Old age

[GHOST1750]

There are subjects about classic motor homes but how about classic drivers. I was just reading another forum and someone asked opinions about the age of drivers. I know this must have been covered before but here goes. How old and how far per day, I'll start, can anyone beat my story?

I started driving a 35 ft. National Tropical gasser when I bought it new in 201 at the ripe old age of 68. In 2003 I traded it for a 2003 39 ft. National Tradewinds with a Spartan Chases, the difference was amazing. When traveling cross country I try to cover 400 miles a day. I'm a Korean vet with heart stints, otherwise good health. I just turned 85 last month and traded for a 40 ft. Canyon Star gasser. There has been a big improvement in handling and ride of the gasser since 2001. We will head back cross country in a month or so and I still plan to cover 400 miles a day, if I can do it without pushing too much. I have the advantage of having a much younger wife (8 years :B ) who is able to take the wheel when needed.

[xctraveler]

Arch, I get your point, we have made that drive more than 15 times over the years. Just allow 3 days for the 880 mile run instead of 2 and get a great audio book good for 12 hours. Done. Without getting out my journal I can't spell out the stops, but Fort Stockton is one for sure.

[ArchHoagland]

tropical36 wrote:

GHOST1750 wrote:
There are subjects about classic motor homes but how about classic drivers. I was just reading another forum and someone asked opinions about the age of drivers. I know this must have been covered before but here goes. How old and how far per day, I'll start, can anyone beat my story?

I started driving a 35 ft. National Tropical gasser when I bought it new in 201 at the ripe old age of 68. In 2003 I traded it for a 2003 39 ft. National Tradewinds with a Spartan Chases, the difference was amazing. When traveling cross country I try to cover 400 miles a day. I'm a Korean vet with heart stints, otherwise good health. I just turned 85 last month and traded for a 40 ft. Canyon Star gasser. There has been a big improvement in handling and ride of the gasser since 2001. We will head back cross country in a month or so and I still plan to cover 400 miles a day, if I can do it without pushing too much. I have the advantage of having a much younger wife (8 years :B ) who is able to take the wheel when needed.

Just one question and why do you feel the need to drive 400 miles a day, when seeing the country and stopping to smell the roses, is what it's all about?

Drive across Texas on I10 five times and you'll see why 400 miles a day, or more, is a good thing.

[xctraveler]

400 miles would be a beyond the norm run for us for either emergency reasons or just because. A normal run when repositioning would be 250 miles. When exploring an area we might move 40 to 75 miles just to provide easier day trips in the tow'd. No right or wrong, well 1,000 miles in a day would be WRONG for us even in extreme circumstances. Would park the rig and fly to destination.

[toedtoes]

tropical36 wrote:

Just one question and why do you feel the need to drive 400 miles a day, when seeing the country and stopping to smell the roses, is what it's all about?

What it's all about is different for everyone. There's no right or wrong way to do it.

[Harrydavidson]

ferndaleflyer wrote:
I am 78 and just got another DP. I routinely tow a 32ft car trailer from 50 to 1000 mi every weekend, I drive the race car also and actually won a race a couple of weeks ago----I'll drive till I or the kids decide its time to stop

Is this Ken by any chance?

[tropical36]

GHOST1750 wrote:
There are subjects about classic motor homes but how about classic drivers. I was just reading another forum and someone asked opinions about the age of drivers. I know this must have been covered before but here goes. How old and how far per day, I'll start, can anyone beat my story?

I started driving a 35 ft. National Tropical gasser when I bought it new in 201 at the ripe old age of 68. In 2003 I traded it for a 2003 39 ft. National Tradewinds with a Spartan Chases, the difference was amazing. When traveling cross country I try to cover 400 miles a day. I'm a Korean vet with heart stints, otherwise good health. I just turned 85 last month and traded for a 40 ft. Canyon Star gasser. There has been a big improvement in handling and ride of the gasser since 2001. We will head back cross country in a month or so and I still plan to cover 400 miles a day, if I can do it without pushing too much. I have the advantage of having a much younger wife (8 years :B ) who is able to take the wheel when needed.

Just one question and why do you feel the need to drive 400 miles a day, when seeing the country and stopping to smell the roses, is what it's all about?

[ArchHoagland]

toedtoes wrote:

ArchHoagland wrote:
I'm just a little over 10 years old in dog years so I figure I've got a long time to go before I quit driving around the country.

Depends. Are you a big dog or a little dog... 🙂

Hot dog. 105+ around here past couple weeks.

[toedtoes]

ArchHoagland wrote:
I'm just a little over 10 years old in dog years so I figure I've got a long time to go before I quit driving around the country.

Depends. Are you a big dog or a little dog... 🙂

[georgem2106]

Only 64 years young but our rule is "250 miles or 3 o'clock".

[xctraveler]

DW and I are both 75. Just got back to home base from a 3,500 mile round trip. Outbound was a lot of short days 50 to 150 miles. We trade off at the wheel every two hours so no one gets tired or strained. The return was different. DW needed to get back to doctors and was advised not to drive. I did 4 days of average 350 miles with stops every couple of hours to rest the butt and empty the personal holding tank. I am surprised and happy that I was able to handle all the driving without feeling any stress. We try to keep speed at or under the low road speed so we are being passed not passing, but not so slow as to impede traffic. My reflexes are those of a 75 year old and I drive to allow for that. Since DW has as many miles at the wheel as I do, she is capable of taking over even "on the fly" should bad stuff happen.

[ArchHoagland]

I'm just a little over 10 years old in dog years so I figure I've got a long time to go before I quit driving around the country.

[scbwr]

I'm 68 and lucky to have good health. We just sold our travel trailer and truck and are enjoying a gas motorhome. I'm the driver and my wife is the second set of eyes! She has a few health issues and along with retirement, we don't push to do more than 350 miles a day unless we absolutely have to. We are still enjoying exploring and getting away from the cold in the winter. And, we hope to keep enjoying the rv as long as we can and would consider downsizing to a smaller rig if need be to make it possible to stay on the road when we want to! You just have to count your blessings everyday and enjoy life!

[FIRE_UP]

Well,
I'm 65 and will 66 shortly. I don't do long distance driving anymore. I figure WHY? In most cases, when and where we go, there is plenty of stops/camps/RV parks etc spread out all over this country to try and break long distance driving records. 99.999% of the time, we have no schedule. We go and we stop, when and where we want. If it's a Walmart, so be it. If it's a nice place, we might stay for a couple of days, depending on availability of the spot we're in.

I don't mind driving but, I just don't need to do the marathon thing anymore. There are folks on the Goldwing forum I visit every now and then and some of those boys are nuts. They'll do between 1,000 and 2,500 miles in a weekend. It's called the IRON BUTT club. Heck, I do 150 on the bike and I'm looking for an easy chair.
Scott

[filrupmark]

My Dad is 88 and he left for Colorado yesterday towing a TT . Old age has slowed him down a bit and he has downsized from a FW to a TT. He only travels about 350 miles per day. My wife thinks he's related to the Energizer bunny. STILL GOING !