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.
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.
I have a 24′ class c. I feel much more comfortable driving it than I do when my wife drives. Its not that she’s a bad driver…she is very good. Very safe, uses turn signals and all that… Its just if anything goes wrong…I know ill be the one who has to take care of it.
No big deal. I stay in my lane, maintain a steady speed, use my signals, and take breaks at rest stops.
Life is an adventure, not a race to the end.
Now, a really interesting question would be for the _companions_ of the usual RV driver. Have you learned to drive the rig? Could you do it in an emergency? Do you typically take turns driving? Etc.
It’s just a matter of familiarization, practice, and experience. Starting out after first purchasing the 36’ Class A, I was a little nervous, but in short order and a few trips, it became easy and second nature. The wife in the passenger seat however, always has a little anxiety.
We drive a 42 foot class A towing. I clicked comfortably but with some underlying stress. My stress comes from all of the idiots on the road that will cut us off to get off the exit ramp before us, think that we can easily move over to the fast lane to let them on the highway, the impatient person behind us on a 2 lane road that makes an unsafe pass on a double yellow line, and many of the other bone head moves we have experienced and seen. I have a lot of confidence in my driving and always drive defensive but there are lots of flaming idiots on the road.
The ones that just have to pass you, pull back in with almost no room to spare and then slow down are one of my biggest peeves.
Then there are the ones that have to zoom past just to get to the exit just down the road.
OMG…your post – I deal with the exact same thing in my daily commute to & from work, and that’s just in my car!
After 30+ years of OTR driving, towing our travel trailer is ‘nothing’. But still, I let my wife drive from time to time because I think it’s important for her to be able to do it. But, as most drivers will tell you, nobody drives as good as they do – and I reflect that point of view – [grin].
I’ve been towing or driving RVs since 1978, and after driving 80,000 lb semis an RV is nothing, you just have to keep in mind how long, tall, and wide you are. That’s where most people have trouble is not knowing those critical dimensions. That and not reading every road sign they see, that gets you in deep doo doo real quick.
My first hand at the wheel. It was a long stretch of open highway. We left a truck stop with me at the wheel. I was fine,as long as I didn’t look at my tow. Husband is now sleeping sound and i notice construction signs ahead. It turned out to be bridges,two and the road is down to one lane . I was next to a bridge wall, very narrow. White knuckled ,I made it without scraping off the side. Then a few miles and a second bridge. I was so happy when I saw “rest stop” ahead. Swung out and pulled between two 18 wheelers. When I got out, my knees were shaking and now, I never have a comment when Karl is driving through traffic or construction. I still drive,but not as eager as I once was. Now i just warn him about crazy drivers flying along my side about to cut him off at the “merge” sign. We tow 38 foot fiver.
I only drive occasionaly..can do it but not real relaxed…will get better with practice
I picked very comfortable. I drive a 38ft motorhome towing a F-150. Only time there is some stress is when in a lot of traffic, mainly because of other drivers actions.
I drove our Class C’s when my hubby was on the phone with work, but not the Class A – I leave that to my hubby (now retired). I know I need to learn – maybe next trip on the Prairies – nice and flat but a little bumpy. Right now we are stationary due to Covid and winter in Manitoba. Drive safe!
I’m a part-time Rver. My truck & trailer combined are at the 14,000LB mark, so I drive accordingly and cautiously at or below the posted speed limit, rarely going over the speed limit!! But inevitably, I get people tail-gating me or cutting me off, on rural roads or the freeway, because I’m not going fast enough – they don’t realize that I can’t stop on a dime and can’t fly around turns like a sports car, so yeah, it’s stressful when I’m pulling my trailer…with all the idiots on the roads.
I love heavy equipment. I’m happier going down the road in our Country Coach (at 48,000 lb gross) than in the Jeep Cherokee that I tow behind it! 🙂
let me rephrase that one, i am VERY comfortable with my husband at the wheel. i doubt he would feel the same as i have never driven while hauling our travel trailer. utility trailer yes, travel trailer no.
I’m the one who tows the 40-foot fifth wheel; I always have and I always will. For some reason though…maybe it’s age… although I used to be quite confident in towing the fifth wheel and did it while we full-timed for 12 years, I’ve become rather nervous about getting on the road again in the bigger rig. So, since I am in a full-time park now, I got a little popup trailer so the fifth wheel can stay put and I’ll take the popup to visit my sons, Bob’s brother and his daughter and to lay his ashes at rest with his parents.
Since becoming a mechanic in the early 70s I learned to be comfortable driving just about anything. As collections manager/curator at the EAA museum for 27 years I towed trailers up to 35 feet and airplanes up to WWII twin engine bombers. Driving our 25′ Class C is relaxing and fun!
Thanks for your work with the EAA!
I’m pretty comfortable driving our 37’ A class motorhome. Being fairly new to driving the rig, I do get a little stressed in heavy traffic (think Atlanta) but construction doesn’t bother me too much. I haven’t backed into a site yet but I am sure I will experience that soon.
I’m comfortable driving either our DP or towing our TT, but I will avoid Atlanta at all costs!
