My husband has told me that he wants me to do some of the driving on the 12 hour trip we are taking starting tomorrow....he has leg and knee issues and will need a rest some of the time.  He said when we get on the straight interstate driving I will need to do some of the driving!

OMG, I have never pulled anything, much less a 5th wheel.    I know he will try to instruct me....but any advice from you veterans of the road, especially other women who have driven while towing. 

Thanks!

I have a few pieces of advice;

1. Don't drive 12 hour days you have a house right behind you.  Split it do 6 or 7 spend the night some place then do the same again.

From the Brideandjoy;

1.  Take your time.
2.  Go slow up to 10 miles below the speed limit should be safe just sit in the right lane and drive a comfortable moderate speed.
3.  Take your time.
4.  Leave lots of room to stop or manuver.
5.  Take your time.
6.  If your going the same speed up the hills as the tractor trailers your going fast enough.
7.  Take your time.
8.  Drive gently (no sudden steering, acceleration or braking if you can avoid it)
9.  Take your time.
10. Take a driving course ASAP (no help short term but still.)

The above is my wife's 10 step program to towing.

Mallo

Melanie,

Mrs. Bear offered to drive after we had been on the road for a few hours and still had many to go. She had never driven the truck with the 5th wheel attached, it was a nice smooth interstate somewhere in the middle of the US, so I agreed.

She did great, even pulled off the highway and into a station for gas. Once we got back on the highway, I decided to nap. I woke up feeling the truck swaying back and forth, back and forth. I looked over and my wife was steering to the right and then to the left....I reached over and grabbed the steering wheel and held it straight, the truck and trailer stopped swaying.

She said a big truck had gone by while she was going around a small bend and the trailer started to sway so she was trying to correct it. She ended up over correcting in one direction and then over correcting in the opposite direction and so on and so on, it just kept getting worse.

So if the trailer begins to sway, hold the steering wheel straight and accelerate a little to smooth it out.

She's never offered to drive since....  I would let her if she offered again.

-- Edited by The Bear II on Thursday 10th of March 2011 04:06:59 PM

My wife drives from time to time if I am tired or we have a long drive to make (I get bored and/or sleepy in the passenger seat). The first time she drove we pulled into a rest area and made the driver change there. This way there are no major obstructions, little traffic and no stress. She drove for an hour or two and then we changed at the next rest area. That was many, many years ago and she now drives on the interstates without a second thought. She still would rather not pull onto the surface streets but she can if necessary. Take it slow at first and you will quickly find that it's the same as driving anything else except that you have to keep you distance and watch out for those complete idiots who like to squeeze past you so they can slam on their brakes or they will miss their exit!

Melanie, we are motorhome people, not 5th wheelers but I did drive tractor trailer for a living for 7 years way back when.  The best advice I could give you is that once you have that rig pointed down the road you can (for the most part) forget that big trailer you're towing behind the truck.  It will go exactly where you tow it!  If it starts to pass you then you're in big big trouble!!!

Seriously, just point it down the road and keep the truck in the center of the lane.  Keep in mind that the trailer is no doubt quite a bit wider than the truck so check your mirrors and gauge the distance between the side of the trailer and the lines painted on the road. 

As for speed, we drive about 60-62 mph and just let the world pass us.  It's rare when we have to pass anybody at that speed.  If you do need to pass though, just change lanes smooth and easy and don't pull back in until you're sure the trailer is well past the vehicle you had to pass.

You'll do fine!

thanks everyone! Great advice....we are breaking up the trip to 6 hours and then stopping in a State Park.....the up early the next morning. Now to finish the packing of clothes....what to bring for such a long time and changes in weather.....I know you all will tell me to pack light...but I'm a little more high maintenance! :) Terry, you are probably not the only person who is wishing to be a bird on the hood! Mel

Hi Melanie! My husband usually does all the posting on this forum, but he said this one is for me. . . . we have a 34' fifth wheel, and I "take my turn". I prefer to take over at a roadside rest and turn it back over the same way! My only rule when I'm pulling is that the truck does NOT go into reverse. I would drive 50 miles out of the way to not have to back up. I guess I could use some lessons myself! You'll do fine. Have a safe trip.

Hi Melanie, One thought I had was to check the route for construction. It can be rough to have narrow lanes for your first time. The main thing is slow motions and keep your cool. Have fun in Florida.

