Joenew61
Well-known member
We are soon to be first time buyers. After a lot of online research, and a visit to the Hershey show last week, I am pretty sure a large super C is the right rig for us. I am around a year away from retirement (early 60s) and we intend to use it primarily for cross country trips with my wife and I, two dogs, and the occasional guests.
My question is how best to get comfortable with driving a rig that size when the only land vehicles I have ever driven have been cars and SUV's? We have been boaters for 20 years, and when we bought our first boat we also went big, and I just jumped in the deep end, but as other boaters know, as long as you are focused, attentive, and prepared, the only part of the journey where there is any real prior experience or training required is the one minute you spend docking, especially when the winds are blowing and the currents are strong!
But I imagine there is a lot more to understanding how to drive a 40' rig with a tow vehicle attached that can't be learned by watching videos or "practicing in your head". We will likely be buying out of the area and the first trip in the rig we buy will be fairly long.
What have others done to get ready for your first time driving? Are there hands on training classes that would be suitable? I know I don't need a CDL, but i would have no problem investing the time and money in similar classes. I imagine there will be orientation and walkthroughs if we buy new, but I'm not sure how much that will simulate what is needed to get across the country.
Others have told me that driving down the highway is really not that different than driving a car, but it's the beginning and end of the trip, local street driving, turns, and parking that would probably require some technique that I don't have yet.
I'd appreciate any insight from others that have been in this situation.
Thanks!
My question is how best to get comfortable with driving a rig that size when the only land vehicles I have ever driven have been cars and SUV's? We have been boaters for 20 years, and when we bought our first boat we also went big, and I just jumped in the deep end, but as other boaters know, as long as you are focused, attentive, and prepared, the only part of the journey where there is any real prior experience or training required is the one minute you spend docking, especially when the winds are blowing and the currents are strong!
But I imagine there is a lot more to understanding how to drive a 40' rig with a tow vehicle attached that can't be learned by watching videos or "practicing in your head". We will likely be buying out of the area and the first trip in the rig we buy will be fairly long.
What have others done to get ready for your first time driving? Are there hands on training classes that would be suitable? I know I don't need a CDL, but i would have no problem investing the time and money in similar classes. I imagine there will be orientation and walkthroughs if we buy new, but I'm not sure how much that will simulate what is needed to get across the country.
Others have told me that driving down the highway is really not that different than driving a car, but it's the beginning and end of the trip, local street driving, turns, and parking that would probably require some technique that I don't have yet.
I'd appreciate any insight from others that have been in this situation.
Thanks!