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05-20-2013, 04:33 PM
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#29
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Union City, Ca.
Posts: 553
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Take her to a large vacant parking lot & let her drive.
Well guy's, I have to admit that my wife can drive our 36' Dolphin M.H. better then I and we don't leave our home with out our Saturn connect to the M.H.
We have been cross Country two times, from the bay area in Calif. to Main and down to Florida and back again.
We take turns driving we go to Palm Springs each year for about 6 weeks I drive half way and she drive the other half. When we first got our M.H. I took her and the M.H. over to a large parking lot on a Sunday afternoon where she drove it around and learn to park and back up it did not take long before she was aways ready to take over the wheel.
Just a thought.
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05-20-2013, 04:48 PM
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#30
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,569
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My DW does 100% of the driving.............from the passenger seat!
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American Tradition 42R-Cadillac SRX Blue Ox Koni 5050XL MCD Scangauge D Samsung rf197
Fulltime since 2012
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05-20-2013, 04:53 PM
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#31
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Community Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 53,378
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My DW has driven 20' in 84,000 miles. Twice , she drove up 10' so I could fuel up the toad.
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Cliff,Tallulah and Buddy ( 1999-2012 )
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05-20-2013, 05:09 PM
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#32
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Bolivia, NC
Posts: 1,401
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I do all the driving. My DW has a sports car & when she drove the 34' MH on the test drive she drove it just like her car. She kept it on the road but I thought we were going to be on our side on the road just leaving the dealers lot. I have no doubt she could drive our 42'er if she had to. She is actually a very good driver. I occasionally ask her if she wants to drive, but has not. When we go full time I will insist she take a big rig driving coarse. She is going to go to the Frieghtliner Chassis course with me in the next couple of months. I guess thats a good start.
BTW she's NOT a good cook. But a great wife!!! I still eat her cooking though,......... when you're hungry you eat what you can get.......
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Dan Sees, , 2013 Winnebago Journey 42e, 2014 Featherlite Car Hauler 3110 17.5', 2008 Mazda MX5,
2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser,2018 mercedes Benz GLA 250
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05-20-2013, 05:14 PM
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#33
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Senior Member
New Horizons Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 481
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we don't have a DR but it is a 37' 5th wheel hitched to a F-450 (crew cab)
we haven't measured the total length but is prob ~48' to 50'
DW grew up with horses and is an excellent trailer driver & backer, definitely better at backing than me, and more cautious and attentive than I get after a short while. I on the other hand am a better gadget operator and therefore navigator. DW gets motion sick as a passenger and especially when she looks away from the road to read the GPS or map. I prefer to ride as a passenger so I can look around at the scenery. We trade off for rest periods but we try to keep me on the straight roads so I don't need navigation services and so DW won't get queasy. That's the way we roll
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05-20-2013, 05:21 PM
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#34
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 2,792
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I hate to admit that DH does all the driving. I took the RV driving course at Lazy Days in Tampa. I went out one Sunday afternoon and practiced in an empty parking lot and then drove the RV to the storage lot. My plan was to know how to comfortably drive so I could be of help, but especially if needed during an emergency. Well, that was almost 1 yr. ago, and I haven't driven since. I'm completely intimidated by it and don't even mention driving with the toad!!!!
I really would like to conquer this fear, but am a little paralyzed by it.
__________________
Gene, Gayle, & Oliver
2006 Holiday Rambler Endeavor 40 PDQ/2012 Honda CRV
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05-20-2013, 05:42 PM
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#35
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: On Wheels
Posts: 1,983
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dance Chick
I hate to admit that DH does all the driving. I took the RV driving course at Lazy Days in Tampa. I went out one Sunday afternoon and practiced in an empty parking lot and then drove the RV to the storage lot. My plan was to know how to comfortably drive so I could be of help, but especially if needed during an emergency. Well, that was almost 1 yr. ago, and I haven't driven since. I'm completely intimidated by it and don't even mention driving with the toad!!!!
I really would like to conquer this fear, but am a little paralyzed by it.
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Hey, the only way to conquer is to go do it! Start out by choosing some "easier" drives...in less congested areas, off the main interstates. Then, work it from there. Or drive from one rest stop to the next and then switch back. The more you do it, the easier it'll get.
And by the way...you'll never even notice the toad back there. It's just as easy to drive the RV with or without the toad. It just follows the back.
Go get 'em girl
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12 paws, 40 feet and the open road
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05-20-2013, 06:18 PM
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#36
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Forest River Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,323
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We are only 35 feet but there isn't that much difference I drive mostly because I'm very comfortable with it being a truck driver. DW drives freeways and highways a lot and I try to do city driving however I've had her do it for practice. If I'm ill or can't drive I want her to be there for me as I would for her.
