Eyes on the Road

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

Eyes on the Road

March 17, 2020, 02:56:54 pm

A good buddy of mine just had a near tragic experience driving his Foretravel. Apparently, while negotiating curves??, he momentarily took his eyes off the road to check his mobil GPS. The right tire went off pavement and you can imagine the rest. Thankfully, all will be ok, eventually. I am CERTAIN, we are all guilty of doing the same thing, now with all the computer screens, camera screens, tire monitor systems gauges..... you ALL know what I mean. It takes a split second to get yourself into " no mans land".
Keep your eyes on the road and be SAFE. PLEASE.

[fixed topic title typo - Michelle]

Re: Eyes in the Road

Reply #1 – March 17, 2020, 03:07:44 pm

Was it just a scare or was there damage?

I remember a few years ago on trip to Nashville and I was in a turn going left changing to a different freeway. The front right tire went a little too far to the right and the whole coach tried to go straight. I was able to gain control back. Friend that was behind me said it looked like coach or the tow car was going sideways for a moment.

Re: Eyes in the Road

Reply #2 – March 17, 2020, 03:24:53 pm

The DW's job is to monitor the GPS and the rear view camera/TV while we are traveling. Also, she does keep an eye on me and the passenger side for traffic.
All this lets me concentrate on the road.

Re: Eyes in the Road

Reply #3 – March 17, 2020, 03:30:56 pm

Quote

I am CERTAIN, we are all guilty of doing the same thing

Hey, right there is an advantage of the old mechanical engines. NO VMS!

I'm a gauge watcher so I missed the VMS when we went to the 8.3, however, my wife was happy to see me actually watching where we were going. I've added more gauges though so I am happy to report that the issue has not been resolved. (glad your pal is OK)
jor

Re: Eyes in the Road

Reply #4 – March 17, 2020, 03:41:46 pm

Hence my appreciation of the Foretravel positioning of our dash gauges at the top edge of the dash to be readable with averted vision.

You old folks probably have shorter attention span

Re: Eyes in the Road

Reply #5 – March 17, 2020, 03:56:35 pm

Quote from: Caflashbob – March 17, 2020, 03:41:46 pm

Hence my appreciation of the Foretravel positioning of our dash gauges at the top edge of the dash to be readable with averted vision.

You old folks probably have shorter attention span

True on the gauges, Bob, you kids in your early 70s crack me up. From my uncle at 98, "old is 10 years older than wherever you are at". Born in 1899, passed in 2003 at 104.

Re: Eyes in the Road

Reply #6 – March 17, 2020, 07:09:18 pm

Quote from: Caflashbob – March 17, 2020, 03:41:46 pm

Hence my appreciation of the Foretravel positioning of our dash gauges at the top edge of the dash to be readable with averted vision.

I have always questioned why the fuel gauge (on a coach which can travel well over a thousand miles between fill-ups) is given the top center position on the panel.

Re: Eyes in the Road

Reply #7 – March 17, 2020, 07:17:12 pm

If the wires are long enough and you are brave you could rearrange the 2" gauges?

Re: Eyes in the Road

Reply #8 – March 17, 2020, 07:21:56 pm

You are right Bob. That was on my "to do" list for several years but when I installed my VMSpc that project was moot. So now I have a big computer screen off to the right to divert my attention.

Re: Eyes in the Road

Reply #9 – March 17, 2020, 07:49:24 pm

My "someday" plan you just reminded me about is get a ramline i pad bracket with an adjustable arm that has a clamping base on it. I think you can tell where I am going on this.

My drivers window day/night shades frame is walnut. Solid.

So clamp the frame with the ram mount then put the iPad in it and run the plug in power wire back across the mounting arm and down the side of the dash and plug an iPad power supply into the inverted outlet next to my seat.

Now set the hp stream 11's to the VPMS screen.

Change the laptops setting to allow the screen to stay in when the lid is closed.

Open the screen forward app on the iPad(sling?)

The HP's screen shows on the iPad.

Close laptop lid.

Image is now in front of you low and in averted vision.

That's one.

If you want to gild the Lilly you could have a second iPad

It's would be my normal down the road screen of weather radar, windy, all stays which I run live with the coach screen centered on a weighted base ram mount on the dash.

