Driving an A Class for the first time - Tips?

[Tony68000]

So, looking to get my money's worth from my MHF subscription today, yet another newbie question from me..

Soon collecting my A Class, 7.85m x 2.4m Rapido. Never driven one before. The closest I've come is a 7.5t rental truck that I took through London for an exhibition, my trucker friend took me to an office carpark at the weekend and we practiced parking, reversing, etc. He also taught me about 'markers' to know where the curb is etc.

The A Class is a little different, has a longer 'swing out' bit at the rear and a different driving position. I've seen YouTube videos, mostly about RV's, and they suggest little stickers for the windscreen and mirrors so you know where the edge of the road is, your pivot point, etc.

Any thoughts on all this? What's your top tips for getting started? My first drive will mostly be the A1 back to N. Lincs from Huntington, although happy to take a detour to try some other roads and manoeuvres. Should I add stickers and mark all my key points, or just wing it?

For reversing, I've got a reverse camera, but also invested (£20) in some walkie-talkies - I figure my wife could jump out and direct me using the radio. Either that or I just like gadgets...

 

[Mr B]

A class are wider than you think!!! Especially the mirrors lol
Nice big windscreen to see out of!!
Easy to drive after a few miles..

 

[Guigsy]

I picked up my a-class in May. I'd previously only owned a campervan. They feel odd at first. You feel a long way from the windscreen and sides. But you've got to remember that they are only as wide as a normal motorhome, just the width goes all the way to the front. It took me a while to get road positioning right, but I just kept checking my mirrors and correcting until I got the hang of it. I'm still a bit over cautious at passing parked cars, but I've driven the single track lanes of Cornwall and Norfolk this summer without a nervous breakdown.

 

[Badknee]

when your on the move find the right distance from the kerb by looking in the near side mirror then glance at the screen to see where the kerb is in relation to say a windscreen wiper. That will be a good start.
Good luck and enjoy.

 

[tacr2man]

Use your mirrors lots , especially the one furthest from you (RHD or LHD) , and reference white lines in mirrors this will help your brain build its spacial awareness map

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[TinaLes]

The swing out bit at the rear is the hardest to get used to, even in any van over 7mtrs, realising you cannot just turn the wheel than pull away from the high kerbs when parked between cars is the biggest lesson or frustration. Car drivers dont realise this and can park too close, then you are maybe stuck.
And...Dont ask if your head looks big in this? as yes it does, especially with those prescription sun glass windscreens that Auotoglass fit.
Best wishes, I am sure you will soon get the hang on driving your new van, most do.
LES

 

[dunnah01]

if the mirrors fit the rest will

 

[Speve]

The seating position is exactly the same as a coach built it’s the windscreen that’s moved to the front of the bonnet easy once you have driven a couple of times.

 

[ivorantony]

First thing I would do is measure the exact width/ Height/ Length including mirrors and print them to see through tape and stick them to the front and side windows as a easy way to remember,
Especially on full lock be mindful of the back swing,

 

[DiggerJon]

Especially on full lock be mindful of the back swing,

....something I forgot in San Francisco on the first day of a 5 month tour of the western USA!

Cardboard, plastic sheeting and duct tape as a repair lasted only so long!!

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[Guigsy]

The seating position is exactly the same as a coach built it’s the windscreen that’s moved to the front of the bonnet easy once you have driven a couple of times.

Yep. Going from a Ducato campervan to an a-class was weird. All the dash and controls were familiar... just it felt like they'd taken away the body and put the driver's seat and steering wheel in a large greenhouse. But the reality is that the distance to the end of the front bumper is just the same.

Minor point... the a-pillars are quite a lot further forwards. Be careful at roundabouts. That blind spot can hide quite a bit.

 

[Lenny HB]

They are actually easier to drive, the flat sides make it easier to get through tight spaces and it makes reversing easier & the big screen gives better visibility and no wide sticky out mirrors to clobber.

The driving position is exactly the same as a normal coachbuilt van, same distance from the steering wheel to the front of the van, same distance from the seats to the sides, just that you haven't got narrow sides at the cab giving you false security.

Rear swing out is nothing to do with it being an A Class but relative to the wheelbase and overhang from the rear axle. Our 7.5m van has much less swing out than out previous 7.2m van as it has a much longer wheelbase and shorter overhang.

 

[nicholsong]

Two tips that have not been mentioned already

If you have not already got good full-sized Parabolic mirrors -fit them.

As well as width and length, think of an 'A' Class as a 3-dimensional box when driving on small roads, particularly overgrown lanes where big trucks have not 'trimmed' the trees for you. If in this situation an oncoming vehicle is trying to force you to pull over - STOP! Assess the situation, negotiate a resolution as the other driver may not understand the height of your MH.

Geoff

 

[phil1946]

One thing no one has mentioned is, if it is Left Hand Drive and you are not used to it, be VERY careful at roundabouts. The first thing is that the Right Hand side of the vehicle is further forward than you think when sitting on the Left - it is easy to obstruct the outer ring of the roundabout without realising it. The second thing is just about vision, you are further from oncoming vehicles and MH windows are often not in the best place to see out of when driving. Take it steady and enjoy - if in doubt STOP. Don't forget to smile - we all smile when in our MHs! Don't bother waving until you get used to it.

 

[Nanniemate]

Don't hit anything .
Couldn’t not resist sorry

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[Tony68000]

Some great tips here, thank you all!

When I'm driving in the car now I keep imagining how the MH would be.. would I fit on the road, how to take the corners, etc.

I think my first challenge will be filling it up with diesel. I'll be close to the A1, so hopefully I'll reach a decent service station before hitting empty.

