I'm starting to look at someday moving from trailers into a class A and the whole driving thing has me wondering. I've talked to friends and folks at campgrounds enough to know it's a learning curve that I"m sure I'll figure out. But, sitting in the driver's seat at dealers just has me feeling a bit overwhelmed. It seems as though I'm sitting on a recliner in the middle of my living room trying to drive my house down the road.The windows are all just so far away I feel like I can't see anything. I have no problem hauling a 36' 5th wheel on the back of my truck but for some reason the class A is just different. Again, the main thing that is different is that I'm so far inside the coach from the windows. I'm use to driving my truck where I'm close to the windshield and side window. I'd love to hear experiences for people moving from trailers into class A units and how it went.

I know what you mean. The first time I drove mine home I actually ducked when I went through an intersection. The traffic light looked like it was going to hit me. It got better. 10K miles behind me now and it is almost as natural as driving my Ram. Don't sweat it.

Now on our 8th RV. 3 of them have been trailers. I've enjoyed operating both our moho's and the trailers (not so much the 5ver). The only one I was never comfortable with was the 5th wheel. Even though I had it matched well for my tow vehicle it always seemed as though I had too much mass behind me-- and a couple of times went through some red lights in wet weather when I could not stop. While it was comfortable for living it just wasn't as comfortable when driving as the Class A's and C we owned.The A we now have has been the most comfortable and is easy to drive. A's (or C's) are much easier to get into a back-in site or driveway than trailers. The A is easier with our dogs and give the DW the option of moving around a bit in travel. Its always cool with the A/c running, when the trailers were always hot during the summer. And it always has power with the genny running.Yes maintenance costs are higher with the A.Like trailering, situational awareness and spacing are essential in an A. After making sure I had made all the steering safety and control adjustments possible we like it better than cruising in a car and far better than trailering.We drove our TC from GA to Alaska in 2014 and were ready to kick the doors off the pick up after 7 weeks of travel.Last year we drove it in a class A. Visibility and overall comfort in the A made for a great trip. Loved every minute of the A trip and could have gone longer than the 8 weeks we took.

Like anything else you get used to it. I like sitting up high so you can see over other vehicles. Biggest adjustment is starting the turns later because you are in front of the front axle. While backing is easier, you need to make sure the front is not about to hit something as it swings to make a turn. Come on in, the water is great.

We have had tag behinds, fivers and now a Class A. It is a bit different driving a Class a but certainly not overwhelming. You just need to drive one and go thru the learning process as we all do. Being raised on a farm I had driven big farm trucks so it was not that hard for me. I still obtained my Class B cdl to be perfectly legal. Studying the DMV books and taking the test did help me especially the air brake parts. More education never hurts.

Nothing beats experience behind the wheel or can replace it. I am sure that when you started pulling your 5th wheel you were concerned about overhead clearance and turning clearances. These same concerns are there with a Class A but you gradually get used to it. Many people have used a piece of tape, or mark on the windshield that aligns with the left hand side of the coach. In other words, when you sit normally in the driver's seat, and you align the tape/mark on the windshield with a location on the road ahead, the left side of the coach will pass over that mark. After you feel comfortable in the driver's seat, this will all become second nature and you will realize the advantages to having that huge windshield and your elevated sitting position as you scan the highway and traffic.

Driving a class A vs. Trailers | Good Sam Community

21 Replies

TNGW1500SE
Explorer
Jul 19, 2016
Pulling my old 31' TT was more of a PITA than driving my 30' class A pulling a 10' cargo trailer. No way I'd want to go back to a TT.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Jul 19, 2016
YC 1 wrote:
Clicky

Heck, I just picked up a tip from this video. I have used a dot on my windshield for going left around tight curves especially in rv parks. The dot on each side of the windshield for the lines is a great idea.

We did this, also. It helps.

We've had all three - trailers, 5th wheels and a motorhome. By far, the motorhome is so much easier to drive and you don't get tired doing it.

We both take turns driving it. We've been all over the country, Canada, the Yukon and Alaska. It was a joy to drive.
jlud
Explorer
Jul 19, 2016
Agree A was intimidating....seemed just huge. Test drive it and was amazed how easy it was...37 footer turns sharper than my trailer did. Backed it in at a campsite on the test drive and nailed it first time...very easy to back in. It's a pain to go hook up trailer, unhook, level side to side, etc. back the MH in, push auto level, put out slides and plug in...

