How to Back Up a Motorhome the Right Way

A motorhome is the kind of large vehicle that makes backing up a challenge. Most of the time the motorhome will be too long to fit in a regular parking lot, and that means that you need to park it on your own property or a tight spot where you have to be careful not to scrape the paint. That being said, even with a smaller motorhome, backing up is not always simple.

Motorhomes are built on larger frames, the size used in building buses or trucks. They might have full-size kitchens and bathrooms, several sleeping areas and a spacious living area. Motorhomes often include features like slide-out rooms which make them ideal for camping trips or vacations. Motorhomes can be either gasoline or diesel-powered and some types can even run-on alternative fuels.

Most importantly, motorhomes provide transportation and lodging all in one package. They come equipped with all the amenities needed for extended stays on the road, making them perfect for traveling families or those who enjoy road tripping in style. But once it's time to reverse your vehicle, there are a few things you should do to make it go as smoothly as possible. Here are our motorhome repair shop's pro tips.

How Do You Back Up a Motorhome?

Backing up a motorhome can be a daunting task so it is important to know how to back up properly. There are a few things you need to keep in mind when backing up a motorhome. First, you need to make sure that you have plenty of space behind you. You also need to be aware of your surroundings and make sure that there are no obstacles in your way. Finally, you need to go slowly and be careful not to hit anything.

With these tips in mind, backing up a motorhome can be a relatively easy task. Just be sure to take your time and be careful, and you should be able to do it without any problems.

Our Pro Tips to Follow When Backing Up Your Motorhome

Want to back your motorhome up like a pro? Here are some pro tips to make your driving as accurate as possible.

Take a Mental Picture of the Space Around the Motorhome Before Backing Up

When you are ready to back up the recreational vehicle, take a moment to get a clear mental image of the space around the motorhome. It is important to be aware of any potential obstacles such as low-hanging branches, pedestrians, or parked cars. If you have trouble visualizing the space, it may be helpful to walk around the area to get a better sense of the layout.

Once you have a clear picture of the space, you can begin to back up the vehicle. It is important to go slowly and be cautious as you back up. If you need to stop for any reason, be sure to come to a complete stop before continuing to back up.

Use All of the Tools at Your Disposal When Backing Up Your RV

Use your cameras, windows, and mirrors while backing up your motorhome. Having all these visual tools at your disposal can help to avoid hitting trees, signs, and walls. You may want to practice backing up in an empty area just so you can gain the feel of managing all these visual tools while maneuvering. This will also be your opportunity to locate blind spots that may exist with your RV’s design. Setting up a video recording camera on the back of the motorhome can be beneficial as well, especially if there is another passenger around who can watch it as you driving and backing up your vehicle.

Don’t Be Driven by Pressure While Backing Up Your Motorhome

Backing up your motorhome can be a challenging task, especially if you're feeling pressure to get it right. Remember to take your time and be patient while backing up. You may want to practice in an empty parking lot using cones before attempting to back into a tight spot. Knowing that you can back up after practicing in an empty parking lot will relieve a lot of pressure when it comes time to back up your motorhome in a tight spot. But, if you still feel any pressure while backing up, simply stop and take a break. It's better to take your time and get it right than to rush and make a mistake.

Beware of Reverse Off-Tracking When Backing an RV Around a Corner

When backing an RV around a corner, be sure to beware of reverse off-tracking. This is when the path of the back tires of your RV start to swing out wider than the path of your front tires.  The larger the wheelbase, the more off-tracking you will experience.  To avoid this be sure to allow extra room for off-tracking, and be sure to use your mirrors to keep an eye on the back end of the RV, especially the area behind the rear axle.

You Should Back to the Left as Much as Possible When Backing Up a Motorhome

When backing up a motorhome, if possible, back up to the left.  This gives you much greater visibility.  Don’t be afraid to roll down the driver’s side window and look out so you can see more of your motorhome and avoid any obstacles in your blind spots.   Backing up to left is always easier. 

For the most part, the right side of the motorhome will be hidden especially during sharper turns because the long body of the RV.

Use Forward Momentum to Line Up the Motorhome

One of the hardest things to do is to get the right alignment for backing up your motorhome. There are a few different ways to do this, but the easiest way, if you have the space is to line yourself up while the motorhome is still rolling forward, make sure your tires are straight, and then keep the wheels straight on your motorhome when backing up to the campsite space or wherever you want to park. This method is by far the easiest as long as you have the space and you avoid the urge to turn the steering wheel when backing up.

Pay Attention to Your Right Quarter Vision When Backing Up an RV

The right quarter of the motorhome is the most difficult to maneuver because it is the least visible while backing up. Mirrors will often not be able to make up for this because your flat mirror is designed to look straight back, and the convex mirror is designed to look down and doesn't look far enough into the distance.

The solution to this problem is to have a spotter who you trust watch the right side of the motorhome while backing up so that there is a clear view of the position and line. Once that side is clear and lines up, the spotter can move over to the back of the motorhome so you can finish the move into the parking space or campsite.

Bonus: You Can Handle It

The most important thing to remember while backing up a motorhome is that you can do it. Sometimes when you first try to back up, there are a few mistakes that need to be corrected for. You'll have to drive forward and backward several times to compensate for this and might end up using a lot of time to make very little progress.

Especially during the first few tries, it's important to remind yourself that you are capable and can back your motorhome up. The process can be frustrating so it is something you have to remain patient with and remember that you will eventually become a pro at.

Get the Perfect Tools and Accessories for Backing Up Your Motorhome from Motorhome Repair Shop Mainline RV and Truck Service

So, what about those things that could make the process of backing up your motorhome that much easier? Well, one of the things you can do is visit a motorhome repair shop like Mainline RV and Truck Service. We can assist you with finding the perfect tools for your motorhome to make the process of backing up easier than ever.

You also don't want to get caught off guard when it comes to your suspension. Having a well-tuned motorhome suspension can save you a load of headaches down the road and make driving your motorhome much easier and much more enjoyable.

At Mainline RV and Truck Service, we provide motorhome suspension upgrades that include shock replacement, dampeners, sway bars, springs, trac bars, and more. We take pride in offering the best-in-class suspension upgrades and love it when our customers call back telling us what a difference their motorhome suspension upgrade made.

Contact Mainline Truck and RV Service today to get the best service from our motorhome repair shop, keeping your motorhome in tip top shape.