Wife fearful in Class A

I look at the white strip on the right side and the center stripe with my mirrors I then know if iam centered or not I know that doesn't help the passenger on the right any. My wife also felt we were over the white line due to how big the rv feels but she has gotten over it. She doesn't like hights in a car or whatever your in going over bridges etc. she just buries her face in a book at that point. Experience by both spouses are needed here. Hopefully this will pass with time.

My wife had that issue, we got a C for that reason. She also could not ride in the front seat of a bus.

Another member of our RV club bought an A gasser, his wife could not ride in the right front seat. He sold it and bought a C, she was OK.

Will she get over it? What is YOUR experience forcing YOUR wife to do things that make her uncomfortable or frighten her? Maybe she is more retrainable than mine. Maybe not.

WeMosey wrote:
We have sold our truck & 5th wheel, and are looking at Class As. DW, however, feels quite fearful riding in the ones that we have looked at. Not sure if it's the big windows, or just the size of the Class A as compared to riding in a truck, or just a combination of things. Has anyone else's wife experienced this fear? And was she able to overcome it?

That's funny, as that's about the only vehicle my DW feels safe in anymore and the bigger the better, as far as she's concerned. Also gives her more places to go and hide. She even sold her sports car because of the intimidation with sitting so low to the ground, while next to others. Good that she chose a Wrangler for a replacement, as now we have an excellent toad as well.

WeMosey wrote:
OP's wife here. I think one of the things that scares me is the irrational fear that we're rocking/rolling and about to tip over -- which I know in my head is not true. But I feel like I'm on a carnival ride. And I don't like carnival rides!

I really do want a MH, and DH is a good driver. I've just got to get over being a scaredy cat.

Thanks for all your responses:)

Maybe if you drove the RV yourself you would be calmer? I'm not saying to drive all the time, but even just taking it to a large, empty parking lot and doing a few circles could give you a feel for it?

I also do not like riding in our Class A for all the reasons stated above. We are 8 1/2 ft wide and some of the more rural roads are downright terrifying. We solved the problem. We had not other vehicle the 1st year. We now have a Jeep and I drive that following our Class A. So much nicer traveling and NOT being a raw nerve everyday we travel. I tried it for a year and did not get used to it. DH does drive slower, but still too close to that white fog line for my comfort.

WeMosey wrote:
OP's wife here. I think one of the things that scares me is the irrational fear that we're rocking/rolling and about to tip over -- which I know in my head is not true. But I feel like I'm on a carnival ride. And I don't like carnival rides!

I really do want a MH, and DH is a good driver. I've just got to get over being a scaredy cat.

Thanks for all your responses:)

That is really a solvable problem and it is not a matter of just "getting used to it". What this is really about is making sure you get a coach which handles extremely well. You get a coach that stays put on the road, and you will have no problems with your concerns. A solid riding coach will give immediate confidence in its stability.

The big question will be how to you get there from here. Assuming you will be looking at a modern coach, you may have to adjust your search to find something used, but higher end, depending on what your budget is. Generally speaking, the higher end DPs are going to feel very solid on the road. You will want to test drive a few, just to get a point of reference. Try to find a used Foretravel that fits your budget. Foretravel tends to bridge the gap between the super higher million dollar coaches, and the real average production built coaches. If you are willing to look at something 5 to 8 years old, the prices are not that bad.

WeMosey wrote:
OP's wife here. I think one of the things that scares me is the irrational fear that we're rocking/rolling and about to tip over -- which I know in my head is not true. But I feel like I'm on a carnival ride. And I don't like carnival rides!

I really do want a MH, and DH is a good driver. I've just got to get over being a scaredy cat.

Thanks for all your responses:)

You are in North Texas. Some weekend you should take your DH down to Nacogdoches and check out the Foretravels. If you buy a new or used one, you can become a member of the Foretravel Motorcade Club, free the first year. And every year they hold a Ladies Driving School. Besides Foretravels don't go rocking/rolling while going down the road. Even old Foretravels don't!

I think it is a optical illusion. One gets the same feeling in a class 8 cab over truck, and even in a class 8 conventional truck. Even the driver can get that feeling. One either learns how to deal with it or gets use to it. At least my dw says she has gotten use to it. Tell your wife to hang in there. She is sitting in a spot where there is no reference such as a mirror to view down the side of the coach like you have. She feels like the passenger side wheels are driving down the shoulder and she is sitting on top of one of them. You could mark the windshield with a piece of black tape to make it easier for her to reference where the actual edge of the road is. Or set up a spot mirror for her to view down the side of the coach. Some drivers have been known to do that on the drivers side.

I driven tractor trailer most of my adult life. My first class C motorhome was a Toyota Sunrader. I remember the first time I drove it and looked in the mirror. That fiberglass box behind the cab looked absolutely huge compared to the little Toyota cab I was in. Gave me a most uncomfortable feeling. And I have driven two trailer "b trains" grossing over 130,000 lbs.

Looked like this, but add another axle under the front trailer. And the dolly pulling the rear trailer is attached to lead trailer with a pintle hook, so you end up with 3 pivot points on that rig.

My wife spent a fair amount of time on the couch until she adjusted to the co-pilots chair. She now spends most of her time sitting next to me and sleeping, so I think she has adjusted. She didn't like the floating on air feeling and the slight distortion caused by the curve in the windshield. Now that she sits up front I feel bad for my lab as she now has to sit on the floor.

othertonka wrote:
Most of the fear comes from the fact that new class A drivers have a tendency to drive too far to the right of the lane and that makes the passenger feel like she is going off the side of the road. If you don't believe it, try riding in that passengers seat and Have a new driver drive while you experience what it feels like. So to make it more comfortable for her, try and hug the center line a little more, which will in turn give her a better feeling that you are not going to run off the road on her side. The feeling is worse if there is guard rails on either side and no shoulder. practice and maybe have her ride on the couch for a few times until she gets used to it.

Excellent response.

I might add. Think about driving with your right foot on the grease mark in the center of the lane. I know it sounds screwy but it will help. You can also check your lane position by comparing the lane markers with the side mirrors. Or check you lane position with the rear view camera.

Richard