Winter motorhome driving tips

Motorhome and campervan drivers are being urged to ensure their vehicles are prepared before heading out on roads that may be affected by ice and snow. Drivers are also being offered winter driving tips by the IAM (the Institute of Advanced Motorists).

If snow is predicted or if you are heading to the ski resorts or colder areas of Europe in your motorhome, then MMM magazine recommends having winter tyres fitted and carrying snow chains or snow socks (snow chains or snow socks are a legal requirement in some countries).

The next issue of MMM magazine (March 2017), which is available as a digital issue as well as a print magazine will have a practical feature on how to fit snow socks.

The IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards, Richard Gladman, said we should only drive if it is really necessary and to always check the weather and road conditions on your route before setting off.

He also offers practical tips that, while aimed at car drivers, is as equally relevant to motorhome and campervan drivers, including:

• Make sure you know how the demister settings in your vehicle work and how to adjust them properly
• Never pour hot water on the screen as the sudden the temperature change may cause cracks
• Prevention is better than cure so if possible cover the glass overnight with cardboard or an old sheet to prevent freezing, or invest in a windscreen cover
• Adding boiling water or heating-up a key can melt plastic components in modern locks so be gentle when it comes to warming them up or use a squirt of de-icer
• If you haven’t done so already, get an antifreeze check at your local garage or fast-fit centre
• Keep your washer bottle topped up with an even stronger concentration of de-icer

As for driving on winter roads, it might sound like old news, but you need to triple or quadruple the distance from other vehicles in front of you in icy conditions. If a vehicle has to stop suddenly or worse a crash occurs, you will need that extra time to react and stop.

Richard said: “As ever preparation and planning are the key to worry-free driving when the mercury plummets. Plan your route carefully as major routes are likely to be treated with salt and less likely to be icy although this might still form in dips and on bridges. Leave more time for your journey. Respect the conditions and don’t expect your journey to take the same amount of time as normal. Factor in delays and give yourself plenty of time to clear the ice properly from all the windows of your vehicle. A crystal clear view will give you the best chance of surviving the arctic blast.”