Driving an RV may seem extremely hard! Read these helpful tips as you prepare to take-off for your summer road trip!

Towing More Than One Vehicle

Cars, passenger vans and SUVs are not permitted to tow more than one trailer or one vehicle. Motor homes, trucks, pickup trucks and truck campers are legally permitted to tow two trailers or a trailer and a motor vehicle behind a trailer. However, a three vehicle combination that is swaying excessively, is unstable or has reduced handling capabilities is subject to action by the police as an unsafe combination of vehicles under the Highway Traffic Act.

The maximum length of any combination of vehicles is 23 m (75' 6").

Seat Belts

The Highway Traffic Act states that no person shall drive a motor vehicle on a highway in which a seat belt assembly required under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada) at the time that the vehicle was manufactured or imported into Canada has been removed, rendered partly or wholly inoperative, modified so as to reduce its effectiveness or is not operating properly through lack of maintenance.

The Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada) has, since July 1, 1972, required that motor home manufacturers install driver seat and right front passenger seat belts. Since April 1, 1999 motor home manufacturers have been required to install as many seat belts in the motor home as the motor home has sleeping positions. For example, a motor home that sleeps six persons requires four additional belts, in addition to the driver and front passenger belts.

Buses that have been converted to motor homes must retain the seat belts for those seats that remain after the modification of the vehicle.

Flares, Lamps, Lanterns or Reflectors

Motor homes and truck campers are required to carry flares, lamps, lanterns or reflectors if the vehicle is driven on a highway, when lighted lamps are required, and the speed limit is in excess of 60 km/h. Such flares, lamps or lanterns must be capable of continuous operation for at least 8 hours. Flares, lamps, lanterns or reflectors are to be placed 30 m (100 feet) ahead of and behind the vehicle when the vehicle is disabled on the travelled portion of the highway.

Portable triangle reflectors that are marked with SAE W4-81-dot, FMVSS 125 or DOT are acceptable.

Exemptions from Entering Highway Weigh Scales

The following vehicles are not required to enter Ministry of Transportation roadside highway scales when the "Trucks Enter Inspection Station" amber lamps are flashing:

• a motor home and a truck camper carrying a slide-in camper when being used for personal or recreational purposes.
• a personal-use pickup truck operated singularly or in combination with a personal-use trailer, including a house or camper trailer. This applies regardless of the pickup's registered gross weight, actual weight or trailer weight.

The driver of a vehicle of any size, weight or type can be required to enter a scale if requested by an officer in person or in a cruiser.

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