turbojimmy wrote:
Thanks - this is good stuff. I've only been driving mine for a couple of months. It's a handful sometimes.
Dennis M M wrote:
In effect you need to go deeper into the intersection before initiating the turn.
Jimmy, let my expand on Dennis's good advice.
You should consider your rear wheel your pivot point. Imagine you're trying to turn a corner and there is a solid post right at the corner. If you initiate the turn before the post has reached the midpoint or past your rear wheels you're likely to drive the side of your coach into the post.
Keep the rear wheels in your side view mirror when making turns. Make sure the point you're trying to clear has reached or passed the midpoint of the rear wheel. You should then, especially if you are also moving forward, be able to clear the object.
Most people don't go to truck driving school to drive an RV so they make these turns by feel, experience, or, for example, by trying to swing wide left before initiating the turn, so it may pay off to take some time to think about it a bit.
You can visualize these turns if you have a piece of wood and you draw wheels on it. It may sound silly but it may reinforce for you how this works. Bonus points for grabbing a couple of orange cones and practicing in a parking lot.
Another tip that may not be related to making right turns, but could save you some grief later, is always try to plan ahead so that you never have to back up unless absolutely necessary. For example, when in traffic, never stop so close to the vehicle in front of you that you can't pull out and get around them without going in reverse. It may not seem likely, but it can happen that when the light turns green the person in front of you is unable, or unwilling, to move. If you have room to go around, you'll never be faced with backing up in traffic.
And don't rely on spotters -- I knew a fellow bus driver who had a friendly construction worker volunteer to spot them backing up in traffic at a road block. They kept giving the it's okay to keep backing up signal as they guided the driver into a collision. Think of the conflict when a stranger does that -- now imagine if it were your wife! Avoid these situation. Backing up is dangerous and should be avoided.
I hope these tips help you or anyone else. Stay safe!