HI Mel,
I know just how you feel.  We've had the 5er for a year now and I have yet to drive.  I have offered, but DH is still getting used to driving with such a large one behind us, he's too nervous to let me try.  I'm nervous about it too, but feel like I need to help drive at some point.

We leave for good in about 2 weeks, so I will probably get some drive time soon and the answers for you are helpful to me too!!

Doris

One issue I haven't seen addressed here so far is big rigs.  When a big semi passes you the wind from their rig will create a "push" to you.  When I drive and DH gets a rest I keep my eyes on my rearview mirror watching for trucks approaching from behind and beside me and I brace for the wind impact from their rig.  You just need to be prepared and hang on to the steering wheel a little tighter.  Being alert and prepared is the most important thing to driving the RV, as far as I'm concerned.

If a semi is affecting you like that you have a suspension problem. On our 35' gas motorhome we had that problem and fixed it with upgraded sway bars. Our 40' diesel pusher has not had this problem from day one.

This one hits home for a lot of women.  I haven't driven ours . . . yet, and granted it's not as challenging as a 5th wheel, cause we have a Big Foot pickup camper on a Dodge Ram truck - but . . . I'm used to driving my little mustang, that takes corners fast and sits low to the ground!  

Well, we have had a very eventful first day!!! I will be blogging...after we find a collision shop to fix the busted back window & truck! Thank God no trailer damage! Yes...he made the sharp u-turn!

Melstar wrote:

---

Well, we have had a very eventful first day!!! I will be blogging...after we find a collision shop to fix the busted back window & truck! Thank God no trailer damage! Yes...he made the sharp u-turn!

---

Oh oh... sounds like one of those expensive educational experiences.

 

Mel, don't get overly excited about the busted rear window. I got mine about 3 years into 5er towing. A friend of mine got his within a week, another friend did his the VERY FIRST time he backed up. Heck, it is only money. (mine was abut 230 dollars. I just called it my stupid tax and went on)

While I don't have a 5er, we have all been charged the "stupid tax" (love that term) during our travels. Some more than others but no one is exempt from this tax and will have to pay it sooner or later. You just really hate paying it when you do the same dumb thing a second time!

Just wait until you swing a little to miss a flower pot on the left side and sideswipe a pole with the right side.Ask me how I know

hey it happens in everything you do in life. you worry about the big things and forget the little things. not too far off the subject, i remember towing my first boat and launching it from the boat ramp. a million times i had 'reminded' myself to put the boat plug in the boat before launch. well you guessed it, i forgot and only remembered when the bilge pump came on! luckily since i was so worried about the boat plug and had several spares, in the truck, in the boat but none where it was supposed to be, i had to take a premature dip in the water to put it in!

Hey Melanie,

I do the towing, as Dave prefers to ride and I actually prefer to tow! 

You have been gifted with lots of great advice.  My only other tip is that when towing, I "think like a big dog," meaning I tend to think like a semi driver:

1.  I park in the truck area of rest stops.
2.  We hit truck stops for fuel, yes with the big rigs, unless I see that there is way more room than I need at the regular pumps.
3.  Truck stops have good coffee and Dave appreciates that.
4.  I pay attention to the patterns of the big rigs; lots can be learned from which lanes they use in cities while I'm keeping an eye out for our connection to the next Interstate.
5.  If near a big city it says "truck route" - like avoiding the inner city - I'll go with that.  There may actually be a reason trucks should not go through town.  Imagine!
6.  Heck, in the Appalachians there was really nothing around, so I was not shy about asking a trucker at a rest stop where the next diesel supply was!

Check your side mirrors pretty often for traffic coming up behind you and just to make sure your rig is secure - no compartment doors flapping open, no windows open, etc.  <----- that one pays off, ask me how I know! 

Take your time and relax.  You'll be fine!  

Betty

-- Edited by TxYellowRose on Sunday 13th of March 2011 06:58:45 PM

Thanks Ken, at first we ony thought it was the glass ....but when we stop ped to check...the truck is damaged over the the glass.  We call the insurance tomorrow and will try to find a good collision place here in  area.

The 5er is fine.
 


 

-- Edited by Melstar on Sunday 13th of March 2011 10:39:20 PM

Melanie, First I am glad it wasn't anything serious(you are both ok) and second, I think we all have a few stories to tell. Ours have only been close calls and we have seen quite a few "oops" but so far I just really cringe sometimes.