How hard are these RVs to drive?
I only have a standard drivers license. I am thinking if I go Class C or A, I will attempt to stay less than 30 ft in length. The pull behinds really scare me but do interest me as I can separat...
Forum Discussion
As other posters have said, if you can drive a large U-haul, you can drive an A or C. You will need to develop your spatial awareness though. It will be a lot long than car or pickup. A cousin (who is pig headed) had a utility trailer. He pulled across a highway like he normally would and stopped in the cross over. His trailer was poorly lit and got clipped as it was sticking into the lanes he just crossed.
You will need to keep in mind the height, width and length. Width is easy. Your mirrors stick out slightly past the rest of the unit so if they clear, the rest will. Height is a bit more problematic. A's are a bit easier here as the windshield usually goes most of the way up. Your roof a/c units are higher so keep that in mind. Length is where you have to be most careful. With units where the axle is towards the rear, especially the high end models, you have to remember to swing wide so you don't scrape the side on the inside of the turn. C's and some of the lower end A's have the rear axle almost in the middle of the chassis. On these, they will turn pretty sharp. BUT (<---- note the big but!) they will also swing out in back. Sharp turns without enough clearance will have you clipping parked cars, mail boxes, posts, buildings and so on.
If you do get a unit, measure how tall it is at it's highest point. My class B is 9'2. Over the windshield I have it marked as 9'6. This give a bit of cushion if someone else, like a mechanic, drives the unit. I have seen class A's that are 22 and 25 feet long. I'd go from my B to one of those in a heart beat if I could find one. I'm limited on parking space. The A's seem to hold up better than C's, although how they are taken care of makes a world of difference. Generally the C's leak more in the roof and that does major damage inside. My B won't leak unless I hit a low bridge due to the fiberglass top. I have seen C's that were as long as an A. The advantage to a C here is over the driver sleeping or storage. At 6 foot, I prefer the head room through out.
One last thing. Whatever you buy, before you plunk money down, drive it and see how it is to get out of the drivers seat and go into the back. This is for if you stop on the road in a rest area to use your toilet and get a snack out of the back. I can do it in my B but it's a struggle. A smaller person wouldn't have as much trouble as I do.
You will need to keep in mind the height, width and length. Width is easy. Your mirrors stick out slightly past the rest of the unit so if they clear, the rest will. Height is a bit more problematic. A's are a bit easier here as the windshield usually goes most of the way up. Your roof a/c units are higher so keep that in mind. Length is where you have to be most careful. With units where the axle is towards the rear, especially the high end models, you have to remember to swing wide so you don't scrape the side on the inside of the turn. C's and some of the lower end A's have the rear axle almost in the middle of the chassis. On these, they will turn pretty sharp. BUT (<---- note the big but!) they will also swing out in back. Sharp turns without enough clearance will have you clipping parked cars, mail boxes, posts, buildings and so on.
If you do get a unit, measure how tall it is at it's highest point. My class B is 9'2. Over the windshield I have it marked as 9'6. This give a bit of cushion if someone else, like a mechanic, drives the unit. I have seen class A's that are 22 and 25 feet long. I'd go from my B to one of those in a heart beat if I could find one. I'm limited on parking space. The A's seem to hold up better than C's, although how they are taken care of makes a world of difference. Generally the C's leak more in the roof and that does major damage inside. My B won't leak unless I hit a low bridge due to the fiberglass top. I have seen C's that were as long as an A. The advantage to a C here is over the driver sleeping or storage. At 6 foot, I prefer the head room through out.
One last thing. Whatever you buy, before you plunk money down, drive it and see how it is to get out of the drivers seat and go into the back. This is for if you stop on the road in a rest area to use your toilet and get a snack out of the back. I can do it in my B but it's a struggle. A smaller person wouldn't have as much trouble as I do.
