I think the most important thing to do is to learn lane position.
First make sure your lower, convex mirrors, are set so that you can just see the ground next to the coach. This way you can always verify where you are in relation to the lane markers.
Next, as someone suggested, go to a large parking lot at a time it is not being used - Sunday morning at a mall or a weekday morning at a church. Either by trial and error, or with the help of an assistant on the ground, drive part-way into a parking space. Parking spaces are narrower than the road lanes but that is actually helpful here.
Stop, get out, verify that you are exactly in the middle, then get back into your driving seat and sit naturally as you would while driving. Using the parking lane lines ahead of your coach note where they intersect either your windshield or some instrument on the windshield. Do this for both the right and the left lane lines. You might even make a tiny mark with a magic marker at the bottom of the windshield for each side.
These reference points define the narrow parking lane lines. When driving you never want the road lane line to be inside of the mark or reference point. Having the outside lane line intersect to the inside of your reference point means that you are too close to that side.
A second point, always try to aim for the center of the road several hundred feet in front of the coach. Don't use an aim point close because that will put you to the right side of your lane. Aiming at a distant center point keeps you always correcting towards that distant (moving) point. This tactic will keep you centered in your lane.
Lastly, forget about car length rules. They are too hard to estimate. Defensive driving courses teach you to stay at least 3 seconds behind the car ahead of you. That works at ANY speed. Pick some point when the car ahead crosses and start counting 1 Mississippi, 2 mississippi, etc. If you only reach 2 before you cross that target point you are following too closely. This works well for cars.
For a motorhome or heavy truck you should be 5 or 6 seconds behind.
Using these strategies I moved from a 22foot Class A to a 35 footer with no problem and negotiated L.A. freeway traffic on my second full day driving the new coach. I had no problem driving with semis on both sides of me on the freeway at 65mph because I KNEW my lane position at all times.
My standard recommendation to new RV owners, be it a trailer or a class A is two fold
1: RV-Driver's school Others either have or will like you to it
2: Malls, Visit a mall during the off hours, when you have achers of parking and nothing to hit but a few light poles. While you are there drive on the circle drive and find your center, Any Witch will tell you the importance of "Ground and Center" Ground comes later, just now we are interested in center (That part about the witch is a joke) When you find the center of the lane take either an inventory control dot, or one of those dots Publisher's Clearling House is always sending out, and put it on the windshield, near the bottom, Right on top of the white line.. now when you have the white line centered on the dot, you are centered on the lane. Practice moving about the lot, backing into a parking space (you can use a few dunce cap cones for "Trees" and such, Just practice in an area where you are sure you won't hit anything but the brakes
The next bit of advice is "Beware the gas pump" Most of the damage I've done is turning too soon when pulling out of a gas station.
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
If your towing don't back up. Unlike your TT you will bend your tow bar and damage the toad. All the info you find here will be very helpful.
Just take your time and have fun.
Kevin & Dawn
Doggies:
Persalina, We love you & miss you so very much!
Moonbeam
Chloie Pearl
'07 Itasca Suncruiser 35L
Workhorse 24-8.1 Vortec w/6 sp. Allison
93 Jeep Wrangler Toad
Roadmaster Even Brake
Next, as someone suggested, go to a large parking lot at a time it is not being used - Sunday morning at a mall or a weekday morning at a church. Either by trial and error, or with the help of an assistant on the ground, drive part-way into a parking space. Parking spaces are narrower than the road lanes but that is actually helpful here.
Stop, get out, verify that you are exactly in the middle, then get back into your driving seat and sit naturally as you would while driving. Using the parking lane lines ahead of your coach note where they intersect either your windshield or some instrument on the windshield. Do this for both the right and the left lane lines. You might even make a tiny mark with a magic marker at the bottom of the windshield for each side.
These reference points define the narrow parking lane lines. When driving you never want the road lane line to be inside of the mark or reference point. Having the outside lane line intersect to the inside of your reference point means that you are too close to that side.
I did this and actually put sticky red "Dots" on the top edge of the dash to mark "lanes". It helped a great deal initially!
And, remember - you're in a bus - not a truck - so turning is a lot different as many have noted. On turns, I pull straight out until my hips are exactly in the center of the lane I am turning into. Then I turn.
You'll do great!
Have fun!
Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.
--- Philip K. Dick
1999 Gulfstream Sunvoyager (Our Gulfstream Home Site)
2006 Jeep Wranger
Doberlady
German Shedder Dog
Rescued Gentleman (In Spirit)
Until you get some experience under your belt assume you will need three lanes for a right hand corner, doesn't matter whether two before the turn or two after the turn, although two after is usually easier. After the turn immediately move into the outside lane. Swinging wide until you are familular with how your rig turns will help reduce curbing your rear tires or those on the toad.
For left turn lanes; if you encounter double left turn lanes use the right one, it is designed for trucks and it will provide more clearance for turning.
Ditto what HIDEOUT said about towing, look ahead in tight places(service stations etc)so you won't have to unhook to get going again, don't ask me how I know! Have towed four down for about 75,000 miles in ten years and have only had to unhook twice. Richard
Richard and Annell,
03 35' Dolphin (Workhorse W22), 02 4x4 Tracker,
Brakebuddy
Texas
Offline
Have towed four down for about 75,000 miles in ten years and have only had to unhook twice. Richard
