How do you deal with jerks while towing?
Living in the Chicagoland vicinity, driving a vehicle is a challenge without a trailer. When towing with a travel trailer, it seems to bring the worst out of everyone. No one likes being behind ...
Forum Discussion
I am glad it's not just me and thanks for letting me vent.
As for not leaving during rush hour- sometimes (most times) that is just not possible. Kids have school and the two adults work. Camping weekends I try to get out early on the day of, but by the time I actually get out of the office, it can be an hour or two later than I planned for.
Taking local roads are worse than the highways. Even out in the country I have people passing me on a 2 lane road just to hit the brakes and turn at the stop sign 100 yards up. I turned down a road this weekend following my GPS and it was a rutted up stone road. I couldn't drive more than 5 mph. I had to back out and find and alternate route.
And then if I get stuck behind a slower driver/semi on a 2 lane road I am totally stuck and can't pass. And you will get those old fogies that go 5-10mph under the speed limit on a 2 lane road.
I think one of the biggest issues around Chicago Metro is the fact that most all highways are 2-3 lanes each direction. With the amount of vehicles on the road, it really clogs it up. When traveling out of state, the number of people on the same 4 lane highways is much less, making it easier to pass people safely.
I towed 6 years with a large pop-up and people weren't nearly as bad as this big TT. I have missed exit ramps because people won't let me in. Or a space finally opens for me to get into and I have had my blinker on for several blocks waiting and some jack hole decides to sling shot around 3 lanes and take the spot. I just start to creep over now and they get the hint.
I avoid taking it through downtown at all costs. Luckily I am close to 294/53 so it gives me many options for traveling east.
I have a feeling with the economy coming back and low fuel prices that more people are on the road lately than the past 8 years.
Traveling a lot of Chicago metro for work lets me see which are the worst areas. Out of all the expressways 94/Edens is the worst. That is the road I commute into the office in the mornings too. People are so self centered more than any other expressway around here. Of course, it is the North Shore where the rich people live and they are used to getting their way. In the mornings it's littered with new BMWs and Lexus, and lately those electric cars. When I am in my cars, I am liberal with the skinny pedal. I always come up on some old fart in the left lane with an expensive car that won't let anyone pass. They go the same speed as the guy in the middle lane and just camp out for miles.
As soon as someone might be able to pass they speed up and try and outrun them. Luckily I have fast cars and they don't usually have enough power to play that game with me. Once I pass them they start flashing their brights at me like I'm the jerk, even though they are the one impeding the flow of traffic and inducing road rage for the 90 cars behind them just trying to get to work. Amazes me every day.
As for not leaving during rush hour- sometimes (most times) that is just not possible. Kids have school and the two adults work. Camping weekends I try to get out early on the day of, but by the time I actually get out of the office, it can be an hour or two later than I planned for.
Taking local roads are worse than the highways. Even out in the country I have people passing me on a 2 lane road just to hit the brakes and turn at the stop sign 100 yards up. I turned down a road this weekend following my GPS and it was a rutted up stone road. I couldn't drive more than 5 mph. I had to back out and find and alternate route.
And then if I get stuck behind a slower driver/semi on a 2 lane road I am totally stuck and can't pass. And you will get those old fogies that go 5-10mph under the speed limit on a 2 lane road.
I think one of the biggest issues around Chicago Metro is the fact that most all highways are 2-3 lanes each direction. With the amount of vehicles on the road, it really clogs it up. When traveling out of state, the number of people on the same 4 lane highways is much less, making it easier to pass people safely.
I towed 6 years with a large pop-up and people weren't nearly as bad as this big TT. I have missed exit ramps because people won't let me in. Or a space finally opens for me to get into and I have had my blinker on for several blocks waiting and some jack hole decides to sling shot around 3 lanes and take the spot. I just start to creep over now and they get the hint.
I avoid taking it through downtown at all costs. Luckily I am close to 294/53 so it gives me many options for traveling east.
I have a feeling with the economy coming back and low fuel prices that more people are on the road lately than the past 8 years.
Traveling a lot of Chicago metro for work lets me see which are the worst areas. Out of all the expressways 94/Edens is the worst. That is the road I commute into the office in the mornings too. People are so self centered more than any other expressway around here. Of course, it is the North Shore where the rich people live and they are used to getting their way. In the mornings it's littered with new BMWs and Lexus, and lately those electric cars. When I am in my cars, I am liberal with the skinny pedal. I always come up on some old fart in the left lane with an expensive car that won't let anyone pass. They go the same speed as the guy in the middle lane and just camp out for miles.
As soon as someone might be able to pass they speed up and try and outrun them. Luckily I have fast cars and they don't usually have enough power to play that game with me. Once I pass them they start flashing their brights at me like I'm the jerk, even though they are the one impeding the flow of traffic and inducing road rage for the 90 cars behind them just trying to get to work. Amazes me every day.
