How easy are huge motor homes to drive?

How easy are huge motor homes to drive?

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Discussion

zarjaz1991

Original Poster:

3,470 posts

122 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
As per title....How easy are huge motor homes to drive?

It looks like I've been lumbered with the job of driving a huge motor home for four days in the summer, for family and a handful of their friends.

Pretty much, I'm the one who rarely drinks alcohol and is rarely bothered if I don't while everyone else does. So on that basis, plus the fact that everyone seems st scared of the idea, I've been nominated.

I'm only 22 but insurance is apparently sorted.

I'm quite experienced on the driving front and as a well as numerous models of car, I also regularly drive a Transit for work so larger vehicles don't scare me. But I've never actually driven a motor home before so I wondered what they were like to drive, and if there's anything I should particularly be wary of.

Don't know the make and model yet, I'm waiting to find out.

Pebbles167

3,417 posts

151 months

Friday 18th April 2014
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If its one of those american ones, just shoot yourself. Its easier laugh

Otherwise, with any of the ones you see over here you'll be fine. As long as you can appreciate the laws of physics and dont practice stupid cornering you will be fine. smile

At 21 I got thrown in the deep end and had to drive coaches, a few hours practice and it will feel like its yours.

powerstroke

10,283 posts

159 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
zarjaz1991 said:
As per title....How easy are huge motor homes to drive?

It looks like I've been lumbered with the job of driving a huge motor home for four days in the summer, for family and a handful of their friends.

Pretty much, I'm the one who rarely drinks alcohol and is rarely bothered if I don't while everyone else does. So on that basis, plus the fact that everyone seems st scared of the idea, I've been nominated.

I'm only 22 but insurance is apparently sorted.

I'm quite experienced on the driving front and as a well as numerous models of car, I also regularly drive a Transit for work so larger vehicles don't scare me. But I've never actually driven a motor home before so I wondered what they were like to drive, and if there's anything I should particularly be wary of.

Don't know the make and model yet, I'm waiting to find out.
If its bigger than a transit (3,5 ton) you may need a c licence

BFG TERRANO

2,172 posts

147 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
If it's like towing a big caravan it's fine if 2 things happen- everyone keeps out the way and you don't use tight lanes, oh and everyone will want to overtake you. Just let them.

Troubleatmill

10,210 posts

158 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
1/ Does your licence cover it?

How long is it?

Think about it. Close your eyes and picture it.

If you think about it - you are at the front, you turn a wheel - and the front moves.
You should be able to keep the left hand side and the right hand side of the vehicle in between the white lines.


Now the rear of the vehicle - may cross over the white lines ( small roundabouts, tight corners etc )
So... any curves in the road will require you to think about this.


Work it out in your head.
Actually - do it with masking tape and cardboard models - you will see what I mean.

Now you know what to expect.


Vaud

50,285 posts

154 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
As long as you drive like it is truck, not a car, they are ok on A-roads, etc. Maximise your braking distances, smooth on the brakes, etc

Things can get a bit tight on B-roads, etc. Worth having a trusted friend in the passenger seat to give you feedback on clearance. Especially if the rear is wider than the cab... Oh, and ditch everyone else apart from your friend and go practice for 30 mins with minimal observers...

zarjaz1991

Original Poster:

3,470 posts

122 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
powerstroke said:
If its bigger than a transit (3,5 ton) you may need a c licence
I've got C1 which covers me to 7.5 tonnes. I'm certain it's not bigger than that.

zarjaz1991

Original Poster:

3,470 posts

122 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
Vaud said:
As long as you drive like it is truck, not a car, they are ok on A-roads, etc. Maximise your braking distances, smooth on the brakes, etc

Things can get a bit tight on B-roads, etc. Worth having a trusted friend in the passenger seat to give you feedback on clearance. Especially if the rear is wider than the cab... Oh, and ditch everyone else apart from your friend and go practice for 30 mins with minimal observers...
Yeah got an older mate from work who's going to accompany for a trial run at some point, will make sure we cover all this off.

Wacky Racer

38,099 posts

246 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
Depends really how big it is. We used to have a six birth Elddis which was around 24 foot long, but it was a doddle to drive, unless you were going down a narrow lane in Cornwall and a large truck was coming the other way, then it got a bit hairy.biggrin

But ours was like a mini, compared to some of these big American jobs.

Be extremely careful reversing, always better to ask someone to get out and watch you, visibility can be a big problem.

I am sure you will be fine, it's not as though it's a 40 ton juggernaut towing a gigantic trailer.

