Need help making decision - opinions please

[motorcycle_jack]

My muscular dystrophy is advancing to the point of where we need to make a decision on our lifestyle. We currently full time in a DRV Mobile Suite 36'. I pull it with a 2008 F-450. My question is this: Do you think my wife should learn to drive the truck pulling the 5'er or should we get a large class C? Now realize the 450 and trailer are not handicapped equipped so there will be some challenges staying there but also the Class C has some size issues even at 31' of living space. Just trying to see what others think, thanks.

[xctraveler]

DW drives our 36 foot motorhome 50% of the time. WE are both comfortable at the wheel. She learned the same way I did, by doing. I learned to keep my mouth shut and not to correct everything I knew she was going to do wrong. It was harder for me than for her. That is all 14 years ago.

My only concession to male stupidity is to complain that the roadside signs are way too close to me 🙂

[Stars101]

Oh, I forgot to mention that I speak from experience.

20 years ago my DH (then fiancé) tried to teach me to drive his restored '71 Ford F350 dually hauling a car trailer. I can drive a standard just fine, and the width thing didn't bother me... but my DH just kept yapping at me the entire time instead of letting me be and offering small amounts of advice.

With his constant "helpful advice/criticism" I was really nervous making a sharp Right hand turn from a secondary road onto a State Route (had to swing wide into the opposite lane). Looking left was a sweeping curve where cars could come from at 55+ mph and get to the intersection really quickly.

There was a ton of evenly spaced traffic from BOTH directions. I waited and waited and waited.... until the poor guy BEHIND me (in a compact car) pulled around and zipped out in a small break in traffic (where I couldn't fit). DH was getting irritated and saying, "just pull out and do it! Look I could have pulled out 6 times and backed up by now!" But another car was beeping at me and I was nearly in tears. THEN he said, "Just ignore the beeping ---- they know you don't have a clue!" He said later he meant to be helpful and supportive (meaning I should just ignore everyone else and go when I was comfortable) but it sure didn't sound that way

Well, I put the truck in neutral, set the e-brake and got OUT of the truck and stalked away. The worst part was that it was in front of our local Fire Dept (and my dad was a past chief) and it was a work detail. So there was an entire audience that witnessed my little nervous breakdown/tantrum. They found it highly amusing...

A year later I drove the trailer home with one of his friends riding with me to help "supervise" me. My DH was following in another truck and towing another equipment trailer. I did just fine. It was just my DH that caused me problems 🙂

[Stars101]

A little late to the game but X2 on learning how to drive your rig.

However YOU may not be the best person to teach her LOL. If you run into any friction find a professional driving school who can work with her. Or even your neighbor, assuming he can drive a 5ver. Sometimes the whole husband/wife dynamic isn't a great way to learn. But a stranger works out just fine.

[Chock_Full_o__N]

Crowe wrote:
Regardless of unit type, if physically capable, both spouses should know how to drive for the reasons mentioned above. If traveling with adult children, they should also know how to do as much as possible including driving. And tough snoogies if the other's driving "makes you nervous". No excuses. Another driver could potentially save your life.

Absolutely spot on. If your wife is unwilling to take over the driving and set-up, then maybe it's time to park it. That is, unless you are willing to risk the chance of getting hung up on the road and not being able to get back home.

DH has been very ill for about 10 years. He began a fairly rapid deterioration after Christmas this year. Even though I can drive and do all the set-up and take-down, it was becoming overwhelming for us both. Thankfully, we didn't have any sudden crises but we could have. We made the decision to leave the camper up at our favorite mountain getaway so we can go camping when we want to, without the hassles of towing and all. Just show up and camp.

Seven years ago we went cross-country with our kids. DH seemed stable and off we went. He suddenly took a turn for the worse at the Grand Canyon--altitude sickness. By the time I got him to the ER he had full-blown pneumonia. Fortunately, I as fully capable of taking care of everything and we didn't get stuck out in Arizona.