I do 90+% of our fault driving in our cars. My husband does at least that much of the RV driving. He has a lifetime of heavy vehicle driving – tank recovery vehicles, snow plows, dump trucks, construction equipment, etc. He’s much more comfortable with it than I am. But, I do drive a bit now & then, knowing that it may be necessary at some point. One time, in stop n creep traffic, he really need to relieve himself, so we switched places. Then before he could switch back traffic been moving smoothly. It was miles to the next rest area, so I got a bit more driving experience than we’d planned. Not driving is part of my vacation.
I’m comfortable pulling but on the last 3 or 4 trips some blank has pulled out in front of us causing me to break hard to avoid collisions. NOT FUN.
Thank you for bleeping your own comment so I didn’t have to, Danny. 😆 —Diane at RVtravel.com
I just try to be very defensive and that seems to help avoid stressful situations.
I’m comfortable towing just about anything. I started towing at 15 and at 69 I still have a CDL with a tanker endorsement. Compared to some of the rigs I’ve hauled our 37’ fifth wheel is a dream. But I miss towing our 36’ travel trailer and having the truck bed available for storage.
I don’t care whether I am towing a travel trailer or a fifth wheel high gusting cross winds are best left to blow themselves out. I love to drive but cross winds can be treacherous.
I am comfortable towing our fifth wheel. Have done 10 trips from Alberta Canada to Puerto Vallarta Mexico.
There is however a little stress involved in driving through Mexican cities and narrow winding roads as Mexican drivers seem to have his mentality of having to be at the front at all costs. Overtaking on double solid yellow lines is quite normal, defensive driving is an absolute necessity.
I have found that there is always situations where I feel some stress when towing. It is usually in heavier traffic or extremely narrow roads that I feel stressed. I try to avoid putting myself in those situations but you always can’t.
I’ve been pulling increasingly larger rvs for the past 25+ years, including our 34ft 5th wheel for the last 11 years to every state & Alaska twice. We boondock a lot in remote places for the scenery & solitude with nature. When looking for a boondocking spot, I usually pull of the highway & walk back into a two track for a 1/4- 1/2 mile to check if our 18k lb. 5er can navigate it. I’ve been in every driving situation imaginable, even having to back my 5th wheel down a narrow, winding, mountain road over a 1/2 mile in the Smoky Mountains NP because our old gps,11years ago, took us into the park the wrong way. So, after 11 years & over 150k miles, I’m pretty comfortable driving it anywhere. My wife drives occasionally on the open road, but is trained & capable of doing any driving, set-up & take-down.
Certainly driving our 43′ diesel pusher is challenging, but I finally realized how stressful it was when my palms kept getting wet. My solution was to buy and use driving gloves. As to experience, mine is short and intense. I began driving our RV in mid-2016, so only 4 1/2 years ago, but I have driven it 31,000 miles in that time. (It is our first and only RV.)
Each time we begin a trip it feels as though we are flying while the speedometer only shows 25 or 30 mph. Usually, I get to the posted speed limit (45) within 2 or 3 minutes. It always is a bit uncomfortably fast at first, even though I took an advanced driving course 2 years ago at the Ramblin’ Pushers’ Maintenance Session. Sitting at the front of 38,000 pounds pulling another 5,500 pounds is just a daunting thing, regardless of how long I’ve done it.
I am very comfortable towing our tt. I think it has a lot to do with safety. Our tow vehicle is more than capable towing our trailer , we use a good WDH and everything gets regular service. We check tire pressure every morning before towing.
I am comfortable driving but get stressed the way others drive. Some don’t seem to realize that I can’t stop on a dime when pulling out in front of me. I can only pray for some that whiz buy at 75+ pulling a fifth wheel. I pray that they make it home okay.
I’m comfortable but yes, with some underlying stress. Mostly because of other bad drivers. Like the ones who drift into your lane while they’re talking or texting on their phones. I always drive defensively and considerately, watching what’s behind me and what’s ahead of me. I will always find a pull-out spot if I’m holding up more than 3 cars as a rule. And I always keep a keen eye for motorcycles!
We are pretty comfortable, but getting noticeably more anxious as we get older. We take turns. I can do most roadways, except I will not drive thru or around major cities or the bypasses. Hate merging cars/trucks, exit only lanes. Trip to FL from CA husband will do San Antonio & Houston. We have made notes regarding the bypasses. Which lane to be in to make the exit to get onto bypass & what lanes to be in to avoid ‘exit only” lanes. Those are my greatest fears, as drivers aren’t always friendly to let you in when trying to move over, no matter how long you have been signaling them you need to get over! I can pull into and out of truck stops/RV parks/rest areas. Still have a hard time remembering front wheels are behind me…lol. But, so far, fingers crossed, I haven’t hit anything. My husband naps when I drive. Says he trusts me. Oh, seems when ever it’s my turn, there is construction. Eyes straight ahead, breathe. 39ft DP towing a Mini Cooper or Jeep Grand Cherokee.
I’m very comfortable when driving our 39′ DP. I actually enjoy the visibility when operating and rarely go over the speed limit. Vehicles entering a highway are my biggest concern. A lot of drivers don’t realize how long the motorhome-towed car combo is and some run out of merge lane before they duck behind us.
