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04-23-2018, 10:44 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 163
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We did a RV driving course!!
On Friday we took a driving course and it was so informative!!
My husband has been pulling boats and trailers for the past 20 yrs but this is our first Class A and it’s 38’
So we hired a guy who trains school bus drivers, Mobil clinic drivers etc.
He came to our home and we did a video and then a full pre driving check walk around including checking the the tire pressure. He also had us use a headset and I can’t tell you how wonderful that was!! Way better than a walkie talkie or cell phone!! We are buying a pair.
Then we hit the road! We ended up at our local mall where he set up cones and taught us how to back up, weave in & out of cones forward and in reverse. I even tried it!!! It was easier than I thought! I even parallel parked!!
Once you learn your pivot point and use the dots he put on our convex mirrors it was easy!!
I didn’t drive on the road, but my husband did great!
We have a brand new rv and during the 2nd half of our trip the passenger seat belt locked so we took it apart but couldn’t fix it[emoji51]!
Then, he was going to teach us how to navigate a gas station but we couldn’t find one because our GPS took us to a Flying J machine shop not the station and the needle was below the line!!
We were nervous!! Finally found a 7-11 and my husband whipped in there like a pro!!
It was a great experience!!
We had the owner who lives here in So. Ca but has about 10 trainers around the country.
I’m not sure if I’m allowed to mention the company name but I can share it if your interested.
I took a couple of pics one at the mall and one in our driveway.
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04-23-2018, 11:08 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 415
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I used to drive huge school buses and could parallel park them on a dime after training.
EVERYBODY that drives large RVs needs to take this class. GREAT JOB!
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04-23-2018, 01:07 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 163
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kfergiez
I used to drive huge school buses and could parallel park them on a dime after training.
EVERYBODY that drives large RVs needs to take this class. GREAT JOB!
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Thanks! We feel way more confident now!! When I get more comfortable I may try to actually drive it!!
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04-23-2018, 01:31 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 137
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He also had us use a headset and I can’t tell you how wonderful that was!! Way better than a walkie talkie or cell phone!! We are buying a pair.
What make/model of headset?
__________________
2017 Rockwood 2304KS
2017 F250 Lariat 6.2 4X4 Scab SB
ProPride 3P Hitch
Nights Camped 2016 = 31, 2017 = 59, 2018 = 79, 2019 = 78, 2020 = 50, 2021 = 61. 2022 = 84, 2023 = 68
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04-23-2018, 03:57 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 163
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pppitiful
He also had us use a headset and I can’t tell you how wonderful that was!! Way better than a walkie talkie or cell phone!! We are buying a pair.
What make/model of headset?
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I’ll have to get back to you on that one!! Let me find out.
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04-23-2018, 07:32 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 163
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pppitiful
He also had us use a headset and I can’t tell you how wonderful that was!! Way better than a walkie talkie or cell phone!! We are buying a pair.
What make/model of headset?
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Here you go!
https://www.amazon.com/Sena-SPH10-10.../dp/B0087NB2OU
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04-24-2018, 08:06 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5,430
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I drove for UPS for over 30 years and so glad to see when people take a training course like this, all it can do is help you improve your skills. UPS was always bring in new training for us to learn and I always told the new drivers to soak it all in and one day when you least expect it, it will come in handy. Good for you both!!!!!!!!!
__________________
2017 River Stone Legacy 38mb
2001 Kenworth T2000
2016 Smart for Two on deck
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04-24-2018, 08:14 AM
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#8
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(Dry Huunday)
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eastern North Carolina
Posts: 2,298
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__________________
Beau & Sue
FurKid Express
2015 Coachmen Catalina 303RLS
2016 Chevy Silverado LT 2500HD Duramax
The more people I meet, the more I like my dogs!
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04-24-2018, 09:29 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Lexington, NC
Posts: 2,621
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Would you mind saying how much such a course costs?
__________________
2018 Coachmen Apex 249 RBS
2010 Silverado LT 5.3 V8
The world is a great book, of which those who never stir from home
read only a page. - St. Augustine
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04-24-2018, 01:18 PM
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#10
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Steelhorzz
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 235
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"In the deal"
Quote:
Originally Posted by mjones12
Would you mind saying how much such a course costs?
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The last part of our RV purchase negotiations, was done by my wife.
She said, "My husband's never driven a Class A before. I'd like to know he's comfortable when we head out on our first trip. Can you include a driver training course?"
A week later my Georgetown 360 was delivered to my front door. (They drove it in from out of state).
The guy driving was towing his car.
He spent the whole day with me.
Did the complete PDI, pre driving check list and all aspects of driving and parking.
