As an experienced UPS driver with 23 years behind the “Brown wheel” I’ve gotta say this is truly an informed an educational video “reminder” to seasoned professionals and novices alike. Don’t, don’t don’t take knowledge and experience for granted. And for you rookies out there...seek quality knowledge and information like this.....or you’re sure to get some experience! And you probably WON’T enjoy THAT experience!! Happy trails to all. Take your time and find some peace behind the wheel. Pay attention to what’s all around you and aim high in steering. The only space you have total control of is the space in front of you. Leave plenty of it. Drive “as if” everyone around you just got their license and you’re the only professional on the road!
It is clear you have a gift and what is best... you are a generous and kind teacher. We have all had failed attempts at learning something. You have made life as a newbie so much better. Thank you. Bob
This is seriously one of the best "how-to" videos I have seen on RUclips - very well done!! Thank you for your time and instructions, sir. Liked and subscribed.
You don't even know how much you just made my day, Red! Out of the 200 or so videos we've made, this is by far my favorite and the one I'm most proud of (followed closely by our other driving video about mirror adjustment). Hearing that it's appreciated is always so meaningful. Thanks for taking the time to write. :)
Thanks very much. Since we boondock in some pretty remote spots (look for a video about that coming soon) it isn't always so clean, but we do try to take good care of our rig. We also make an effort to do video shoots after wash day when possible. 😉
Outstanding explanation of off-tracking and results of errant judgement regarding. This type of information should be covered in driver education at a beginner (HS) level.
I really enjoy your videos. I was a school bus driver and a driver trainer for 40 years. The videos really get to the meat of subject. One thing I am not too sure about is the overhang and to manage it. Would appreciate more instruction. Thank you for providing this service.
+Connie Greenidge The rear overhang on school buses is usually VERY long, as it is on many Class A motorhomes. Anyone who can handle a school bus will make a great RV driver. 😊
I think if you will be my teacher for driving then I would really be more encouraged and motivated to learn and wouldn't be so scared to be decisive on it i know you guys would be terrific teachers!
this is THE BEST video I have seen about the pivot point and rear overhang ... great job. I am an RV Driving School Instructor so these are 2 of the most important concepts I teach new RV drivers.
Thank you so much Candace! That sure means a lot coming from a fellow professional instructor. May I ask where you teach? We're obviously very interested in the topic, and always looking for resources for our viewers. Since this video came out, I've received many requests to teach people to drive their motorhomes, but I'm not really interested in getting back into the teaching biz. ;-)
I am a certified teacher with The RV Driving School. We post our locations on the map, I am based out of Nashville for the last couple of years. Students request a class on the website, then we teach them in their own RV. Your video shows so clearly what we are teaching new RVers. You have done a fantastic job with the drone footage and the GoPro cameras to show EXACTLY what an RV driver should see in their mirrors. Many RVers don't even know HOW to set their mirrors properly, and RV sales reps don't know either. Again, AWESOME job on the video!
Thanks so much again for your nice comments, Candace. What a great thing you're doing teaching people on their own rigs. I do still love teaching people to drive. We had friends come along on a 10-day road trips with us a few years ago. Even though they had never been in an RV before, I insisted that they each drive, since they were talking about buying one. On our 800-mile trip, one of them was behind the wheel of our rig for about 400 miles! And they did indeed buy their own diesel pusher after that. ;-) I just don't want to teach for a living any more, after spending 10 year training drivers on MCIs... in Manhattan! Sounds like you've also seen our mirror video ( ruclips.net/video/ldekjpYQ7Qw/видео.html ). I have a couple of other driving videos in mind, but these are SO hard to create that it may be a while. LOL Take care, and thanks again. - Peter
Thanks for an excellent video. As a tractor trailer driver with twenty-six years experience, I can say that the information you present here is right on the money. Your presentation is clear and unambiguous. Keep On Truckin'!
+Randy Bobandy Isn't it amazing that you can drive a 45' motorhome in most states with NO special license or training? But you put a paying passenger on board and it's a whole 'nother ball game! Congrats on your upcoming Class 1, Randy. After driving an RV, you should breeze right through.
I was looking for a simple animation of off-tracking to show a new firefighter about driving a fire engine. Same as an RV, just with more noise & flashing lights. This describes, demonstrates, and explains the concept incredibly well. I will be using this with all my rookies from now on. Thank you.
Thanks so much! Great to hear. I’ve trained literally hundreds of professional motorcoach operators, and the very best students I ever had were always fireman. A firetruck, a long RV or a bus are incredibly similar in wheelbase and turning radius, so if you can drive one, you can drive the others!
Thank you for the insight ......BIG coaches can be a scare at first, but like you said in time anyone that can drive a car, can drive a RV....IN TIME!! Happy RVing!!
Oh my thank you so much,I have only driven our motorhome about 15 times since we got it this past July but I am the driver and love it! So glad to hear you are going to be doing these videos! What I learned that helped me was use all your mirrors,and I knew that I had to pull past something with my hips before turning but I have driven in the mountains already and did ok!
Thanks for all the info! My wife and I are picking up a brand new tiffin 34pa coach this Friday we are soooo excited! It's a 36 foot gas coach.I drove school bus when I was 21 years old now I am 59 hope it all comes back to me! I think the biggest thing is to take my time and think about what I am doing...I love your videos and have watched this video a few times ...thanks again!