As a couple of you have suggested, if in doubt STOP! Yep, no trouble with that. I helped teach the kids to drive and that's what I told them.

I think the next challenge will be getting it on the driveway. Got a good slope to it, the MH is an auto, and it'll be a squeeze. Due to the door layout, I'm tempted to put it in front first. I might have to work that one out though. Driveway will easily take 6 cars (2 side-by-side), but it'll have 3 cars on it, so we might have to shuffle things while the neighbours watch on! Luckily, 2 neighbours have MHs too, so lots of help if I need it, I hope.

 

[Littlewheels]

Here is the best tip you will get……… taking into consideration your apprehension and that driving down a dual carriageway is unlikely to cause you any hardship the dilemma will come at low speeds in traffic when you will be under pressure so….. here’s the tip….. be selfish! Yes be selfish, only think of yourself don’t rush a manouver take it slow and steady,controlled.
In pretty short time your confidence will be strong and all will come naturally. Enjoy your experience.

 

[Grasmere9]

We recently bought a Niesmann and Bischoff Arto 69gl A class and I must admit that I was a bit apprehensive at first but now I actually love driving it..the visibility is awesome and I just take my time when in any doubt. On Sunday my other half directed me down a lane that I knew was narrow and would be interesting to turn around in....got to the bottom and no parking so had to reverse back along a sandy track with a pond down on my right ....pleased to say I got out in one attempt . I even got a compliment from him indoors!! Enjoy!!!

 

[Emmit]

The seating position is exactly the same as a coach built it’s the windscreen that’s moved to the front of the bonnet easy once you have driven a couple of times.

Not wishing to be argumentative in the least but Mrs. Emmit commented on how, in our Burstner Aviano, there wasn't as much space between the two front seats as in our previous Coachbuilt.
As it happened, we were in the company of another Funster who had a Burstner Coachbuilt.
The space between our seats was noticeably less than in their Coachbuilt.

Now, it could be that the difference in 'gap' is because the coachbuilts I have referred to are on the lightweight chassis whereas our A Class is on a Maxi chassis. However, I have seen other A Classes with a wider gap than in ours.

 

[Guigsy]

I've noticed that lots of roadside hedges have a nice indent at car mirror level, but they bulge inwards towards the road above that. My coach style a-class mirrors have taken a battering in Cornwall and Norfolk.

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[Guigsy]

Not wishing to be argumentative in the least but Mrs. Emmit commented on how, in our Burstner Aviano, there wasn't as much space between the two front seats as in our previous Coachbuilt.
As it happened, we were in the company of another Funster who had a Burstner Coachbuilt.
The space between our seats was noticeably less than in their Coachbuilt.

Now, it could be that the difference in 'gap' is because the coachbuilts I have referred to are on the lightweight chassis whereas our A Class is on a Maxi chassis. However, I have seen other A Classes with a wider gap than in ours.

Seems unlikely. The van base is identical in width. Maybe yours has more plush seats? Bigger armrests?

 

[Jenka]

They are actually easier to drive, the flat sides make it easier to get through tight spaces and it makes reversing easier & the big screen gives better visibility and no wide sticky out mirrors to clobber.

The driving position is exactly the same as a normal coachbuilt van, same distance from the steering wheel to the front of the van, same distance from the seats to the sides, just that you haven't got narrow sides at the cab giving you false security.

Rear swing out is nothing to do with it being an A Class but relative to the wheelbase and overhang from the rear axle. Our 7.5m van has much less swing out than out previous 7.2m van as it has a much longer wheelbase and shorter overhang.

Absolutely on the money !

 

[Emmit]

Seems unlikely. The van base is identical in width. Maybe yours has more plush seats? Bigger armrests?

No doors? (I jest ye not!!!)

 

[Lenny HB]

Now, it could be that the difference in 'gap' is because the coachbuilts I have referred to are on the lightweight chassis whereas our A Class is on a Maxi chassis. However, I have seen other A Classes with a wider gap than in ours.

Our last Hymer the passenger seat was offset towards the outside on the base by a couple of inches made a big difference.
Hymer only did that for a couple of years find the current one a pain with far less gap between the seats. Had it 4 years still not used to it.
Also they tend to fit better seats which are larger.

 

[Scotch mist]

My best advice would be , take control of the road , going into tight roads with oncoming traffic I drive in the middle of the road to slow or stop the oncoming traffic as some drivers will see a small gap & go for it possibility causing an accident , make them realise there is a hazard ahead

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[Jackd]

You’ll develop new neck muscles, bobbing and weaving on final approach to roundabouts. Trust me

 

[AG 2602]

We had a coach built in 2019 7.3m long.
-First journey pulled out of the farm (storage) pulled the corner of the bumper off in a hedge due to over hang!
-Second journey hit an over hanging tree and put a hole in the roof!
-First real trip clashed wing mirror with another MH so that was hanging off!
-Then I managed to wedge it under a tree which removed the light from the top rear corner of the MH

Apart from that it’s been pretty much plain sailing!

We’ve now got an A Class and so far so good!!

Happy Travels

 

[John Barrett]

I fitted parking sensors to the front bumper and side quarters. With a lever switch on the dash it made life in traffic so much easier!

 

[Lucky]

Deleted - I was banging on about markers but you mentioned that in your opening post.

 

[Tony68000]

My best advice would be , take control of the road , going into tight roads with oncoming traffic I drive in the middle of the road to slow or stop the oncoming traffic as some drivers will see a small gap & go for it possibility causing an accident , make them realise there is a hazard ahead

Love this. I do this on a narrow road where I live in the car. If you move to the left too soon, they carry on regardless without giving you room. If you ‘play chicken’, they tend to move across, allowing you to move across without driving on the verge.