reddog24,
Glad to hear you're still reading. As with any forums, there is always some "filtering" readers must do.
And nice rig by the way.
๐First of all, you didn't mention why your husband hit the soft shoulder. It could have been driver error, but then there also could have been something in the road he was trying to avoid. Was it windy? I've driven in some winds which make it feel like I'm driving a sailboat down the road. And until your used to it, even a passing truck can give you a sideways push. Have you spoken with him about this incident? Is he aware of your fears? I'd give him credit for getting the rig back on the road safely without damage. Not an easy task in a vehicle with which he has very little familiarity.
As others have pointed out, driving a Class A is different than driving a Class C. Not necessarily harder, just different. It takes practice. I echo the recommendations of others for you to take shorter trips in the motorhome to gain experience in different driving conditions. Going out to the mall? Take the RV. Those types of things. Also, your class A is almost 13 feet tall, which, I'm willing to bet is 2 - 3 feet taller than your class C. The floor height is higher, the weight is well over double. All of these things will cause it to ride & handle differently than your Class C. It just takes some time.
You were driving this home from the dealer. In my (limited) experience, the techs at the dealership air the tires up to their maximum listed inflation pressure. If the tires say 110 psi, that's what they put in them. In most cases, that is WRONG. The correct tire inflation pressure can only be determined if the rig is weighed. When I drove ours home, it rode very hard and I could feel the front tires bounce over bumps & expansion joints. When I got home, I checked the tire pressures and they were all 110 psi. I weighed the rig, and using the tire manufacturer suggestions, the proper pressures are about 85 psi front, 80 psi rear. WHAT A DIFFERENCE in handling. So another suggestion is to check your tire pressures and weigh the rig loaded and ready for travel. If it still has issues, then you can look into an alignment and possible suspension mods. But checking the tire pressures is free (if you have a gauge...and you should) and a weighing at a truck station should be around $10.
On our ride home from the dealer, the person that was driving behind us driving our car home, said that every underpass we went under I hit the brakes. I don't think I do that anymore
๐ , but it's part of getting used to the rig. I wasn't used to driving a 12' tall vehicle, and my brain kept saying "you should approach that overpass with caution".
Likewise, as has been said, with a class A, you have to position the vehicle a bit further to the center of the road than your car or class C. Once you are aware of that it becomes automatic.
The view from the front passenger seat of a Class A is awesome, but also a bit unnerving until you get used to it. During our first year, I took a scenic winding back road along the Maine coast, instead of the inland highway. Great view, but it was tight and I joked that wifey could've delivered the mail, she was that close to the edge of the road.
So I suggest you discuss these concerns with your hubby. Take some short drives around town, and just slowly get used to the feeling. I suggest you be belted up front so that you get used to the passenger position. Plus, an extra pair of eyes on the road ahead can't hurt.
I would also recommend that you try driving it a bit, even if it's just around a mall parking lot for starters. There have been times when we've been in stop & go traffic, wifey will get behind the wheel to allow me to stretch my legs and use the restroom. When the traffic clears, I get back behind the wheel and we're good to go.
Good Luck,
~Rick
2005 Georgie Boy Cruise Master 3625 DS on a Workhorse W-22
Rick, Gail, 1 girl (27-Angel since 2008), 1 girl (22), 2 boys (23 & 20).
2001 Honda Odyssey, Demco Aluminator tow bar & tow plate, SMI Silent Partner brake controller.
