I would strongly recommend a driving school such as Dick Reed. You would learn a lot about driving and how to properly use all the sy,stems on your MH. Experience helps, but knowing how to do things the right way will build your confidence and help you enjoy the adventure even more.
When we got our class A, I felt the same way too. I posted, Driving a Motorhome, and got great response. Find it and read. Also, there is a book on the same subject. I have not bought it, but seems it would be great reading; bound to pick up some pointers. There are no many factors to keep in mind when behind the MH steering wheel. Most of, people in cars do not think about your safety and they do stupid things when passing, changing lanes, turns, etc. They sure don't think about your required stopping distance. Learn to use those big mirrors. Best to you.
I bought my used MH just 65 miles from home, where I store it. Drove over with a friend to bring my car back. Paid for it, got in and scraped the snow off the windshield. It was February, 4500 ft in the mountains. I had never driven a MH before. On the way over it was cloudy, then as I was finalizine the deal it started to snow a little. As I started down the road it got deeper and deeper. line of cars going 10-15 MPH...OK with me! Oh-Oh, that Dodge pickup just went in the ditch, but I'm still OK. Friend in the car following. we had walkie talkies. He says, "It is really slick, I applied brakes and it slid." Beleive it or not, I got it home through the sharp curves and snow until I got down to the 1000 ft level and the snow went away. I still have it. Have gone on 4 campouts and hands still get a little sweaty, but I love it when I get there!!!
Bonnie and me and Casey makes three!
Staying warm in Southern California
FMCA #402157
W9NCR
1st step to overcome is perception vs. reality.. You have WAY WAY more than 1 inch on each side. More like 8 inches on each side if centered or close to that.
Sitting up so high and not being able to see the lane marker outside your window makes you feel like you take up the whole lane.
Next time your driving a car what have you, pay attention to the truckers and notice the amount of room they have on each side. Unless its a private or rural road, lane width is pretty standard as are the width of a Motorhome.
Those concrete barriers in construction areas same thing seems like your going to hit them but you have plenty of room that you don't need to crowd the center lane and take mirror off passing another high profile vehicle.
In no time you'll get comfortable behind the wheel! Good job 1500 miles 1st time.
I'm new to this too. One piece of advice, WATCH THE TAILSWING. I had no problem navigating highways, roads, traffic or any normal driving. However, I did take out my fence post coming out of my yard because I didn't watch my tailswing. These things turn much tighter than I ever thought possible and that tailswing will get you every time.
I must say I really enjoy the respect I get on the road. I love watching people coming on the onramp and realizing there is no way I can speed up or slow down to let them on. They just seem to fade away
I bought our RV from friends in PA. My first drive with it was on little narrow country roads, going about 10 miles. Then we took it to their house and then drove it to Florida. Part of the road around Nashville was construction with the Jersey barriers on one side and the guard rail on the other. About a foot clearance on each side.
But we were lucky and did not hit anything.
After some years of driving experience I backed the rig into the corner of our house roof, and also hit a sign post while maneuvering in the muffler shop parking lot.
Good thing these rigs are made of fiberglass, it is easy to fix!
2001 National Tradewinds LTC, 2005 Jeep Liberty Limited toad, M & G air brake, Blue Ox base plate and tow bar.
One "Bald-Headed Old Guy" (me),
One "Jewish-American Princess" (DW)
Two Birman Cats, "Mocha" & "Coco"
Just a quick note. I don't remember when I drove my first RV. It was many, many years ago when I was in my 30s so it was probably no big deal. But what I wanted to say is that when I started to drive (a car) I was taught to follow the oil marks in the center of the lane to keep the car in the middle. It works perfectly for a car, but not for the MH. Now when I get into the MH, I have to remember to make the adjustment to try to follow the white line on the left to that the MH stays in the middle of the lane.
And yes, I still pucker when I have to travel in narrow construction lanes along the Jersey barriers, or a narrow toll booth (try to avoid those, 'cause I'm cheap). Favorite experience is when I had a semi on my left (I was doing 50 MPH)and another semi was passing illegally on my right and then the berm started to narrow.
livin' and lovin' the retired life in Fl. And travellin' in our MH.
"You can't change the wind, but you can adjust your sails"
I can't remember my first MH drive either. When I turned 21 I got a license to drive a school bus at Church. My first trip we went to Windsor, Ontario from Roseville, MI, over the Ambassador Bridge and back through the Tunnel. After that trip with no problems I thought I could drive almost anything. In the 50 years since I have gotten to drive many different vehicles but I still drive a school bus. Driving that makes me feel I am on vacation since it almost the same size as the MH. With a little more experience you will feel at home in that seat. Using the side mirrors you can just make sure you can see the line on each side of the MH and you will have it centered. The next time you make that trip you can actually look at the scenery you missed this trip.
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