New to driving 32 foot Class C w/Toad

I am also new to driving my C. I tow a horse trailer, so not near the same as a vehicle. That being said the things I have to pay attention to most are tail swing, motorhome height and elevations entering and leaving gas stations etc... I am able to back up so I have an advantage. I have towed a 40' Race trailer and a 40' horse trailer both with a dodge dually for many years. I have never had to consider that my hitch would drag the ground. It's a completely different experience for me. I'm getting more comfortable as time goes on.

I was in the same position earlier this past fall. We had towed a 26 foot travel trailer with a Suburban for many years. Stopped Rving for a few years and last year bought a 32 foot Class C and tow a Ford Focus 4 wheels down.

On our first trip from upstate NY to Florida, I was fearful of going around the beltways in Baltimore and DC and ended up taking the western route down 81, 77 and 26 (not knowing that some of the steepest roads in the east are on that route).

I learned that I should not have been concerned about the beltways as I would normally be in the right hand lane and not be passing anyone. On the way back we came through DC during rush hour and it was really no issue.

The biggest problem was the huge turning radius of the Class C. Had a number of occasions where we needed to unhook the toad. (Funny now--not so funny then.) Probably the best advice would be to err on the safe side if you think it might be too tight.

I found that large trucks can sometimes move the motorhome, especially when running with empty holding tanks. On the way back I also had the tires checked and inflated--handled much better.

In regard to the trucks, when I was towing my trailer I was taught that when a truck was passing to accelerate with the tow vehicle and slightly apply the trailer brakes--in essence pulling a string tight. Now I can't manually apply brakes to the toad, but I can always accelerate a bit with the motorhome. Since I try to stay around 55-60 (to conserve a bit of fuel) that leaves me the ability to increase the speed a bit if I need to. I found that that helps.

All in all, I was nervous as hell on the way south but felt a lot more comfortable coming back home.

Enjoy your new C. We really like it but have not had much chance to use it since we got back from Florida.

Jim

And to expand on the reply above from the bear II:

Setup & practice a firm routine of the steps to hookup (& to unhook) your Jeep. Follow those steps & NEVER allow others to distract you with conversation or side-chores while you work. Tell DW, friends, children, campground personnel, & curious onlookers to ‘Stand By’. until your mental check list is completed. Include:

Items like making sure the tow-bar is secure
Items like making sure the safety chains are in place.
Items like checking all tail lamps, brake lamps, & turn signals.
Items like making sure the toad is in neutral. (That one is huge)
Items like making sure the ignition key is set to acc in your toad (That one is even huge-er)
Items like making sure the emergency brake is off in your toad.
Items like making sure all toad doors are SHUT! (You're laughing?)

There.
I’ve opened the door on this thread to comments from others to tell about ALL THE BAD STUFF that can happen
when one is distracted & not paying close attention to the task at hand.

Just like driving your trailer & jeep--keep it between the lines and watch whats in front of you. Fuel stops are no problem if you look them over before pulling in. I always look for the stations with the pumps paralellto the store.
when I need to exit the interstate for fuel I look for exits with at least 3 stations so I have a better chance that one will work. Always plan your exit before going in if you can.

The one big difference that you may be aware of is you don't want to ever try to back up when towing a toad. Also you should always try to be moving before you start to turn so that the toad wheels are moving before they are pulled sideways.

Your 32 ft class c probably has a wheelbase of 215 to 220 inches, much longer than your jeep, thus you will be making much wider turns. I have found the biggest issue is getting started backing into campsites that are perpendicular to the road. Many campground roads are too narrow to just back in, generally takes a few back and forths to get the motorhome turned without leaving the paved surface.

The trailer used to wag the commander, now the Class C will wag the Wrangler.

Hopefully you'll have a camera to see the jeep. It will provide piece of mind and make lane changes easier.

If on the road to get fuel I try to use the large stations or truckstops. I've seen others, un-hitch the toad and park it, then pull in to get fuel in the Class C and then re-hitch.

You may or may not feel the jeep depending on how your hitch and towbar are setup. Double check that you've locked everything down and the jeep is in neutral. I had friends who noticed a jeep that looked just like theirs go flying by them on a curvy road...it was their's he had forgotten to put a pin in the towbar mount.

I just saw a Youtube video where an RVer had towed his little chevy pickup for several miles with it still in park. Shredded tires plus transmission damage.