A nicer iPad Pro could have enough area to split screen the VPMS AND the all stays.

We also use Apple maps and campground reviews and campsite photos

I also keep a old garmin gps as it shows local speed limits on its screen and I use it to keep a total set of trip figures.

Miles, speed, time idling, total hours.

If I used the garmin to got to place to place and added the next stop versus replace it the entire trips actual route should be reviewable and maybe downloadable?

The three D mode on the Apple maps guidance mode makes my old iPad get warm. It will discharge the internal battery faster than the larger charger will recharge it in that data heavy mode.

One or Two iPads would be safer? Good excuse?

I tested the sling thing once and it worked on VPMS.

I am going to get clamping arms now.

The screen on your right on the dash caught my attention

Re: Eyes in the Road

Reply #10 – March 17, 2020, 10:50:28 pm

Over 10 years ago, we swapped fuel & tranny temp gauges.

We are so used to the 'new' positions, until these postings, forgot we made the swap.

Required remove several nuts, to separate front & back side panels that squeeze gauges between them.

Re: Eyes in the Road

Reply #11 – March 17, 2020, 11:09:12 pm

Quote from: GleamB – March 17, 2020, 02:56:54 pm

now with all the computer screens, camera screens, tire monitor systems gauges..... you ALL know what I mean. It takes a split second to get yourself into " no mans land".
Keep your eyes in the road and be SAFE. PLEASE.

I have often shuddered when seeing some of the "electronic dash acne" folks have posted photos of. We ran a very minimal VMSpc screen after noting the distraction of having too much non-essential info competing for your attention. TPMS was relegated to audio/alarm only when under way - no need to constantly look at it if audible alarms were properly set (same as VMSpc).

Re: Eyes in the Road

Reply #12 – March 17, 2020, 11:23:51 pm

One thing the constant VPMS watching did was to help show the engines hydraulic cooling fans were on too much. Large in RMPG. Then drop. Hmmmm

Re: Eyes in the Road

Reply #13 – March 18, 2020, 09:04:04 am

Quote from: Caflashbob – March 17, 2020, 11:23:51 pm

One thing the constant VPMS watching did was to help show the engines hydraulic cooling fans were on too much.

So you're saying it's more important to watch VMSpc than to keep your eyes on the road?

Wow. Just Wow.

Re: Eyes in the Road

Reply #14 – March 18, 2020, 09:14:19 am

This is no space shuttle we are operating with a need to constantly monitor all systems gauges. Glance at water temp, oil pressure and air pressure and learn to do it quickly. Spend the rest of your time driving the dam thing already.

Re: Eyes in the Road

Reply #15 – March 18, 2020, 09:27:45 am

I did mean " eyes ON the road
Can't seem to correct it
Toad fishtailed, from what I heard. Yes, some damage and brown underwear. He's ok.

Re: Eyes in the Road

Reply #16 – March 18, 2020, 09:46:09 am

Quote from: GleamB – March 18, 2020, 09:27:45 am

I did mean " eyes ON the road
Can't seem to correct it

Fixed it for you.

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #17 – March 18, 2020, 10:50:30 am

Good your friend didn't wreck..Only takes an instant..I'm supposed to know what I'm doing and I have come close.. My culprit is this blasted am fm radio down by my right knee with tiny buttons that is hard to navigate sitting still and with a flash light much less while moving.. I would pay good money for an old fashion radio with a simple knob or 2 on it.. Came with no remote and it's dangerous as heck to try and find a channel on the blasted MENU. I'm guilty as well but plan to do something about it just not sure what yet unless I can find a 70's automobile in a u pull it wrecking yard and buy a radio. So yes I need to drive as well.

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #18 – March 18, 2020, 11:38:35 am

When I installed the VMS I purchased from Roger, it has large green dots for okay, yellow for watch and red for stop! Love these, as it only takes a quick glance to see an issue! We have also found that slowing down works so much better when negotiating the highways and byways of our country. Slow down and smell the roses and enjoy the scenery! Our GPS talks to us, so that works as well. With 4 eyes on the road, you are so much better off for any surprises. Thank you DW!

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #19 – March 18, 2020, 11:55:19 am

The VMSPC display for us is up at eye level, and MUCH safer to look at than the small lower level dash gauges.

