How Did You Get Your First Ride In A DP?

Greyhound Bus. :)

First, to answer your question..we went from a 27' Winnebago Chieftain to a 40' DP. It's much bigger, wider, higher, longer etc...I just went :E:E:E. I spent several early morning hours driving around Houston getting some seat time before heading home to California. By the time I arrived home I had enough seat time to be comfortable with it. When we decided to go full time 6 yrs ago, we purchased our current coach. The tag axle makes a world of difference in stability and comfort of the drive. Of course we also went from a 300HP diesel to a 525HP too...:W.

While I think your wife will enjoy the ride and comfort of the DP, there are some cautions. She will enjoy being able to get up and move around the coach even while underway. The DPs are really stable, especially ones with a tag. She'll also enjoy the view from being up so high and looking out that huge picture window we call a windshield.

Now for the caution: The passenger seat in diesels sits over the front steer wheels so the perception from that seat is different than that which she is used to. In fact, it appears, from that vantage spot that you're over to the right farther than you really are. If you're one of these right shoulder huggers, she'll think you're constantly driving OFF the road. This can be disconcerting to many people, so keep that in mind. If she learns to drive it, and I recommend that, a lot of that goes away.

I test drove my first tag at DeMartini RV in Grass Valley Ca. We looked at the coach and asked for a test drive. They would not allow me to drive it off the lot, the salesman has to do that...insurance I believe. After a short drive to warm things up, we switched seats. Our test drive was about 45 minutes.

Another idea would be to hook up with a friend for a weekend camping trip. They drive and you pay for fuel and camping fees. Win/Win for both and you and your wife get a chance to enjoy the ride and comfort.....good luck...Dennis

Thanks guys.... I hadn't even thought about me actually driving it :) I'm mainly just wanting to get a ride in one so my wife can see what it's like.

I'll be ready when the times comes.... After hauling around beastly TTs/5th wheels over the years some people tell me the class A is a nice change. Also, the newer ones seem amazing with all the mirrors and cameras and such.

I took my first test drive at a dealer. I told them I had never driven anything larger than a u-haul moving truck, maybe 25 feet.

They told me no worries and let me drive a new 45 ft dp. The sales guy coached me along the way. Before doing this I did some reading about how to drive it so I had some idea as to what to expect. After the first test drive I purchased the rig in my signature.

I have never had a problem getting to take Class A Diesel for a drive. I have driven quite a few, but haven't yet taken the plunge, largely because of the $$$$$$$$$$. I currently have a 35 foot Class A gasser. You are correct that there is no comparison between the ride in a gasser and a diesel. I would just tell them you are considering getting a diesel. You don't have to tell them how soon.

We previously had a Class C. In my opinion, a Class A is much easier to drive. Just go for it and have fun. The only danger is that you might fall in love with it.

Normally a dealer won't let you take one out for a drive, especially if you haven't driven one before. In fact about 10 years ago, we looked at a Class A gasser and even though I had been driving a school bus for 5 years, I couldn't drive it off the lot. The salesman had to drive it off the lot and down the street to a place we could change drivers in a large empty parking lot and I had to show him that I really could drive it. When we bought the diesel several years later, we didn't get to drive it at all,just ride.
We went from a 32' Cougar TT and an Excursion diesel to the Class A. We've had some problems with it,it's a 2001 with 111,200 miles, but would never go back.
Actually a large Class A DP is easier to manouver than a school bus as the steering cut is about 55 degrees and the school bus is higher. However,the school bus has better visibility with all those windows, A tad bit louder inside though.