Turnng, cornering, parking, backing up, distance from vehicles, overhangs, lane position, where to look ahead while driving, mirror settings, parking at a shopping center, the use of headsets, fueling, and on and on.
I felt MUCH more confident as the sun was going down,!
Now 50,000 miles later, I know experience is great, (and also a bunch of suspension "mods", 😬 but that first day got us starts on the right track!!
And thanks to my DW didn't cost us a dime!
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04-24-2018, 05:16 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 126
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When we bought our 41’ Cedar Creek the dealership offered a seminar on driving a fifth wheel free. We took the class. Taught us about the dots and so much more. Then the instructor showed up at our campsite and told me to drive around on those narrow roads. I said you’re going with me right???? He said H**L No. so my husband said do you want me to go with her? He said “No she can do it”. He had so much confidence in me I knew I could do it. I was gone longer than they thought (had to be patient waiting for father & son parked in the middle of the road talking) then I went down the wrong road then back to the site. Husband & Intructor was just getting into golf cart to see what damage I caused. And saw me coming down the road. I was so proud of myself. I’ve been driving now for 3 years. Take a lesson wives you never know when you may need to know.
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04-24-2018, 05:20 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Athens
Posts: 685
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I didn’t drive on the road, but my husband did great!
Please please make yourself comfortable driving your rig in all circumstances. Ten years ago my husband suffered a heart attack and when the ambulance took him to hospital I was left to deal with a truck I had never driven hitched to a fifth wheel I had never pulled while 1000 miles from home. Luckily he is healthy today and it all turned out ok. And you can be sure I can drive the motorhome we own now.
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04-24-2018, 05:48 PM
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#13
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Bene Gesserit Rule
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Victoria, Australia
Posts: 846
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DreiHunde
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Back in my days as an electrical tradesman I used to drive a BIG power company workshop truck with benches, cupboards and tool pegboards inside and 30 foot ladders on the roof, pulling a tool-n-parts trailer. I had never driven an articulated vehicle like a 5th wheel. So while I knew I could handle a big rig combo, I knew there was stuff I didn't know.
So when we got our 34' Heritage Glen/Silverado I booked in for a course run by a semi driver. Best thing I ever did, even though he said I should never jack-knife the trailer (which I have done many times since when U-turning). I was particularly interested in learning how to back it up and park in tiny spaces, like I was expecting to get at trailer parks and RV camps.
Too bad more newbies don't do this.
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04-24-2018, 06:25 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 163
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mjones12
Would you mind saying how much such a course costs?
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I believe it was close to $400. Worth every penny!!!
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04-24-2018, 06:34 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Lexington, NC
Posts: 2,621
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KWhite2018
I believe it was close to $400. Worth every penny!!!
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Thank you. I'm sure it WAS was worth it.
__________________
2018 Coachmen Apex 249 RBS
2010 Silverado LT 5.3 V8
The world is a great book, of which those who never stir from home
read only a page. - St. Augustine
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04-24-2018, 06:59 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 9,930
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That's great !!! Too bad more of these courses are not available.
__________________
2005 Dodge 3500 Cummins
2017 Wildwood Lodge 4092 BFL
1966 Mustang GT
1986 Mustang SVO
Lillie Spoiled Rotten Boxer Mix
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04-24-2018, 07:33 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5,430
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oaklevel
That's great !!! Too bad more of these courses are not available.
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They had a vendor last year at Goshen offering classes.
__________________
2017 River Stone Legacy 38mb
2001 Kenworth T2000
2016 Smart for Two on deck
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04-24-2018, 07:54 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 9,930
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dblr
They had a vendor last year at Goshen offering classes.
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Non any where near here though....0
__________________
2005 Dodge 3500 Cummins
2017 Wildwood Lodge 4092 BFL
1966 Mustang GT
1986 Mustang SVO
Lillie Spoiled Rotten Boxer Mix
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04-24-2018, 08:38 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 182
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RV Driving course
Quote:
Originally Posted by kfergiez
I used to drive huge school buses and could parallel park them on a dime after training.
EVERYBODY that drives large RVs needs to take this class. GREAT JOB!
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I won a county School Bus Rodeo, here in Kentucky. I had a great instructor, and 11 years of tour bus driving. ALL folks who drive a motorized RV should consider training like this. I can parallel park an RV, School Bus, AND motor coach, but not my Jeep Cherokee! GO FIGURE!
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04-24-2018, 08:59 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: N. j.
Posts: 129
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The head sets are the only way to go takes all the drama out of backing in to a site got mine about three years ago a bit pricey but much cheaper then hitting. Something backing in the dark priceless
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