By Chuck Woodbury
We came across this posting on the Facebook Group, Full Time RVing. I don’t know about you, but I have known some nervous car and RV passengers in my day. They can be very nervous in situations where others show no discomfort. So what if you are one of those nervous co-pilots or passengers? What can you do to calm down?
This was posted by Janet Carroll:
All right, those who don’t drive your RV very much, this is for you. I am NOT a perfect driver. I know that. But, I cannot relax when my husband drives. He hugs the right side of the lane. He’s close to any concrete construction divide on the right. Close to any truck that is in the right lane, I could put my arm out and touch the truck. I am always leaning away from the item, or telling him how to drive, trying to get him to move over even just a little bit. How can I become more relaxed when he drives? I can’t go to the back of the motorhome and do something else, as he needs a navigator. We are new to this. Does it change with the more we travel together? I have to add, he is pretty gracious to my side seat driving. “Ok, dear” and we do laugh about it.
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What would you tell her? Please leave a comment.
Hoping you’ll reply to all the suggestions, and let everyone know what ya did. Good luck whatever ya do.
When we bought a new car 5 years ago I became a nervous wreck with my hubby constantly telling me the lights green, or the light is red or park there, or you;re not straight etc, etc etc.. 18 months ago we bought a 26′ class A driveway ornament. We have yet to use it. Now he thinks I should be able to drive it. I am ready to sell it as I am NOT ready to drive it. If he is that nervous with my driving in a car, what is it going to be like in a motorhome? Just shoot me now.
I also have a problem driving too far to the right. I put one of those sticky pads (for sunglasses) on the left side of the dash in a position that lines up with the center line from my normal sitting position. I don’t actually have to look at it, it is just in my peripheral vision, but I have learned to trust it, so that when I am driving with concrete barriers on the left and a semi on the right, I am confident that I am centered in my lane.
When driving the motorhome, I have the back up camera on. It helps me keep track of the toad and also lets me know for sure where the white lines are in relation to it and by extension in relation to the motorhome. It only takes a quick glance. Also if your mirrors are positioned correctly you can see where the lines are. If the passenger is only looking out of the window, it does look like you are closer to the right than you really are. Unfortunately, sometimes the lines are not there but the camera can still help.
He probably is driving as though he’s in a car, placing his vehicle in the ‘normal’ spot in the lane. He doesn’t realize yet that he’s a couple of feet wider than the car. He obviously can’t see that he’s too far to the right. Perhaps if another driver he trusts were to ride shotgun might help convince the husband that he is too far to the right. Perhaps hiring a driving instructor to ride with him might be the best solution.
If your mirrors are adjusted correctly, not half of the mirror looking at the side of the RV, a quick glance at your mirrors will tell you where you are in the lane. Mirrors should be adjusted so the inside edge(closest to the RV) should just barely see the side of the RV at the rear, in that position you’ll be looking almost straight back alongside the RV giving you a good view of the lane lines and what is about to pass or is beside you. As a former truck driver our mirrors were adjusted just outside the edge of our trailer where I had to move my head slightly to actually see the trailer, this gave a clear view of anything beside me.
MY darling bride and I have had discussions about driving differences. The key thing that we found is the perspective of where you are sitting in the RV, drivers side or passenger side. Based on driving skills that I was taught driving a firetruck, is knowing your vehicle. The key is to take the RV out, and drive around the area that you live, and switch seats, and take the same drive again……keeping in mind that you are now seeing things a little bit differntly, different perspective. And the key thing to remember when driving the RV, it is defintely not your car. Leave a lot of extra space bewteen the vehicle in front of you, no matter what size RV that you have, it takes longer to stop them.
I am scared to death when my husband drives our 31ft RV, too! He also either hugs the outer line or hugs the center line when there is a semi next to him! I keep telling him to PLEASE DRIVE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE! Fortunately, he drives it on the interstate twice a season. One at the beginning to where we leave it for the summer, and again at the end when we bring it home. Unfortunately, it is a 2 1/2 hour drive each way and I drive the car behind him since we don’t have a tow package. For five hours a summer, I do a lot of praying and swearing!
