By Gail Marsh
When I hear someone say “RVing” I immediately think: Vacation! Fun! Relaxation! Emotions include: Joy! Excitement! Happy anticipation! But wait! Turns out many people suffer from fears and phobias while RVing. Fear can dampen happy anticipation. It can squash good times. Fear may even ruin a vacation! Let’s see what scares RVers the most.
The things that scare RVers the most
Amaxophobia
Amaxophobia is the fear of driving. Also called motorphobia, fear of driving can afflict many RVers, especially at first. Driving a car or even a pickup truck is certainly different from pulling a fifth-wheel RV or travel trailer. And driving a motorhome can seem positively overwhelming as you think about the immense length and poundage you’re moving down the road.
I suffered from RV amaxophobia myself. I felt happy and safe sitting in the passenger seat, dutifully warning my husband of hazards (real or imagined) on the road ahead of us. It wasn’t long before I found myself behind the wheel learning how to drive our 40-foot fifth wheel. I’ll admit it. I was afraid at first. Now I’m glad I know how to maneuver our RV, “The Beast.”
If driving your RV makes your knees shake with fear, consider taking an RV driving course (like this). You’ll learn a lot and hopefully overcome your fear!
Atelophobia
The fear of imperfection or making mistakes is another phobia some RVers face. All it takes is one small miscalculation and that unfortunate mailbox incident can stick with you forever. The fear of making mistakes can afflict many RVers, especially costly blunders or ones that might result in damage or injury. A little caution is probably a good thing. Just don’t let atelophobia paralyze you.
One way to combat atelophobia is to discover what caused former mistakes and then work to overcome them. Practice driving and turning your RV in a large empty parking lot. Listen to the passenger who, in love and genuine concern, warns you of impending doom. Or if the one in the passenger seat is partially responsible for past mistakes, wear sound-deadening headphones.
Chronophobia
My husband suffers from fear of time or chronophobia. Symptoms begin the moment our RV departure day is set. No matter if our trip is to begin in three days or thirty, a timeline and numerous lists are brought forth and assigned duties are announced. After the orders are given, periodic checks are performed to make sure our preparations are “on time.”
Of course, prep lists (like this one) are a huge help. And because preparing for a trip can be a lot of work, it’s good to “share the load” with your travel buddy. Mine usually takes care of the mechanical prep while I concentrate on food prep. It works well for us.
Chronophobia symptoms can also appear when our trip begins. Once on the road, the passenger is assigned the task of “keeping time.” This involves using MapQuest and a wristwatch to ascertain: (1) How long we’ve been on the road; (2) How many hours before we reach the RV park; (3) What time the sun sets at said RV park; and many, many more. When his chronophobia symptoms flare up, I’m glad I’ve conquered my amaxophobia (fear of driving). I switch places with my husband, and I drive while he takes over the “timely” duties.
Athazagoraphobia
This is the fear of forgetting something. Many RVers I know (myself included) chronically suffer from this phobia. Since we’ve made our prep list, we’re slowly but surely winning the battle over this condition.
Agoraphobia
This fear of places and situations that might cause panic or embarrassment strikes many RVers as they attempt to maneuver into their assigned RV park site. Agoraphobia usually develops after one or more panic attacks—prompted, no doubt, by previous parking attempts.
Agoraphobia, triggered by back-in campsites, can be treated with practice. Again, take your RV to an empty parking lot and practice. Perfect your hand signals with the driver (follow this advice). Practice using a walkie-talkie as you give directions. Your skills will improve. It just takes practice.
Other phobias that scare RVers
There are many other phobias that afflict RVers. One thing that has helped my travel buddy-husband and me is to investigate the cause of the fear, practice our skills, and (most importantly) keep a good sense of humor!
What scares you the most as an RVer? Please tell me in the comments below.
##RVT1075
I DON
T KNOW WHAT KIND A PHOBIA THIS IS, BUT GETTING MY 42 FT. FIFTH WHEEL AND PICKUP INTO A PLACE I CANT GET OUT OF, IT HAS CAME VERY VERY CLOSE TWICE FOR US. ONLY MY VERY EXCELLENT BACKING SKILLS, WITH ONLY INCHES TO SPARE WERE WE ABLE TO ESCAPE THJE SITUATION.My wife says “What’s that noise?”
Or what’s that smell
I’m with you on this one, Dan. When pulling our 22′ cargo trailer behind our 40′ motorhome, I’m always concerned about being able to get out when we pull into a shopping center or a Wal-Mart etc. I’ve had a couple of tight maneuver areas like you described.
How much stuff do you need that requires a 22′ cargo trailer behind a 40′ motor home?
I suffer from fuelaphobia the fear of high priced fuel.
Your problem, as well as most of us, is called chrometophobia. The fear of spending money! LOL
Build back better
For old fashion fly swatters
Enoz fly swatters
Google it bought a bunch
Fear of mechanical break down or failure. Not just tire blowout,but we worry everytime the slides go in and out,the water heater clicks on, the AC cools etc. And the funny part, our current Travel Trailer has been rock solid with few problems. I am sure that just jinxed us!
