Driving a motor home - RV-Dreams Community Forum

snorkes1 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Driving a motor home

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Dick Reed's RV Driving School, http://www.rvschool.com/ , is just the ticket. Diane and I took lessons in our own motorhome in 2002 and have never regretted it.

wmalefyt · RV-Dreams Family Member

Here's a couple of tips that helped me when I first started driving our Class A motorhome:

1. When making right turns at an intersection, don't start turning until the driver's seat is even with the curb of the street your are turning onto.

2. To stay in your lane on the highway, find something on the windshield to line up with the white line on the edge of the road. I use the center point of the windshield wiper where the arm is attached to the wiper blade as my guide. When that's lined up with the white line I'm right in the center of the lane. Note, that may not be true for your motorhome so be careful.

3. Never back up without having someone at the back guiding you. They should always be visible to the driver in the side-view mirror.

Good luck and most of all have fun!

-- Edited by wmalefyt at 14:33, 2007-01-15

Old Snipe · RV-Dreams Family Member

Watch the tail swing...watch the tail swing...watch the tail swing!!!

When you turn, say right, as you drive away from a gas pump, your tail end of your MH will swing LEFT! Many people have clipped the gas pumps, railings, etc by not watching the tail swing.

Practice in a parking lot to see how your tail moves so you can adjust for it.

Good luck, now get out there and use that beautiful MH!

Best Regards!

LeeB · RV-Dreams Community Member

RE:

3. Never back up without having someone at the back guiding you. They should always be visible to the driver in the side-view mirror.

Great rule!! Remember however that not all observers know what to look for. I was backing into a forest service campground spot with a dropoff at the end (downslope to Freemont Lake, WY) and my NON-RVing friend was guiding me. I didn't see him for a second or so and, following the rule above, came to FULL STOP. A minute or so later he wandered into view, deep in conversation on his cell phone.

ahoweth · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi:

Please don't be intimidated by a motorcoach. You don't have to be a truck driver to be good at handling one. As for backing, most modern coaches come equiped with a rear camera so that the driver can see what is directly behind them. However, if you have a co-pilot it is best to have them direct you when backing. If you are alone, use the monitor and your mirrors and if you don't feel comfortable that you are getting the whole picture, stop, get out and walk around the coach. It will give you a good prospective on where you are and don't forget to look overhead for low hanging tree branches or whatever might be up there. Remember that no one who counts is counting how many times you stop and make sure where you are but everone in the campground will know if you hit something.

My wife drives our coach 90 percent of the time and does an excellent job. There is one golden rule we have found with respect to driving a coach, or any RV for that matter.

Take your time! Accidents happen most often when you get in a hurry.