Motorhome Newbie, or a partner that doesn't like driving the Motorhome?

[Jim]

It's easy to forget those first nerve-racking miles in a motorhome much bigger than the car you drive . So I've written an article that might help.

If you are always being driven and are too scared to drive the motorhome, get yourself down to Tesco's and sort it out

DRIVING A MOTORHOME FOR THE FIRST TIME

That first motorhome drive might be a little scary. It's probably the most expensive vehicle you own and you don't want to crash it!

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Do you have any tips for newbie drivers? Please post them in this thread.

 

[Jim]

This is me, is it you too?

 

[sueandjohn]

The Caravan and motorhome club offer lessons . I was going to book in , couldn’t due to I’ll health , but now I wish I had

 

[Realist]

When I had my Motorhome my misses would not drive it full stop, yet again now I have a caravan she will not drive that as well.

So who’s the fool, me.

So the above may be a handy means to an end but practice makes perfect as they say.

 

[chatteris]

my oh wont even drive the car if we are out together. and as she is auto only i have no chance of her driving motorhome, would not mind so much if she was a good navigator, but sadly hopeless at that.

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[busbuddy]

My other half dont mind driving it but dont like maneuvering it onto a pitch or tight spaces even though she used to drive big 7.5t horse boxes

 

[PaddyM]

Each to there own skill set, I love driving and my wife is a superb navigator, works for us .
Wife and I both went on the CMC course and found it v helpful but we have just kinda gravitated to our separate roles .

 

[Pablo19]

My OH doesn't drive anyhere she doesn't know in her own car and would have kittens if I suggested she drives the MH!

 

[Debs]

This is me, is it you too?

View attachment 793158

Absolutely, every time!

Its a real shame to read of other halves not feeling they want to share the driving.

When talking to other women I have noticed how many say that they find it difficult & offputting having their oh commenting on their driving (car or mh) it doesnt do anyones confidence any good.

Food for thought maybe?

 

[rwg]

Do you have any tips for newbie drivers? Please post them in this thread

Get your wing mirrors set up right so you can just see both sides of the van in them. To begin with you will feel much too wide compared to a car and be worried about hitting the curb or straying across the white lines. With the wing mirrors set up right a quick glance in each will reassure you that your road positioning is OK.

Also, you will probably be used to a rear view mirror and you need to start using your wing mirrors more instead.

Cheers,

Robin

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[Louisesjpp]

Your guide doesn't mention anything about using the near-side mirrors to monitor your distance from ther kerb, fence or crash barrier. Essential stuff. Nor about keeping a sharp lookout, not for height restriction, but for signs protruding into the road or building overhangs.

 

[monzer]

I remember my first time driving an A-class, bought 2nd hand and it was time for a 2nd viewing and a test drive. It felt huge with the wide windscreen and of course the first corner I turned had a narrow gap to get by with a car parked away from the kerb, quite intimidating. I bought it and a day or 2 later I was used to it and has felt like 2nd nature ever since.

Our go to place for practicing driving is the local agricultural mart and auction house. Huge open car park that is only busy through the day when there is a sale on. Perfect place to go for getting used to a vehicle.

 

[Dutch 68]

Just spend some money and get some HGV class c driving lessons, it will make it so much easier to drive your motorhome with that experience

 

[whiskyman]

This is the misses frightning herself and everyone else in the vicinity, looks similar to your image

We was young once

 

[JockandRita]

This is me, is it you too?

View attachment 793158

ABSOLUTELY.

Rita made it clear from day one, that she would never tow the caravan, nor drive the MH, so no excuses for me to moan that she doesn't.

I love driving, but it's becoming more of a chore here in the UK, than the pleasure it used to be.

Cheers,

Jock.

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[Sue and Rick]

Each to there own skill set, I love driving and my wife is a superb navigator, works for us .
Wife and I both went on the CMC course and found it v helpful but we have just kinda gravitated to our separate roles .

Navigation courses would be helpful.

My mrs would drive the last moho 7.2m but won’t drive the current one 8m with bikes, because it has no rear window therefore no rear view mirror. I’ve suggested using the camera but NO is the answer

 

[Mohawk Mo]

This is me, is it you too?

View attachment 793158

Thanks Jim great read. I have driven once and I felt like that! It was only my intention to 'give it a try' but an hours drive later we were back at storage and I loved every minute of it. The only advice I can give is have a go and keep doing it, the more practise, the greater your confidence grows.

 

[whiskyman]

ABSOLUTELY.

Rita made it clear from day one, that she would never tow the caravan, nor drive the MH, so no excuses for me to moan that she doesn't.

I love driving, but it's becoming more of a chore here in the UK, than the pleasure it used to be.

Cheers,

Jock.

