merging into traffic on the highway

[lsilvax]

Hi everyone
I am a newbie & just had my maiden voyage. I have very little experience driving my 24ft 2003 Winnebago. I camped local just to try everything out & it went great !!! My only worry is when driving, when taking an entry ramp onto the highway, it is difficult for me to see/judge the traffic that I am merging into. My mirrors seem to be adjusted correctly because I am fine except when in the merging in situation. It causes me so much anxiety - any suggestions????
Thank you in advance for any input & I hope you enjoy the day.
Lisa

[Cougarfan]

Wow, that's a tough question. I think it all depends on where you're at. Here in Oregon, MOST people are courteous and will move over to let you on the freeway. The only time I've had an issue is when there was a semi truck and he couldn't get over. He couldn't speed up and I knew he wasn't gonna slow down, so I just slowed down and merged in behind him.

I've been places in a car where no one would give an inch and I had to adjust my speed (faster or slower) to get on the freeway. If I'm towing the trailer, most people move over or speed up because they can't stand the thought of being "stuck" behind an RV LOL

I think you'll be fine and you just have to use the mirrors to find an opening and then do your best to adjust your speed to fit in the opening when you get to the end of the on ramp. It just takes time to get comfortable with what you're driving whether it is a car, motorhome, towing a trailer, or whatever. Once you do it a couple of times, you'll be fine.

Laura

[DogMom13]

Hello Lisa

Yes, merging onto the highway can be stressful. I start analyzing the traffic as soon as I see it, to see if I should be slowing down a bit or speeding up. I also try to avoid busy, high traffic areas. It has gotten easier , but not completely stress free. I'm not sure there is anything else to do besides check traffic, check mirrors, say a prayer and go. LOL I have had my backup camera on while driving. I don't think it helps with merging, but it does let me keep an eye on the bikes and lets me see cars directly behind me.

Diane

[Acadianmom]

I put a little round convex mirror at the bottom of my mirrors and they help a little to see what is beside me. I find that in some places they are putting longer ramps so that helps if you are parallel to the traffic instead of at an angle. I look and look and look again.

The intersections I hate are the ones that are angled to the left. Because the body of most Class C's are wider than the cab. That makes it almost impossible to see someone coming from the right. If I think I am going to have a problem I have turned to the right, gone down and found a place to turn around.

Martha

[JudyJB]

Same as Martha, I also sometimes turn right when I cannot see that direction because of the gigantic blind spot trying to look right. Ideally, I will line my vehicle up so it faces the road at a 90 degree angle so I can see out of the passenger's window. but that is not always possible.

My mirrors do have that small round convex mirror on them, and that is sometimes helpful. I also keep adjusting my mirrors at intersections--down to see the curb and out to see who is coming.

Just one other tip: Never, ever pull into a pullover spot on the opposite side of the road unless it is deep enough so you can turn around to face the road at that 90 degree angle to return to your route. I once got stuck on one and could not see oncoming traffic so I had to turn right and drive several miles until I could turn around.

[lsilvax]

Thank you for the feedback!!! I am leaving Saturday on a longer trip (from RI to Northern NH). Practice, practice, practice !!