If you were driving or towing your RV today, how comfortable would you say you are driving it? Very? Comfortable, but a little stressed? Very stressed but it’s something you have to deal with? Or are you extremely nervous and uncomfortable?
We get it. Driving an RV, especially if you’re new to it, can be a difficult task – and especially if it’s a monster of a rig (and many of them are!).
Please tell us in the poll below and then leave a comment and give us a few details – have you been driving RVs for many years or are you a newbie RVer? We want to know! Thanks for voting, and remember, the poll may take a moment to load.
Mostly comfortable with our Class C. Try to use blue highways, discovering Real America. Hate big cities.
Some stress having to do with those driving around me when you see some of the stupid moves they make. But I’ve always had that stress before towing any camper.
My husband does the MH driving and he does a great job but it does get stressful. He says it helps when I help watch traffic and navigate (although my nickname is sometimes “nagivator”). We usually only average about 300 miles a day to give him a break
I’m pretty comfortable driving our motorhome, pulling either our F-150 toad, or our pontoon. Of course, windy conditions make it a bit more stressful, as does driving thru construction zones where they have only one lane, that seems pretty narrow. I also agree with Skip. Crazy drivers making stupid moves are the worst. Everyone’s in such a hurry!!
Stress is created by the vehicles passing and darting in front of us. Even truckers won’t give us a break. Drivers who don’t know how to merge, don’t signal their intentions, tailgate, etc. create a stressful driving experience. MH’s are awkward to drive and need room to navigate but many drivers don’t respect that need sometimes creating unsafe situations. We stay in the right lane and never exceed 60 MPH. If they want to pass, they can do so. We just want to stay safe.
Since we downsized from a fifth wheel to a Class C, I have been helping to drive. I can easily drive 3 to 4 hours and then he takes over and we usually drive up to 8 hours a day. Really gets us to where we want to go in a hurry!
Most of the stress comes from other inconsiderate drivers. Speeding and weaving in and out, changing lanes without signaling, passing and then slowing down, merging back into a lane without a safe distance.
This seems to happen more on weekends with people in a big hurry to go nowhere. We normally plan our trips to travel during the week and avoid rush hours.
What bothers me is these new “safety” systems that want to drive my vehicle. They often don’t get it right, hitting the brakes under inappropriate circumstances. They will lead drivers to become lazy and try to let the vehicle drive itself. The only safety they provide is to the legal teams at the manufacturer, and that will only last until the lawsuits from the accidents they cause get there. They should at least provide a way to turn those systems off if they aren’t wanted.
My wife and I drive as a team; I drive the RV, she navigates and is the second set of eyes and ears watching for changes in speed limits, hazards like crazy drivers, trash on the roads, and more!
Anyone who couldn’t answer “very comfortable” hinestly or at least feel thay are close to getting “very comfortable ” SOON should probably find a new path. IMHO.
Amen. These are the people who stress out, and endanger, the rest of us. 90% of my driving is watching out for the other guy – Texting, talking, eating, reading, gawking, etc. I can usually tell the proficiency of a driver as I approach, watching the movements of the rig.
On the highway, no stress. On a narrow shelf road with an oncoming vehicle, lots and lots of stress.
Knowing the TT is heavier than our SUV, takes longer to stop, has a bigger surface area for cross wind gusts, and is more sensitive to quick course adjustments, I am far more vigilant when towing. I am not uncomfortable in anyway in towing, but there is added fatigue.
Well, I used to drive Tractor trailers. Hualing rigs up to 45 ft. So that sets me apart.
I am very comfortable towing our 26 ft travel trailer. I have the truck and travel trailer set up properly for towing. I have upgraded the brake controller. I check everything constantly.
The only time I get a little concerned is when we are in construction zones on the highway which leaves you with little room if something suddenly comes up. I leave plenty of space in front of me and pay attention to the flow of traffic. With all the miles I have driven you learn to read the traffic and sense when something is not right. Take your time, leave room, and pay attention. Slow down.
I am comfortable with my driving, but I try to stay vigilant of those around me as many drivers are unaware of mobiity limitation of large vehicles. Narrow shoulderless mountain roads are not much fun either. If you are behind me your gonna have to wait.
Towing is not one of my favorite things to do, especially solo. It’s what gets us and our “cabin” to interesting places.
We had our small TT a week when I took off cross country solo, on a trip that had been designed with our popup in mind, and one I had take another popup on. Big learning curve, with high winds the entire first day. It stayed interesting in various ways the whole trip.
