Blind Spot

A blind spot is the area beside an RV not visible in mirrors. RV blind spots are significantly larger than car blind spots and require specific techniques to manage safely.

Why RV blind spots are large

Three structural reasons:

1. Length. A 30 ft motorhome has more sides than a car. The far-rear quarter beyond mirror angle is invisible.
2. Right side worse than left. Driver’s eye is on the left; right-side blind spot extends further back.
3. Towing trailers extend the issue. A tow vehicle’s blind spot becomes the trailer’s blind spot too.

How to estimate your blind spot

While stopped, look in your right side mirror. The area you see ends at some point alongside the rig. Anything beyond that — between the mirror’s view and the rear quarter — is in your blind spot.

For a typical 28 ft Class C with properly adjusted mirrors:

• Left side blind spot: roughly 0-3 feet beside the rig in a 10-foot zone alongside the door
• Right side blind spot: roughly 0-12 feet beside the rig in a 15-foot zone

Some RV rentals have blind spots large enough to hide an entire passenger car alongside the rig.

Lane change technique

For safe lane changes:

1. Signal early (8-10 seconds before the maneuver)
2. Check side mirror — is there a vehicle there?
3. Check convex blind-spot mirror — is the blind spot clear?
4. Wait for confirmation — see the vehicle to your side moving past
5. Initiate the lane change smoothly
6. Continue checking mirrors during the maneuver

If you can’t confirm the blind spot is clear, wait. Don’t lane-change on assumption.

Tools to manage blind spots

• Convex blind-spot mirror (built into many rental mirrors)
• Side cameras in newer rentals
• Backup camera during reverse maneuvers
• A spotter outside the rig during campsite maneuvering
• Adjustable rear-view camera showing both rear and side angles

Right turns and blind spots

Right turns are especially dangerous in RVs:

• The right-rear corner swings wide during a turn
• A cyclist or pedestrian in the right blind spot can be hit
• Always look back over your right shoulder before initiating a tight right turn

Highway driving with blind spots

• Position yourself in the middle lane when possible
• Avoid driving alongside trucks for extended periods (you’re in their blind spot too)
• Pass smoothly rather than lingering in adjacent vehicles’ blind spots
• Set up overtakes well in advance when traffic permits

Towing-specific blind spots

When towing a travel trailer or fifth wheel, the blind spot extends behind the trailer:

• The trailer itself blocks view of vehicles to the side and behind
• A right-side vehicle can disappear entirely
• Trailer width matters — wider trailers have larger blind spots

Many RVers add trailer tow mirrors specifically to expand the blind spot view. Some rentals include these; some require you to bring or rent them separately.