Age to start driving 24' class C

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

Better stay away from Oregon haha.

16 year olds may legally drive farm truck doubles up to 105,500 pounds. Once they turn 18 they can drive any combination with the proper license.



I started pulling my dad's 25' TT when I was 15 (over the Cascades even), because he was already starting to have trouble with oncoming glare when driving at night.

Bordercollie wrote:
Our adult children have never asked to borrow our motorhomes. I would not hesitate to let them drive if I could give them a good demo during a trip of how to drive including braking/stopping distances at various speeds, safe driving in twisty roads, use of low gears for going up hills or on downgrades, handling swaying from passing big rigs and crosswinds, merging and changing lanes on freeways, backing into campsites, and judging overhead clearance. I think that we tend to under-emphasize what it takes to drive a motorhome safely and without damage.

Good ideas.

I also like the idea of giving them each a bit of behind the wheel practice just in case they need to drive it in an emergency. Find a big, empty parking lot.

And see then if you want them to drive more.

I let our son drive a 23' Coachmen when he was 17. The weather was nice, no wind, interstate was straight and flat. Now this was in 85 before all the mp3 and cell phones. I was in the other seat and let him go from one rest area to the next.

As far as letting him take it out on his own at that age, no way.

I agree it's assessed by individual. I was 18 when my brother let me and my buddy take his truck and camper on a weekend camping trip. I remember how strange the truck handled with the camper on the back. I got used to it pretty quick though and we had fun weekend. Went through all those feelings again when I got my first travel trailer at age 36!

Age has nothing to do with it. An 18 year old can legally be a professional driver of an 18 wheeler. Some 12 year old farm kids regularly drive things bigger than any MH.
I started on tractors at age 12 and the farm truck at age 13. Dump trucks probably around 15 or so. I was a professional OTR trucker at age 24. What peeved me then was that due to our church's insurance I couldn't drive the 15 passenger van. You had to be 25 for that.

Our adult children have never asked to borrow our motorhomes. I would not hesitate to let them drive if I could give them a good demo during a trip of how to drive including braking/stopping distances at various speeds, safe driving in twisty roads, use of low gears for going up hills or on downgrades, handling swaying from passing big rigs and crosswinds, merging and changing lanes on freeways, backing into campsites, and judging overhead clearance. I think that we tend to under-emphasize what it takes to drive a motorhome safely and without damage.

my daughter was 18teen and drove our 26ft 300 miles on a trip did great, BUT she is a mature level headed teen,, is yours? shes also a farm gal with alot of tractor time .

The BIG difference between driving a car and an RV is JUDGMENT-- the need to make decisions further ahead, as stopping and maneuvering distances are well more than for a car.

Some acquire "judgment" at an earlier age, some later. Though certainly not foolproof, check the MPG they get on their primary vehicle. Anticipating stops instead of barreling up to the stop and slamming on the brakes, approaching corners at the proper speed instead of too fast and braking hard, etc WILL translate into poor performance in a much larger vehicle.

And, absolutely I know older drivers who should not be behind the wheel of any heavy vehicle.

Might be a good idea to check with your insurance company. Your policy might have restrictions, or they might need to be listed as additional drivers. Responsible, trained kids are generally better drivers. Better reflexes, better driving skills, but less actual experience. If you are comfortable riding with them, its your choice.

Age is no real factor, experience and maturity are the big determinants. Some kids start way earlier than others and are more mature. I was driving cars and tractors off road when I was 9 or 10, driving a stake bed farm truck on the road when I was 13 or 14.

So it just depends.