barlow46
Edgewater, FL
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Joined: 12/13/2004
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Watch this video by Michelin. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkwOE1yKY5c
2005 Monaco Dynasty Diamond IV 42'
04 F450, 6.0 auto, 4:30 rear; BrakeSmart; 50 gal aux.tank, 01 HR Presidential 35CKS, 3 slides, axles flipped; TrailAir Pinbox. pin weight 2760. Total gross TV and 5th: 24,060 lbs.
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John&Joey
Some Location
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Joined: 05/20/2007
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ColeAve wrote:Please keep these tips coming! My husband would like for me to learn how to drive our 39 ft Newmar & I am REALLY nervous! I've driven most anything including motorcycles & those things didn't bother me but this does! Thanks!
Do learn to drive the rig, if only for one short trip. We've bumped into a few on our travels where the husband has a medical emergency leaving his wife completely in charge of the rig. The last time it happened the son had to fly down to drive the rig back home.
For myself, it turned out to be an expired drivers license. We were down in Oklahoma making it back to Minnesota. DW didn't want to drive the rig back (fearful, and a little too short for the dash she said) so we had to wait it out until everything was resolved via the mail system.
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psa0298
Alberta
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Joined: 12/02/2010
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Look around your mirriors....those big mirrors can hide smaller vehcles.
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wildtoad
Blythewood, SC
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Joined: 06/05/2011
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I've had various sized mh's and in everycase going forward has never been an issue once you do a few right turns at an intersection. Backing up can be a bit unnerving at first. My best advice is 1) practice and 2) make sure you have a good set of mirrors both large flat mirrors and convex mirrors on both sides. Learn to use (and trust) them.
Tom Wilds
Blythewood, SC
2000 Hurricane 30Q
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FC
Kitchener,Ontario, Canada
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Joined: 12/25/2000
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To check out the amount of tail wag I had on our MH I went to an empty parking lot with lines and then lined up our unit perfectly on a line. I had my son hold a yard stick with a piece of chalk taped to the bottom of it so it would touch the asphalt. He held it against the rear corner of the MH directly over the painted line of the parking lot. I then turned the steering wheel to max turn and then started to move. The chalk made a perfect line on the asphalt so we could measure exactly the amount the tail end moved sideways on a maximum turn.
We repeated the process with a general minimum turn just to have reference points. It varies for each MH due towheel base, turning radius etc.
This way we know exactly.
JM2CW
2003 Georgetown 346DS Ford F-53
2008 Pontiac G6 Toad, Blue Ox Aventa LX
Family Campers & RVers--- Come Camp With Us
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Ivylog
Blairsville, Ga. USA
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Joined: 06/30/2004
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While the DW could drive our rig in town she only likes driving it out on the interstates. Out on the road because of the long wheel base of a MH it does not respond as quickly as a car to steering inputs. Unfortunately too many drivers turn the swheel more than needed so then they have to correst the other way. This oversteering will make a MH that actually drives very well act like one that needs a steering stabalizer. On a windless day on a good interstate practice seeing how little you can turn the wheel (give it a little more time) as you will be surprise how little it takes to keep it between the lines.
If you are going to drive in towns, I'd go to a big empty parking lot and practice making turns there. Might want a gallon jug of water on the cornor of a right hand turn to tell if you missed it. Practice backing up and then making 90 degree turns while backing. Park with the right side just off of a straight white line and place on the bottom of the windshield a mark (piece of black elect tape) that lines up with the white line while sitting in the driver's seat. Out on the road this will let you see how close to the edge of the road you are driving without trying to use your mirror which comes in handy in construction zones. Not that you normally want to look this close in while driving (you should be looking 300+ feet out), but with practice you will know how close you are without even looking at your mark. Twice in ten years I've had to make three left turns because there was no way I could make the one right turn. Agree with waiting until the very last to turn right and then turn the wheel very quickly and once clear up front, use your mirror to make sur you are clear on the inside.
* This post was
edited 06/13/11 07:38am by Ivylog *
This post is my opinion (free advice). It is not intended to influence anyone's judgment nor do I advocate anyone do what I propose.
04 Monaco Dynasty 42' quad slide
Where am I?
How I tow.
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nelson
Clio,Mi USA
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Joined: 07/01/2002
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For me if I aline the bottom of the center bar of my windshield with the outside white line or edge of road I am in the center of my lane. Comes in handy in construction zones. Never forget about your blind spots. Small cars will fit into mine and ride there and they are easy to forget about. I slow down so they go by. Don't over drive, It a big box and it will move in the wind. Relax It's not all that bad.
2002 Damon Challenger 348 Ford V10
Blue Ox Auto Stop and Aventa II Tow Bar
2001 Ford Sport Trac with Remco Driveshaft Disconnect
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LarryAck
New City, NY, 10956
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Joined: 02/19/2002
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If you tow, keep checking the backup camera. If the toad is in the center of the lane you are in a perfect spot.
2010 Tiffin Phaeton 40 QTH
2009 Jeep Wrangler
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helgi
Rosthern SK Canada
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Joined: 12/01/2009
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For me the best info I got about driving these big shoe boxes over the hi-ways and bi-ways. Is from www.lazydays.com they have a series of topics under better rving at www.betterrving.com that should answer all your pertinent questions.
Give them a glance you might like it.
Happy and safe travelling,
helgi.
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PeppyPilot
NW Chicago Suburbs
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Joined: 06/24/2002
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Lots of good tips here that I am not going to duplicate.
What I would like to add is the notion that driving a big Class A is different but not harder.
Once you make the transition and get used to the different perspective, speeds, driving conventions, etc., I think you will find the Class A easier to drive on long trips than any smaller vehicle.
Riding high, comfortable and spacious seating, slower speeds and less aggressive driving, easy access to refreshments, etc. make driving the Class A a dream on long trips.
CJ and Pepe
2003 Itasca Suncruiser 33V
Workhorse W-20 chassis
2004 Jeep Liberty Limited w/Blue Ox
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