donkeydew
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Joined: 12/14/2009
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12 hours between boise and cannon beach. did you have problems or take the senic route ?
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TDInewguy
Minneapolis, MN
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Joined: 02/15/2006
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Ok - a few things here...
1 - you are driving a gas MH - that is not as easy to drive (comfortable IMHO) as a diesel pusher.
2 - You need to first make sure everything on your MH is up to par. Are all the tires good/aired to the right pressure?
3 - upgrade your suspension. A few suggestions - Koni FSD shocks, trac bars, proper alignment, etc.
4 - Take breaks... I usually keep it to 300 miles at one sitting... that is reasonable, and if you plan to do 600 or more miles - by all means - STOP and take a break!! Get some exercise, water, etc.
5 - choose your speed carefully. I used to drive 75+ MPH and it is a LOT more stressful than 62 MPH. It also used a lot more fuel. There are still times I'll get on the go pedal, but usually it's 62 MPH and relaxing. Being that you are going to be passed, not passing - it is easy to just stay in your lane and let the miles roll by.
6 - I get good music and munchies by me when I drive "alone" (the kids and DW are sleeping) I have an iPod that I plug into my radio and have it on a suction cup mount on the side window. I put my favorite music on it and enjoy it.
Just remember why you are going somewhere in your RV - to have FUN! The drive has to be part of the fun...
SSSStefan
2002 Itasca Horizon 39QD with the Fatboy tires on the back!
2009 VW Jetta TDI Sportwagon - toad!
Aluma 24' Enclosed car hauler
1966 GTO - super cool car as seen on Driven1
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TDInewguy
Minneapolis, MN
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Joined: 02/15/2006
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Oh - and one more thing - I invested in really good headlights. I put in HID headlights that are MUCH MUCH brighter than the stock sealed beams. I now ENJOY night driving.
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eddieelk
Cuba, Missouri
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Joined: 06/05/2008
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Us older, more experienced drivers, don't have any problems driving 12 hours. Every 30 minutes I pull over to empty a kidney, which allows me to to walk 50 ft. & loosen up. Sometimes I travel as far as 300 miles in 12 hours. When you're retired, there ain't no reason to rush. I stopped buying green bananas last year, because I might not be around when they ripen.
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steelpony5555
Copperas Cove Texas
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Joined: 10/26/2007
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Alot has to do with how stable your rig is. I once had a Bounder that didn't have any mods done to the front end. No way could I drive 12 hrs in it. I had a TT that no matter what I did it had a lot of sway to it --white knuckle driving--no 12 hrs with it either. Now have a 5er and it is set up great. One hand on the wheel and can drive all day long with no problems.
06 Montana 3000RK
07 Dodge 3500 Dually Sport 6.7 Diesel
07 Pearl White Ultra Classic (My new Baby)
10 Chrysler 300 Touring
Texas Boomers---Stop by for a Margie some time!
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Lobstah
Northeast
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Joined: 06/28/2005
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I can drive my gasser 12hrs if I need to, I just try to NOT need to 
12hrs can be a long day. When we bought our coach, I drove from Mesa to Boston in about 54hrs...so there were some long days in that trip. Then the first "long haul" we did after that was to Lunenburg, NS. Did that in two days, and there was a lot of windshield time involved there too, but haven't done anything like that since, and both of those trips had hard stops, so had to put the time in and go.
Frequent stops are key, and proper seat adjustment as well, but I've also found that you need to make an effort to relax sometimes. If you realize that your shoulders are up around your ears and you're about to rip the wheel off the column, relax, maybe slow down, take a few deep breaths, and settle down.
I needed to do that sequence a LOT when I first picked up the rig in Mesa...LOL
Jim
2005 Pace Arrow 36D
Very Understanding Wife
2 Boxers
4 Cats
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PackerBacker
Montreal Qc Adirondacks,NY
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Joined: 08/22/2002
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Here's my perspective; I love to drive and I stop a lot. I find our MH much more restfull than towing our 5th wheel.
Even at 6'+ I like to drive right up on the wheel while I sit straight up in my seat with my forearms and upper arms at a 90 degree angles. This keeps me from 'reaching' for the wheel and putting strain on my upper back and neck. I keep my arms on the armrests most of the time and drive holding the mid-point of the steering wheel (9:00 & 3:00 o'clock) or lower. I drive on cruise control 90% of the time. I actively drive with my vision as far down the road as possible and avoid the 'keep it between the lines' syndrome which leads to way too much wheel movement.
I've found that I can put in an 10-12 hour day and not feel overly tired or sore; however I do stop to get out and walk around at no more than a 2-hour interval.
For city driving I will put the seat back slightly which gives me a little less tight pedal/leg room.
This works for me.
Eric
2009 Holiday Rambler Admiral 33SFS (34' 3")
2008 Jeep Liberty - North Edition (4x4 auto)
FQCC/Camping Quebec, KOA, Good Sam, Coach-Net
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dieharder
Ottawa, ON
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Joined: 09/10/2009
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In all honesty, if you get stressed driving, maybe a MH isn't the best thing for you. Coming back from PEI to home, I did 18 straight hours unplanned. Although I was pretty glad to get home, I was never stressed at any time, and I'm far from 'experienced' in driving the MH. 57-60MPH on cruise control and enjoy the scenery passing by... nothing stressful about that.
You need to find the root cause of the stress. Is it traffic? Is it over concern that something will go wrong with the MH? You need to find a way to work that out or you're not going to enjoy getting to/from your vacations, which to me is a large part of the fun.
1999 Itasca Sunrise
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rgatijnet1
Florida
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Joined: 06/22/2009
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I really don't have anything that works 100% of the time. A lot depends on how I feel that day and if there is a pressing need to travel a long distance. There are times when everything falls into place and I have driven as much as 20 hours straight, because of a death in the family. There are also times when I feel that 4 hours behind the wheel is too much. I think it is best to listen to your body and stop when it tells you to. You should realize when you physically get to a point where your driving skills have diminished, and that is the time you must stop. Hopefully you will have stopped before that since it takes 100% of most people's driving skills to handle a motor home safely.
* This post was
edited 07/26/10 06:27am by rgatijnet1 *
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Jhureau881
SW Ohio
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Joined: 09/23/2005
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Quote:I am very calm and relaxed when driving the coach...better than in the car.
What makes you so tense?
.....The endless diatribes about how our tires are going to explode at 5yrs + 1 day could be the cause. Certainly makes me think twice.
Scott Hureau
97 HR Endeavor 37CDS CAT
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