Having a toad is great and I pull my f150. Pulls like a dream even with my ford v10. Traveling is so much better for family...go down the road watching movies, cooking food in convection microwave, get me a sandwich....kids play games etc.

Stop at a Walmart, rest stop, or cabelas overnight. I take MH places I would not have wanted to take trailer because it would be too much of a pain. For example...soccer tournament for kids and you are going to some town all day. Roll the MH in and you have a comfy base camp and can do over nighters with no hotel fee or expensive food.
hilldude
Explorer
Jul 18, 2016
One thing I like about my A when I pull in I am almost setup.Intimidating first time but easy to drive.Travel with 1/4 tank water,can stop and make coffee or use rest room.
Mile_High
Explorer
Jul 18, 2016
TANDDANDBIGE wrote:
O.K....... I'll start it..... If you get a diesel pusher A, you will have the additional benefit of an exhaust brake. You know that "couldn't stop" thing? and how about going down a loonng pass towing the 5r with the brakes fadin' the further down the hill you get? Not a problem with e-bake; a real safety plus.

We towed 5ers, some with boats on the back, over the Rockies for years and I never really felt unsafe, especially with the last 5er with disc brakes, but I will admit this Cummins exhaust brake is much more effective at holding the vehicle speed than whatever Ford 6.7 thought they had.
TANDDANDBIGE
Explorer
Jul 18, 2016
O.K....... I'll start it..... If you get a diesel pusher A, you will have the additional benefit of an exhaust brake. You know that "couldn't stop" thing? and how about going down a loonng pass towing the 5r with the brakes fadin' the further down the hill you get? Not a problem with e-bake; a real safety plus.
YC_1
Nomad
Jul 18, 2016
Clicky

Heck, I just picked up a tip from this video. I have used a dot on my windshield for going left around tight curves especially in rv parks. The dot on each side of the windshield for the lines is a great idea.
Mile_High
Explorer
Jul 18, 2016
Billinwoodland wrote:
rgatijnet1 wrote:

Many people have used a piece of tape, or mark on the windshield that aligns with the left hand side of the coach. In other words, when you sit normally in the driver's seat, and you align the tape/mark on the windshield with a location on the road ahead, the left side of the coach will pass over that mark.
After you feel comfortable in the driver's seat, this will all become second nature and you will realize the advantages to having that huge windshield and your elevated sitting position as you scan the highway and traffic.

When I transitioned to an A, this is exactly what I did. There are several videos on youtube that will help. I used this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXuB_PgCNCs

I have kept the reference points on the windshield as they come in handy once in a while. While driving experience helps, being proactive and learning from other peoples mistakes before you get into a bad situation by looking at some of these videos and reading is the approach I took.

That's actually a good idea. I keep drifting off to the right and daughter caught me doing it the other day when she was following me.

I tried using the side cameras to get a general idea how far off the line I was, but no real reference point to keep on the windshield and I would lose track.
Billinwoodland
Explorer
Jul 18, 2016
rgatijnet1 wrote:

Many people have used a piece of tape, or mark on the windshield that aligns with the left hand side of the coach. In other words, when you sit normally in the driver's seat, and you align the tape/mark on the windshield with a location on the road ahead, the left side of the coach will pass over that mark.
After you feel comfortable in the driver's seat, this will all become second nature and you will realize the advantages to having that huge windshield and your elevated sitting position as you scan the highway and traffic.

When I transitioned to an A, this is exactly what I did. There are several videos on youtube that will help. I used this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXuB_PgCNCs

I have kept the reference points on the windshield as they come in handy once in a while. While driving experience helps, being proactive and learning from other peoples mistakes before you get into a bad situation by looking at some of these videos and reading is the approach I took.
K_Charles
Explorer
Jul 18, 2016
We had TTs for years and just got an A last year. We looked at some that meandered all over the road and some that were fun to drive. Take it for a ride before you sign the papers. I did notice that most of the bad ones had little dinky tires and the ones that road good had 22.5 tires.