Yep, all of these things.
Agree with McTroy. Thank God when slides come in (love/hate slides). Definitely blowout and tire pressure monitor phobia, arriving after dark phobia (HATE it). PS: Forgot tree limb phobia.
A spouse’s phobia. Doesn’t matter which one, but a spouse can’t help but to pass their tensions on to the other spouse. You start to over-react to every sharp intake of breath because you never know if it is justified or not.
Wow…I think I do the sharp breath thing…guess I need to control my anxiety better…
Last I knew, agoraphobia was a fear of open spaces (from Greek “agora”, an open public space)
My wife used to have the fear of me having no fear when I would go places that it seemed one could not get out of. Some gravel roads do just end.
I don’t like driving through very narrow road during construction as using concrete barrier to narrow the road. Really don’t mind the barrels, cones, and stick
Even though the cement barriers are more likely to save your life if a car coming the opposite way crosses the line? The very thing you are extremely afraid of is also the very thing that keeps the traffic physically on the other side. Of course the barrels, cones, and sticks are merely suggestions and are easily defeated. Just something to think about possibly.
Partyphobia, I fear getting a spot next to a group that like to drink and make noise late into the night.
I am so on board with this one it’s not even funny. We left a drag race weekend after only one day in part because of the noisy drunken party just outside our bedroom window.
If you attend such events you’ve got to expect those type of people to be there.
I am terrified of the mountain roads that have a wall on one side and a shear drop of thousands of feet on the other and there is usually no guard rail. I trust my husbands driving yet most of the time I am on the drop off side! The destinations in the Big Horn Mountains are amazing, just not the drive up there for me.
It’s fun to look up different phobias but in reality, MOST “RV-ers” DON’T suffer from ANY of these phobias- that’s because if you have an actual PHOBIA you literally CANNOT tolerate in any way shape or form, the thing you have a phobia about. Phobias are DEBILITATING. So if you have AmaxoPHOBIA- fear of driving, you aren’t even going NEAR a vehicle once less driving one! What RV-ers CAN frequently have is an AVERSION to certain things. Doesn’t sound as interesting as a PHOBIA, but, an aversion will cause one to very much try to AVOID what they fear. However they CAN tolerate what they fear to a much greater degree albeit with anxiety. People with legitimate phobias need professional help and phobias aren’t something one “gets over” with time. Aversions are though. Safe Travels.
The author intended this with a little tongue firmly planted in cheek. Relax.
yeah, really…wow
When RVing, I suffer from Catchupaphobia. That’s because I know when I get home from an extended trip it will take me three weeks to clean everything and to address all issues at the sticks and bricks. Things seem to have a propensity to stop working or the batteries weather instruments, clocks, etc. go dead. Then there’s the yard work, mowing, weeding, and yard debris to be gathered and disposed. It is much less phobic when you can address problems when they occur and not after they stack up!
What would you call the fear that the slideouts will fail to extend or worse yet, on departure day, that will they fail to retract.
Yes, I’ve had this happen. However, I learned real quick how to do the emergency extend/retract method. Learn this and print a copy and carry with you. Still a fear, but this helps!
I’ve learned to carry a “kit” of tools, parts, and a cardboard creeper to fix the slide when it breaks. It was never a problem for the first nine years but after a yearlong stay in damp Houston without moving, the slide mechanism started breaking. Rust everywhere! The first time, I called a mobile tech. I watched how he fixed it, and with what. I have since fixed it twice myself. I just don’t want to have to fix it in the rain! Oh, and I drench the whole rack in lube every time I get ready to pull the slide in. Shoulda been doing this from day one!
I’m afraid of a fire in the rv. I’ve seen one burn and they burn hot and fast.
Fear of the other driver. When you I’m driving 63 MPH and this other driver passes me at 75. They are so uncontrollable if something sudden were to happen at that speed. A zig and a zag in front of me would make me retire, I think.
How about fuelaphobia? We plan our trips around fuel stops. I pull a 30 foot trailer and map out all the gas stations at about 150 mile intervals. The problem is trying to find ones that will accommodate my truck and trailer. Most gas stations have the pump lanes facing the building. Even truck stops have the gas pumps this way and close to the building with parking spots in front. Trying to swing the trailer around can be a problem. When picking a gas stop, I look at aerial maps and see how the place is laid out. I have even called and asked if they can accommodate a trailer. Very few have RV fuel lanes. I have already dropped the trailer in the truck parking area, got gas, and hooked up.
I try to use the end pumps whenever possible. That way I can back out if necessary. Not a fan of those stations that Bob above mentioned where the pump lanes face the building. Pulling our 30′ TT through those lanes can be a pain. If I can use the truck lanes without getting in the way of truckers, I do that. One thing I do that helps prevent “We gotta stop now!” because we’re almost empty is fueling when the gauge reads ½, or thereabouts. That way I don’t need to stop at the next gas station no matter what – because it’s emergency status.
