Mountain roads lead to some of the most spectacular destinations for a camper (the Pyrenees, the Alps, mountain ranges everywhere), but they also test the driver and the vehicle: long gradients, tight bends, tight widths and a lot of weight in play. Driving them with technique and caution is key. Here are the tips for going up and down safely.
Before you climb: check the vehicle
- Brakes in good condition: they're the star of the descent; if something feels off, don't go up.
- Correct coolant and fluid levels: the engine works hard on long climbs.
- Tyres in good condition and correctly inflated.
- Load well distributed and within weight limits (see maximum weight).
Going up: patience and gears
- Use low gears: let the engine rev; don't labour it in too high a gear.
- Keep a steady, sensible pace; there's no rush.
- Make overtaking easy: if there's a queue behind you, use passing places to let others by.
Going down: engine braking is your friend
This is the most important point. On long descents, don't rely on the brake pedal alone: it overheats and can lose effectiveness (the dreaded "brake fade"). Use engine braking: go down in the same low gear you'd use to climb that stretch, let the engine hold the vehicle back and use the brake pedal only occasionally. With a heavy vehicle, this is critical for safety.
Bends and width
- Slow down before the bend, not during it; enter slowly and exit accelerating gently.
- Mind the width and the overhang: on tight bends, the rear swings outward; judge it carefully.
- Single-track or narrow roads: use passing places and respect local priority and courtesy.
- Watch the height in tunnels and under overhangs.
In short
Driving mountain roads with a camper means checking the vehicle (brakes above all), climbing in low gears with patience, and descending using engine braking so the brakes don't overheat. The step you can take today: before a mountain pass, check the brakes and the load, and make a mental note to use engine braking on the way down (the same low gear as for the climb); with that, you'll enjoy the best mountain destinations safely.