Thanks so much Steve, and congratulations on your new RV! I'm excited for you! Since you drove a school bus, you should be in really good shape with a 34' motorhome, as the longer rear overhang and slightly shorter wheelbase on the average mid-size motorhome are likely very similar to what you were used to... just as my experience with MCIs was perfect preparation for our 43-footer's longer wheelbase and shorter rear overhang. I have a bit more more off-tracking to watch out for, and you'll likely have a bit more rear overhang swing to keep an eye on (although both are of course always in play). You have the right idea about taking your time when you get back in the saddle after so long, but I bet it will come back to you like riding a bike! Have a blast, and thanks again for your comment. Hearing that our videos have been helpful means a lot, especially the driving videos, as they are particularly near and dear to me. :)
RVgeeks I just noticed we commented a year ago with a similar comment too lol! We must have really liked the video to comment twice lol! - seriously a life saver - Hope to see you guys on the road someday! - Erik & Kala
I thoroughly enjoyed the "driving Tips" videos; A great resource that's been invaluable. 2 questions: 1) Moving into a left turn, do the right rear wheels off-track past the left front tire the same way as the left rear wheels and the right front tire do during a right turn? The video only depicted right turns. 2) Turning left into a 2 lane street, is the proper procedure to turn left into the far right lane? Suggestion: A driving instructional video on how to drive (park and back-up) an RV while pulling a car (trailer) would be great. Thank you.
Hi Sal! Vehicles off-track identically in both directions (i.e. left & right turns are the same). The reason I focused only on right turns is because they are more challenging than left turns for two reasons. First is because we drive on the right, meaning a right turn starts from a position near the curb, and then ends at a position near the curb. On a left, you're out in the middle of the road, turning into a spot in the middle of the road, so not so close to fixed objects either before or after the turn. Now of course there might be a car sitting at a stopsign or stoplight on your left side as you make a left turn, which leads us to the second reason left turns are easier: because you are sitting on the left side of the vehicle, you have a closer, better look at what's happening down on your left side, making it easier to monitor how close you're getting to a car as you turn left vs how close you're getting to the curb when you turn right (or anything on the curb, like a fire hydrant, phone pole, etc). The answer to your second question is yes, you are correct. Always turn into the far lane when turning left onto a multi-lane road. If you don't, the car following behind you WILL turn into the right lane, coming up on your right side, almost every time! It will also keep you further from any vehicles waiting at the stopsign or stoplight, as mentioned earlier. Hope this helps! And thanks for the great questions and suggestion, and the nice comment. :)
You guys provide a real service to others.......why I love RUclips so much. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.....personally speaking, it is sincerely appreciated.
Great video, and easy lesson. It is simple and succinct, which is exactly what people need to understand the geometry of turning a motorhome, especially larger ones with a long wheelbase and overhang.
@@RVgeeks You're welcome. I just purchased a 2002 National Dolphin 5356 from the original owner in Riverside CA for a great price, and I am picking it up today (5/19/2020). It's in pristine condition and has only 20K miles. When I pick it up and drive away, I'll be thinking of everything in your video! I understand the mirror adjustment is important, and will be extra cautious in my awareness of other vehicles and lane alignment, etc., but those right-turns will be one of those things I'll be really watching for, along with the overhang and tracking.
Thanks for these videos. I'm really anxious about driving one in an urban area. I don't know how bus drivers do it and I used to watch them all the time when I rode city buses.
+winebox Hope you find this helpful. Keeping an eye on those mirrors is key, after adjusting them correctly of course: ruclips.net/video/ldekjpYQ7Qw/видео.html And practice first in an open parking area if you can. 😊
Thank you for this video. Clear and easy to understand. I just bought a 31' Class C RV. I drove a CTA 40' bus in Chicago streets, but that was 40 years ago, so I definitely need to relearn everything.
Thanks so much for the comment! So glad you like the video. It sounds like you have vastly more experience than most RVers, and I’m sure you will take to it like a duck to water. It’s just like riding a bike!
As a truck driver building my skoolie, I still found this useful. The track of my trailer is much different to the off tracking of the bus, which I subconsciously understood, but would have likely consciously ignored for the muscle memory of driving a combination vehicle. Thanks for the refresher.
wow, MORE of these!!! You, sir, know more than how to drive a class A; you know how to make a teaching video demonstrating clearly how it is done. Hope there are lots more to come.
Just the other day I did a two hour lesson about the vehicle's pivot point. This video gives clarity to what I'm endeavoring to master. Thanks for taking the time to explain v clearly.
The best video I've seen about driving an RV and I've driven a 44 ft for 4 years. I'd love to see one on parallel parking. We camp in a 46 ft space that we have to parallel park into. Always a scary adventure.
Planning on buying a RV next spring. The rear overhang tip was one that I never thought of....I'm going to need mirrors and cameras all over mine to feel comfortable driving it.
Fellas One of your best vids ( and you have a lot of great ones ) This video should be seen by anybody driving a RV. If I have ever saw a video that needed to be shared or seen, it was this one!!! Great Job!
That was a really great video! Excellent explanation and view angles that I have not seen when talking about driving large vehicles. I am a bit nervous about taking our bus out on the road when we get it finished, but this really helps. I am DEFINITELY looking forward to more videos about this! Thank you for what you do!
Great drone work! I learned about off tracking and overhang when I was driving super stretch limousines. It really does become second nature. Eventually you don't even think about it.
Excellent video guys! Your visuals and aerial shots demonstrate those key driving concepts (tail swing and pivot point) extremely well. I think every RVer should watch this even if it's just as a refresher. These concepts should NOT be learned the hard way.
Thanks so much, Brian. I guess most of us know RVers who've learned some things the hard way all right. We'll try to continue this series as rapidly as possible and see if we can prevent any more of that.
Excellent, practical & serious instruction. I just moved up from a 26’ MH to 30’. The difference is startling. After 4 years of full-timing I had great “muscle memory” for the 26-footer. Now, I must patiently acquire that new 30-footer memory. AND ADD TO THAT the fact that we have just added a toad - WITH NO BACKING! We must pre-judge our path and anticipate our clearances. PATIENCE & DON’T WORRY ABOUT GOING SLOW WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND US!
I'm excited to get my first RV. I only just began looking at RV's on-line and plan on really taking my time to learn the ins and outs of all brands and types as I move forward. This video was great, even for those who are seasoned commercial drivers. It is never a good time to stop learning as much as one can regarding driving large vehicles. I drove tour buses for five years and then drove semi trucks for four years then returned to tour bus driving for seven years. With my experience, I can confidently drive a large RV however, your video was great as it just reinforces my techniques for driving. Thank you for sharing. Excellent.