We had a 38’ motorhome with toad, at the time I had a Walmart gas station discount card. In the 3 years we had that I only found one that I couldn’t maneuver in and out by using the outside pump islands. Sometimes you may have to wait for a car to vacate those islands, but except the one time there was always room to get in and out.
The fix, buy smaller and live bigger. Unless you have a BIG family, smaller is less stress, less fuel, more fuel pumps, more room to move around and more camp ground choices. you’ll camp better and live bigger.
By the way
Merry Christmas Everyone!
I think most will relate to these and rather label as concerns and not as diagnoses of a paralyzing nature.
Tire failure phobia, engine failure phobia, slide failure phobia, severe storm phobia, illness while in travel phobia
Decision Fatigue! When I’m on the road, I make far more daily decisions than at home. Everything from where to fuel, where to sleep, where to dump, etc. Not to mention keeping a time schedule, worrying about my rig, maintenance, and repairs. It can snowball and cause a great deal of stress.
The fear of “Limp mode”
or what it is commonly called
Limp-o-phobia
She hates that to. At least there’s a pill for that.
Thank you, Gail! The first time that I drove our RV, I spent at least an hour driving the roads in the dealership before heading “outside,” onto the real roads. Even now, 7 years and 65,000 miles later, the first mile, two miles of a journey are uncomfortable. I do enjoy piloting our RV, but there is always a degree of anxiety in the background. I guess that the anxiety potentially leads to greater vigilance and safety (he wrote hopefully). Merry Christmas to you and yours, Gail! 🙂
Mom and Dad camped while she was pregnant with me.
My fear is leaving Va. to go to Spokane to see my sister and her kids. I know this sounds like a good thing and it is. My fear is leaving as my age is likely to keep me from ever going back to see them again. Not seeing my family again is messing with my mind. I fear time because I can’t get more of it. So much more I wanted to see and accomplish. I always thought I’d be able to RV for an extended time but the economy is keeping me from that. Since I was a child I’ve been a camper thanks to my parents. I love travel in the USA and would sell my house to do it but my better half fears that idea. I need money to fix this. I Fear and Hate Time
Continued from above. I love to travel in the USA like we did when I worked at Kaiser. We’d travel to Va. to see Diane’s family each year. I worked and planned to retire from Kaiser Aluminum in Spokane where I worked for 15 years before I became disabled. It was good money. My wife worked so we did ok. I chose to move her back to Va. so she could be with her family. I never thought 30+ years would go by so fast. She worked (but less money) till she retired this year. I did what I could at home. We still camped locally in our 40-year-old, 20′ Road Ranger. It’s been a great RV but it is wearing out. Time is running out. I hope I have another 10 years in me to travel. MORE BELOW
Continued from above. Having a 40-year-old travel trailer is iffy at best and no money for something like a Class C motor home, well I’m losing hope that we can do what I thought we had Time for. What I lived my life for. That kind of strong desire I thought wouldn’t run out of Time for. Yes, I Fear and Hate Time.
Readers, Don’t let time run out on you. Go do what you Love or you’ll lose your time to do it.
The day after Christmas, 4 days after my letter and no one has the time to care.
Will happy New Year.
We at RVtravel.com care, L. We hope you have a very happy and healthy 2024, and many miles of safe and enjoyable travels for years to come. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Thank You, It means a lot. I know I have a lot to be grateful for.I guess I am just having the Christmas Blues. I just have to accept my limits.
Thank you for replying, L. (I just got home from my sister’s, hence the delay in responding.) It gets more difficult as we get older, I think, to accept our limits. Then I think of people who are so much worse off than I am, and it makes me especially grateful for how well I am doing (at 77!), and what wonderful sons, family and friends I have. Not to mention this so-called “job” that I have and thoroughly enjoy, and the wonderful folks I work with, and all of our terrific readers. But, then again, I know how tough things can be sometimes, and I hope things start looking up for you soon. Have a peaceful and restful night, and a happier day tomorrow and each day going forward.🤗 –Diane
Loved it! Seen them all between my spouse and myself. Some are easier to overcome than others.
Having a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating one learns to always, but always, have an alternate plan and place to go just in case…. I tho’t I had a “phobia”, but learned today it is an “Aversion”. An aversion to roads with Jersey barriers on both sides leaving no place to go in the event of an engine fail or flat tire or blowout! I keep imagining the traffic buildup behind me from such an event and how to get extracted from the area! I have a TPMS and I physically check pressures every day before departure – but stuff happens! (Maybe the “stuff” is the phobia part!? Hmmm?) Merry Christmas to all the Rv Travel staff and commenters as well. Love you all!
Thanks, D & J. We love you all too! Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2024! 🤗 –Diane for all of us at RVtravel.com
If you’re scared of these things you shouldn’t have an RV,
maybe try bird watching!!!!!!!!
The fear of getting in a spot where he can’t back up, turn around, squeeze through, get over. If he wasn’t deaf in his right ear (he wears hearing aids) it would help. I am not allowed to drive. I am on the edge of my seat at all times.
I use to fear backing up my TT into small tight spaces at some RV parks. I SOLVED that by selling the TT and buying a Class C motorhome. Now I only fear breaking down.😁