RV's: How hard is it to get someone used to driving one?

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 12:30 pm

My plan this year involves an RV and driving to the event in shifts (about a 24 hour drive). I've driven a few RV's in my time and I'm used to them. One thing I'm really concerned about, though, is the ability of my co-drivers to handle driving an RV. While most of their driving shifts will be on the highway, I'm wondering: how hard is it for someone to pick up this "skill"? Anyone have any experience with RV-driving virgins? Also, does anyone have an opinion as to whether a Class A is easier or harder to drive than a Class C?

TIA

Martiansky · Post by **Martiansky** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 2:39 pm

Since I'm not sure what state you are in...sorry.....I can only speak for MN as to licensing.....A class A here is for semi trucks, a class B is for taxis, schoolbuses and delivery trucks around the 35' size. With endorsments you can also drive passenger or schoolbus. Class C is for personal vehicles(cars, suvs, p/u's)
Probably way too much info..........OK.

I guess if you are worried about who's driving or how they can drive it, take it to a big open lot and let them get the feel of driving around.
I would watch for tail swings depending on how far back the rear wheels are, overhead clearance, blind spots(have someone spot you, especially backing).
Driving in open lanes of highway(unless it's windy...aaiiee!!!) is much easier then driving in-town.

Hope that helps.....

Post by **actiongrl** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 3:02 pm

I never had a lick of trouble driving any size RV for the first time. First one was driving up to the event in someone else's 32 footer, big monster! But I took to it right away. Just explain the differences (overhead, stopping times, and the wide swing of a turnout) and have them try it out first in a parking lot, yes.

It's really easy and actually sort of fun. Might want to check out their skills as a driver in a car, though, since some poeple just drive like morons to begin with....

joel the ornery · Post by **joel the ornery** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 3:08 pm

of all things i must recommend about RV's and large vehicles.

use a GROUND GUIDE (someone to help you backup or cover your blind spots)

i re-learned this lesson with a 500 deductable and some other expenses when i crunched the rear end of a rented RV.... 30 minutes before i turned the damn thing in.

when in doubt, have someone else help in tight situations.

Post by **AntiM** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 3:23 pm

They teach solo truckers GOAL when backing, Get Out And Look.

Dustdevil · Post by **Dustdevil** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 3:32 pm

You might also remind them that the braking distance needs to be considered. It will take a much greater distance to stop in a panic situation. Also, use lower gears going down steep inclines so as not to overheat the brakes. My wife observed that driving our motorhome looks more difficult than it actually is.

blyslv · Post by **blyslv** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 3:33 pm

As for driving straight through, please be very careful. Friends of mine rolled their vehicle last year. Nobody was hurt, but it could have been serious. If someone is dozing, don't let 'em keep driving.

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 4:35 pm

blyslv wrote:As for driving straight through, please be very careful. Friends of mine rolled their vehicle last year. Nobody was hurt, but it could have been serious. If someone is dozing, don't let 'em keep driving.

Oh, I know. The drive up there is going to be the hardest thing for me. The plan is to have three or more drivers driving in shifts with me, the veteran, taking the first and last shifts. Also, every driver will have a co-driver to keep an eye on both the road and to make sure the driver isn't dozing off. I'm wondering if I'm going to be able to sleep after my shift (I'm a bad passenger) and if we should just plan on sleeping for a few hours along the way (which I'm trying to avoid).

I was planning on definitely doing some driver training before the event. Hadn't thought about braking distance and lower gears so thanks for that advice.

Hmm...

Tiahaar · Post by **Tiahaar** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 4:37 pm

Hey DP, you ARE going to do the RV sounds like! Cool!

OK, my take is that a class C (for others info: motorhome with the overhead bunk above a van cab...not a reference to the license class) is more car-like 'cause the front wheels are indeed in front of the driver, just like a car. The class A rigs often have the front wheels behind the driver so it takes a bit to get used to judging where to turn...keep to the outside of the corner.

