RV driving lessons ASAP Please!
Howdy! We just bought a 40' diesel motorHome and need to find a place or person who can teach us how to drive it! It will very soon be ready and delivered before the end of this month! We live ...
Forum Discussion
Congrats on the new purchase!...amazing people feel the need to try and rain on everyone's parade on here...I swear lots of these folks were dropped multiple times on their heads as infants, toddlers, teens and adults!!!...
Best advice...TAKE YOUR TIME and GO SLOW and do NOTHING fast or quick...!
Since you have a DP...the steer wheels are actually slightly behind the drivers "butt"...so...when turning...you need to wait for YOUR BUTT to be into the intersection BEFORE starting the turn...otherwise your front wheels will run into the curb (right side) or another car (left side)...so wait for your butt to physically be INTO the intersection before starting to turn the wheels.
Use your side view cameras before changing lanes...turn on your blinkers and make sure the lanes are clear and there aren't faster moving cars that will fill your clear space before you complete your lane change...many "clueless" car drivers will intentionally speed up to not get behind such a large vehicle...even though you are going speed limit/etc...
I use my rear view camera to assist with passing vehicles...I can see in my rear view camera when my toad has cleared the vehicle I am passing.
Have the dealership give you some pointers and instructions...if you've never driven a diesel before...RPM management (especially on long, steep grades) requires you to keep the RPM's in the proper range to minimize overheating...keeping RPM's too low can actually contribute to HIGHER TEMPS...believe it or not...at least on my Cat...
As far as buying something you aren't comfortable with driving RIGHT NOW...good for you...you will QUICKLY become comfortable if you take your time and then you have the coach you always wanted versus starting smaller with something and then have to take the hit on trade/sale later...becoming comfortable is NOT THAT HARD...so I feel you did the right thing...Just don't get overconfident too quickly...there is a LOT of weight and length to manage constantly!!!
FWIW...we went from an Excursion (19') with 31' TT (35' tip to tail) and 17,000#'s combined to our 40' pusher ~36,000#'s combined...no issues...just taking our time still as we did with the Ex/TT too!...I certainly prefer driving the coach...and backing is so much easier too and I never had an issue backing the Ex/TT combo either...but the coach is a pleasure...and momma and the 2 girls can pee at will while driving...reduces dad's stress...LOL
Good luck and CONGRATS and take your time!
Joe.
Best advice...TAKE YOUR TIME and GO SLOW and do NOTHING fast or quick...!
Since you have a DP...the steer wheels are actually slightly behind the drivers "butt"...so...when turning...you need to wait for YOUR BUTT to be into the intersection BEFORE starting the turn...otherwise your front wheels will run into the curb (right side) or another car (left side)...so wait for your butt to physically be INTO the intersection before starting to turn the wheels.
Use your side view cameras before changing lanes...turn on your blinkers and make sure the lanes are clear and there aren't faster moving cars that will fill your clear space before you complete your lane change...many "clueless" car drivers will intentionally speed up to not get behind such a large vehicle...even though you are going speed limit/etc...
I use my rear view camera to assist with passing vehicles...I can see in my rear view camera when my toad has cleared the vehicle I am passing.
Have the dealership give you some pointers and instructions...if you've never driven a diesel before...RPM management (especially on long, steep grades) requires you to keep the RPM's in the proper range to minimize overheating...keeping RPM's too low can actually contribute to HIGHER TEMPS...believe it or not...at least on my Cat...
As far as buying something you aren't comfortable with driving RIGHT NOW...good for you...you will QUICKLY become comfortable if you take your time and then you have the coach you always wanted versus starting smaller with something and then have to take the hit on trade/sale later...becoming comfortable is NOT THAT HARD...so I feel you did the right thing...Just don't get overconfident too quickly...there is a LOT of weight and length to manage constantly!!!
FWIW...we went from an Excursion (19') with 31' TT (35' tip to tail) and 17,000#'s combined to our 40' pusher ~36,000#'s combined...no issues...just taking our time still as we did with the Ex/TT too!...I certainly prefer driving the coach...and backing is so much easier too and I never had an issue backing the Ex/TT combo either...but the coach is a pleasure...and momma and the 2 girls can pee at will while driving...reduces dad's stress...LOL
Good luck and CONGRATS and take your time!
Joe.
