Driving And Vehicle Control; Maneuvering In Traffic - Fleetwood Southwind 1999 Owner's Manual

Driving your motor home will be different from driving your
family car or truck. Your motor home is large and heavy. You
may have to adjust or learn new driving techniques to safely
operate your motor home.
Downhill driving puts extra strain on many drivetrain compo-
nents of your motor home. The brakes are easily overloaded
and overheated when used for downhill slowing. Brake fade
will occur if the brakes overheat.
When driving down long grades, shift the transmission to a
lower gear at the top of the grade. Rule of thumb: Use the
same lowest gear going down as it took to go up the hill.
Crest the hill in the lower gear. Monitor your speed.
Be cautious when maneuvering to allow for the length and
width of the vehicle. Always allow room to corner and to
change lanes. Your vehicle's side view mirrors and optional
rear view camera monitor will help you keep aware of your
vehicle's position and the position of other vehicles andlor
obstructions near your motor home. You must monitor them
constantly while you are driving. Become familiar with the
operation of the side mirrors and learn to use them to view
objects and the road beside and behind the motor home.
The rear view mirrors are controlled from a panel located on
the driver's left side instrument panel. To adjust the mirrors,
select either LEFT or RIGHT mirror and press the appropri-
ate arrow. Activate the mirror heaters by pressing the
HEATER position.
Remember that your motor home is heavier than a car, mak-
ing it less maneuverable and harder to stop. Also, because of
its greater side surface area, it is more easily affected by
cross winds. Allow extra distances for passing and stopping,
and drive at a moderate speed, particularly in traffic and in
gusty wind conditions.
SOUTHWiNd
DRIVINC AND
VEHICLE CONTROL
MAN EUVERI NC
IN TRAFFIC
~I
NOTE
Although your motor
home is equipped with
power steering, the front
wheels may be difficult to
turn whenat a dead stop.
When maneuvering in
some close situations,
give yourself some room
to move either forward or
backward. The vehicle
has to be in motiori for
the front wheels to be
turned with ease.
OJ-Il
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