Tell the drivers to pretend they are a chauffer to a rich fragile star; be smooth and deliberate, can't have the bubbly sloshing, and oh yeah REALLY look ahead and anticipate braking.

Martiansky · Post by **Martiansky** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 4:59 pm

actiongrl wrote: Might want to check out their skills as a driver in a car, though, since some poeple just drive like morons to begin with....

HAHAHA!! Very good idea indeed!

I should've also metioned that I don't think you need a different kind of license to drive and RV. Don't quote me on that though.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 5:01 pm

Damn Tex. wind shear. JUst kidding it happens all over. Sudden wind and over steering. Some in Or. happen at intersections. There are woods on both sides then a big. clearing for the intersection. In the south west it happens around those sand hills into an open area.
Do not drive through running water. Tx, Az, & NM. You don't know how deep it is.

I know you will do good. See you on the playa.

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 5:02 pm

Tiahaar wrote:Hey DP, you ARE going to do the RV sounds like! Cool!

OK, my take is that a class C (for others info: motorhome with the overhead bunk above a van cab...not a reference to the license class) is more car-like 'cause the front wheels are indeed in front of the driver, just like a car. The class A rigs often have the front wheels behind the driver so it takes a bit to get used to judging where to turn...keep to the outside of the corner.

Tell the drivers to pretend they are a chauffer to a rich fragile star; be smooth and deliberate, can't have the bubbly sloshing, and oh yeah REALLY look ahead and anticipate braking.

Yeah, I put the old RV on ebay and I was trying to decide whether to get another RV or a travel trailer and decided that as much as I'd love to get a travel trailer, I need an RV for the flexibility to bring as many people as possible (since I have only one other person committed at this point) and because of the length of the trip.

Now I'm looking at my driving plan to see where I can insert a 4-hour sleep break on the way up there. I think I'm also going to add a hotel room shower/sleepover in Reno on the way home. Don't want a bunch of zoned out goofballs trying to drive without a good night's sleep...

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 5:03 pm

Martiansky wrote:
actiongrl wrote: Might want to check out their skills as a driver in a car, though, since some poeple just drive like morons to begin with....
HAHAHA!! Very good idea indeed!

I should've also metioned that I don't think you need a different kind of license to drive and RV. Don't quote me on that though.

I think you're right. I don't think you need a special license. I've rented RV's and they never asked about a license...

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 5:08 pm

Martiansky - you are correct - the absolute most dangerous thing we encounter with the RVs is the WIND. It's like driving a giant billboard. Coming from the west coast can be a little too exciting coming into Sacramento. Be sure the steering is tight with as little slop in the steering as possible - it really helps.

The only other real issue is be careful for other virgin RVers - we have been very nearly run off the road a couple of times by burners in a hurry who don't realize the total length of their RV plus the trailer they're towing - they have a bad habit of changing lanes after passing you before they are clear of your front bumper. At night, they just see your headlights in the mirror and assume they're clear.

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 5:21 pm

I have driven a class a and class c. The 34 foot bounders freaked me out. I did not enjoy driving them in the donner pass. I am, however, used to driving very small and nimble vehicles. If I were driving a squishy SUV around all the time the RV transition might not be so rough. Still, I do it year after year w/o much incident.

Martiansky · Post by **Martiansky** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 5:24 pm

Speaking of sideswipes...what is with people drifting into your lane as they go by? I've almost been sideswiped several times and then people passing move over in front WAY TOO SOON!! Had to hit the brakes to escape a near hit! Sheesh!

Yeah, we get high wind warnings up here for trucks going over the bridges to&from Superior! WHOOSH!!!

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 6:24 pm

Martiansky wrote:Speaking of sideswipes...what is with people drifting into your lane as they go by? I've almost been sideswiped several times and then people passing move over in front WAY TOO SOON!! Had to hit the brakes to escape a near hit! Sheesh!

