HGV lessons near Southampton

[russ the rambler]

hello!

I'm buying a motorhome soon and i want some HGV lessons. I also want to do a separate 'manoeuvring' course with the caravan club.

Does anyone have a recommendation for HGV instructors near Southampton please?

This will be my first motor home and i want to start with a formal lesson - ideally before i pick up the van. I'm guessing I would drive an LGV van, and this is a similar drive to a motorhome?

Ive got C1 on my license so i wont need to pass a test

thanks russ

 

[Oldbob]

Have a word with A1roadcraft at Salisbury, they are located in the cattle market. If he is still there then Aubrey would be the man for the job.

 

[russ the rambler]

cheers bob

 

[Tony and Andree]

Seconded for A1 Roadcraft Very good instructors

 

[Lenny HB]

Forget about the clubs courses they spend most of the time in the classroom & 10 min on the road.

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[TheBig1]

contact Pitters and hire a big iveco van for some practice

Pitter Self Drive - Affordable Van hire in Southampton

Van hire and car hire specialists offering affordable prices on daily rental and long term hire in Southampton, Eastleigh, Winchester, Portsmouth and Hampshire.

www.pitterselfdrive.co.uk

 

[russ the rambler]

Might not bother with the caravan club course then. Will the hgv lesson include their own van? I was thinking 1 lesson before I pick up motorhome and 1 in the new van itself. I should be well on my way by that point

 

[irnbru]

If you are a competent driver I wouldn't bother. After the first few mins you will feel more at ease. Just watch out for the rear overhang when turning and keep well left when passing another large vehicle and you will be fine.

 

[Lenny HB]

A friend had some towing lessons at Hills in Plumpton East Sussex spoke very highly of them. I have been thinking of contacting them as I want to get the boss some coaching driving our van, the A Class frightens her I keep telling her much easier to drive than a standard coachbuilt.

 

[russ the rambler]

If you are a competent driver I wouldn't bother. After the first few mins you will feel more at ease. Just watch out for the rear overhang when turning and keep well left when passing another large vehicle and you will be fine.

I'm sure you are right but I've never driven anything that big and I want to start off with some structured learning.

I'm definitely going to have 1lesson before I pick it up. I bet there will be 1 or 2 useful tips i take away from it.

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[Mr David]

Before I first drove our motorhome, then an eight meter tag Hobby, I had a three and half hour session with an HGV instructor in said Hobby. I had previously occasionally driven large vehicles but only on an airfield. I already had C1 on my licence by grandfather rights. The session with the HGV instructor was worth every penny I paid and would highly recommend doing the same before buying your first larger mh.

 

[tuscancouple]

I'm sure you are right but I've never driven anything that big and I want to start off with some structured learning.

Good plan. We also did the same as mr maz back in '08 when we first purchased the RV. It was 32' long and had a massive rear overhang. We also did a simlar session when we first started to tow a trailer behind the RV. All really useful stuff and well worthwhile. We used a local HGV driving school near Maidstone, bit far for you though.

Mick

 

[Wagoneer]

Suggest you contact Southdowns motorhomes in Portsmouth - I'm sure they'd be able to recommend someone local to you.

 

[russ the rambler]

i did the lesson at A1 on the day before i picked up the van - very useful, thanks for the tip

 

[hdj42]

To be honest, take in out early one Sunday morning and drive from Portsmouth to Poole and back, you will soon get the hang of it.
Then after 4pm on a Sunday afternoon take to supermarket car park and pratice reversing.

Only real thing to remember, dependant on length is your rear overhang, when pulling away from a petrol pump of pitch etc

They are like cars to handle, in fact, I prefer driving these to cars, much more relaxing