Praying and swearing do not go together, possibly if you dropped the swearing your praying might have a better chance of being answered.
Oh my goodness grandpa5x that is so funny!
But oh so true I think – good reminder for me at least#@%!
Michelle, you should get a dash cam so when you are driving behind him so he can actually see what the RV doing and how close he gets to the lines.
I will make my maiden voyage in my 22 ft class B hopefully by spring 2019. I already have in the works all the safety driving features available. I am definitely having a dash cam installed as well as lane assist, etc. One of the biggest safety driving measures for me is already installed in my brain filed under “Common Sense” as in NEVER get btwn a hwy barrier and a Big Rig of any kind! I am almost 66 and have slowed down in every way in a big way from just 5 years ago. But life’s pace has not. So I am happy to say that me and Common Sense have become best friends.
I will be travelling full time with my 5 yr old pup so safety is my number 1 concern. I love reading about everyone’s experiences, suggestions and tips. Helps me feel like I am off to a good safe adventure.
Since they said they’re new to RVing, the first question is whether he’s having trouble or she’s nervous.
My dearest passenger sometimes thinks I’m too close on the passenger side, and the couple times she’s tried driving (wide open road in the deadlands), she commented “Geez, we don’t FIT between the lines…” and has not tried driving the RV again since. So, it may be a case of just not being familiar with a larger vehicle that IS closer to lines on both sides.
On the flipside, if HE isn’t familiar with where he should position the rig, then yes, he absolutely needs to learn where to keep the rig aligned in the lane. If you really need to, you could even drive a parking lot lane and actually stop and check where you “really” are on both sides.
Either way, figure out the problem so both are comfortable — what’s funny now gets less so the 20th time…
Years ago we were in a Good Sam chapter club and one of our members was blind in his right eye so his wife had to watch the right side and tell him if he was about to run over something. Lol so for the ladies problems stated above, how would you like those conditions?
If the passenger can use the outside convex mirror to see the lines on the side of the road or lane, so can the driver. The driver should use the outside convex mirror to monitor his position relative to the lane lines. It will help associate the correct lane positioning with the visual clues through the windshield.
They BOTH need to take RV driving lessons. https://www.rvschool.com/
That’s not only uncomfortable for you it’s dangerous for others. Would he agree to look into driving classes at an RV show, if for no other reason than to get a second opinion as to whether it’s him or you just being figgity. Also could his vision be off a tad. Near the white line is one thing but close to a vehicle could mean an accident. Good Luck
Feel free to drive if you are so uncomfortable with his driving.
My husband is a pretty good driver (races race cars, so has good reaction skills). I also drive so that probably helps. However, sometimes I think he is too far to the right. I double check the outside mirrors, to see where he is in relation to the white lines/stripping, before making a request. If I see is right on the line I will just mention where he is. Sometimes it seems close, but he’s not. If you are next to a semi truck and you have a large motorhome, well you are close! Just make sure he is within the lines. If not, a honey/dear you are on the line, over the line should work. Sounds like he doesn’t get upset, so that is good. Good luck and try to relax. Oh…there is a inexpensive item you can put in the window on driver side to help line up motorhome to left line on roadway. Sorry I don’t remember the name. Sure if you do a search something would pop up. That may be helpful.
I believe your are thinking of a freznel lens.
“fresnal”
oops – “fresnel”
We had a similar problem when we first started driving the MH. We ended up putting a piece of tape on the window where the left line should be to keep us centered. This worked well for us.
Whatever you do, don’t drive south on the Million Dollar Hwy. from Ouray to Silverton, CO until he’s had more experience, or you’ll have a stroke! My husband is a GOOD RV driver and I’m nervous as all get out as a passenger on that narrow, curvy cliffside road. That’s the worst example I can think of in all the years we’ve been extended or full-time RVers exploring N. America.
If you think that’s scary, try Independence Pass between Aspen and Twin Lakes, Colorado. In some places the lanes are less than 8 ft wide, and some is single track, all while twisting and turning along the edge of a precipice. If I remember correctly, there’s a 25 ft or 30 ft vehicle length limit.
35 foot limit.
Have driven that road in a 4 wheel drive car ….would NEVER drive a motor home on that roads …