You did great work here. I used to drive an FL 70 30' Box truck for Navy Medicine. I learned off tracking the hard way. Took me two sets of steps that were very low and on the right hand side, but I learned my lesson well. in 18 months I only destroyed 2 sets of stairs. My counterparts in the mobile Dental vans...destroyed a set of stairs every month. Seeing the measurement of just how far the tires were spread out was pretty interesting.
Guys, this is awesome. I just purchased a 42 foot with a tag and only did the test drive. Did manage go drive some corners but had plenty of room so it was no challenge. It was delivered to the storage lot and it will be in Dec before I can actually will have the time to practice. Your video's on driving are perfect timing for me... Again thank you so very much...
+J Doe Congratulations J! Our next video will be about setting and using your mirrors correctly, but we're so busy with work, it might be a bit. Until then, take your time and always remember to check BOTH mirrors (flat AND convex) on the side you're turning toward. Cardinal rule: "Wheel turns right, head turns right."
Awesome video. Thanks. One thing that surprised me was the rear shot of the toad, and its amount of off-tracking. It almost hit the curb on the first corner. Eye opening...
Great video. The aerial shots were a big plus. I was a full time RVer for over 2 years before I drove big rigs. My RV experience really helped me get my CDL (except for backing-I was awful at first) On the road I saw more collisions from right turns than from left. Also, drivers would forget that rear trailer swing pulling out of a truck stop parking space & sideswipe a $100,000 Peterbilt. Eek-I hate when that happens!
Today I was able to clearly read the back licence plate of the bus i was driving thru the left mirror (unfortunately attached to the back bumper too). When that happens you know you've screwed it up REAL BAD. I wish i had saw this video before, thank you very much! everything very well explained!!!
This is such a clear video. Thank you. I am a visual learner. Your diagrams and explanations are clear. As I prepare to start full timing and buying my first RV, I will follow your videos! Thanks
Excellent video (just like the rest of them). As a beginner this helped me out, I never thought of the rear overhang when pulling away from curbs and such! So much stuff to learn lol My motorhome is 31ft long.
Yes absolutely agree.. that's a great idea..even 6 year's on..😁 Here in Australia 🇦🇺 we have car and motorcycle trailers...I WISH we had the same as you do to tow a car behind the vehicle.
Certainly a professionally shot, edited and scripted video. Wonderfully clear and easy to follow, an instructional video does is not presented any better than this one. Thank you, Geeks. Very, very much.
Well done video. Some things most new RVers don't know, and your explanation is excellent. My wife swears that she will nevery drive our (new to us) coach, but just in case, I'll have her watch your stuff. Thanks for posting!
Thanks so much! Hope this can get your wife to at least consider trying a turn behind the wheel. I'd have her start off in a large parking lot, like a mall, when there's not too many people around during a weekday. ;-)
Great educational video as usual! We just purchased our first motorhome a 2016 Coachmen Leprechaun 33 foot RV and I am getting used to driving it conscientiously and safely and this video helps explain the physics of turning a larger vehicle. Perfect for newbies like me! Thanks for sharing. Mark
+Mark Shadwell Thanks Mark! And congratulations on your first RV! Rigs in your general length so often have HUGE rear overhangs in relation to their overall length, so this is definitely a good first video for that. Hope you have a blast with it. :)
+NWHomesteader We've been itching to get our drone involved in showing something more clearly than ever. So great to hear that we seem to have succeeded. Thanks so much!
UK based and soon to take delivery of our first motor home. This is gonna help me take into consideration how the vehicle reacts whan steering. Thank you.
+Mainuh Thanks so much Don. Congratulations on your upcoming retirement and best of luck on the deal on the '08 Mountain Aire! And thank you so much for using our tip jar. :) We're working on lots more videos, and the generous support we receive is allowing us to spend more time away from "work" and more time shooting and editing. We have an upcoming video all about mirror adjustment and lane control that we hope you'll find valuable too. Safe travels and be sure to let us know how you make out with your purchase.
As an old 18 wheeler driver, this is good to know. When I work for the State of Texas, we used trucks that did not 'bend in the middle'. You would be surprised at the difference it made in driving!!
The big thing, is don't get rattled! I once had to get out of my 18 wheeler, and walk back to a car that was honking his horn to get me to move, and 'splain' to him that I could not move until the folks blocking my way moved! I offered to sit in his car and honk the horn if he thought he could do a better job of driving my Peterbilt! He declined. ;)
Great video and knowledge of content. We need more help and some suggested guidelines to follow when making those turns. Interstate driving would make a great video too. When to move into the left lane at exit ramps and the challenge of following those signs through major cities. Most of us just avoid Atlanta out of fear and that can be solved with a few good driving tips. Build on your success.
+Paul Cummings Thanks so much Paul! The timing of your comment is perfect. I am literally sitting here editing a new driving video for release on our website next week. While not the exact topic you mentioned, it's all about mirror adjustment and lane control, so will have some relevance to highway driving. Thanks for the suggestion. We'll have more driving videos in the future, but they're some of the most difficult and time consuming to create, so we appreciate your patience! If you haven't already done so, subscribing to our website will get you the first look at any new videos, since we release everything there first. thervgeeks.com/subscribe/ The new video is planned for a week from today on our website, followed later by a public RUclips release.
A towed car will generally follow virtually the same path as the rear wheels of the RV. In both of our motorhomes, if the rear duals cleared the corner, so do the wheels on the toad, give or take just an inch or two. So there's no special consideration required for off-tracking when towing. And rear overhang on the toad is so tiny as to not be a factor, especially given that the steering wheels on the toad will never turn anywhere near all the way to completely locked over to the far left or right, because the turning circle of the motorhome is so much larger than the car's. As far as towing a trailer or fifth wheel, those are completely different animals, although the general concepts that apply to off-tracking and rear overhang swing are the same. It's backing that is totally different with a towable RV. We haven't had a chance to do a backing video yet, but hope to get one together at some point.