Only thing missing up at eye level is the 2 air pressure gauges below eye level

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #20 – March 18, 2020, 01:22:36 pm

Michelle I had my DW monitor the VPMS's RMPG section on smooth sections of a flat Oregon rural two lane road with no traffic and no wind as I thought I had noticed on averted vision an occasional jump from 9.0 to 11 RMPG.

That started a long term diagnostic program to ascertain why this occurred.

I personally delivered almost every out of state coach my store sold and at that time I trained the new owners how to operate and drive their coach.

That included not being distracted from the driving itself.

I am personally close to 2 million miles and 55 years without a single accident.

The Lap top that shows VPMS can be opened almost flat and can sit behind our dash binnacle in a vertical position allowing it to be viewed within the drivers normal view area,

I appreciate your concerns about my driving profile so I do not injure myself or others and I am sorry I did not explain the exact details involved in my short distance monitoring of the VPMS's RMPG on that exact road that day only for a short distance with my DW watching it for me,

I drove and built race cars long ago and safety is the key to everything.

100k miles off road on dirt bikes over 40 years plus ha# resulted in no serious injuries either.

I stopped racing because of the unsafe dust conditions.

One racing organization allowed pre running the course so we made up to 5 complete laps which allowed us the mostly memorize the course so in the actual race when dusty we could count off in our heads the time to the next obstacle.

The other group did not allow this safety issue so I stopped racing in 1973.

I hope this better explains my testing procedure used at that time

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #21 – March 18, 2020, 03:46:12 pm

Quote

Over 10 years ago, we swapped fuel & tranny temp gauges.

I'm likin' this idea. I'm on it!

Quote

My "someday" plan you just reminded me about is get a ramline i pad bracket with an adjustable arm that has a clamping base on it.

I used to use a window suction cup iPad holder. It put the VMS screen in a good spot without interfering with driving vision. I just set up a little network with a cheap laptop and router. Worked great. I really wanted this to be totally wireless but the problem was that the VMS is so active that it drains the iPad battery in a couple of hours so I ended up having to power the iPad. Anyhow, with that exception it was a good setup.

I agree with Michelle that a simple VMS setup with essential data is best.
jor

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #22 – March 18, 2020, 10:54:36 pm

Back when I was learning to fly, Wilbur told me to aviate, navigate, communicate - in that order. In other words, your first job is to fly the plane. Then you can figure out where you are and where you are going. Finally, you can talk on the radio to someone if you still need help.

Along about the same time, a famous comedian had one real eye and one glass eye. He was pulled over for speeding, and was told to keep an eye on the speedometer. He took our the glass eye, placed it on the dash, and asked if that was good enough.

We all have things in our coaches that distract us some while driving. Some of those are rather important (warning lights and buzzers), while others are just irritations (radio). We need to learn to "aviate" (drive the coach), let the navigator worry about where we are and where we are going, and communicate only with the navigator when necessary.

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #23 – March 19, 2020, 09:27:19 am

That's why I like the CarPlay radios so much. Navigation is always easy to see on the screen and with Waze the turns are announced in plenty of time to get into the correct lane. Installing one in a single din dash is difficult I realize.

I put the TST monitor on a suction mount on the drivers window. It will easily work all day without power and I rarely look at it because as Michelle said, the audible alarm is really all we need.

We are fortunate to have a Silverleaf from the factory. On our last coach we used a monitor that sat on the dash. Either way it's nice to have a screen that shows in nice big letters the speed, whether the cruise is set and it's speed, the tach, and with a touch of a button will show selected engine readings with a graph to note any change.

Last week on our trip to Texas on two lane roads my son-in-law was behind us in their coach. I asked him later if my driving was ok. He said I stayed perfectly in the lane the whole time. I think that's because the combination of Apple car play and Silverleaf makes it easy to keep my eyes on the road and learn anything else I need to know with a very brief glance.

Re: Eyes on the Road

Reply #24 – March 19, 2020, 11:35:51 am

A couple post mentioned dropping right wheels off the road. I have noticed when someone else has driven our coach,my wife very little and my sister very little and a friend who drives semi .he drove about 500 miles,with all of them I had to keep saying left,left,left.they all seemed to want to hug the fogline. I think it's due to the wide body and the driver seated to the extreme left.

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