Having to drive a motorhome in heavy rain is a fact of life for any British ‘van owner. We all know the heavens could open at any time of year.
The wettest parts of the country get up to 4m of rain annually. Even the driest areas receive around 500mm per year (that’s about 20 inches).
Wet weather will place additional demands on both the driver and even the best motorhomes. This is nothing experienced motorhomers cannot take in their stride, but it pays to be prepared, before and during any journey.
Here, we’ll run through the various steps you need to take to make sure that you and your motorhome are ready for travel in heavy rain. We also have some tips for drivers behind the wheel in wet weather – and if you are touring in the colder months and want to beat the chill, don’t miss our guide to how to keep a campervan warm in winter.
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Get ready for the rain
Some of the most important stages before driving in wet weather actually need to take place long before a wheel is turned – you have to be sure that your ‘van will be ready for whatever the British climate might throw at it.
Your motorhome tyres are key to this preparedness. By law, the tyres on vehicles with an MTPLM of 3500kg (see: our guide to motorhome weights for more on this) or less must have 1.6mm of tread depth across the central ¾ of the tread, all the way around the tyres’ circumference.
It’s not worth running tyres close to the legal minimum, because they will begin to lose their wet-weather grip a while before this.
It’s sensible to change the tyre when it is worn down to around 2-3mm of tread depth (from around 8-9mm for a brand-new tyre). This is a good compromise between maximising the life of the tyre and making sure that you stay safe and legal.
Remember, if the police were to stop you and find that you have a defective tyre, you’d face a three-point penalty on your licence and a fine of up to £2500 – and that’s per tyre!
A proper tyre tread depth gauge is ideal, as this lets you know how much tread is remaining. The quick and easy alternative is to measure the remaining tread with a 20p piece.
The outer band of the coin should disappear into the tread. If it doesn’t, the tyre is too worn. Remember to check the tread in a few places to make sure there’s enough all the way around.
It’s not just a worn tread that could land you in trouble. Regularly check the tyres for any cuts and bulges. If you do notice evidence of damage, have the tyre inspected by a professional. It will probably need to be replaced.
As part of your regular motorhome maintenance routine and before every long journey, check that the tyres are inflated to the correct motorhome tyre pressure. Don’t forget the spare if you have one. You’ll kick yourself if you have a puncture and the spare is flat when you need it.
If you have a tyre repair kit instead of a spare wheel, make sure the kit is complete and in date. They generally have a use-by date. You might find the kit still works beyond this, but rather than just crossing your fingers, it makes sense to replace the kit promptly for your peace of mind.
As well as tyres, you need to make sure you can see and be seen in poor visibility. Rain and spray can make it hard to see if your screen isn’t clear. Don’t forget to clean the motorhome windscreen and check the wiper blades for signs of wear and tear. If the rubber is cracked or pieces are missing, it’s time to fit replacement blades.
You should also look out for streaks on the screen or squeaking from the blades, which are all indications that they are past their best.
Many motor accessory stores will fit replacement wiper blades for you, although it’s a simple enough DIY job.
Top up the fluids
You will also want to make sure that the washer fluid is topped up. Ideally, you would change the vehicle’s washer fluid depending on the season, because winter and summer products are made with different formulations to suit the different conditions.
Summer fluid will clear away bugs and dust, while the winter fluid is formulated for lower temperatures and will help to de-ice a windscreen.
You can also get all-season washer fluids if you would rather use one of these fit-and-forget formulations.
In any case, you should make sure that you never let the washer fluid reservoir run completely dry, because this can make it very difficult to see clearly, especially at times when the sun is low in the sky.
Using a specialist water-repellent treatment, such as Rain-X, can help to clear the screen, requiring fewer sweeps from the wipers.
Lighting-up time
It’s important to maintain clean and effective lights in wet weather. As well as routinely checking your lights, make a point of examining them before any long journey, even if you only plan to be on the road in daylight hours.
We all know the importance of cleaning a motorhome to clear it of muck, but don’t forget the lights. They might well be working properly, but dirt and grime can make them less effective. If the lights are looking very dirty, give them a good clean before you set off.