Hi Marsha! Thank you so much for your awesome comment! We're so proud of our driving videos (have you seen our other one? ruclips.net/video/ldekjpYQ7Qw/видео.html ) but they are SO time and labor intensive to create that we haven't been able to make time for a third one yet. But we do have a rough draft sketched out of what it would include, and we're hoping to be able to make that happen at some point soon. Thanks again for making our day. Stay tuned, and safe travels! :)
Well done as always. Would you consider creating a video on driving with a toad, how it impacts the RV steering considerations, and other useful safety tips? Given the size of your rig do you sometimes forget it is there? Always learning and always appreciative...
If I turned off the backup camera and could drive with the mirrors covered, I would have ZERO idea of whether the car was back there or not. LOL We have it on our list to do a video or two about towing the car. We'll try to get to that. Thanks Anthony.
Thanks guys...as usual very informative. I am very cautious to avoid hitting curbs via off- tracking and overhang collisions. I have tried to find some steps by which I can develop the muscle memory you describe. We have a 40 foot tag axle and someone said I should start a right hand turn when the passenger seat is parallel to the curb, I have used this technique but still come pretty close to curbs etc. I read with interest your response to Klaas Snader and have tried to visualize the process you describe. Perhaps you could demonstrate that technique in a follow up to this video. Thanks again Ron
+Ronald Kuznicki Hi Ronald! We'd love to do a tutorial on this topic, but the problem we mentioned to Klaas is a tricky one: every RV is different. Whatever we teach for an RV of a certain length, wheelbase and wheel cut won't necessarily apply to other RV owners. Maybe at some point we can try to do a video about the process of practicing that we described to Klaas that would basically teach how to safely learn ANY rig (large empty lot, traffic cones, repeated trials of how far to pull forward, getting out to check at the apex of the turn, etc). Hmmmm.... okay, I just talked myself into adding that topic to our "To Do" video list. LOL Thanks. :)
I"m a tour guide bus driver and clearing the back wheels is very important, you'll scrape the corner sidewalk and bend the hub caps if you don't wait for the back wheels to pass the corner sufficiently
Thank you! This was very well explained. It sure helps seeing it in action. The above view was perfect! You guys never disappoint when it comes to educating. Thank you so much.
As an experienced UPS driver with 23 years behind the “Brown wheel” I’ve gotta say this is truly an informed an educational video “reminder” to seasoned professionals and novices alike. Don’t, don’t don’t take knowledge and experience for granted. And for you rookies out there...seek quality knowledge and information like this.....or you’re sure to get some experience! And you probably WON’T enjoy THAT experience!! Happy trails to all. Take your time and find some peace behind the wheel. Pay attention to what’s all around you and aim high in steering. The only space you have total control of is the space in front of you. Leave plenty of it. Drive “as if” everyone around you just got their license and you’re the only professional on the road!
It's always great tO hear from fellow professional drivers. Thank you so much for your comments, Forrest. You sure made my day! 😊
Sir, you are an exceptional teacher!!! Your courses have sharpened my skills. Thank you.
Thanks so much, Robert! Great to hear. :)
You guys make my RV life so much better ! Thanks for sharing !!2013 Coachmen Mirada
Jan 2023 - still one of the best reminder videos ever. Thank you! 👍
Thank you so much, William! That’s so great to hear, as I personally feel this is the best video I’ve ever put on RUclips. So you just made my day. 😄
It is clear you have a gift and what is best... you are a generous and kind teacher. We have all had failed attempts at learning something. You have made life as a newbie so much better. Thank you. Bob
He was also a charter bus driver to
This is seriously one of the best "how-to" videos I have seen on RUclips - very well done!! Thank you for your time and instructions, sir. Liked and subscribed.
You don't even know how much you just made my day, Red! Out of the 200 or so videos we've made, this is by far my favorite and the one I'm most proud of (followed closely by our other driving video about mirror adjustment). Hearing that it's appreciated is always so meaningful. Thanks for taking the time to write. :)
Michael C nerger pensacola fl
Really great video. Came here looking to learn how to drive a coach.
Thanks so much! Great to hear. 😊
Thank you for providing a common sense application of how to drive a large vehicle. By the way, your motorhome always looks immaculate.
Thanks very much. Since we boondock in some pretty remote spots (look for a video about that coming soon) it isn't always so clean, but we do try to take good care of our rig. We also make an effort to do video shoots after wash day when possible. 😉
Outstanding explanation of off-tracking and results of errant judgement regarding. This type of information should be covered in driver education at a beginner (HS) level.
I really enjoy your videos. I was a school bus driver and a driver trainer for 40 years. The videos really get to the meat of subject. One thing I am not too sure about is the overhang and to manage it. Would appreciate more instruction. Thank you for providing this service.
+Connie Greenidge The rear overhang on school buses is usually VERY long, as it is on many Class A motorhomes. Anyone who can handle a school bus will make a great RV driver. 😊
One of the BEST RV related youtube videos ever made!!
I think if you will be my teacher for driving
then I would really be more encouraged and motivated to learn
and wouldn't be so scared to be decisive on it
i know you guys would be terrific teachers!
this is THE BEST video I have seen about the pivot point and rear overhang ... great job. I am an RV Driving School Instructor so these are 2 of the most important concepts I teach new RV drivers.
Thank you so much Candace! That sure means a lot coming from a fellow professional instructor. May I ask where you teach? We're obviously very interested in the topic, and always looking for resources for our viewers. Since this video came out, I've received many requests to teach people to drive their motorhomes, but I'm not really interested in getting back into the teaching biz. ;-)
I am a certified teacher with The RV Driving School. We post our locations on the map, I am based out of Nashville for the last couple of years. Students request a class on the website, then we teach them in their own RV. Your video shows so clearly what we are teaching new RVers. You have done a fantastic job with the drone footage and the GoPro cameras to show EXACTLY what an RV driver should see in their mirrors. Many RVers don't even know HOW to set their mirrors properly, and RV sales reps don't know either. Again, AWESOME job on the video!
