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05-04-2011, 07:06 PM
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#15
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Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 62
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We used to haul horses to shows with truck and trailer and DW would never drive, just wasn't comfortable. But with the MH, we spent a Sunday afternoon in a big empty parking lot so she could practice turns and backing etc., now she drives at least half of the time. She actually enjoys driving the MH.
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Ron & Berr "no where to go, all day to get there" rh
2005 Travel Supreme Select
2009 H3T tow
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05-04-2011, 07:17 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Continuous Traveler - Oregon
Posts: 534
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I'm the DW also and have done & will continue to do 99.9% of the driving. DH has driven approx. 150 miles between our old 35' DP & current 40' DP. He has never driven it with the toad nor parked it at a campsite.
He is however THE BEST setter-upper/tearer-downer there is
I like to drive & he likes to watch/nap. Works great for us
Marilyn
__________________
2008 National Pacifica 40D DP, 4 slides, 1 1/2 baths; 2016 C-Max Energi
FMCA #F415856 & Thousand Trails Elite
Right, left, straight, or stay....decision of the day
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05-04-2011, 07:22 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,003
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DW
Thats a good question. We RV since 64. OK, it was a VW pulling a TT (Rental) all the way from El Paso to Teton and back.
Since 76 we drive MH's and we just switched drivers on the go at that time
Of course not anymore. The last one she drove a yard in a campground.
I'm used to the left seat all my life and now since she is retired she is my personal FA
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05-04-2011, 07:33 PM
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#18
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 27
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When she wants to. It's nice to be able to take a break now and then. We have our own way to get into a parking space and backing up, it works for us. Sometimes we argue about the way to do something, we just get to the same place a different way. Yes, we took the driving class at Lazy Days (twice, just to get all the goody out of it) and use the dots. Safe travels.
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05-04-2011, 08:52 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Anacortes, WA (Stick & Brick)
Posts: 2,643
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Unfortunately, DW is "altitude challenged". So far she hasn't even tried to drive it. The single-pivot steering column, combined with the seat's range of adjustment just doesn't work for her.
I resist doing mods, but I'm seriously thinking of replacing the steering column with one from a Gillig transit coach. I drove for our local transit agency for a couple of years, almost all of it on Gilligs of various lengths.
Their column is double jointed, one near the floor and a second one about 24" down from the steering wheel. The upper section is also telescopic. With this configuration, you can get the lower column to a good angle, then adjust the steering wheel height and rake to suit.
I thnk this kind of set-up would make it feasible for DW to drive. I learned to handle a 40-foot transit coach in rush-hour city traffic in about a week, so I think a 32-footer in recreational traffic would be OK for her.
All I have to do now is find a bus wrecking yard where I can buy a Gillig steering column!
__________________
Frank Damp -Anacortes, WA,(DW- Eileen)
ex-pat Brits (1968) and ex-RVers.
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05-04-2011, 09:03 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Shadow Hills,CA 91040
Posts: 3,038
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My wife does not want to drive our coach but she loves watching the scenery as we drive along. She also enjoys following along on a map. When we are camped she handles everything inside and I handle the outside stuff. The important thing is that we both love to travel and see the sights. What a great life !!
__________________
NOTE; I am not responsible for typos, poor grammer or misspelled word !
04 Itasca, Meridian 34H, 330 Cat/2003 CR V Toad
1933 Ford 3 Window,as seen in Bye Bye Birdie
Pvt. E1 Retired, Shadow Hills,Ca.
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05-04-2011, 09:04 PM
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#21
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Okanagan valley British Columbia
Posts: 707
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DW is a city girl, limited highway experience and had never pulled a trailer in over 40 years of driving. To her everlasting credit she asked for some left seat time the first time out with our fiver and did a good job. I am comfortable and enjoy the chance to gawk but occasionally need to remind her to lighten the right foot. She won't pull it into the cg or back up but that is fine. As was suggested, I am glad to have back up in case I get sick or hurt.
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05-04-2011, 09:19 PM
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#22
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Senior Member
Mid Atlantic Campers Forest River Owners Club Coastal Campers
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Thornburg, VA
Posts: 938
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I will drive anything with wheels anywhere. Drove a 12 foot cargo van to midtown Manhattan one late November during morning rush hour.
