Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.
We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!
I was just wondering how many of the Women out there drive the rigs? I am scared to. The biggest i have ever driven is a minivan. I know at some point I will have to drive. Especially if we travel at all in the night. Because my husband had night time blindness. We aren't planning on going long miles yet. But just wondering. How many of the women drive?
I do. I've driven our current setup as well as pulled a 40ft 5th wheel and driven a 35 foot motorhome. I firmly believe both parties need to be capable and comfortable driving the rig.
It's really not that tough. Just practice in open spaces until you are comfortable. I've also heard really great things about some of the RV driving schools, especially the one where you drive your own rig with the instructor there.
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Carol
Carol Kerr Welch
Wife to Jeff, "Mom" to Chuy; Retama Village Resident
I was just wondering how many of the Women out there drive the rigs? I am scared to. The biggest i have ever driven is a minivan. I know at some point I will have to drive. Especially if we travel at all in the night. Because my husband had night time blindness. We aren't planning on going long miles yet. But just wondering. How many of the women drive?
"I" wouldn't want to drive a big 'rig'! - Too unwieldy!
Leave it up to him!
What's the big rush in getting anywhere, any how!?
Travel only in the daytime!
Can you imagine parallel parking!?
...I'd end up backing into a store front window!!!
...let 'him' do the damage! ...as-in within this video link...
I dont think woman should be part of the equation this is not a gender issue.......all adults on board should have the knowledge of operating the unit........emergencies come up , things happen.. dont let fear hold you back......remember when you drove your first car yet you mastered it.......I remember the first time they put me at the controls of my first aircraft......all I could think was...SPLATTT!!!
after removing the fear and engaging the brain it became second nature.........the size of the vehicle doesnt make a difference once you understand how it reacts and only operate it a a speed you feel comfortable....(25 on interstates causes issues)
When the map says rural take the wheel and get comfortable ..............get a feel for how it operates at lower speeds , cross winds....bumps & sways.
learn to back up in an empty parking lot..... you dont have to drive hours at atime......start out easy..........Like Cherie said some people love to drive , and short hops are alot less stressful and take less toll on both of you.
night driving should be done in short bursts.....the driver has to be fully alert!........you can only see as far as the headlights shine and until a Deer or moose jumps out in front of you you will not understand the Term "emergency breaking and maneuvering procedure"
-- Edited by Lucky Mike on Sunday 25th of November 2012 11:21:26 AM
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1998 ...Harney Renegade DP class A
rers1@mail.com
My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)
We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!
As for us, Jo will drive the truck and fifth wheel, but she doesn't do the forums, so I'll have to answer for her. Her situation is different than many because she grew up on a farm and has driven farm trucks and pickups with horse trailers. Therefore, the only thing different in her case is that the rig is longer than what she drove on the farm.
When we were researching the various options for a full time RV, motorhomes became an option. We were able to do two different test drives, on with a 40-foot Tiffen Phaeton and one with a 43-foot Phaeton. We really started out with the idea on the test drive to see if Jo would be "comfortable" with driving that large of a rig. I knew she could drive one, but would she be comfortable. She was, but in the end we bought a Ford F450 and a 38-foot Mobile Suites fifth wheel.
An earlier comment mentioned driving in an empty parking lot. I've suggested that for practice in handling corners by choosing a large lot and using some form of traffic cones or something to create corners or "campsites" to back into.
Terry
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Terry and Jo
2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3 2008 Ford F450 2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout
Diane and I split driving 50/50 and have since we got our first RV in November 2001. We took RV Driving School (link above by Terry) early on, in February 2002, and recommend it to everyone.
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Bill Joyce, 40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid Journal at http://www.sacnoth.com Full-timing since July 2003
I've taken a bus driving class - and can back, parallel park and maneuver around cones with precision. And I regularly will take the wheel on nice slow, no traffic, back roads to keep in practice. But the reality is, I'm not comfortable driving, especially in traffic... period. Even in an automobile. And actually, if truth be told - I hate being in motion as a passenger too. (But I LOVE being in new places.)
I feel confident that if I needed to, I could move our rig to safety or even in small (slow) bursts to get to our next location if needed. But driving is not something I enjoy.
My partner on the other hand actually ENJOYS driving.
So, as a general rule - we don't drive more than 3-4 hours a day when we're repositioning... with lots of still days tossed in. It's about the right balance for us - comfortable driving days, a slow pace with plenty of new places to explore and plenty of still time to keep my nerves in check.
I've driven our rig on the highway...once, but then we haven't been doing this long and are currently static full-timers. I've also hitched it up once. I do want to get comfortable driving it and doing everything else with it. I want to be able to deal with all of it if there were ever a situation when Kev couldn't.
I routinely drive our rig, currently driving a GMC 2500 HD Diesel pulling a 25' Airstream. My husband doesn't enjoy driving, I do. I probably drive 95% of the time with Hubby breaking me. We average between 35-60 nights out camping now as we are still working. 2013 retirement here we come! This year we visited VT, NY, Ontario, WI, MI, AR, MO, and a few locations in our home state of IA. Just breath and relax, take it a short distance at a time, then a bit longer the next time and then the next. The more you drive the more confident you will become.
Sue has been driving Bigboomer since we got him with and without the rig. This past August on our trip to our home town of Sioux Falls she drove probably 40% of the time. Nice to be able to have a driving partner and it pays dividends as insurance just in case I cannot drive for whatever reason.
Like anything else, 90% of it is mental.
Go for it!
Les
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Les and Sue
http://ramblingrvrat.blogspot.com/?m=1
"CHARACTER is doing the right thing when no one is looking"
My wife says she is really not interested in driving but, that is not prudent. She needs to know how to operate it just in case. She is a good driver and can drive a manual shift with the best of em. Once she gets used to riding in the big truck she will be fine. If she gets a little nervous while she's learnin' I'll just give her a swallow of my drivin' wiskey!
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MarkS & Jackie MSgt, USAF, Ret 2004 Volvo 780 530 HP Cummins 13 speed 2014 Trilogy 3650RE fulltime since Oct 8, 2016