Age to start driving 24' class C

rockhillmanor wrote:
I wouldn't let a 17 year old drive a MH.

I think a person should have a few years of driving a regular car or pick-up before doing anything any larger. Experience means a lot.
Brian

When we bought our 37' class A at Christmas break in 2002, our 20 year old son and I took 3 hour shifts driving it back from Dallas to Central IN. He did a great job without any problems, plus the motorhome was towing the van he and I drove down in.

I wouldn't let a 17 year old drive a MH.

My 16 year old son pulls our 42' fifth wheel without issue and can back it up.

Ask your child to give you $5000 if they want to drive your rig. The condition to return it would be that when they no longer want to drive it, and have not damaged it by their actions, you return it to them.

If they have confidence in their driving and are well trained, they may say OK. If they do not, they won't take up the opportunity.

It of course varies tremendously with an individual's maturity and experience. I have known some 16 year old teens who I would sooner have drive my RV than some adults who are well past their teen years. My rule for my RV, at least at present, is no teen drivers (i.e. 20 years old or older).

That said, it may well be different for me if it were my own children under consideration. I would think it not unwise to have them all get at least a little experience driving the RV so that they could be able to do so should some emergency situation come up, even if it's not something that would be expected or permitted on a regular basis.

azdryheat wrote:
I don't go by age, maturity behind the wheel is the determining factor for me. If the 17 yoa passes muster then give him/her a shot at it.

I agree. I know some 40-something-year-olds that I wouldn't let drive my RV. My 17-year-old stepson, however, yeah I'd let him.

I don't go by age, maturity behind the wheel is the determining factor for me. If the 17 yoa passes muster then give him/her a shot at it.

Does your insurance have any restrictions regarding the 17 year old and/or the RV?

Is the plan to let the kids drive the RV during family outings? Or to let them take the RV and go off with friends?

If no restrictions and on family outings, then why not? It's a great skill to learn and will do them good in the long run (learning how to use mirrors properly, etc.).

If restrictions, then use that as a guideline.

If going off with friends, then no one can answer that but you - you're the only one who knows your kids and their friends well enough to know if they will be stupid or not in your RV.