By Bob Difley
Though becoming more balanced among couples, more men still drive their RVs than women. If you are the female half of a couple, imagine if you were out in the boonies and the driver were to become ill.
You would have to learn how to drive the rig quickly—and at a most difficult time while under extreme stress. Don’t wait for that moment to happen. Start learning to drive the RV now, and then share the everyday driving to stay in practice.
Don’t limit yourself to learning just how to drive: There are other things the regular “pilot” does to get the rig ready to travel. Do you know how to disconnect the power and water systems? Raise the automatic levelers? Hitch up the rig? All these are important aspects of getting under way with your RV. You and your other half should draw up a checklist together, and thoroughly practice “how-to-do’s” before the need arises.
If you are the male driver, start giving your other half driving time—along with constructive and helpful assistance and encouragement. If you can’t provide the support and the temperament to make it work, hire a driving instructor. Do it.
You can find Bob Difley’s RVing e-books on Amazon Kindle.
Related:
Driving an RV: Why it’s important that all adult passengers know how
##RVDT1980
While I know the “in’s and out’s” of setting up and taking down the motorhome I was definitely hesitant to drive it. Knowing an emergency situation could happen at any time it was important to learn. Started out slowly with a complimentary 1 hour lesson at an RV show and moved on to two day instruction with a school that has instructors across the country. Very beneficial! Seeing I am the designated dingy driver once we “land” the motorhome and my husband is fairly “directive”, I already knew he was NOT the one to show me how to drive the big rig!
“Directve” LOL! I have one of them too. Thank you for sharing. I’m going to look into lessons.
When we purchased our first Class A in 2000, I took RV driving lessons and hubby who had driven big rigs came along. Best $ well spent. We both still drive. And I can “do it all” if needed, it would just take me longer to unhook/hook up the car and outside services. One never knows when they are going to be put in that position.
When we became full time RVers in 2016, we both took 5th wheel trailer driving lesson. We split driving 50-50. After he passed away in July 2017, I drove it back from Florida to Arizona with the help of my nephew. He could drive but had no clue about how to use the systems. But I did.
It still boggles my mind at women who are ‘afraid’ to drive their rigs. Think about this scenario. Your partner has a medical situation while zipping down the highway. How afraid are you then if you can’t get the rig safely off to the side of the road and this horrible emergency is the first time behind the wheel? For heavens sake learn to drive it. I can’t tell you the times that men approached us at a gas station, etc with me behind the wheel and told my guy how lucky he was that I shared the driving. Of course there could be some men out there who still don’t want their wives to drive? Well, she should at least know HOW to drive it!! Ladies, just do it! It is only the first time once!
I couldn’t agree more! Knowing how to get the motorhome & tow car ready for travel & being comfortable driving our rig was vitally important on several occasions due to my husband’s health issues. Now that he has passed away I intend to downsize & keep traveling, maybe with a singles or women’s rv group, something I would not even consider if I were not already comfortable with everything involved.
My husband and I shared both the driving and the set-up and take-down of our trailer. So after he passed away, I joined the RVing Women’s nation-wide organization, along with the local chapter, and have continued using my trailer and meeting all these wonderful ladies for local rallies. There are many groups out there that will welcome you.
As another option, my folks (both in their upper 70’s) pay for a service that will come in and drive their RV (truck and trailer) anywhere they need, in the case of an emergency.
What is the name of the Service Co.
Thanks Jim
FMCA provides this as part of their membership services
Look into Coach Net. We have them for roadside service. I believe one of their plans provides that service. My Legion magazine also has ads for such a service thru the Legion, if you are a Vet.
My wife won’t drive our rig and when I asked her what she would do if I died there in our set up camp she said “That’s why they make For Sale signs”. All kidding aside there are all sorts of driving services out there to drive the rig home.
My wife HAS driven our 40′ Coach, but she certainly doesn’t like it, and would be VERY stressed getting it home without me. That’s just one reason we’re members of FMCA (open to ALL RV’ers by the way). Their annual membership dues includes insurance that will get the RV, the family and even the pets back home if the primary driver is incapacitated on the road. It gives us both a great deal of comfort knowing that this isn’t ever going to be a problem.
Father-In-Law had his back go out. Did not call for help, but sat for several days until he could drive it home.
We have both FMCA coverage and SkyMed for retrieval service. Just our take on it.
Finally, get the spouse to drive. Need some familiarity with the vehicle.
Giving my wife the keys would be surefire recipe for disaster. She’s a lovely person but the worlds worst driver. Both my daughters drive very well and are school bus drivers too so they can handle the length, course that wouldn’t help. They dont go with us. There will be in the very near future I’m afraid that we hang up the keys to the rv.
My husband does most of the driving, but on occasion I’ve taken over while on long trips when he gets tired. I took RV driving lessons just so I could feel more confident if I had to drive. I’d recommend lessons to everyone — I learned so many valuable tricks that has made me feel better behind the wheel.
I know how to set up and tear down camp and always help out. I’ll never forget a neighbor camper who, while watching me set up jacks/slideout/sewer/water/electric/cable said to his wife “see who’s setting up over there” to which she replied “see who’s cooking your dinner”.
While driving is important, if a couple Co-Drives as we have for years it greatly unloads the work on the driver. My wife was very familiar with the operation of things before she ever actually drove. Now, is it is day time she prefers to be driving and I sit in the right seat and be navigator and do other interesting web things while we drive. This has worked out very well a lot. We found some terrific stops along the way .
Easy for RV Travel to say, but my wife will never learn how or tow my travel trailer. There’s no way she or most woman can hook up my weight distribution hitch. Have AAA Premier RV so she can have it towed home or to a RV dealer to sell should I die. This was discussed in the past on this site and another woman said the same about towing / selling it.
My wife is an excellent DRIVER. I just need to back it up before I pass out. Then we are good.
My wife is the better driver. She also understands how everything works. The only problem she would possibly have is lifting the hitch (I don’t leave it on to block the driveways at Costco or grocery stores) and the sewer hose..