Willy Nilly

12,511 posts

166 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
zarjaz1991 said:
I've got C1 which covers me to 7.5 tonnes. I'm certain it's not bigger than that.
Trouble is you're going to be taking it to places that are set up for smaller 'vans. A bloke used to park his Ford E350 Econoline at work and he said it was a pain at a lot of sites because they're not set up for such a big vehicle an his wasn't that big. I'm pretty sure our DAF LF is/was quite a bit more maneuverable.

nagsheadwarrior

2,779 posts

178 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
Modern European motorhomes are a piece of cake to drive.
The only time you'll notice the extra size is in manoeuvring situations but most rental vans will have a camera and/or sensors to help.

As mentioned if it's a real big one then it'll likely be too heavy for your license but there are 24ft vans out there still at 300.

Take your time at first and they're actually quite fun to drive and they handle really well, particularly the pug/fiats.

zarjaz1991

Original Poster:

3,470 posts

122 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
Troubleatmill said:
1/ Does your licence cover it?

How long is it?

Think about it. Close your eyes and picture it.

If you think about it - you are at the front, you turn a wheel - and the front moves.
You should be able to keep the left hand side and the right hand side of the vehicle in between the white lines.


Now the rear of the vehicle - may cross over the white lines ( small roundabouts, tight corners etc )
So... any curves in the road will require you to think about this.


Work it out in your head.
Actually - do it with masking tape and cardboard models - you will see what I mean.

Now you know what to expect.
Thanks...yeah license will cover it as it's C1.

I'm pretty confident I can do this.....part of the reason I was selected is because I'm a safe and 'boring' driver with considerable long distance experience of larger vehicles (as opposed to just cars), plus I'm young enough to want to rise o the challenge rather tan feeling inconvenienced by it all. So in a way I'm pretty honoured to be asked but it's quite a responsibility and I need to get it 100% right.

zarjaz1991

Original Poster:

3,470 posts

122 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
nagsheadwarrior said:
Modern European motorhomes are a piece of cake to drive.
The only time you'll notice the extra size is in manoeuvring situations but most rental vans will have a camera and/or sensors to help.

As mentioned if it's a real big one then it'll likely be too heavy for your license but there are 24ft vans out there still at 300.

Take your time at first and they're actually quite fun to drive and they handle really well, particularly the pug/fiats.
That's what I was hoping...when everyone was discussing this, everyone else was going on about how scary it would be to have to drive it, while all I can think about is how much fun it's going to be. smile

nagsheadwarrior

2,779 posts

178 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
Ps- Missed the bit about the c1 sorry.

If you want to try driving one before the holiday just drop me a p.m my dealerships based in Preston if you want to pop up and test drive one some time when its quiet that's fine.

Vaud

50,285 posts

154 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
nagsheadwarrior said:
Ps- Missed the bit about the c1 sorry.

If you want to try driving one before the holiday just drop me a p.m my dealerships based in Preston if you want to pop up and test drive one some time when its quiet that's fine.
Just to say - this is what I love about PH... nice people offering help.

nagsheadwarrior

2,779 posts

178 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
While he's out on the test drive I'll nip round his house, pour red bull in his mx5, bum his dog and hammer sausages into his lawn!

Edited by nagsheadwarrior on Friday 18th April 22:38

Sid's Dad

576 posts

140 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
All depends on where you're driving it. Down to the Cote D'Azure on the Autoroute? Piece of piss. Through old towns and cities? You'll wish you were dead. On country lanes? OK so long as you go really slow. On country lanes in the peak tourist season? Open the door, get out, and walk. Don't stop walking til you get home. Then hide under the bed.

And as for parking? Well just make sure you get masses of practice in empty car parks before you try and park anywhere smaller than the M25.

GAjon

3,721 posts

212 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
Stop being a nancy and just drive the fking thing.
Blokes don't need instructions or advice.
That said, watch out for the swing out from the rear overhang.
Motorhomes tend to have a lot of overhang from the rear axle, so if your to to close to something on your left hand side whilst turning right, say a petrol pump, you've got to watch for the rear end swinging out as you make the turn.

Vaud

50,285 posts

154 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
nagsheadwarrior said:
While he's out on the test drive I'll nip round his house, pour red bull in his mx5, bum his dog and hammer sausages into his lawn!
As long as we do that, I'm happy. Don't forget the VBRJ.

mph999

2,714 posts

219 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
zarjaz1991 said:
I've got C1 which covers me to 7.5 tonnes. I'm certain it's not bigger than that.
... Double check