Thanks so much again for your nice comments, Candace. What a great thing you're doing teaching people on their own rigs. I do still love teaching people to drive. We had friends come along on a 10-day road trips with us a few years ago. Even though they had never been in an RV before, I insisted that they each drive, since they were talking about buying one. On our 800-mile trip, one of them was behind the wheel of our rig for about 400 miles! And they did indeed buy their own diesel pusher after that. ;-) I just don't want to teach for a living any more, after spending 10 year training drivers on MCIs... in Manhattan!
Sounds like you've also seen our mirror video ( ruclips.net/video/ldekjpYQ7Qw/видео.html ). I have a couple of other driving videos in mind, but these are SO hard to create that it may be a while. LOL Take care, and thanks again. - Peter
Thanks for an excellent video.
As a tractor trailer driver with twenty-six years experience, I can say that the information you present here is right on the money.
Your presentation is clear and unambiguous.
Keep On Truckin'!
Thanks so much Allen! So great to hear a comment like that from a pro. 😀
Very informative video, well done & explained. I don't have a coach, but if I ever drive one I'll remember these tips...
First timer, or old hand should watch these great driving videos. Thanks for sharing.
Im finally getting my class 1 after all these years without driving rigs without it. Should be a piece of cake
+Randy Bobandy Isn't it amazing that you can drive a 45' motorhome in most states with NO special license or training? But you put a paying passenger on board and it's a whole 'nother ball game! Congrats on your upcoming Class 1, Randy. After driving an RV, you should breeze right through.
+RVgeeks I live in Alberta but yeah it should be pretty good
I was looking for a simple animation of off-tracking to show a new firefighter about driving a fire engine. Same as an RV, just with more noise & flashing lights. This describes, demonstrates, and explains the concept incredibly well. I will be using this with all my rookies from now on. Thank you.
Thanks so much! Great to hear. I’ve trained literally hundreds of professional motorcoach operators, and the very best students I ever had were always fireman. A firetruck, a long RV or a bus are incredibly similar in wheelbase and turning radius, so if you can drive one, you can drive the others!
Very good information for newbies and potential RVers.
Thank you for the insight ......BIG coaches can be a scare at first, but like you said in time anyone that can drive a car, can drive a RV....IN TIME!! Happy RVing!!
Donald Carey RVs are more like buses.
Oh my thank you so much,I have only driven our motorhome about 15 times since we got it this past July but I am the driver and love it! So glad to hear you are going to be doing these videos! What I learned that helped me was use all your mirrors,and I knew that I had to pull past something with my hips before turning but I have driven in the mountains already and did ok!
+Janet Clement You go Janet! The next video we're planning in this series is all about setting and using mirrors.
+RVgeeks thank you I will be waiting for that to come our way your knowledge is so impressive guys!
Thanks for all the info! My wife and I are picking up a brand new tiffin 34pa coach this Friday we are soooo excited! It's a 36 foot gas coach.I drove school bus when I was 21 years old now I am 59 hope it all comes back to me! I think the biggest thing is to take my time and think about what I am doing...I love your videos and have watched this video a few times ...thanks again!
Thanks so much Steve, and congratulations on your new RV! I'm excited for you! Since you drove a school bus, you should be in really good shape with a 34' motorhome, as the longer rear overhang and slightly shorter wheelbase on the average mid-size motorhome are likely very similar to what you were used to... just as my experience with MCIs was perfect preparation for our 43-footer's longer wheelbase and shorter rear overhang. I have a bit more more off-tracking to watch out for, and you'll likely have a bit more rear overhang swing to keep an eye on (although both are of course always in play).
You have the right idea about taking your time when you get back in the saddle after so long, but I bet it will come back to you like riding a bike! Have a blast, and thanks again for your comment. Hearing that our videos have been helpful means a lot, especially the driving videos, as they are particularly near and dear to me. :)
+Steve Wicker Sorry... meant "36 footer" not 34. Why they can't make the model numbers match the length is beyond me! LOL
excellent video once again..every first timer should watch.....
Well said...Could not agree more!
I watched this before taking my first A Class RV trip. It helped me drive with confidence. Thanks.
That's great to hear! Thanks for taking the time to let us know we've been helpful 😊
Me right now
This video probably saves us thousands of dollars in repairs in our first year on the road. Thanks guys!
Thank you so much for your awesome comment! You just made my day! 😊
RVgeeks I just noticed we commented a year ago with a similar comment too lol! We must have really liked the video to comment twice lol! - seriously a life saver - Hope to see you guys on the road someday! - Erik & Kala
Thanx I'm actually working on my cdl and we're talking abt tail swing and your drone shot made more sense that a day in class thanx again
I thoroughly enjoyed the "driving Tips" videos; A great resource that's been invaluable.
2 questions:
1) Moving into a left turn, do the right rear wheels off-track past the left front tire the same way as the left rear wheels and the right front tire do during a right turn? The video only depicted right turns.
2) Turning left into a 2 lane street, is the proper procedure to turn left into the far right lane?
Suggestion: A driving instructional video on how to drive (park and back-up) an RV while pulling a car (trailer) would be great.
Thank you.
Hi Sal! Vehicles off-track identically in both directions (i.e. left & right turns are the same). The reason I focused only on right turns is because they are more challenging than left turns for two reasons. First is because we drive on the right, meaning a right turn starts from a position near the curb, and then ends at a position near the curb. On a left, you're out in the middle of the road, turning into a spot in the middle of the road, so not so close to fixed objects either before or after the turn.
Now of course there might be a car sitting at a stopsign or stoplight on your left side as you make a left turn, which leads us to the second reason left turns are easier: because you are sitting on the left side of the vehicle, you have a closer, better look at what's happening down on your left side, making it easier to monitor how close you're getting to a car as you turn left vs how close you're getting to the curb when you turn right (or anything on the curb, like a fire hydrant, phone pole, etc).
The answer to your second question is yes, you are correct. Always turn into the far lane when turning left onto a multi-lane road. If you don't, the car following behind you WILL turn into the right lane, coming up on your right side, almost every time! It will also keep you further from any vehicles waiting at the stopsign or stoplight, as mentioned earlier.