My wife is content to be a passenger.
Comfortable only exception is major cities. Heavy traffic with numerous intersecting roads and construction can be tiring and frustrating.
I have been RVing for just over 5 years having put 88,000 miles on a F-350 diesel, 34,000 miles while pulling a 5th wheel and put 41,000 miles so far on a Synergy TT24 motorhome. during the above mentioned 75,000 total miles of RVing miles I have visited (stayed in) 49 states and 8 provinces with little or no stress while driving. In fact, the most stressful moments were less stressful than when I worked. Of course, no guard rails going down mountains and drivers going from the far left lane to the off ramp on the right side in front of me is always interesting.
I have been RVing for over 60 years, starting out with my dad, and I am fairly comfortable driving our RV with a trailer behind. However I chose the one with underlying stress because of the stupidity of other drivers. Just yesterday I had a women drift into my lane and I blasted the air horns. She was messing with her phone and driving. I also leave room between me and the vehicle in front of me because I am over 70k lbs. but invariably cars are always pulling into the space. Why I have a dash cam.
I am like Roy Davis — THE IDIOTS — cause me some underling stress… Other than that I enjoy towing my 5er…..Stay safe out there….
underlying stress….you can’t get past this today.
My story… Went out and bought a 3791 Rear Den a few weeks ago. What a beast. After a few trips and a few hundred miles I realized the front adjusting brakes just wasn’t going to stop this thing when the lovely young female that wants to get off at the next exit decides to come out of the fast lane into mine and slams on her brakes to make the exit ( this did happen ), just inches to collision and she flipped me off when I laid on the horn
). With that in mind on our last trip I decided to not to put up with crappy brakes anymore. I installed disk brakes….I’m ready for her now….. yes underlying stress that disk brakes won`t even help with the next pinhead.
Brian, what really gets to those drivers who flip you off is to lean forward so they can see your big toothy smile and wave frantically with all five fingers extended and toot the horn like they are a long lost friend.
Hi, Gordy. That reminds me of when someone flipped off my sister on the freeway. In return, she held up the hand peace sign. I’m sure that confused them. 😆 —Diane at RVtravel.com
My “underlying stress” is from two things, other drivers, and I have a 2005 truck with 316,000 miles. I have kept the truck maintenance up extremely well, but still it is an older truck. Why do other drivers want to either cut in front or stop short in front of all RV’s? I do LOVE RV travel!
I am comfortable, I feel I should not tow if I am not comfortable. I am aware of where I am going, turn radio off, stay distraction free. If tired I pull over take a little nap.
Exactly Susan, stay in your comfort range and stop for a nap when any drowsiness rears its ugly head. Most all of the time anyone is uncomfortable, they are going too fast.
I am comfortable driving my 40 ft MH. I do not tow any thing.
I put on 220,000 miles towing rigs of all sizes in 27 months. Never towed over 62 mph. Based in Michigan, we delivered from Baltimore to L A, Sandpoint Idaho to Brownsville Texas in 42 of the lower states. I turned down Alaska 3 times (no profit, or Canadian driver license permit), I should tell you I am a retired trucker (72 yrs old when I started) and my wife went on all trips. At 62 mph you can relax, I did.
I totally agree with jeb try to stop my 36 foot class a when they jerk in front of you and slam on brakes some idiots on the hiway
There is some underlying stress and should be. When you drive or pull an RV it is far more risky by nature and you should take extra care when on the road, it’s not the same as driving a car. Extra care is needed in every aspect of driving, parking and on the occasional idiot driver that can cause you a little extra stress. I feel the same when I drive my motorcycle.
Very comfortable driving our motorhome, ax others have said I just wish people would understand how pulling in front of a RV of any kind when slowing down for stopped traffic is a danger to their life.
Driver training made all the difference driving my 45 foot 50,000 lb motorhome while pulling a toad. Awareness and paying attention are critical but the stress is gone and I’m confident in my skill.
I’ve driven so many different vehicles that I can adjust quickly to just about anything and feel at ease behind the wheel.
However, I do have my limits.
I am comfortable driving our 30′ gasser. When we travel, I am a much better navigator. I don’t like the right lane because of entering cars. I like to give my husband plenty of notice as to what lane to get in and what exit to take. You don’t want to go the wrong way. Even when it is just 30′ with toad = close to 50′.
I have no angst nor am I nervous pulling our 35’ 5th wheel with our F350 SuperDuty DRW. We drive 55-60. Period.
I’m very often saddened at/with the driving ‘ability’ of the public. I flirt w adding a fog horn on the truck but as of yet I have not done so.
While we are not full time I do love pulling the 4,000 – 5,000 miles each year.
Being a retired semi driver hauling the camper doesn’t bother me but the general public gets my attention. People need in front of the camper at all cost. Lol. I drove coast to coast for 23yrs and never was cut off, fussed at, and seen such wild hand gestures till I started hauling my camper. But life is good and camping is my new job
42 votes of very uncomfortable, that’s scary !!!!