I knew from day one as well that Lyn would definitely not drive ours. We had a Franki left hooker for a while, she wasn't very impressed with my driving in this country when she was sat in the suicide jockey seat

 

[Rapido925M]

If you are always being driven and are too scared to drive the motorhome, get yourself down to Tesco's and sort it out

Go to our local Tesco at 4:30am and you’ll quickly get a £50 parking ticket! Access is for 10 minutes outside store opening hours.

Sadly the same is true for many other supermarkets BUT it’s not a national policy, so easy to get caught out.

Gordon

 

[Jim]

Go to our local Tesco at 4:30am

Plenty are open at 4:30 am.

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[Rapido925M]

Plenty are open at 4:30 am.

But OURS isn’t!
So your very good advice just needed a little clarification IMO

Gordon

 

[JockandRita]

I knew from day one as well that Lyn would definitely not drive ours. We had a Franki left hooker for a while, she wasn't very impressed with my driving in this country when she was sat in the suicide jockey seat

Yep, been there and done that in both left hooker MHs. She knows the resolution should she not be happy with my driving.

I devilishly get pleasure when an Artic is coming towards us, and Rita (in the suicide seat), leans towards me as if to get out of his way, whilst speaking her mind out loud, "CHRIST"!!! ...............

Jock.

 

[Pablo19]

Absolutely, every time!

Its a real shame to read of other halves not feeling they want to share the driving.

When talking to other women I have noticed how many say that they find it difficult & offputting having their oh commenting on their driving (car or mh) it doesnt do anyones confidence any good.

Food for thought maybe?

Not the case at all for us. I always praise her driving, she is really good but just totally lacks the self confidence to drive anywhere new or anything big! She often says, "thank god you were driving I wouldn't have had a clue what lane I should have been then" in or similar and I always say, "you would if you had been driving!" I would love a break from driving on long journeys but accept it won't happen!

 

[Jim]

But OURS isn’t!
So your very good advice just needed a little clarification IMO

Gordon

The article was aimed at people who I assumed were clever enough not to go practicing their parking at their local tesco express in the high street

 

[Reallyretired]

Swmbo will not drive the motorhome or my car, only her own. She is not on the insurance for the motorhome as that would make repatriation problematical if needed. She is on my car insurance but we never drive that abroad.

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[nicholsong]

Navigation courses would be helpful.

My mrs would drive the last moho 7.2m but won’t drive the current one 8m with bikes, because it has no rear window therefore no rear view mirror. I’ve suggested using the camera but NO is the answer

What about the wing mirrors? That is what I drive on. We have a rear window but no rear-view mirror - would probably be useless as we have a narrow corridor between bathroom and wardrobe.

After driving vans and trucks for years I find it a surprise when I get in the car and find there is a rear-view mirror.

 

[claude et maude]

Great read and I’ve made all the mistakes mentioned….and more worryingly still do!

One thing I found out was that tree branches hide in hedges, my A Class wing mirror glass shattered when it decided to find that branch.

 

[WillH]

I'm in Fort William right now and have seen many hired vans being driven like cars, no consideration for either width or length.

 

[Rapido925M]

The article was aimed at people who I assumed were clever enough not to go practicing their parking at their local tesco express in the high street

Ours is a Tesco Extra with a huge car park and adjacent to a leisure dealership selling motorhomes. As I said, a blanket statement of practice in Tesco at 4:30am is good advice BUT it needs tempering with a warning to beware of restrictions.

From memory, there has been at least one thread complaining about problems with parking charges at Lidl in Sittingborne and I’m sure you wouldn’t want to cause newbies any trouble by giving dodgy advice just because there’s no restrictions in Sutton on Sea.

Two weeks ago I dropped my daughter off at Stansted at 4am and desperately needed somewhere to rest my head. The Tesco at Great Dunmow had a big, virtually empty car park but the store was closed. I didn’t see any ANPR cameras nor any warning notices BUT I check the mail daily, worrying about a PCN. I’m fairly confident that the time limit has been passed so I can breathe more easily.

Sainsbury’s at Warren Heath, Ipswich, has a 30 minute limit if the store is closed: ignore this sort of thing at your cost.

Gordon

 

[Jim]

Ours is a Tesco Extra with a huge car park and adjacent to a leisure dealership selling motorhomes. As I said, a blanket statement of practice in Tesco at 4:30am is good advice BUT it needs tempering with a warning to beware of restrictions.

Sorry, I think you're splitting hairs, I just checked and I didn't even mention Tescos in the article, I just mentioned it as a throwaway line to kick this thread off.

My advice. IMO Supermarket car parks are a great place to practice parking and learn about how long and wide you are. 24hr superstores are great as very early they are open and there is little traffic.

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