Those of you who think you'll hop behind the wheel in an emergency are ( pardon me) nuts! Many women who suck it up and do some practice ( start with freeway driving rest stop to rest stop ) find it a blast !!! a good friend cant get his dw out from behind the wheel ! visibility and control are very good once you get used to it. Of course that assumes a dh who can chill and shut up and let her learn without yelling instructions constantly I think that's more the problem than the driving part ..I'd bet that's the reason more DW don't drive .. They don't want the ... From the DH ! . Male egos!
The south is filled with bargain rv's that couldn't be driven home after the dh heart attack .. Just sayin
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2023 Coachmen Encore 325SS
2002 Ford Escape toad
2020 GMC terrain
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05-20-2013, 06:37 PM
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#37
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 2,792
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WheelingIt...I'm going to try, I promise. The teacher at the driving course told me the same thing...go from rest area to rest area to begin and then it will grow from there. I know the driving needs to be "practiced". To try to get behind the wheel in an emergency situation when nerves or anxiety are at their peak and not be somewhat comfortable with driving would be a disaster waiting to happen. My new mantra..."I can do this, I can do this...."
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Gene, Gayle, & Oliver
2006 Holiday Rambler Endeavor 40 PDQ/2012 Honda CRV
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05-20-2013, 06:42 PM
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#38
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Almond, Wisconsin
Posts: 1,512
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Kate has driven our 35 foot DP and could drive in a pinch. She says she has a good driver and doesn't need to drive. I would like to say that the fridge doesn't hold enough beer for me to feel real confident with her driving. As said by others she drives from the right seat all the time. Jim
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2006 Monaco Camelot 40 PAQ 400ISL - Toad Jeep Grand Cherokee - DW is the Nagivator. Retired to travel and everything revolves around the price of diesel.
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05-27-2013, 04:33 PM
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#39
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 678
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Update
Thanks for all the replies. DW and I went to a middle school complex this afternoon and there was no one there but us and no light posts. She drove around for about 20 minutes and then she took it out on the feeder to I69 (US59), made a U turn under the overpass and up the ramp onto the freeway. Went to next exit and she made another U turn and drove it all the way back to the storage lot on 2 lane road. Only issue was that she hugged the right side too much and I had to let her know a few times she was drifting into the next lane. Otherwise she did fine. No backing however. Maybe another time.
She acted like it was no big deal until it was over and then she told me it was very stressful before and during the outing. I told her I was stressed too. It is easy to drive but there is just so much of it to be aware of.
Anyway, we should be able to trade off on the major highways at times and she could drive it in an emergency. I'm glad she was willing to try. I get fatigued on a long route and her trade offs will make it safer for both of us.
John
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John & Deanie, Corky and Benji (best buddies)
2001 National Marlin 390 DP
"Try to live up to your dog's opinion of you."
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05-27-2013, 05:20 PM
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#40
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Where ever we stop
Posts: 828
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I do all the driving. DW has done some on our old 40' Beaver. Present coach is a 45' Monaco and she says "just to big for her."
I used to be an instructor for the RV Driving school. I gave a two day lesson to a couple. The wife was a very small lady, about 100# soaking wet and less than 5' tall. She was an excellent driver and totally at ease driving on the mountain roads in eastern PA with their 40' RV. Husband was a very nervous type and looked to be an ex-football player. They had two dogs. When husband was driving, the two dogs were nervous and would not lay down and be still. As soon as wife took the wheel they both lay down and went to sleep.
When the lesson was over, the wife asked me who I would recommend do the most of the driving. I answered her that the dogs had the selection of principal driver correct and that she should point this out to DH. She was a great driver and traffic did not bother her at all.
__________________
Chet
Monaco 2004 Signature 45' Castle IV Detroit 60
Towing 2021 Tesla Model Y in a 20' HaulMark trailer
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05-27-2013, 05:26 PM
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#41
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Bessemer, Alabama
Posts: 370
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No way DW will drive the coach! She isn't listed as a driver on our insurance policy!. She has no desire to drive the MH and I have no desire to let her. If she was driving I would be thumbing on the side of the road.
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Bob and Janice Ford
1998 Fleetwood Pace arrow 35'
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05-27-2013, 06:31 PM
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#42
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: New York
Posts: 95
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My DW refuses to drive and that was even when we had a 33' and she proved it when we were away and my apendex burst and had to have emergency surgery. so she continued to pay the campground till i was well enough to get the car loaded and able to drive. that was an extra week and to be honest was to soon but i wanted to get home
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Scott & Diane
our IG's Sydney & Phoebe plus the puppy Chloe
2007 Monaco Diplomat SFT
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