Driving a class A

[SuzzeeeQ2012]

We're looking at one (Holiday Rambler Endeavor) and it's just so huge lol How long did it take you to get used to driving one?

I'm not sure I could ever get used to riding in such a large vehicle, although, I have ridden in buses, so probably no difference...

[nbargolf]

BTW, I have also learn to drive like truckers in multi-lane traffic when you need to change lanes when you see any brake at all, turn on your signal count to 7 and go if you don't the traffic will never let you over. you are bigger than them and surprisingly they will normally give way. Then of course there are some jerks who will speed up to stop you so watch for them.
Relax and have fun.

[nbargolf]

jvernon wrote:
How much difference in a 30 ft gasser vs a 38ft diesel ? Would the 30 ft be much easier in town ?

We owned a 34 ft gasser and moved to a 41 ft DP. I can tell you the DP is much easier to handle then the gasser. Ours has a 60 degree turn (freight liner), People are amazed at how we get in and out of places. We get comments 'you can't get that thing in here' then their jaws drop as we put in a spot.

[Techbob]

We recently moved up from a 31' class C to a 41' class A and we were very intimidated about driving the larger coach. We were lucky enough to find an excellent rv driving school instructor in the town where we purchased the coach. My wife and I spent two days with him driving in all sorts of situations and left town much more confident and enjoyed the 700 mile trip home. We feel that it was money very well spent.

[OhhWell]

Maybe that foam tubing from the hardware stores that is used for air conditioner lines would help to insulate the long coolant lines from the engine all the way up to the heater core? That is if they can take the heat.

[Spizzer]

I'm new at this, too. After the initial shock, if you just relax and not fight the rig, it actually becomes enjoyable! I like to use the RH mirror to make sure I can see the placement of the white line down the edge of the road....keeps me placed in the lane right. Also...I find I just drive slow and enjoy the journey!

Jeff

[fcooper]

SuzzeeeQ2012 wrote:
well, we drove it home today. Got used to riding in it in about, oh, 2 minutes 🙂 Only one problem. We FROZE. There was heat coming out, but not transferring to the rest of the coach. I don't look forward to wearing coats, gloves and hats like I did today on our trip. We can't figure out how to get the radio to work, either. What else....the heater thermostat doesn't work either, gotta get that fixed. brrrrr...I'm still chilled from the 3 1/2 hour drive home. lol Sure is fun riding in it 🙂

Congratulations on getting your new diesel motorhome. From your other post, I see that you have a 1999 Holiday Rambler Endeavor....37 foot, which will be very much like my motorhome.

The engine that produces the hot coolant for the heater is a loooooong way from the heater. If like my coach, the hot coolant does not flow directly to the heater, but first goes through the outside jacket of the water heater (to give you hot water while on the road). This will reduce the coolant temp a little bit. Moving that coolant through 37 feet of heater hose will also cool it a little. My motorhome has very poor dash heat, and always has. I'll admit that I've done little to try to correct this problem. I have sealed up some air leaks along the front of the motorhome to reduce the air infiltration while moving down the road.

When we travel in the cold, I run the generator and the two roof heat pumps, or if it's really cold I run the propane furnace.

Fred

[frankdamp]

Suzzeee:

If you're anywhere near Mount Vernon, there's a truck-driving school in town (Biddix) that might be a place to start asking about lessons. They may have branches elsewhere, too.I was fortunate when I took a post-Boeing-retirement job as a transit coach driver for Skagit Transit and their instructor taught me about diesel pushers.

Driving a 40-footer on our express service through downtown Everett in evening rush-hour was scary the first couple of times, but it got me over the "hump" and our MH is no problem, though at 32-ft, it doesn't really qualify as "big".

[OhhWell]

How do they work the "dash" heat on a pusher, do they run the coolant all the way up to the front for a heater core there or do they duct it up from a heater core in the rear?

[RayChez]

If you bought the Holiday Rambler and the weather is very cold you have to turn on the furnace on the coach to warm it up. It is too big of a coach for the dash heater to warm up. Just set the thermostat like if you were out dry camping and it will stay nice and warm.

You will love your coach.

[SuzzeeeQ2012]

afrescop wrote:
Attended the Escapees Boot Camp last week. The RV Driving School was there and we were booked solid. I am an instructor for that school. EVERY student the two instructors taught came away telling us it was money we'll spent. Completing the course gets you a certificate for those insurance companies offering a driving school discount. www.rvdrivingschool.com.

I would love to take a driving course. I almost got to drive it a ways today, but it got dark too quickly, so will do that later...

[SuzzeeeQ2012]

well, we drove it home today. Got used to riding in it in about, oh, 2 minutes 🙂 Only one problem. We FROZE. There was heat coming out, but not transferring to the rest of the coach. I don't look forward to wearing coats, gloves and hats like I did today on our trip. We can't figure out how to get the radio to work, either. What else....the heater thermostat doesn't work either, gotta get that fixed. brrrrr...I'm still chilled from the 3 1/2 hour drive home. lol Sure is fun riding in it 🙂

[afrescopXx]

Attended the Escapees Boot Camp last week. The RV Driving School was there and we were booked solid. I am an instructor for that school. EVERY student the two instructors taught came away telling us it was money we'll spent. Completing the course gets you a certificate for those insurance companies offering a driving school discount. www.rvdrivingschool.com.

[SuzzeeeQ2012]

We pick it up Tuesday!!! So exciting 🙂

The countertops are Corian, the floors are tile. Just a beautiful motorhome. Only 86,000 miles. It's a diesel pusher, so we have many more trips to go in this 🙂

My husband will be doing the driving most of the time, and I'm sure it will take a while to get used to, but we're in no hurry.
I will definitely find an empty parking lot and try driving it.
thank you for all the advice.

Now, back to unloading the other motorhome to get ready to move into the other one 🙂

[discovery4us]

I made the mistake of taking off on our first trip at night. By the time I had made it through Los Angeles freeway construction zones in the dark I was convinced I had made a huge mistake. Next morning got on the I-10 and headed east and within a few hundred miles I felt comfortable and have enjoyed driving the last 13,000 miles. Can't imagine going back to a FW.
Don't get me wrong I have still managed to put myself in some positions that felt too narrow or no way I could get turned around But I did the same with my other RV'S also.
As far as the toad I have a 99' Jeep TJ behind a 36' DP and I don't know it is there. If the rear of the MH clears the TJ clears.