by: Ursula Nizalowski
As the spring arrives, it’s a good time to reflect on what is most important. Namely, one’s safety when it comes to towing RVs and boats. Towing any large item like an RV, Boat or trailer can be affected by adverse weather and road conditions. Here are a few RV Towing Safety Gadgets to help you this season.
Vehicle Accessories
Tire Pressure Gauge – It is common for drivers to have a tire pressure gauge on hand for any vehicle. This device is used to measure the amount of air inside a tire. It should stay consistent pressure-wise to prevent issues like poor steering and handling. An air compressor and tire monitoring system are also important.
Hitch and Coupler Locks – Unlike cars, which now have built-in alarms, RVs don’t have such a system. Thus, towing RV drivers need to consider getting locks for the coupler and/or hitch of the towing vehicle. Such locks keep these parts shut as well as “prevent easy towing” says the Campendium website.
Weather Radio – Because it is a given that towing RV drivers will be traveling a lot, they will inevitably travel through unfamiliar places. That’s why having an emergency radio recommended. As a result, the drivers will have plenty of time to prepare themselves for the coming weather and/or leave depending on the situation.
Cameras – In place of a built-in alarm system, modern towing RVs can have cameras added to them. Whether it’s to aid in hooking the towing RV to the vehicle that’s pulling it, or to see what’s going on while absent, they are considered a good thing to have. They come in different shapes and can be relatively affordable.
Monoxide Detector – Due to the way towing RVs are designed, there’s a higher risk of being exposed to carbon monoxide via gas fumes. After all, carbon monoxide “can build up in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces” when they come from sources that are part of the towing RV’s interior like a furnace or a gas stove as stated by RV Lifestyle’s blog. One big way to prevent accidental poisoning from carbon monoxide is to get a detector.
Personal Items
Interior safety
Flashlight – On any sort of camping trip, whether it involves a towing RV or not, it’s good to have a flashlight on hand. With that said, the flashlight should be good and sturdy because it can do a lot of things such as illuminate a workspace, be used for inspecting a vehicle, and for “nightly strolls through the campground” the Always on Liberty travel blog says. Even the Crossing Creeks RV Resort & Spa’s blog agrees with this notion, claiming that flashlights “are invaluable to RVers” for not only performing tasks but also dealing with emergencies.
First Aid – Regardless of the vehicle one drives, a first aid kit is a must-have for the safety of the driver and passengers. It should include not only medical supplies, but also items for dealing with RV-related emergencies in general. Some examples include emergency drinking water, food items, thermal blankets, and so forth.
Fire Extinguisher – Since heat sources in towing RVs can range from gas burners to wood stoves, that means a fire could happen if one isn’t too careful. But so long as a fire extinguisher or two is included with the vehicle, it should lessen the threat considerably. Plus, they’re easy to use and should be inspected to make sure they effectively extinguish the carbon dioxide coming from the flames that spawn them.
Exterior Safety
Roadside Lights – For years, road flares have been the most common way to signal accidents in the road and are encouraged to have in vehicles including towing RVs. But there are concerns with using them safely, such as not putting them near combustible materials and lighting the flare away from the body. Fortunately, there is an LED version that serves the same function as a traditional road flare but with less risk.
Pepper Spray/Bear Spray – For extra protection, it doesn’t hurt to have pepper spray in a towing RV. Each state’s laws regarding pepper spray are different. So for more information on these restrictions, check out World Population Review’s website post about it.
For any RV-related accidents that do occur, though, feel free to contact attorney Rick Wagner.