Are other drivers killing your RV experience?

2edgesword wrote:
I live on LI, NY so to go anywhere you have to deal with it. Once I'm done with the Long Island and Cross Bronx Expressways everything else is a piece of cake.

Haha Amen!

Turtle n Peeps wrote:


My point is this:
I learned a long time ago if I don't enjoy something anymore, or it makes me miserable I give it up. Seriously. It's got to be bad for your health. Why do something that gives you anxiety and make you feel bad?

No "wiser" word has been given than this!

Couple of yrs ago I mentioned to my DW that I didn't know how much longer I was going to be able to drag a RV behind me. Traffic over the yrs has increased, lots of folks disrespectful of other motorists trying to cut in front of me and so on..

All that and at the time I was around 50..

The back story however is my job was very stressful with very short deadlines to get my job done, my commute was an hr each way (100 miles daily), I was up at 5AM to get to work on time at 7AM then get home by 4:30PM.. And that was when the weather was good or no one throws it away in a traffic accident making me late for work.. In the winter time I often had to get up at 4:30AM in order to plow the driveway to make sure my DW and DD and myself could get out of the driveway..

2 weeks ago, finally had enough of my job and left it.. Now considering myself semi retired and not really looking for another job.. Been the best thing I could have done!

Now I am looking forward to resetting my life and drag that trailer behind my vehicle next summer..

For the OP, there are other routes possible, I have never considered using I95 because I have talked to other folks who have mentioned it is a very heavily traveled high speed route..

If you were closer to the western side of PA, I would have suggested I79 to I19 to I77 and when you cross SC border you can take Route 9 East (9 is confusing as it meanders) towards the SC coast to MB (we have a bunch of turns to bypass some small towns on that road I can't remember off hand).

To use I79 South in PA, you would have to take PA Turnpike West or find a route that would get you across to it below PA.. Would add considerable amount of time and mileage from Reading PA you have listed on your profile.

I drive my car way too fast. My RV, I try to keep it around 65, (I LOVE cruise control).
The least stressful way to drive, which I try to do in my RV and do in my car when it rains or in rush hour, is making no one want to blow by you and yank in front or almost sideswipe you as punishment. Get behind a semi or RV and leave a nice no stress safe space. No one will yank in front, as they don't want to be behind the semi ahead. I find rain and rush hour becomes calm and relaxed.
Oh, when I drove semis, in 1978, the KWs held 200 and 300 gallons. That's 800 (700 really) to 1200 (really 1100) miles at 4mpg if truck stops cooperate. That said, I drove out of Dallas to LA many times. The US MAil truck (Dal LA) drove 55. I, um, definitely did not. They had 600 gallon tanks, team drivers, brought food, and peed in bottles. I went like blazes, but stopped to eat, fuel once, and pee. Even a pee stop takes 15 minutes to a half hour. I arrived in LA with the large cars, but I'd pass that **** mail truck at least twice. Grrrr!

Yes they do, if you go read all the"how fast do you tow" threads you'll find The Who and why...

Mayor30 wrote:

camilllit wrote:
Yes! We actually cancelled our trip from PA to Myrtle Beach SC because at 65 years old driving around the Baltimore and Washington outer loops scares me stiff. I know what its like just driving my 8,000 dually, they play with me like I'm a toy. Don't they respect size and mass? Pulling a 41' fifth wheel with a dually 4x4 8' bed is Xanax time, I can't stop this train on a dime! I try to maintain safe following distance to give me some room to stop......forget it. Three cars cut in front of me. I guess if I leave at midnight is best, shouldn't be too crazy at 2-4 am?

I am 68 and we don't do the beltway anymore. 81 to 77 to 26 is much less stressful.

Wow, only 68 and stressed, time to change hobbies. There are areas I prefer not to drive through, not because of stress, but utterly congestion, take a back road at 45 to 55 mph than 0 to 15 on the interstate.
To those that know the area, I use to commute from Puyallup to Bellevue daily. Coming home many times on 405 I would take Lake Washington Blvd, rather than crawl over the Kennywood hill. Even with a 25 mph speed on the Blvd I likely made time, but it wasn't stop and go.

I have few problems in the West. Everyone is pissed off though so do not challenge anyone. Give them room and be polite.

Just returned from a 5 day trip. October is very quiet in the woods.

2oldman wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Why even RV if it gives you that experience every time you hit the road?

I allow people to complain instead of trying to judge or 'fix' them. That just makes them feel worse.

You're confused. I'm not judging or trying to fix anybody at all.

My point is this:
I learned a long time ago if I don't enjoy something anymore, or it makes me miserable I give it up. Seriously. It's got to be bad for your health. Why do something that gives you anxiety and make you feel bad?

camilllit wrote:
Yes! We actually cancelled our trip from PA to Myrtle Beach SC because at 65 years old driving around the Baltimore and Washington outer loops scares me stiff. I know what its like just driving my 8,000 dually, they play with me like I'm a toy. Don't they respect size and mass? Pulling a 41' fifth wheel with a dually 4x4 8' bed is Xanax time, I can't stop this train on a dime! I try to maintain safe following distance to give me some room to stop......forget it. Three cars cut in front of me. I guess if I leave at midnight is best, shouldn't be too crazy at 2-4 am?

I am 68 and we don't do the beltway anymore. 81 to 77 to 26 is much less stressful.

2oldman wrote:

DrewE wrote:
Newer cars often have the dashboard lights on anytime the engine is running, and that can make it unfortunately hard to tell that your headlights are not on-

I would think technology would be smart enough to turn your headlights on.

Automatic headlight technology has existed for many decades, of course, but it's still not at all universal. After all, omitting the ambient light sensor needed for such systems probably saves several cents per car....

2oldman wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Why even RV if it gives you that experience every time you hit the road?

I allow people to complain instead of trying to judge or 'fix' them. That just makes them feel worse.

:B I've seen you judge quite a bit. It happens. :B