[wannavolunteerF]

One thing to think about with the Class C is if the floor is level. My parents class C had multiple level changes and the bed was really high, making it difficult to get into. as a fairly healthy 50+ year old, with not so great knees and height challenges (yes I am short), I found it a challenge to get into the bed, and hated the level changes. granted, you have some in the fiver, but you should basically have a couple of levels with a change between them. When I get ready to go full time, a class A is my choice for several reasons, including the level floor. If I were you, I would likely stay with what you have. BTW, right now this 50+ yr old female, travels alone in a F150 and 28ft TT. I do all the hookups and disconnections. I have learned to use power jack, power drill and all the "cheats" I need to make it easy for me.

[davosfam]

This thread is inspiring me to learn how to tow our 5th wheel. I can drive our truck by itself just fine as it used to be my daily driver but the only thing I have ever towed is a tent trailer. As soon as DH learns to tow the 5th wheel, I will be next. You ladies rock!

[billkaufmann]

Roman Duck wrote:

Steeljag wrote:
Cant help with your question, but I think it's great both of you (Dog folks and MC Jack) are still enjoying the Rving life !

X2 on that!

X3 Bless you both. Safe journeys to you!!!

[grandma_lynn]

If you want to keep your lifestyle and still travel by all means your wife should continue learning how to do all that is necessary to keep that up. My DH has Parkinson's disease and we wanted to continue to do some traveling and camping so I gradually started doing more and more. He finally had to give up driving. He still likes to go and it is easier for him to have our house on wheels so we can stop when he gets tired. We sold our 5ver and bought a MH thinking it would be easier for me, it was a little. but he hated it, so put it up for sale this spring, sold it and bought another 5ver and we've been out nearly 2 months with it since March. I have learned to enjoy towing/ or just going and he has gotten to spend time with grandkids and other family that he wouldn't have gotten to if we had not continued rving.

[Pop-Pop_C]

450 and Mobile Suites great combo. Keepers.!!
If they are working good. If you trade there will be more bugs than the ones you already have.
Trust me, I tried to trade off problems and just for more new ones.
JIMHO!!!! as I see it!

[galtgirl]

Dog Folks wrote:

Burwoods wrote:
Not an Rv reference, but when my husband had his heart attacks, 4 of them very close together. After a couple of hospitals he was home, I found I had to learn to do all the home maintenance, use power tools the works, it was a long time before he was able to take over some things, to this day there are things that I still do, as they are not wise for him to do. If it were us, and we wanted to stay out on the road as you say you do. Then let her take over, we women will surprise you in just what we can do and handle.

Funny you should mention that. When a repair is needed, I now sit next to my wife, hand her the tools and provide technical advice. "Turn the wrench the other way honey."

We recently replaced our toilet. My wife did all of it and I just advised her how to proceed. The next day she said with pride: "I now know how to change a toilet." She was proud of herself and should be.

A skill every woman should know! LOL

I am so proud of her. On top of it all, she is my nurse, as neede

You are very fortunate. I hope you tell her often how much you appreciate all she does. It's so easy to take for granted all our spouses do for us.

[2gypsies1]

Another vote for both driving and doing the connections. The prerequiste for full-timing for us is that we both do it. It's worked fine.

One thought, a Class A would be so much easier on both of you and you could possibly add a wheelchair lift to get in and out. We've seen others doing it.

A long Class C will have a long overhang and could be unstable on the highway and difficult parking in tight spots.

[charming]

I love driving the RV. She should definitely learn how to drive it. I grew up in a family where my father was away during the week and if it broke - someone had to fix it. I married late, if I broke, I had to fix it. A few years after I married DH started working out of town, if it broke, I had to fix it.

We women are much more capable than we let the men folk realize. 😉

[mockturtle]

I agree with the above posts. Your wife should learn to drive the truck and you should probably keep the trailer. My C is not any easier to drive than your F450.

[gatorcq]

Either way, your wife NEED"S to learn to drive.
Think of the worst that can happen and it has.
Friend of a friend's wife did not drive. He died in a remote camping area and his wife did not drive. Took 1 week for for the friend to drive up and see what happen.

All she has to to is drive straight.
Get her to a driving school. And if you down size, the same thing.