Community Forums

B52Rnav · 06-17-2019, 05:50 PM

As others have stated, take it slow and adjust to your new pivot points - and swing and off tracking. We are on our 3rd RV and just upgraded from 34' Open Road to 40' Phaeton. We have driven over 50,000 miles but decided that the longer RV justified an RV driver's school. Well worth the $$. Just in learning to "see" things differently. Use those mirrors. When in tight spaces - crawl. Remember use the mirrors. Look ahead. Look ahead and see the risks - signs close to edge of road, leaning power poles, lane changes, barricades. Adjust to the new pivot points. Be careful. Have fun!

CampDaven · 06-17-2019, 05:54 PM

And stop to pivot your mirrors up/down to look for obstacles or collision points.

CampDaven · 06-18-2019, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CampDaven

And stop to pivot your mirrors up/down to look for obstacles or collision points.

Assuming electric mirrors

caninecop · 06-18-2019, 08:05 AM

Thank so much for all the post, this is like going to school on driving again

Crasher · 06-18-2019, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caninecop

Thank so much for all the post, this is like going to school on driving again

Your situation is why I have always said that before an inexperienced new class A owner could drive off the lot, they should be required to attend a brief 8 hour class, including at least an hour driving, from a professional instructor. So much could be learned and questions answered to make it much easier and less stressful for the newbie. I grew up operating large equipment, so driving something as small as a class A motorhome was a piece of cake. I feel perfectly comfortable in our 43' coach with a trailer behind in the tightest city street or going up a mountain road. But, that's not the case for someone who has never driven anything larger than a pickup. It just seems to me that if a person needs to pass a test to run a 300# motorcycle why not the same for a 35-45' motorhome weighing 20,000 to 40,000# and some with air brakes?

MRUSA14 · 06-18-2019, 06:55 PM

I went from 40 to 45 and I find it not only rides and handles better but it turns better too. The newer coaches have a greater turning ability. I can get my 2013 45 footer into places that the 2003 40 footer would not go.

B52Rnav · 06-19-2019, 12:50 PM

We have a different perspective. If your mirrors are adjusted properly, you should be able to see back of coach and potential obstacles in the big mirrors. If your convex mirrors are adjusted such that you see down the side of the coach and can see your rear tires, there is no need to move mirrors during backing or maneuvering. We practiced this set up extensively during an RV driving school last week. We can easily get in/out of tight spaces that were a challenge before the driving school. The take away is to adjust your mirrors, then crawl for tight maneuvering and backing.