Hope this helps! And thanks for the great questions and suggestion, and the nice comment. :)
You guys provide a real service to others.......why I love RUclips so much. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.....personally speaking, it is sincerely appreciated.
Thank so much for the nice comment. Means a lot, especially on this particular video, which is our personal favorite. :)
Great video, and easy lesson. It is simple and succinct, which is exactly what people need to understand the geometry of turning a motorhome, especially larger ones with a long wheelbase and overhang.
Thanks so much, Greg!
@@RVgeeks You're welcome. I just purchased a 2002 National Dolphin 5356 from the original owner in Riverside CA for a great price, and I am picking it up today (5/19/2020). It's in pristine condition and has only 20K miles. When I pick it up and drive away, I'll be thinking of everything in your video!
I understand the mirror adjustment is important, and will be extra cautious in my awareness of other vehicles and lane alignment, etc., but those right-turns will be one of those things I'll be really watching for, along with the overhang and tracking.
Congratulations Greg! Sounds like a real sweet rig. Speaking of mirrors, just in case you haven’t seen it: ruclips.net/video/ldekjpYQ7Qw/видео.html
Thanks for these videos. I'm really anxious about driving one in an urban area. I don't know how bus drivers do it and I used to watch them all the time when I rode city buses.
+winebox Hope you find this helpful. Keeping an eye on those mirrors is key, after adjusting them correctly of course:
ruclips.net/video/ldekjpYQ7Qw/видео.html
And practice first in an open parking area if you can. 😊
Thank you for this video. Clear and easy to understand. I just bought a 31' Class C RV. I drove a CTA 40' bus in Chicago streets, but that was 40 years ago, so I definitely need to relearn everything.
Thanks so much for the comment! So glad you like the video. It sounds like you have vastly more experience than most RVers, and I’m sure you will take to it like a duck to water. It’s just like riding a bike!
As a truck driver building my skoolie, I still found this useful. The track of my trailer is much different to the off tracking of the bus, which I subconsciously understood, but would have likely consciously ignored for the muscle memory of driving a combination vehicle. Thanks for the refresher.
wow, MORE of these!!!
You, sir, know more than how to drive a class A; you
know how to make a teaching video demonstrating clearly how
it is done. Hope there are lots more to come.
Just the other day I did a two hour lesson about the vehicle's pivot point. This video gives clarity to what I'm endeavoring to master. Thanks for taking the time to explain v clearly.
With over 3 million miles under my belt I just found your channel and subscribed. There is always something to learn!
The best video I've seen about driving an RV and I've driven a 44 ft for 4 years. I'd love to see one on parallel parking. We camp in a 46 ft space that we have to parallel park into. Always a scary adventure.
This video was great for learning to handle my Skoolie and very helpful for referring back to for training my brother to drive my bus
That’s awesome, Thomas! So happy to hear.
Planning on buying a RV next spring. The rear overhang tip was one that I never thought of....I'm going to need mirrors and cameras all over mine to feel comfortable driving it.
Fellas One of your best vids ( and you have a lot of great ones ) This video should be seen by anybody driving a RV. If I have ever saw a video that needed to be shared or seen, it was this one!!! Great Job!
+RV Adventure Thanks so much! :) We've got more RV driving videos in the works too.
That was a really great video! Excellent explanation and view angles that I have not seen when talking about driving large vehicles. I am a bit nervous about taking our bus out on the road when we get it finished, but this really helps. I am DEFINITELY looking forward to more videos about this! Thank you for what you do!
Great drone work! I learned about off tracking and overhang when I was driving super stretch limousines. It really does become second nature. Eventually you don't even think about it.
+Ryan Losinger Thanks Ryan! That was fun footage to shoot.
Good to know!
This guy not only makes sense but he's educational but he makes sense it's like hard to fight his logic it just makes sense
Mr. Geek thank u very much for info. U are good at explaining how to do any activity in u RV . One teacher to another .
Thank you so much for the kind words, Dana! You just made my day. 😊
I am so glad mine is under 30 ft. HOLY COW. This was super informative and not full of fluff. Thank you.
Excellent video guys! Your visuals and aerial shots demonstrate those key driving concepts (tail swing and pivot point) extremely well. I think every RVer should watch this even if it's just as a refresher. These concepts should NOT be learned the hard way.
Thanks so much, Brian. I guess most of us know RVers who've learned some things the hard way all right. We'll try to continue this series as rapidly as possible and see if we can prevent any more of that.
+RVgeeks Sounds like a very informative series in the making!
Excellent, practical & serious instruction. I just moved up from a 26’ MH to 30’. The difference is startling. After 4 years of full-timing I had great “muscle memory” for the 26-footer. Now, I must patiently acquire that new 30-footer memory. AND ADD TO THAT the fact that we have just added a toad - WITH NO BACKING! We must pre-judge our path and anticipate our clearances. PATIENCE & DON’T WORRY ABOUT GOING SLOW WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND US!
Congrats on the new RV, Carl! And thanks for the nice comment.
Best explanation and demonstration of these topics ever!
I'm excited to get my first RV. I only just began looking at RV's on-line and plan on really taking my time to learn the ins and outs of all brands and types as I move forward. This video was great, even for those who are seasoned commercial drivers. It is never a good time to stop learning as much as one can regarding driving large vehicles. I drove tour buses for five years and then drove semi trucks for four years then returned to tour bus driving for seven years. With my experience, I can confidently drive a large RV however, your video was great as it just reinforces my techniques for driving. Thank you for sharing. Excellent.
+The Wandering Fedora Thanks so much! Means a lot coming from a fellow professional driver. 😊
You did great work here. I used to drive an FL 70 30' Box truck for Navy Medicine. I learned off tracking the hard way. Took me two sets of steps that were very low and on the right hand side, but I learned my lesson well. in 18 months I only destroyed 2 sets of stairs. My counterparts in the mobile Dental vans...destroyed a set of stairs every month. Seeing the measurement of just how far the tires were spread out was pretty interesting.
