As I have stated in other posts we have a Dodge Dually and Fiver. We started camping when we were stationed in Alaska in 2002 with tenting, then popup, travel trailer and graduated to Fiver the year before I retired from the Air Force in 2009. We have been really happy with Fivers since that time, but we feel we are ready for a change. During the years pulling Fivers and travel trailers it didn't take me long to feel comfortable in doing so, probably a couple of extended trips and I was good. Luckily, I haven't hit anything or had any other mishaps while pulling and have only hit the curb once when a yahoo in Southern Canada decided to turn left in front of me when I was turning right and I had the right of way. Thankfully, I was able to react quick enough or they would have paid for it.Anyway, how long did it take for you to become comfortable with driving a long vehicle and pulling a short toad vs. what we have, driving short vehicle and pulling long trailer? Any tips you can give me would be great.Thanks.John

About 10 minutes.Seriously, with your experience you shouldn't have a problem. We gradually moved from a small class C to larger class C to the A and each time we found an empty parking lot to get the feel for the dimensions. The stopping distances, acceleration, backing up and turning radius all took a little time to get comfortable with, but easily within the first trip. Just be aware of the overhang behind the rear wheels and you should be OKDoug

Not too long. The biggest challenge for some is knowing where the rig is in its lane, i.e., keeping the right side of the coach inside the white line. You will probably be fine. The toad doesn't really become an issue unless you need to remove it to back up! (Like the time we couldn't read the exceedingly fine print on a map and headed up a road in Oregon that was limited to much shorter vehicles!!!) In fact, in wind, we found the toad (a four-door Jeep Wrangler) to act like a drogue and minimize the sail effect of the bus.

I must be slow. It took several hours driving to start relaxing than another 1-2,000 miles to get just plain comfy. Diving the truck and TT was a piece of cake but the width perception of the MH was...different.Stuck between 2 trucks on the freeway was especially un-nerving.I takes awhile to learn where the road edge and centerline really is as opposed to where you think it is. I've been told it's harder on the passenger since it looks like you're off the road someplace to the right.

The rear of a MH behind the rear wheels can reach out and grab things when you make a tight turn. Especially on right turns at intersections the rear reaches out in the opposite direction. Doubt you'll have any problems

The rear extending beyond the wheels is my biggest fear. When we were younger, we borrowed my wife's grandparents class C and took it to a lake in North Texas. We were parked next to some trees and when I left misjudged the distance when turning out of the spot and heard some scraping and knew I didn't do well. Got out and oh my goodness about 7 or so feet was scraped terribly. I almost just wanted to take off and hide somewhere, but luckily the wife's grandparents were very understanding and knew there would be the risk since I hadn't driven one before.However, if I do that to something I own, it is on me. I know I can probably do it since I have a lot of driving under my belt now, but just a little nervous about the past.

How Long a Learning Curve Driving a Class A | Good Sam Community

J-Rooster
Explorer
Jan 12, 2015
I got it from day #1! Some people never figure it out! My wife is one and has a fear for driving large vehicles and that is just fine with me.
WILDEBILL308
Explorer II
Jan 12, 2015
I never back in with out getting out and looking at it. I have found two many things that could be a problem. I do like to have someone watching as I back in.
Bill
Snomas
Explorer
Jan 12, 2015
I started towing boats in the 60's. Didn't take long to learn the class A. I always take extra wide turns even if I have to have someone back up their auto if in the way on right turns. Try to always have the DW in the rear on back ups.
WILDEBILL308
Explorer II
Jan 12, 2015
JCGibson wrote:
Thanks again to everyone with your advice and comments. Great stuff as usual! We plan on going to a couple RV shows this month, one in Kansas City and one in St Louis. Mainly will be looking at gassers to get a feel for the brands and to sit in the drivers seat to get a feel of how it would be.

Go do a couple of test drives. You will get a little experience on how it feels. Just tell the salesman you are new and they will talk you through it.
Bill
JCGibson
Explorer
Jan 06, 2015
Thanks again to everyone with your advice and comments. Great stuff as usual! We plan on going to a couple RV shows this month, one in Kansas City and one in St Louis. Mainly will be looking at gassers to get a feel for the brands and to sit in the drivers seat to get a feel of how it would be.
Cmore12
Explorer
Jan 06, 2015
And PLEASE do not forget to look up! I'm just shy of 13' high and have and pruned more than a couple of trees with an antenna. At one campground I crawled up to the roof with a small pruning saw so I could get into a site. Your upper right rear corner is 30+ feet behind and 5+ feet above you. Visualize where it is swinging out as your mirror is probably not covering that.
dubdub07
Explorer
Jan 05, 2015
I had the TT to FW to Class A. Have a pusher now, 41.7ft. My last FW was 36ft. MH plus toad is around 53ft, same as truck and FW. If you can pull a FW through a major city, you can drive a MH. Night and day difference, the class A is that way to go. So, so easy compared to the FW. And I get to drive my Jeep when we get there. Way nicer than the 3500 through downtown New Orleans, or any other major touristy spot.
YC_1
Nomad
Jan 05, 2015
Billinwoodland wrote:
My biggest concern graduating to a 35' A is negotiating windy mountain roads like hwy 20 from willits to fort Bragg, ca, or 120 into Yosemite. I handled it in my old 20' TT pulled by F250. Looking forward to a few east trips like I-5 north of Sacto.

Just slow down. I have driven that route with our 40 footer and toad many times. Don't make it your first trip of course. Use the pull outs when necessary to let traffic pass. Use your transmission selector to keep it in a gear that lets you go fast enough but also gives you some good engine breaking. You will have to move up or down a gear on occasion but won't get surprised with a quick up shift going downhill on a curve.
Jagtech
Explorer
Jan 05, 2015
A few miles on the road will make you comfortable going forward. But don't try backing up with that toad attached... been talked about on this forum previously... takes a lot more practice! :D
fivejackie
Explorer
Jan 05, 2015
Billinwoodland wrote:
My biggest concern graduating to a 35' A is negotiating windy mountain roads like hwy 20 from willits to fort Bragg, ca, or 120 into Yosemite. I handled it in my old 20' TT pulled by F250. Looking forward to a few east trips like I-5 north of Sacto.

I have driven the 120 in my parents new 1979 Harvest class A, not too bad. Drove the 20 in a car, now that was work. I never thought it would end.