Driving an RV takes a little extra caution and care, but with these tips you’ll be well on your way to safe RV driving.

Always run a thorough safety check on your RV and tow vehicle before heading out on the road. If a vehicle emergency such as a tire blowout causes you to lose control, a heavy RV or vehicle-trailer combination will be much harder to control than a smaller, lighter vehicle.

That’s why it’s so important that you run a thorough safety and maintenance check before traveling with your RV and that you continue to check certain safety points, such as your tires and tow hitch, along the way.

One of the most common causes of roadside emergencies is tire failure. Make sure your tires (both RV and tow vehicle, if applicable) are properly inflated and in good condition. You can protect your motor home tires from premature wear by shielding them with RV tire covers during storage and long-term parking.

The size and weight of your vehicle makes a big difference in handling. Remember that your braking time increases as the weight of your load increases. Leave extra room between you and the vehicle in front of you, and drive with caution on downgrades, as your momentum going downhill also increases under heavier loads. Pay close attention to the traffic around you, especially if traffic is heavy, to give yourself more time to react to other drivers and avoid close calls and accidents.

Your RV is higher, longer, and wider than a regular vehicle. These differences present several challenges and extra safety precautions for RV drivers. One of the things to watch out for is clearance. Low bridges, tunnels, arches, and parking ramps don’t always allow free clearance for motor homes. Avoid costly damage to your motor home by knowing the minimum height your RV can clear. If in doubt, drive up to the overhang and check the clearance level or ask a passenger to check it for you before attempting to clear the obstacle.

Driving on city streets or narrow, winding back roads poses a much greater challenge than driving on the open road. Give yourself a wide berth on tight turns or curves. The longer your rig, the more padding you’ll need on a turn. Keep an eye out for roadside obstacles such as road signs, telephone poles, steep ditches, and barriers.

Last but not least, use common sense when you are driving a vehicle that is larger, longer, or heavier than you are used to driving. With a little extra attention to safety and your surroundings, you’re well on your way to becoming a proficient RV driver.

Looking forward to exploring the great outdoors on your quad? Getting your ATV to the trail is the first step. Unless you live along the trail, most likely you’ll need to transport your ATV to and from the riding area.

Loading your ATV requires a certain amount of know-how and safety precautions to protect yourself and your equipment from accidents. Here are a few tips for loading and securing your ATV on a truck or trailer.

If loading onto a trailer, hitch up the trailer to the tow vehicle before loading your ATV. This prevents the trailer from rocking or tipping.

Use ramps with a loading capacity that can easily handle the combined weight of your ATV and any equipment left on your quad. The ground at the bottom of the ramps should be flat and solid, and the angle of the ramps should be gradual, not steep. Attach the safety straps or other safety device to lock your ramps in place.

Riding your ATV up the ramps can be dangerous, and accidents caused by improper loading are more common than you might think. If you choose this method of loading, wear protective gear such as boots, gloves, goggles, and a helmet.

Load your quad in first gear, or the lowest gear possible to mount the ramps. Avoid jerky starts or stops while on the ramps. Never approach the ramps at high speed. This could cause the ramps to buckle or to ram into the back of the trailer or truck.

The safest way to load your ATV is to use a winch. This method allows you to stand clear of the ATV and gives you greater control over speed and precision in loading. With a winch, you don’t have to worry about stalling on the ramps and can stand at a safe distance in case something goes wrong.

Once you’ve loaded your quad, balance the weight over the trailer axle to evenly distribute the load. Set the parking brake on your ATV and secure it to the truck or trailer bed with tie-down straps. Use a total of four straps: two in front and two in back. Ratchet down the straps as tightly as possible. The straps should be tight enough to lock your ATV in place when you try to rock it, and the tires should look like they are under load.

Loop and secure excess strap length to keep them from flapping or dragging. If you are hauling your quad in an open trailer or truck bed, protect it with a trailerable ATV cover with tie-downs to keep it clean of road debris such as sand or salt and to shield it from the elements.

Get your golf cart ready for the season with these simple maintenance tips.

Spring is here, and it’s time to break out the golf cart for another season of golf cart-friendly weather. But before your cart is ready to hit the course…or the campground or wherever you use your cart…it’s time for a spring tune-up. After sitting in storage all winter, your golf cart may need a little work to keep it running smooth for another season.

If you own an electric golf cart, your first order of business is to inspect the batteries. If regularly maintained and properly stored through the winter, your batteries should be in working condition. Check the water level in each battery cell and add water as needed. At minimum, both plates should be covered with water. Check your service manual to find the correct water level for your cart. You may also need to fully charge the batteries before starting up your golf cart after long-term storage.

Whether you do your own maintenance or take your golf cart to a service shop, spring is the ideal time to make sure your cart is properly tuned up for the season. The more you focus on preventative maintenance, the longer your golf cart will last and the more money you will save in the long run. Any time you store your cart over a period of time, including during the on-season, it’s a good idea to protect your cart with a storage cover as an inexpensive and easy way to prolong the service life of your golf cart.

If you’re itching to get out on the open road for awhile, these tips will help make your motorcycle touring road trip a success.

Any trip takes a little planning to be successful, and a motorcycle road trip is no exception. Here are a few basic motorcycle travel tips to make sure you enjoy your time on the road.

Service your bike before hitting the road. You don’t want to get stuck working on your bike when you’d rather be riding it. Take it to the dealer for a tune-up or if you service your own bike, do a thorough maintenance check before your trip. Make sure you have enough tread on your tires to handle the miles you’ll be putting on during your trip. Check the lights, oil, fluids, controls, etc., to make sure everything’s working properly. It’s a good idea to bring along a small toolkit and tire repair kit for emergency repairs on the road.

Pack well enough to be adequately prepared, but don’t weigh yourself down with unnecessary items. If worse comes to worse, you can always pick up a forgotten item along the road. Get an idea of what the weather might be like where you’ll be riding. Weather can be notoriously unpredictable, so pack for both hot and cold weather, and don’t forget your rain gear.

Even if it doesn’t feel too chilly just standing around, the wind whipping past your bike as you’re cruising down the highway can feel colder than you might expect. Engine guard chaps can help keep your feet warm in the cold and dry in the rain. Look for motorcycle engine chaps that fold into a compact size for storage on your bike.

You’ll also want to bring along a travel motorcycle cover to protect your bike from the elements and to discourage theft or vandalism when you’re not around to keep an eye on your ride. Sure, it covers up your sweet ride, but you’ll have plenty of time to show it off on the road, and your bike will thank you for it.

While any trip takes a certain amount of planning, leave room to be spontaneous. You’ll have more fun and make more memories if you give yourself the flexibility to change your plans when you feel like it.