I CAN drive our class A, but I prefer not to. I drive our car 90+% of the time, husband drives RV 90+% of the time. That’s part of my “vacation”
I envy your husband, Deborah. DW CAN drive our RV, but I drive it 100% of the time because she refuses. Her explanation is that the side mirrors would need too much adjusting, given that I am 14″ taller. Have a great weekend and safe travels! 🙂
Thank you, RV Travel! 🙂 The first time I drove an RV, I drove a 43′ DP with a tag axle more than 600 miles that day. I experienced anxiety, but it was considerably lessened by my co-pilot who was an experienced trucker and coached me throughout the drive. Six years and 46,000 miles later I was quite comfortable driving our RV. However, we traded it for a much shorter and tagless DP. Initially driving it was highly unpleasant; two rear axles more stable than one. Now, 20,000 miles later, my comfort level has improved, anxiety’s low. However, I do longingly hope to shift to a slightly longer RV with a tag axle one day in the future. Thanks again, have a great weekend, and safe travels! 🙂
I put nervous, but my husband is fantastic and comfortable, so he does all the driving. I used to drive my smaller Class C with no hesitation, but this bigger Class A with a toad is more intimidating.
The 2nd choice should be “Comfortable but with a little caution” instead of “stress.”
We put my husband, the principal driver of our coach, in the “comfortable but with some stress” category. When one considers the consequences of a lapse of judgment in a vehicle of our size, some stress should be there. (I fall into the “stressful but I deal with it” group, and won’t drive through busy metropolitan areas.)
I learned to drive a motorhome before learning to drive a car!! Got my learners permit at 15 and immediately left on family vacation. My Dad made me drive at least 1/2 the trip of over 5000 miles. Thank you Daddy ❤️ I now have taught my husband to drive and we are both excellent drivers.
I am very comfortable with the driving aspects of our 34′ Class A. I am under some duress with concerns for a tire blowout and especially in jersey barrier construction zones with no escape or place to get off in the event of….. Handling or backing etc are no problem or of no concern. Drive alert and with your mirrors and TPMS. Keep conversations and distractions to only those required. And always – situational awareness!
I’d have to say very comfortable, drove for a living 42 years. Still keep my fully endorsed CDL(who knows what can happen to my pension anymore) Only issue is being older female gets some crazy moves from some truckers…I do get it, I make stupid assumptions too😳 and hubby (retired mechanic, I know dream team full timers💕) and honestly like the wide eyed looks I get in construction zones, ferries and tight parking lots with our A + tow
I am always nervous before I pull out! I don’t know if it is leaving the comforts of sticks and bricks behind or worrying about what might happen on the road. But as soon as I hit the road I’m fine! Especially now that I’ve gone from towing a 26′ TT with an SUV to towing with a Ram 2500. Second year with it and it tows great.
Over 53 years ago I towed the family’s 15 ft camper trailer all night from southern Missouri to SW PA behind my ’62 Olds 88. I was 16. I felt a bit trepidatious but comfortable back then as I did towing our 40 ft destination trailer 1100 miles from central TN to the NW Adirondack Park a month ago with my 1 ton HD dually truck. The key for me is matching the trailer to the tow vehicle.
We are normally on the Interstate or other major roads in our 43 foot diesel pusher, and I am normally very comfortable driving. Occassionally we get into a tight situation, or a winding, steep mountain road, and that creates a little anxiety. If you are on a mountain road, and you hear my horn from around the next curve, please slow down.
BRIDGES!! BIG ONES OVER WATER!! WHITE KNUCKLES
We have a 36 ft 5th wheel pulled by a Ford F250. MY husband does most of the driving. But I have had a few turns at the wheel just so I know what to do if I have to. Our smaller rvs were no problem but for some reason this seems so much bigger. I know how to hook up and unhook and set up but the actual driving feels so much bigger to me. Guess I just need more practice.
Have driven our Class-A, since 2017. Drove 30′ box trucks, towing a 20′ car trailer often between 1997-99. The biggest things I remind myself is stay calm, and scan the road for threats. Always leaving myself an escape route in case. Other drivers, and high winds concern me more.
When training my wife, I started by demonstrating where the blind spots are, including the one below the windshield. Next came parking lot maneuvers, followed by driving down desolate roads. Her biggest challenge was realizing how small steering inputs have on our rig. How far the RV coasts, and the amount of brake pedal input it takes to slow down.
After driving tractor/trailer for 32 years in all traffic and road conditions, I’m comfortable. I learned early that most people driving cars and p/u’s don’t know how to drive. They know to hold the steering wheel and stomp on the gas pedal, that’s about it.
21,000 pounds of kinetic energy in my control always causes “some” stress but that level of stress is compounded by weather, road conditions, lighting, traffic density, and the maturity level of surrounding motorists. If I were not at least minimaly stressed I would consider myself irresponsible. True defense driving involves some stress.
my thought exactly…not too comfortable but not stressing
The picture of the wide eyed guy reminds me of the time in Arizona while driving down the newly Superstitious freeway I was face to face with people towing a fifth wheel coming at me in my own lane. You will find out what your pucker factor is.