Yeah, we get high wind warnings up here for trucks going over the bridges to&from Superior! WHOOSH!!!

Wind isn't a big problem. Most of the drive is over very flat surfaces and few mountains.

The people who change lanes quickly are the same ones who don't look before changing lanes. They're betting you'll get out of the way. Darwin generally takes care of this problem.

fancy1 · Post by **fancy1** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 8:33 pm

Dallas,
We just sold our class C and replaced it with a 34' class A. Love it! Much easier to drive, even with hard winds. Returned from a week trip, and the worst part was the Gorge outside of Portland, OR. Hard wind gusts, but not too hard to handle. Just be easy on down grades, use your gears and not your brakes. You're a lot heavier and stopping distance is lots longer. One other thing you probably won't like is the bill at the gas station! Oh man, 170.00 per fill-up! ouch...

See ya on the playa!

Fancy

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 8:51 pm

Martiansky wrote:Speaking of sideswipes...what is with people drifting into your lane as they go by? I've almost been sideswiped several times and then people passing move over in front WAY TOO SOON!! Had to hit the brakes to escape a near hit! Sheesh!

Yeah, we get high wind warnings up here for trucks going over the bridges to&from Superior! WHOOSH!!!

~
53 years driving. Three wrecks all people in my lane. One was head on in Reno with a drunk cabby. The other two were head ons too. Except I managed to swing sideways and lessen the hit.

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 5:02 am

Whenever a semi passes an RV or trailer, there's turbulence between the two vehicles. My sis-inlaw was sucked into the side of a semi and trashed a pop-up trailer. Just remember to hang on and be aware when passing trucks. Be very conscious of the big trucks, they're slow uphill but really pick up momentum downhill. If you think stopping an rv is bad, try a fully loaded 75 foot rig. Give 'em room.

When you're passing a semi and get far enough ahead to pull in, they will often flash their headlights for you. Try to do this for all towing vehicles as a courtesy.

If you have to park in the truck side of a truckstop, pull into the slot as straight as possible. Nothing annoys drivers more than an rv taking up two or more spots. Truck parking is limited and sometimes they just want to stop and sleep and don't want your sorry vacationing ass taking up their places.

If anyone is driving from the west: There's a couple spots on I-80 near the Salt Flats where the winds have been strong enough to knock semis right off the road. Unusual for summer but be aware through that stretch of Utah. Also the mouths of canyons and the west side of Wendover headed toward Pequop Pass. Careful on that downhill on Pequop in NV and Parley's Canyon east of Salt Lake, they're deceptively steep curvy grades.

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 7:36 am

Eh, driving west FROM the east ... sorry.

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 8:28 am

Great advice AntiM.

I experienced the semi/RV suction when I was driving the 28' Class A back from Kansas -- and my steering was super loose and it was a real nail biter sometimes just keeping it in my lane (one of the reasons I'm getting rid of it).

Someone mentioned a Class C being harder to drive. I can kinda see that (I've driven both). Seems like on a Class A you're higher up and that you have much better visibility (except where you can't see because of your length).

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 8:36 am

AntiM wrote:If anyone is driving from the west: There's a couple spots on I-80 near the Salt Flats where the winds have been strong enough to knock semis right off the road. Unusual for summer but be aware through that stretch of Utah. Also the mouths of canyons and the west side of Wendover headed toward Pequop Pass. Careful on that downhill on Pequop in NV and Parley's Canyon east of Salt Lake, they're deceptively steep curvy grades.

Thanks- I'll be coming that way! I remember a couple of spots where sudden blasts came up, and it would've been ugly if I'd happened to be swapping CDs or reaching for a soda! My Element's fairly little, but very boxy and the wind really shoves Babar around!
Driving a big RV or pulling trailer on 447- The shoulders are VERY SOFT. I saw several rigs stuck off the road last year, and not far off the road.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 9:12 am

Was at the California DMV last week for a renewal. There's a limit by length on the size of the Motorhome you can drive with the basic (Class C) liscence. So check out that as well.

safetythird · Post by **safetythird** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 10:32 am

theCryptofishist wrote:Was at the California DMV last week for a renewal. There's a limit by length on the size of the Motorhome you can drive with the basic (Class C) liscence. So check out that as well.

