Wife did it

[dwayneb236]

Ok. I'm fairly controlling when it comes to the truck and trailer and towing it. I want to do everything. Well my wife has been saying she wants to learn all about it as she might want to take it something with her girlfriends without me. Ya'll didn't see but I just had the proverbial shudder.

Anyway, We just went to OKC to camp for a week and my wife wanted to drive. She had mentioned it a while back so I had her drive a little bit near home. She did good..

On this trip she drove the whole way up there. Not really that far. She drove a bit over 3 hours or there abouts. I have to say she did just fine. I was of course a bit nervous as I am not good at not being in control of the towing, but she's good.

When we got to the campground I quizzed her on everything that needs done. She needs more work there. We'll get her more reps in. But she's not bad.. looks good too..

I am not a male chauvinist... I am not a male chauvinist...I am not a male chauvinist

[jareddustin]

Executive wrote:
My WIFE DRIVES the coach...I only STEER it....:B:B:B....Dennis

haha that is awesome!!!!!

my wife has made a few comments while on the road that makes me not want to let her drive. but i am worried that i will get hurt while out in the dunes and she will have to drive home.

[Mr_MrsSchleppro]

We have a 2014 Salem 29 ud3 and we tow it with a '99 F250 crew cab. Our camper is roughly 37.5' and weighs between 9000 and 10000 lbs. My wife and I take turns driving. One vacation say from NC to Gatlinburg she'll drive up and I'll drive back. The next vacation say from NC to Myrtle Beach I'll drive down and she'll drive back. It gives me a chance to internet/watch a movie or nap or whatever on the way. And of course the safety factor too as in if I can't drive I know she can. As a matter of fact her and our girls have taken the camper from NC to Myrtle Beach while I was on the road( truck driver). I'm actually very proud to know that she can not only drive and tow, she can also hook up the camper to our truck(and knows all the safety things to check and do) and set up properly when she gets there. She's a keeper. :B

[BigSkyTrailer_G]

My bride is great at towing the TT anywhere... but last weekend she wanted to try to back it in. She went about 1/4 mph about 11 feet before it started to jack, and she jumped out threw up her hands and made me do it.

Since I'm fighting cancer, I'm trying to teach her most of my man-duties, including connecting the WD hitch. Her life shouldn't stop just because mine will.

[BubbaChris]

Congrats to the OP!

Most of our trips start on Friday's after lunch because I have to work until then. So my DW has become adept at getting us 100% hooked up before I get there (and sends me photos as proof). It is a primary reason I'm glad we opted for the Andersen WDH.

Last year she was much more interested in driving, but had the automatic sway control in the truck kick on a couple of times and scare the bejezus out of her. So now she's working her way back into the driver's seat (only secondary roads, non-windy days).

At least a couple times a season we try to make sure to swap interior and exterior duties for setup or break-down.

[myredracer]

We were at a CG in Oregon a few years ago. Couple arrived at a site across from us with a TC. While hubby went down to the office, the DW decided to be helpful and back the truck into position on the site before he got back. As we were watching, we each mumbled "she's gonna hit that tree!". Sho 'nuf, she hit the tree.... :E Smacked the rear end causing considerable damage. I'd be willing to bet only he drove the TC ever again!

DW won't drive our truck, let alone tow with it because she has meniere's disease (causes vertigo, but she is well past the worst of it). She's otherwise very normally intelligent, at least so she says. :B I'm happy to do all the driving myself as I love it anyway. DW has become an excellent navigator and loves her GPS & apps. I can't imagine towing anywhere without her. She's especially good at telling me when her GPS says I'm going 1 mph over the posted limit. (Oh, and BTW, please don't ask me about the time I wedged our TT between one tree at the front and one at the rear and had to be rescued by the CG's backhoe.)

[BarneyS]

He may have been talking about Good Sam Travel Assit+. I have had it for quite a few years and have not had to use it thank goodness. It gives great peace of mind while traveling and is well worth the around $100/year in my opinion. My wife is incapable of driving my rig.
Barney

[Executive45]

My WIFE DRIVES the coach...I only STEER it....:B:B:B....Dennis

[hawkeye-08]

My Dad just told me of an insurance available that will take care of getting your rig home (and perhaps where you want it) when the primary driver/setup person has medical issues. It was around $100 per year. He was going to get it so his wife was not freaked out that something would happen to him and she would have to figure out how to do everything. Dad is 84 and his wife is 78 so the peace of mind is worth it.

My wife can pretty much do all the setup and take down, and she drove semi trucks for a number of years and would have no problem towing.

[dwayneb236]

I resisted for a while but she kept mentioning it. And the "what if I was unable to drive" scenario kept coming up. How could I argue with that? It's absolutely right. Glad I did and glad she's so comfortable with it. It's a 35' trailer and she had no issues.

[Muddydogs]

I am kind of like the OP, if I am in a vehicle then I am driving. There are a few guys that I will ride with and have no problem. I think its due to my job and the number of people and vehicles I deal with along with the number of close calls I have had over the years due to others driving abilities. It's no big deal for me to run 13 hours alone or with the family in the rig driving the whole way.

Every once in a while, like a couple other posts stated, I get to thinking what happens if I get sick or hurt and can't drive while camping? Sure suck for the wife to have her first time towing be when I am dying because I'm sure I would have to be just about dead before I let her tow. I guess I really need to get her some time behind the wheel with the trailer chasing her around. Wife has said she would like to tow so all I have to do is give up the wheel and hope for the best. I know its kind of sad what's even worse is I am a trailer towing trainer as well as a defensive driving instructor, driver examiner and ATV trainer for my employer so I know how to train drivers.

[deltabravo]

Cool that she has in interest in in driving, setting up camp.

On another forum I used to check years ago, a husband really wanted his wife to learn to drive while towing the 32' TT. He kind of forced her in to it. Her first drive she became a nervous wreck and was back and forth on the steering wheel. She totalled the rig after it fishtailed out of control. Everyone suggested that DH shouldn't have forced her in to driving it.

[Escargot]

coolmom42 wrote:
Any normally intelligent person can do this, with some proper coaching and practice. It's a skill, but it's not rocket science.

Seriously!! and Amen!!

[mhsmith]

On our trip back from Kentucky over memorial weekend, wife mentioned trying it. She then realized the wind might have been a little much for a beginner but maybe next time. Would be nice to take a break other than rest stops. At least she's thinking about it.

[Halmfamily]

Can someone call my wife and tell her she needs to learn to pull our fiver. I've tried for years but still cannot get her behind the wheel. On last weeks trip I tried to get her to drive on a four lane road, minimal traffic, for just a couple miles, no go. I asked her what would happen if I got sick or hurt and couldn't drive, her answer, we'll just leave the fiver at the campground. Any suggestions, I don't want to be pushy but, I would feel more, comfortable if she could pull the fiver.