True story: We had purchased a used Class A Dolphin 32' and taken a couple of short trips. We had not had a vacation in literally years. The trip was planned on a tight budget. We were taking one Gkid that was living with us and picking up another on our way to Nags Head. A week or so before our departure my DH had a mild heart attack. The doc. said no to our planned vacation...DH told doc he would have another attack if we didn't get to take this vacation. Doc says OK, but she has to drive. OK off we go heading to Richmond to spend our first night with family. Next morning, we're up and ready to go and it is pouring down buckets. I drive without any problems for quite a few miles and his darn brakes just weren't working. Kept nagging at me about being too close to the right edge of the road. We're on a two lane road and he said to me "you almost hit that mailbox" my response "well I missed it didn't I?" At this point I decided he'd have another heartattack if I didn't let him drive.
I drove our popup from Virginia to California with two girls and myself.
When taking the church youth group to Richmond from rural SW Virginia for a conference, the pastor and the youth director were uncomfortable driving in a "city" so they appointed me to be the designated driver as I was from there.
So throw me in that briar patch whenever I don't think he is going to have a heartattack because he is not behind the wheel.
Thanks for the question because it is one I was thinking of asking.
Come on gals - show'em what we're made of.
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Hope to be on the road starting this summer...
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05-05-2011, 01:08 AM
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#23
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 167
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DW never drove so much as one foot while towing our old 5th wheel. She has no problem driving pickups or large SUVs but no interest in towing. Now that we have a class A I have suggested she try driving it. It is both of our preference that I do most of the driving but it would be nice if she could drive if I am tired or something happens to me.
By the way, in the 12 years we have been together I have probably logged less than five hours of right seat time (in all types of vehicles combined) awake with her driving. If you ask if she is a good driver I have to say I assume so but whenever she is driving it is because I'm tired and napping.
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Cliff
2011 Winnebago Vista 32K - Ford F53 chassis
Southern California
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05-05-2011, 01:33 AM
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#24
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 301
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DRosedale
How often does your DW drive the MH or is your like mine, either sleeps in the passenger's seat, or goes back and sleeps on the couch, when not giving me instructions? OK, I know this is a dangerous question, but my DW is doing what she does a lot of, naps.
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See bold print above.
__________________
Lou & Cheri - Pilot & Copilot
Aly & Susi - Miniature Schnauzer Navigator & Bombadier
1995 Fleetwood Flair 27 - CG-1 Bomber
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05-05-2011, 03:33 PM
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#25
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Wellington, Florida
Posts: 13,599
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My wide does not drive the coach. My first coach was in 1978. She has never driven. She will not drive. If I make her drive I will be paying alimony.
__________________
Gary
2005 Newmar KSDP 3910 + GMC ENVOY XUV 37K lbs Moving Down The Road
The Avatar Is Many Times Around The USA
Nobody Knows Your Coach Like Somebody Who Owns One Just Like Yours
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05-05-2011, 04:03 PM
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#26
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Community Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 53,430
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In 80,000 miles my DW has driven 20 feet. Twice, she pulled foward so I could gas up the toad. This has worked well for us. I'm a lousy passanger and she is a great nagravator. That's a self described title of hers. She agravates while she navagates.
__________________
Cliff,Tallulah and Buddy ( 1999-2012 )
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05-05-2011, 06:04 PM
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#27
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Litchfield Park, Arizona
Posts: 10,530
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GaryKD
My wide does not drive the coach. .
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Careful Gary. If you don't start using "DW" or proof reading... you may end up paying alimony anyway!
Rick
__________________
Rick, Nancy, Peanut & Lola our Westie Dogs & Bailey the Sheltie.
2007 Itasca Ellipse 40FD
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05-05-2011, 06:25 PM
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#28
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,943
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It would be nice not to pull over because of the morning coffee. Last trip she refused to even try so I told her "If you won't drive, I won't tow". Made her drive the toad.Lost her at a stop light in Memphis. Dogs didn't like it so I hooked her back up half way home in Missouri. Still hearing about it.
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