RV Safety

Recreational vehicles and travel trailers are like small houses on wheels, with fuel, propane, high-voltage hookups, heavy loads and tricky driving. Many RV problems come from overloading, bad tires, poor towing setups, carbon monoxide and electrical mistakes. A little planning keeps trips safe and enjoyable.

• Families
• Travelers
• RV Owners

Know your weight ratings

• GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating): the maximum weight the RV or trailer can safely weigh when loaded. It is on a sticker on the vehicle.
• GAWR (gross axle weight rating): the maximum weight each axle can carry.
• GCWR (gross combined weight rating): the maximum combined weight of the tow vehicle and trailer.
• Towing capacity and tongue weight: a tow vehicle has a maximum trailer weight and hitch weight. Tongue weight on a conventional travel trailer should typically be around 10 to 15 percent of the trailer’s weight, and about 15 to 25 percent for a fifth wheel or gooseneck pin weight. Check the manuals.
• Weigh the loaded RV at a public scale (CAT scale) with water, fuel, propane, passengers, food and gear, since actual weight is almost always more than people guess. Overloading damages tires and brakes and makes crashes more likely.

Towing a trailer

• Match the hitch and ball to the trailer and tow vehicle ratings. Use a weight-distributing hitch with sway control when the trailer is heavy, as the maker advises. See Towing Trailers.
• Connect safety chains crossed under the tongue, and attach the breakaway cable. Check the coupler is latched and pinned.
• Brakes: most trailers over a certain weight need their own brakes and an electric brake controller in the tow vehicle. Test them before each trip.
• Lights and wiring: check brake lights, turn signals and running lights every time.
• Mirrors: use tow mirrors that let you see past the trailer.
• Load low and balanced, with heavy items near the axle and not at the rear, since a tail-heavy trailer can sway dangerously.
• Trailer sway: if the trailer begins to sway, ease off the accelerator, don’t brake hard or turn the wheel sharply, and apply the trailer brakes by hand with the controller, if you have one. Pull over when it’s safe.

Tires

• RV tires fail from age, overload, under-inflation and heat. Check the pressure cold, before every trip, to the pressure on the sidewall and the tire placard. Use a good gauge.
• Tires age even when unused. Many makers advise replacing RV tires after about five to seven years, regardless of tread. The date code is on the sidewall (the last four digits are the week and year). See Tire Safety.
• Check for cracks, bulges, uneven wear and exposed cords, and protect tires from sun with covers when parked. Carry a spare and tools.
• Know how to change a tire. See Flat Tires.

Propane

• Propane runs RV stoves, furnaces, heaters and refrigerators. See Propane and Home Propane Tanks for the basics.
• Have the system inspected and leak-tested regularly. Check connections with soapy water. Have an RV technician repair leaks.
• Install a propane (LP) gas detector, since propane sinks to floor level and collects low. Replace it on schedule.
• If you smell gas: don’t touch switches, put out flames, get everyone out, shut off the tank valve if it’s safe, and call for help. See Gas Leaks.
• Turn off propane appliances while fueling, in tunnels where required, and when parked in a garage.
• Don’t use a stove or oven to heat the RV.

Carbon monoxide and fire

• Install and test CO and smoke alarms in the RV, and replace them on schedule. Carbon monoxide can come from generators, furnaces, stoves, running engines and nearby campers’ generators. See Vehicle Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Monoxide.
• Never run a generator under or near open windows, vents or slides, and keep exhaust pointing away. Don’t sleep with a generator running without a working CO alarm.
• Carry a fire extinguisher near the exit and know how to use it. Plan two escape routes, and know which windows work as exits. See Home Fire Escape Plan and Fire Extinguishers (PASS).
• Keep flammables, curtains and papers away from stoves and heaters. Don’t smoke in bed.
• Watch for electrical overloads and loose connections.

Campground electrical safety

• Check the pedestal. Use a surge protector or an electrical management system that tests for wiring problems such as reverse polarity, open ground and low voltage. Plug in with the breaker off.
• Match your RV’s 30-amp or 50-amp service to the pedestal, and use adapters and cords rated for the load. Don’t use household extension cords for shore power. See Extension Cords.
• Keep plugs and cords dry and off the ground in puddles. Use GFCI protection where required. See GFCI.
• Don’t overload circuits by running too many appliances such as AC, microwave and heater at once.
• If you feel a tingle from the RV, stay off it and shut off power. Have an electrician check it.

Driving and backing

• Know your height, width and length, and post the height inside the cab. Watch for low bridges, tree limbs and overhangs. Use an RV-specific GPS.
• Allow more room to brake, since the weight lengthens stopping distance. Keep a longer following distance, and slow down on hills and in wind.
• Take wide turns to keep the rear wheels from cutting corners, and watch your tail swing.
• Use a spotter to back up, with hand signals or radios. Get out and look. See Backing & Docking.
• Watch for wind. Large RVs can be pushed by crosswinds and by passing trucks. Slow down and steady the wheel. See Sharing the Road with Trucks.
• Take breaks and share the driving to avoid fatigue. See Drowsy Driving.
• Seat belts for everyone in seats with belts. People should not ride in a trailer, truck bed or the back of a motorhome unbelted.

At the campsite

• Level and stabilize the RV, set the parking brake and chock the wheels. Use leveling blocks on firm ground, not on slopes. Don’t put hands or feet near jacks and stabilizers while they move.
• Slide-outs and awnings: check clear space before extending or retracting. Pull in awnings in wind and rain. Keep people and pets away from moving slide-outs.
• Stay safe from nature: check weather and park away from dead trees, flood areas and dry streambeds. Know evacuation routes. See Thunderstorms, Lightning & Hail.
• Use campfires safely and keep them away from the RV. Put them fully out. See Hiking & Camping.
• Keep pets secure and cool. See Hot Cars.

Before each trip

• Weights are under GVWR, GAWR and towing limits; trailer load balanced
• Tires inflated cold, in date and undamaged; lug nuts tight
• Hitch, chains, breakaway cable, brakes and lights checked
• Propane leak-tested; LP, CO and smoke alarms and extinguisher working
• Slides, awnings, steps and jacks retracted; doors and cabinets latched
• Route checked for height, weight and road limits

Last updated: October 4, 2026