Community Forums

sirpurrcival · 04-20-2012, 11:54 AM

Living in Canada, I find one of the most challenging parts of driving my rig is going through some border crossings. Because of the enhanced security on the US side usually, it is often not a straight path either leading up to the booth or leaving it. On one occasion when it was particularly busy at a crossing, customs had a person out there directing traffic. The put me in a lane that required a sweeping right turn followed by a hard left into the electronic monitoring sensors. I drive a 37' class A, you don't do hard anything in something that long especially when you have lines of cars on either side of lined up for other booths. Of course the sensors are protected by posts set in concrete so as to make one think of Fort Knox. Simply put, I couldn't make it. Has anyone ever tried to backup up at a customs station with cars lined up for miles behind you and all around you? Fortunately I have a pretty wife who mellowed the angry drivers somewhat as I went back and forth to try and line up with the lane. The only thing better was after I managed to get through the booth, they wanted (you guessed it) another 90 deg. turn in a very limited area. The look on the agents face was almost as priceless as mine was as 15' of motorhome tail got closer and closer to his booth. Just as he was thinking that it might be time to abandon his post for fear of his own safety, I cleared it by about 6 inches. Somehow I don't think destroying a customs booth is going to do one any favours in future crossings. The most hilarious part of all this is that the reason I chose this crossing in the first instance was that it is called a "truck' crossing. However, they won't let RV's use the lanes that they have for Trucks?!@!#?

Wayne M · 04-20-2012, 04:42 PM

I ran into a tight situation crossing lower Ontario and in through the Sarnia Customs booth. If I had gone straight in I would have ripped the mirrors off. I had to dodge the metal posts at the extreme edges of the entrance, and when pulling through the booth area I had about 2 inches of clearance on each side between booths. I did see the customs agent watching intently as I started forward.

Mysticcherok · 04-21-2012, 11:51 AM

AH Hahhaah! Sir P. yore a grip too! Nice story! You Too Master Sgt Wayne!
Sandy

PatStab · 04-23-2012, 10:04 PM

I had a 29 footer with toad and now I have a 38 footer with toad.

I have only driven it around a few times yet as we are doing a lot of work on it, its got some age on it, a 1992 Eagle. I'm a bit concerned about getting out and about with it but I will do it. I've practiced a lot turning it around in the yard, of course, sans toad. I want to travel and only have me to depend on as hubby is gone all the time.

In the last year and a half I put 20k on the smaller one, expect to do the same in this one. It will all work out. Drive it around in low traffic areas at first, park in a lot like Sam's and maneuver it around. You will feel comfortable before you know it. Have Coach Net or Good Sam's and go.

The air brakes take some getting used to and remembering you need more space to stop.

sirpurrcival · 04-24-2012, 12:49 AM

The 37 was a new experience for me as well but I have come to find it almost as easy as car driving most of the time. My hardest challenge at first was judging where I was in relation to to the road edge. I tended to veer away from the centre line somewhat because I wasn't yet a good judge of where I was in the lane. It didn't take long at all. Strangely enough, I think traffic slowdowns are the easiest to drive. Everyone is doing the same speed, no one gets impatient with you and you have lots of time to stop and enjoy the scenery.

Mysticcherok · 04-24-2012, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatStab

I had a 29 footer with toad and now I have a 38 footer with toad.

I have only driven it around a few times yet as we are doing a lot of work on it, its got some age on it, a 1992 Eagle. I'm a bit concerned about getting out and about with it but I will do it. I've practiced a lot turning it around in the yard, of course, sans toad. I want to travel and only have me to depend on as hubby is gone all the time.

In the last year and a half I put 20k on the smaller one, expect to do the same in this one. It will all work out. Drive it around in low traffic areas at first, park in a lot like Sam's and maneuver it around. You will feel comfortable before you know it. Have Coach Net or Good Sam's and go.

The air brakes take some getting used to and remembering you need more space to stop.

A lady with shutzpah, ALRIGHT! Good to see. I wish I could do that! W/out DH Im a cripple! Hate it! Bein so dependant, sometimes! Sandy

PatStab · 04-26-2012, 08:37 AM

My DD goes with me, she is 42 and has Williams Syndrone so is mildly mentally challenged. We have a ball and get ourselves in some situations. But everyone I have met is nice and helpful.

Had a flat going over the Mississippi, called the police so they could help me get across some lanes to a casino parking lot, it was a rear dually. He was the nicest guy, ended up staying with us, chatting about the motorhome and he wished he could do what we were but he was younger. We also learned a lot about him, his brother was a detective and they both loved their jobs.

Casino security didn't want us there he talked to them and explained what was happening. Gave us his card in case we needed help and even checked back the next morning to see we were ok. I missed his call so left him a message, we were fine. We ended up parking in the back where semis parked and a nice truck driver was telling me how to use my mirrors to back up.

I didn't say I had been driving it for awhile and took his advice and did as he said. We partied and stayed the night. There are nice folks all over.

Hubby has been doing a LOT of work on the old girl while home he only gets home for about 2 weeks every 10 weeks. We are going to take a short trip first time out to Matagorda down on the ocean, we live north of Houston to see how she does. And yep I'm armed with Good Sam's, a good battery jumper, lights, tools, etc.

One thing the newer one I had was a wide body, also it had 2 slides. This one is just a normal width and no slides, miss those, but its easier to get around and also 12 ft versus 13 which I think adds to stability.

Mysticcherok · 04-26-2012, 07:40 PM

GO GIRL! But Keep er safe! Sandy

Kayjulia · 04-27-2012, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hipshot

A couple of years ago I picked up a TT in Elkhart Indiana. A few hours later I needed gas so I punched up fuel on the GPS. It showed a station about half a mile off the freeway at the next exit. I followed the GPS and found the station was out of business. No problem I selected the next station a few miles down the freeway and the GPS gave me directions back to the freeway. The GPS took me down a one lane paved road that turned into a two rut dirt road. I had never pulled anything larger that a 16 ft boat and here I was with a brand new 29 ft travel trailer half a mile down a one lane road. Fortunatly there was a house and drive way there. I learned to turn that rig around, it was not easy but I gotter done with no damage to TT or truck.
In Tennesse last fall approaching a campground I went around a curve on a one lane road and there was a bridge with a clearance of 12 ft. My Bounder is 12 1/2 ft. I guess I was not the first MH to go under this bridge as the road gently dropped of about a foot and I could see a lot of duel wheel tracks in the dirt. With DW guiding and watching the overhead clearance we made it through. Had I followed the campgrounds directions on thier website I would not have encountered this bridge. But I was smarter than that and the GPS showed me a shorter route.
Leasons learned: Know your vehicle clearance, don't go down one lane roads if you don't know what is down there, and DO NOT TRUST A GPS.

Oh brother are you right ! I have been lead on more than one Wild Goose Chase using the GPS. Sometimes it's good sometimes it will get you into some deep trouble. No side streets, no one lane roads, check the map before leaving camp, stop as soon as things look odd and figure it all out or you might be working on your Darwin Award.