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Driving Class A's

older_fossil
Explorer
Explorer
Hi, my wife and I have traveled extensively in a Ford E-450 based class C motorhome (with a towed vehicle). We are seriously planning to upgrade to a class A and fulltiming. I figure some of you on this forum have also gone from a class C to a class A.

How different is the driving experience in the class A?
How long did it take to feel comfortable with the switch?

Thanks for any input,
Art
Art & Barbara
2016 Tiffin AB 37AP
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
17 REPLIES 17

RayChez
Explorer
Explorer
It takes a few hours if you have never driving a class A. And some class A like mine are wider. So you do have to get used to the width of the coach. The length only on turns you have to give yourself more room. The longer the coach, the more room you got to give on turns.

I sit a lot higher and I feel more comfortable driving my coach then what I do driving my auto's. "With the one piece windshield the view is fantastic.

Now what did take me more to get used to was the air brakes vs hydraulic. If you have air ride, you will never go back to a coach with springs. But the difference between a class C and a class A diesel pusher is like day and night.
2002 Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser
330 HP Caterpillar 3126-E
3000 Allison Transmission
Neway Freightliner chassis
2017 Buick Envision

jassrnj
Explorer
Explorer
I found it difficult to judge how close I was to the right or left road lines. I knew I was driving too far to the right and had to keep correcting my position on the road. I read a post on RV Net and it really helped me. I now have a small piece of tape low on the windshield. If I put that tape on the center line, I'm exactly in the middle of the lane. If I put the tape over the line to the left, I am right on the edge of the center line. It took a couple tries to get it exact but that little piece of tape really helps. Now I just glance at the tape to check my position and driving is no longer stressful.

JimFromJersey
Explorer
Explorer
OF, it is not a big deal, once you get used to it. I'd MUCH rather drive a 35' Class A than a P/U and 5W that's a total of 35 feet. All one piece. As noted, watch your corners. Tool around out on the edge of a big shopping center parking lot for a while. Practice backing up as well - first time you need to back that thing in to a CG spot with trees 6" on either side will be lots o' fun. 🙂 For me, the biggest thing is getting my mirrors set correctly so I can see down and out on either side - cars sometimes have an annoying habit of coming up on your right side, stopping about mid-way down your flank, and then simply sitting there in a blind spot, instead of passing you. Then you signal and start to move over and they honk at you like YOU were the idiot driver. Remember also that you've got 6 or 8 feet of bodywork BEHIND the rear wheels that swings out when you make a turn. I clipped a neighbors mail box just barely the first or second time I pulled the Bounder off my lawn because I didn't allow for it. But overall, Class A's are not difficult - look at all the millions of drivers out there who do it every day...
Always remember, you're a unique individual. Just like the other 7 billion people on the planet...

older_fossil
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks to everyone for their input. It gives me some perspective on what to expect.

Art
Art & Barbara
2016 Tiffin AB 37AP
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

frankdamp
Explorer
Explorer
I was fortunate to have a brief stint as a transit coach driver in the time between selling our 26' C and getting a 32' A. After horsing a 40-foot coach through downtown Everett in the 16:30 rush-hour traffic, our Georgetown isn't much of a problem.

My only caution is to watch out for narrow campsites that are at 90 degrees to the park's roads. We stayed at one of the OR SPs earlier this year, just north of Brookings. It's a park that probably pre-dates 102" width and slides. The roads in the park are mainly single-lane. I pulled part-way into an unoccupied tent site, then started backing across the road into our site. I was concentrating on getting the driver's side of the rig in the right place and crunched three of the stow-bin doors on a rock wall on the passenger side. Cosmetic damage, mainly.
Frank Damp, DW - Eileen, pet - female Labrador (10 yrs old), location Anacortes, WA, retired RVers (since Dec 2014)

Les_Balty
Explorer
Explorer
The longer wheelbase will can make turns interesting, especially if you sit in front of the steering tires as you do on some Class As. Often, the long tail can swing into the adjacent lane (trailing your toad!) or present clearance problems at driveways. Once you get accustomed to it, and recognize the importance of discretion, it will become second nature.
Les Balty

mchero
Explorer
Explorer
Watch your speed! Sitting up so high it looks like your not moving very fast. When getting on & off highways watch the onramp\offramp speeds. Easy to get going too fast.
Robert McHenry
Currently, Henniker NH
07 Fleetwood Discovery 39V
1K Solar dieselrvowners.com
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Prior:1993 Pace Arrow 37' Diesel

USARMYCW
Explorer
Explorer
My biggest problem was and is, "there is no drivers side door". I miss that. 😞

jsmart
Explorer
Explorer
We went from a 29' class C to a 32' class A. I think the class A drives easier and rides smoother. I love the big windows and how high up you sit. awesome view of the road. it's taking me a while to get used to driving in the wind, we've had several experiences (in Idaho and in California) where the wind just about pushes you off the road, some of the tricky gusts can change lanes for you if you're not careful. anyway, happy camping.
2002 Itasca Sunrise 32V

mkane
Explorer
Explorer
The biggest change you'll notice is sitting above or slightly in front of the steering axle. This is quite a different feel at first when your turning a corner as compared to sitting behind the steer axle like most folks are used to. Just remember to take a little wider line when cornering. Sitting out front you can seem to go a little past the normal turning point before you start your turn and you should not cut anything short.

Skid_Row_Joe
Explorer
Explorer
older_fossil wrote:
Hi, my wife and I have traveled extensively in a Ford E-450 based class C motorhome (with a towed vehicle). We are seriously planning to upgrade to a class A and fulltiming. I figure some of you on this forum have also gone from a class C to a class A.

How different is the driving experience in the class A?
How long did it take to feel comfortable with the switch?

Thanks for any input,
Art

Friend of mine went from a Boeing 737-800 to a '90s something Class A Bounder. He said the Boeing was easier to maneuver on the ground than the Bounder. One day he invited me up to the flight deck to sit in the Captain's seat and have a look around pre-9/11. He reminded me the 737's front wheels are a few feet aft the pilot's seat, which took some getting used to.;)

You'll be fine. 🙂

backhoemike
Explorer
Explorer
always feel funny like i am driving on the center line...still get nervous when the 18wheeler pass me.

Executive45
Explorer III
Explorer III
Two big differences you'll notice immediately....

You are sitting much higher. Pros - lots more to see...Cons - Pass view can be unnerving at first.

You are now sitting ABOVE the steer axle instead of BEHIND it. Much different feel when you're cornering.

About 3 hrs seat time and you'll be a pro....Dennis
We can do more than we think we can, but most do less than we think we do
Dennis and Debi Fourteen Years Full Timing
Monaco Executive M-45PBQ Quad Slide
525HP Cummins ISM 6 Spd Allison
2014 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ W/ ReadyBrute
CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR TRAVEL BLOG

DSDP_Don
Explorer
Explorer
older_fossil.....You know how you feel the first few minutes of driving your Class C on a trip when you haven't driven it for awhile. After about 20 minutes you relax and everything is fine. The same thing will happen with a Class A, but may take a couple of days.
Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 - All Electric
2019 Ford Raptor Crew Cab