Leave a safe stopping distance
Bear in mind that all of your detailed preparation won’t count for much without equally careful driving.
In wet weather, it’s very important to give yourself plenty of time and space to make decisions and respond to the actions of other road users.
For regular driving in wet conditions, drivers are recommended to leave a four-second gap to the vehicle in front. This is double the gap that is suggested for driving in dry weather.
These gaps should be thought of as the bare minimum, to account for the extra stopping distance compared with that of a standard (lighter) car.
Sometimes, you might find that an impatient driver will be very close to the back of your motorhome. If you are tailgated while driving in wet weather, don’t be intimidated into going faster than you judge to be safe.
If anything, you should actually leave extra space up ahead, to allow for the other driver leaving themselves little room to stop.
Take a look at Gentleman Jack’s motorhome driving tips for more useful advice when you’re behind the wheel of your ‘van.
When to delay travelling
Pay close attention to the weather forecast in the days before your trip. While a bit of a shower isn’t going to put you off driving, if heavy rain and high winds combine, it’s prudent
to consider altering your plans. If you can travel a day early or late, you could avoid the worst of the weather.
But if you do decide to embark on your trip, slowing down can make a difference to the stability of the ’van – even dropping from 60mph to 55mph makes a noticeable difference.
Sometimes, it’s best to cancel a trip and rebook. If the Met Office advises against unnecessary journeys, stay at home and put an extra log on the fire.
Checking the route
When you are driving in wet weather, especially if it’s windy as well, it’s a good idea to consider altering your route. For example, it might be better to travel inland rather than taking the Prince of Wales Bridge across the River Severn, particularly if you are driving a very tall motorhome.
A valley route might be better than travelling across exposed high ground in strong winds. The opposite might be true if the winds are subdued but the rain is particularly heavy.
Driving through floodwater
When heavy rain is forecast, it’s also important to check for flood warnings. Local knowledge is always most useful, so call ahead to the campsite you’ve chosen to stay at and ask the staff if any of the nearby roads are flooded. That way, you should be able to avoid them on your journey.
Prevention is definitely better than cure – it’s easy enough to turn around and avoid floodwater when you are driving a car, but having to carry out a U-turn in a motorhome can be a rather more stressful experience.
If other vehicles are successfully driving through the flood, you may decide to proceed. If so, be cautious, keep your speed down and stay to the middle of the road, where the water will likely be at its shallowest.
If in any doubt, it’s better to turn around and head another way, rather than risk damaging your motorhome.
Choosing the right tyres
Whenever there’s a cold snap, drivers ask the question: “Should we switch to winter tyres?”
Winter tyres perform better than summer tyres once temperatures drop below 7°C. With more pronounced tread and extra sipes in the tyre blocks, winter tyres perform very well when it’s cold and wet. They are not just for use with snow and ice on the ground.
Although winter tyres are an extra expense, they are not quite as pricey as they might first appear, because using winter tyres will save wear on the summer set.
It’s certainly worth switching to winter tyres if you’re not winterising a motorhome and will instead tour all year in mountainous areas or in northern Britain. Down south, the weather might not be cold enough often enough for the switch to be worthwhile. There is another option, though, which is probably better for the British climate.
Four-season tyres split the difference between summer and winter tyres, offering good performance in all weathers. They are not as grippy as summer tyres will be in high temperatures, or as capable in the snow as dedicated winter tyres.
For four-season driving, though, the best all-weather tyres are an excellent compromise.
If you’re travelling in the winter months, one thing you could find yourself contending with is condensation. Take a look at our guide to how to stop condensation in a campervan for our top tips on keeping your ‘van moisture-free.
Lead image: Getty Images
Future Publishing Limited, the publisher of Practical Motorhome, provides the information in this article in good faith and makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Individuals carrying out the instructions do so at their own risk and must exercise their independent judgement in determining the appropriateness of the advice to their circumstances. Individuals should take appropriate safety precautions and be aware of the risk of electrocution when dealing with electrical products. To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither Future nor its employees or agents shall have any liability in connection with the use of this information. Double check any warranty is not affected before proceeding.
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