Guys, this is awesome. I just purchased a 42 foot with a tag and only did the test drive. Did manage go drive some corners but had plenty of room so it was no challenge. It was delivered to the storage lot and it will be in Dec before I can actually will have the time to practice. Your video's on driving are perfect timing for me... Again thank you so very much...
+J Doe Congratulations J! Our next video will be about setting and using your mirrors correctly, but we're so busy with work, it might be a bit. Until then, take your time and always remember to check BOTH mirrors (flat AND convex) on the side you're turning toward. Cardinal rule: "Wheel turns right, head turns right."
Awesome video. Thanks. One thing that surprised me was the rear shot of the toad, and its amount of off-tracking. It almost hit the curb on the first corner. Eye opening...
Thanks Jack!
Wow that a great instructional video for new people to rvs. I will be bypassing this along to my customers when they ask about driving info.
Thanks so much! 😊
Great explanation. Seeing what happens helped me to really understand how my RV makes a turn.
Great video. The aerial shots were a big plus. I was a full time RVer for over 2 years before I drove big rigs. My RV experience really helped me get my CDL (except for backing-I was awful at first) On the road I saw more collisions from right turns than from left. Also, drivers would forget that rear trailer swing pulling out of a truck stop parking space & sideswipe a $100,000 Peterbilt. Eek-I hate when that happens!
+Bryant Ford The right side is the weak side for sure, so lots of collisions there.
In trucking we call it the "blind side." I was glad when they came out with motorized mirrors.
Today I was able to clearly read the back licence plate of the bus i was driving thru the left mirror (unfortunately attached to the back bumper too). When that happens you know you've screwed it up REAL BAD. I wish i had saw this video before, thank you very much! everything very well explained!!!
Sorry to hear! ☹️
This is so clear and easy to understand, really well done.
I'm a new RV owner, and appreciate your videos very much. Thank you!
Congrats on your new RV, Michael, and thanks for the nice comment. It's always nice to hear we've been helpful. :)
"Driving an RV isn't that much more difficult than driving a car, it's just different." Good one, thank you.
I tried to tell that to my husband.... he wasn't falling for it.
@@bevwest4543 lol stubborn men
Fantastic video ! Hopefully getting cdl B tomorrow was looking for a video that clearly explained these maneuvers 😎 thank you very much !
This is such a clear video. Thank you. I am a visual learner. Your diagrams and explanations are clear. As I prepare to start full timing and buying my first RV, I will follow your videos! Thanks
Thanks so much!☺️
Excellent vid! Going to be driving an RV for the first time. Consuming as many videos like this as I can. Very informative and explained well.
Excellent video (just like the rest of them). As a beginner this helped me out, I never thought of the rear overhang when pulling away from curbs and such! So much stuff to learn lol My motorhome is 31ft long.
Thanks guys, great video. I really hope you're going to do a video about driving with a tow car.
Yes absolutely agree.. that's a great idea..even 6 year's on..😁
Here in Australia 🇦🇺 we have car and motorcycle trailers...I WISH we had the same as you do to tow a car behind the vehicle.
Great informative video.This should be mandatory for class A motorhomes
Thanks Debbie! 😊
This was filmed beautifully
Thanks so much, Desiree! 😊
Certainly a professionally shot, edited and scripted video. Wonderfully clear and easy to follow, an instructional video does is not presented any better than this one. Thank you, Geeks. Very, very much.
Thanks so much for the kind words, Robert!!
We don’t even have a rig yet but this is an amazing - easy to understand - video on driving RVs.
This is stunningly clear. You have done a fantastic job
Thanks so much JT! 😄
Well done video. Some things most new RVers don't know, and your explanation is excellent. My wife swears that she will nevery drive our (new to us) coach, but just in case, I'll have her watch your stuff. Thanks for posting!
Thanks so much! Hope this can get your wife to at least consider trying a turn behind the wheel. I'd have her start off in a large parking lot, like a mall, when there's not too many people around during a weekday. ;-)
I loved this within the first 10 seconds and instantly subscribed. Thank you.
Thanks Austin! Welcome aboard! 😄
Great video guys!
Great educational video as usual! We just purchased our first motorhome a 2016 Coachmen Leprechaun 33 foot RV and I am getting used to driving it conscientiously and safely and this video helps explain the physics of turning a larger vehicle. Perfect for newbies like me! Thanks for sharing.
Mark
+Mark Shadwell Thanks Mark! And congratulations on your first RV! Rigs in your general length so often have HUGE rear overhangs in relation to their overall length, so this is definitely a good first video for that. Hope you have a blast with it. :)
Thank you, I've always wondered about this... You guys really know how to explain things concisely and clearly!
+NWHomesteader We've been itching to get our drone involved in showing something more clearly than ever. So great to hear that we seem to have succeeded. Thanks so much!
Thank you for this! Helps. Getting a 31 foot class c thor outlaw next month, so nice to prepare.
Thank you for making the video! It's very informative and presents the observer with an idea of what to expect when driving.
Thanks so much for the nice words, Shawn! This is my personal favorite video we've ever made, so your comment means a lot. :)
I would love to see videos like this for pulling a travel trailer. Thanks!
+Judith Neeley Hi Judith! We don't have access to, or recent experience with, a trailer, but we'll keep it in mind if the opportunity ever arises. 😊
Thank you!
UK based and soon to take delivery of our first motor home. This is gonna help me take into consideration how the vehicle reacts whan steering. Thank you.
Another great video Peter & John. Very well done and super informative. Thanks!
+Mainuh Thanks so much Don. Congratulations on your upcoming retirement and best of luck on the deal on the '08 Mountain Aire! And thank you so much for using our tip jar. :) We're working on lots more videos, and the generous support we receive is allowing us to spend more time away from "work" and more time shooting and editing. We have an upcoming video all about mirror adjustment and lane control that we hope you'll find valuable too. Safe travels and be sure to let us know how you make out with your purchase.
