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Topic: Eyes on the Road (Read 2031 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #25 –
I always taught the new guys to drive with the rear driver's dual about 10 inches from the lane marker or center stripe. With the rear tire there, I never worry about the right side of the coach even in the worst San Francisco rush hour. If an 60 foot articulated city bus can drive the street, so can a Foretravel. Really hard to get some to stop cutting across right hand turns as this puts the tires off the road on longer turns and can hit traffic signs, lights, fire hydrants making a right turn in a city.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #26 –
I taught hundreds of people to put your head one foot left from where they drove a car in the lane
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #27 –
I tend to have more confidence meeting a class a motorhome on a 2 lane vs all other vehicles.. Seem to me to be the most conscience of drivers.Have no data but have been some miles and spent most of them observing.
Dub McBride 1996 270

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #28 –
Quote from: Dub –
I tend to have more confidence meeting a class a motorhome on a 2 lane vs all other vehicles.. Seem to me to be the most conscience of drivers.Have no data but have been some miles and spent most of them observing.

....9' of pavement (lane) on Mex 1 in Baja some years ago with no shoulder might change your mind about that opinion. Best to carry a spare left mirror, worst maybe a pickup pulling a fifth-wheel.
Doug W.
96 36' U270 CSGI #4946
04 Toyota Tacoma 4x4
PNW

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #29 –
I was sort of referring to USA and class A's
Dub McBride 1996 270

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #30 –
Been hit head on by a pick up truck.. Been ran off the road to keep from a head on by a semi.. Never had a Class A get near me. All with me in a loaded Peterbilt.
Dub McBride 1996 270

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #31 –
Last October we drove Alt. 93 in Nevada up to West Wendover on I-80, between the outside rumble strips and the one down the middle I seriously doubt the was much more than 9ft of clean pavement. Pretty and pretty interesting drive.
88 Grand Villa 36' ORED 3208 (throwaway)Cat.
 Build # 3150
Happiness is the maximum agreement of reality and desire.

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #32 –
You know, there's just not a whole lot more road than there is coach.  This, coupled with the fact that motorhomes in general are not the most accurate driving machines around means total involvement in pilotage is necessary.  Given the inherent reliability of these powerplants, and the fact that anything really serious is going to trigger an audio alarm, hard to see why continually scanning any gauges or readouts is necessary.  Pulling a mountain, yes, as well as descending but these are inherent low speed maneuvers.

After dropping a front wheel off the right when a maniac in a dump truck decided to swing over the double yellow, went off roading hard enough to pop a windshield out of the gasket.  After that experience I went with a safe t plus and now consider it an essential item.  Takes a lot of drama out of this type situation.

Driving these things is fatiguing.  500 mile day in a coach feels like it was run at Daytona in the evening.  My pickup, Toyota, 1000 miles a day is doable and less exhausting.  Eliminate distractions, stack the deck in your favor.
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #33 –
These are not toys and require two hands on the wheel with total attention at all times.
1995 U320
Build #4677
2011 Honda CRV

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #34 –
Half my reasons for being a fanatic on tires and suspension is to lessen my workload while driving.

The Michelin's directional  siping helps them steer straighter. 

My derrière is my limit anymore.  Steering wheel requires little correction even in cross winds and truck traffic
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #35 –
I was surprised to see some say driving the coach is fatiguing.  We've had Suburbans, Escalade, Seville's, several Toronados, a couple of long bed 4 door Duramax pickups and other vehicles that could really eat up the road.  I'd rather drive the coach on a log stretch than any of those as far as a quiet relaxing drive.  We have had 4 Foretravels and I will admit the current one with a tag is the best driving coach I've ever driven.
Rick & Rhonda
2003 U320 4220  Build #6199
Was
91 36' GV 300 Caterpillar, 92 40' U280 300 Cummins, 97 36' U295 300 Cummins, 2002
U320 450 Cummins
(Guess we're hooked)

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Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #36 –
If everything is good you can drive most coaches from the bottom of the steering wheel
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #37 –
Quote from: Johnstons –
We have had 4 Foretravels and I will admit the current one with a tag is the best driving coach I've ever driven.

42 feet and a tag may well make a profound difference.  I've heard several experienced owners say the tag makes a big difference.  And a coach that drives as effortlessly as an Escalade or a Toronado, you've got something special indeed.
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #38 –
My 40' without a tag loads the airbags enough to aid its stability and increase the compression dampening for bumps very nicely.  When walking though the parked coach the coach barely moves.  Lighter coaches moved more at times.  Same thing applies to driving
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #39 –
Not to start a debate or argument, but I must say, we've had our FT for a while and have taken several long trips, (2000 miles plus). Longest day behind the wheel was about 500 miles. While I was a little tired from the drive, I don't feel it was any more fatiguing than a car drive. The FT's to me are a dream to drive with a great ride. Have had a few SOB's and they were tiring to drive.  Love the ride and drive of the FT. Wouldn't trade it for anything.
Mark & Bev
2001 U295 36' Slide
Cummins ISC 8.3 350HP
Build #5802
Jeep Wrangler Toad

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #40 –
Sure is a learning curve to center the MH at all times. I glance at the white line in my right mirror to see if I'm centered. It's a handful on the horrible roads around my area
1996 U295-36, Cummins 300hp, 8.3. Build number 4864. Vin number 1F97D536XTNO54271. Purchased October 31, 2019.

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #41 –
Quote from: dans96u295ft –
Sure is a learning curve to center the MH at all times. I glance at the white line in my right mirror to see if I'm centered. It's a handful on the horrible roads around my area
It takes time in the seat.  A marker on the dash that you can line up with the center stripe is a great aid, along with checks in the right hand mirror, but hours of correct practice are what matter.  We lived in the previous coach for 8 or 9 years and in narrow places on city streets I could drive by a parked truck with just slightly less than 0 clearance between our mirrors.  On our last trip through Atlanta, I was hard pressed to keep track of the right side.

Also vehicles with worm and sector steering, even though it's re-circulating ball worm and sector steering, follow the grooves worn in the road by traffic more than a vehicle with rack and pinion steering.
1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.
 

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #42 –
"Move your head 1 foot to the left in the lane when driving coaches." Told countless new owners to do that. 
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4