I'm very happy to hear this. I live in vacationland and almost get run over by old people driving mobile mansions all the time. I think there should be proficiency tests for vehicles this size. It's scary to think that people who can barely operate small vehicles can just climb aboard and pilot a rolling house down the road at 65mph.

There's some great advice given here already but I'll throw in my limited knowledge too.

Gears on grades - Check
Courtesy Flashing - Double Check

Semi suction - Check - Especially the last stretch of narrow 2 lane. White knuckles for me all the way.

My class A has little sticky arrows on the dashboard that when viewed from the drivers seat tells you where the tires are. IE When the left arrow is on the line then you are just about to feel the braille. Same with the right side though on some roads there isn't any right side braille or room for error. I find the towing mirrors helpful in checking my RVs track all the way to the back.

S3 & 2/3rds has no problems driving our 27' class A and she can barely reach the pedals. It doesn't surprise me though. She used to show the valet parkers in Hollywood how to shoehorn her full-sized extended everything into an overcrowded parking lot. Some people just have skills.

I think class a's are a bit easier to drive than class c's due to not having to estimate your width and better visibility. A copilot is a very good idea. They keep you company and can do stuff like fuss the stereo, fetch a red bull, etc. Sometimes you need someone just to get up and check that blind spot for you or keep an eye on the right side of the road.

It feels unnatural to be riding the left line all the time but you are driving a freaking house that in some places is just as wide as your lane. I've almost hit debris and a couple signs by not paying attention to the right side.

Class C width estimation: A friend and campmate always rents a class c for BM. When they leave the playa at 4:00 am Monday morning he attaches a laser to the wide part of the rv and points it so that he can see the dot while driving. Obviously you don't want to point it where it will effect other drivers. Says it makes it hella easy to know exactly where the side of your rv is after a week on the playa. The arrows on my dash kinda do the same thing for me.

Drive slow. Swerving at 55 mph causes less self-urination than swerving at 75 mph.

Run the genset and use the overhead AC. It's more efficient to close the back of the RV off and use the coach ac in stead of the dash AC, this lets you run your fridge off AC(alternating current), charge your coach batteries, nuke some popcorn, etc.

Turn off genset when you pull in to donate limbs (also known as refuelling).

We stayed at a campground in Reno before taking the last leg to the playa. Gave us a chance for one last hot shower, filling up the fresh water tank, last minute supplies like produce, water and ice and the last playa free meal for awhile. The downside being that we had to drive the last leg during the day.

Have your tires checked now. The Nevada dessert eats tires during the day. Even if they look like they have lots of tread time and the sun may have damaged them. With RV's you'll most likely have to replace your tires because of age rather than because of tread wear. Lost one along the way and had to go all the way to Fernley to have the spare put on. Luckily it was one of the duals in back and I was able to drive on it. We're debating whether or not we should drive straight out this year. Heat, tires and an uncontrollable urge to "get there already" being the main concerns.

Do stay in Reno or there abouts before starting the looong trek home. Last year we stayed in Tahoe and a hot shower, prime rib dinner and good night sleep were just what I needed to make the rest of the drive.

Check/Replace your headlights. Didn't realize how bad mine sucked until I lost one on the Donner Pass. The old dingy yellow lights have now been replaced with nice bright blue/white.

Don't take a run at a hill. You'll just stress your motor and waste gas.

Join The Good Sam Club and get their roadside assistance. A quick call to them located the tire place in Fernley which was way faster than having to wait for a truck to come out from Reno just to change a tire.

That's about all I can recall right now.

Happy Rv'ing.

S3