Wow. Thank you. I’ve always wondered about off tracking in a car. Now I get it!
Excellent video. Thanks for sharing.
After 12 yrs with Class C LazyDaze, just acquired Tradewind36 - much longer & heavier! This video is super clear and helpful, as we're on 2nd journey.
Your videos and expertise is greatly appreciated. I look forward to more of your videos. Thank you!!!
Thanks so much Shawn! ☺️
You guys are the very good at this. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Thanks so much, Jack! Glad you found this helpful!
Wow, so professional. I am confident in renting an RV now.
As an old 18 wheeler driver, this is good to know. When I work for the State of Texas, we used trucks that did not 'bend in the middle'. You would be surprised at the difference it made in driving!!
The big thing, is don't get rattled! I once had to get out of my 18 wheeler, and walk back to a car that was honking his horn to get me to move, and 'splain' to him that I could not move until the folks blocking my way moved! I offered to sit in his car and honk the horn if he thought he could do a better job of driving my Peterbilt! He declined. ;)
Great video and knowledge of content. We need more help and some suggested guidelines to follow when making those turns. Interstate driving would make a great video too. When to move into the left lane at exit ramps and the challenge of following those signs through major cities. Most of us just avoid Atlanta out of fear and that can be solved with a few good driving tips. Build on your success.
+Paul Cummings Thanks so much Paul! The timing of your comment is perfect. I am literally sitting here editing a new driving video for release on our website next week. While not the exact topic you mentioned, it's all about mirror adjustment and lane control, so will have some relevance to highway driving. Thanks for the suggestion. We'll have more driving videos in the future, but they're some of the most difficult and time consuming to create, so we appreciate your patience! If you haven't already done so, subscribing to our website will get you the first look at any new videos, since we release everything there first. thervgeeks.com/subscribe/ The new video is planned for a week from today on our website, followed later by a public RUclips release.
Another thing some people have difficulty with is the off-tracking and kick-out of a towed vehicle.
Could you do a video on towed vehicle situations?
A towed car will generally follow virtually the same path as the rear wheels of the RV. In both of our motorhomes, if the rear duals cleared the corner, so do the wheels on the toad, give or take just an inch or two. So there's no special consideration required for off-tracking when towing. And rear overhang on the toad is so tiny as to not be a factor, especially given that the steering wheels on the toad will never turn anywhere near all the way to completely locked over to the far left or right, because the turning circle of the motorhome is so much larger than the car's.
As far as towing a trailer or fifth wheel, those are completely different animals, although the general concepts that apply to off-tracking and rear overhang swing are the same. It's backing that is totally different with a towable RV. We haven't had a chance to do a backing video yet, but hope to get one together at some point.
It may be second nature to you driving that big bus, but I still thing you're very brave! Great video!
Ok so it's 6 yr's later but still it's incredibly valuable information, thankyou for sharing your expertise..☀️🙏☀️
Thanks so much! Always nice to hear we’ve been helpful.
Thankyou so much to you also, it's an immense help and very much appreciated. ☀️🙏☀️🇦🇺
Great video! One day I hope to own and this gives great demonstrations.
I wish you would do more driving videos. This is excellent.
Hi Marsha! Thank you so much for your awesome comment! We're so proud of our driving videos (have you seen our other one? ruclips.net/video/ldekjpYQ7Qw/видео.html ) but they are SO time and labor intensive to create that we haven't been able to make time for a third one yet. But we do have a rough draft sketched out of what it would include, and we're hoping to be able to make that happen at some point soon. Thanks again for making our day. Stay tuned, and safe travels! :)
Thanks, guys, I am proud to say I have watched ALL of your videos in preparation for hitting the road in a few years!
thanks for this and future videos on driving safety.
Good job. Excellent tutorial.
This is an awesome video. The way you illustrated the physics behind the turns makes everything so easy to understand. Thanks.
+Lets RV Thanks! :)
Cool videos I drive a truck and that's perfect Info Luv the Coach
Well done as always.
Would you consider creating a video on driving with a toad, how it impacts the RV steering considerations, and other useful safety tips? Given the size of your rig do you sometimes forget it is there?
Always learning and always appreciative...
If I turned off the backup camera and could drive with the mirrors covered, I would have ZERO idea of whether the car was back there or not. LOL
We have it on our list to do a video or two about towing the car. We'll try to get to that. Thanks Anthony.
Thanks guys...as usual very informative. I am very cautious to avoid hitting curbs via off- tracking and overhang collisions. I have tried to find some steps by which I can develop the muscle memory you describe. We have a 40 foot tag axle and someone said I should start a right hand turn when the passenger seat is parallel to the curb, I have used this technique but still come pretty close to curbs etc. I read with interest your response to Klaas Snader and have tried to visualize the process you describe. Perhaps you could demonstrate that technique in a follow up to this video. Thanks again
Ron
+Ronald Kuznicki Hi Ronald! We'd love to do a tutorial on this topic, but the problem we mentioned to Klaas is a tricky one: every RV is different. Whatever we teach for an RV of a certain length, wheelbase and wheel cut won't necessarily apply to other RV owners. Maybe at some point we can try to do a video about the process of practicing that we described to Klaas that would basically teach how to safely learn ANY rig (large empty lot, traffic cones, repeated trials of how far to pull forward, getting out to check at the apex of the turn, etc). Hmmmm.... okay, I just talked myself into adding that topic to our "To Do" video list. LOL Thanks. :)
I"m a tour guide bus driver and clearing the back wheels is very important, you'll scrape the corner sidewalk and bend the hub caps if you don't wait for the back wheels to pass the corner sufficiently
Is there ever a time where you cant physically make a turn so you have to seek an alternate route?
Yes indeed! That can happen occasionally, especially in city driving situations.
Thank you! This was very well explained. It sure helps seeing it in action. The above view was perfect! You guys never disappoint when it comes to educating. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much Barbara! It’s always great to hear we’ve been helpful. 😊
Very well done! A very good learning tool!
Thank you, Paul! 😊