want to consider your stopping distance when it comes to speed.
You also should keep your speed under control as RV tires don’t have the same speed ratings as standard passenger tires. Some tires may have ratings that limit them to 65 or 70 miles per hour. Exceeding these speed limits can generate heat and cause the tire to blow.
Watch Your Weight
RVs come with a “cargo carrying capacity” rating. This rating considers your RV’s weight and axle ratings and helps ensure you maintain a safe weight for your rig.
Exceeding the cargo carrying capacity can increase the wear and tear on your rig and possibly even void warranties. We have seen manufacturers deny warranty claims because RVers overloaded their rigs with too much weight.
It’s also important to remember that your truck can only tow and stop so much weight. Knowing how much weight your truck can safely pull is one of the first things to know before choosing a trailer.
Exceeding your vehicle’s payload capacity is like exceeding your RV’s cargo carrying capacity. You increase the chances that something dangerous could happen and put you and others on the road in a dangerous situation.
Never Drive Drowsy
If you follow the 2/2/2 RV rule, there’s a good chance that you won’t drive drowsy. Towing a trailer or driving a motorhome can be very exhausting.
Being aware of what’s happening around you and what other drivers are doing is crucial. This requires you to be well rested and ready to give your attention to the task.
Drowsy driving results in more than 100,000 accidents each year. Make sure you get plenty of rest before hitting the road. You don’t want to be the person that causes one of those 100,000 accidents this year.
The RV 2/2/2 Rule Isn’t Always Realistic
While many RVers encourage others to follow the 2/2/2 rule, it’s often a “Do as I say and not as I do” type situation. It may be a great concept, but it’s not always realistic.
Make sure you know your limits and never push yourself to the point where you’re endangering yourself and others on the road. It’s better for a trip to take longer than expected than for you to never arrive at your destination.
Adjust these unwritten rules to fit your unique travel style, and your future travel days will be a breeze.
Do you follow the 2/2/2 rule when traveling in your RV? Let us know in the comments below.
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