woman driving

[dres7]

Someone on another post mentioned something I haven't thought much about, if I got an RV which do you think is easiest for a woman to drive a truck pulling a tt or fifthwheel or driving a motorhome pulling a car for a newbie, first timer? 2nd thing I was wondering which is easiest to park and hook up too? Just wondering if one was easier than the other.

[rcracer05]

i am a woman and feel that our 33 foot motorhome is much more easier to drive and park then was our truck and travel trailer. just my opinion tho.
i am new to this site.

[moosemom]

I think a motorhome is much easier to set up than a 5th wheel or other towable. I frequently drive a 38+foot diesel pusher and it's a piece of cake except when there is road construction. I drove our motorhome cross country several times without a co-pilot but he was following in additional vehicle. Happy Trails :)

[heather]

i have a similar question? I'm also consered with $ and maitnence. i'm looking to trael around and visit friends and family for around a month at a time, foe 6 mon. -a yr. so I;ll need an rv or trailer and a vehical to drive around in, I also thought of getting a scooter for quick short get aways. What do ya'll think woulsd be the best combo considering $, maitaneice and ease? any and all advice wecomed! thanks!!:rolleyes:

[seatinkers]

Always buy used. They have all the bugs worked out and you won't take the big hit when you drive a new one off of the RV lot. Also, if you don't like it you won't loose alot of money when you go to sell it. Buy one with slides of course because nobody wants a dinosaur.

Class A with a tow vehicle is your best bet. It is easier to set-up and drive. Length for resale purposes and being comfortable driving around a 34-36' with a couple of slides. Good Luck and you will love it :)

[ccintrigue]

After camping in a TT for nearly 20 years, last summer we bought our first Class A. It is definitely easier to drive. And it's so much easier to hook up. We tow a featherlite trailer with a golf cart and my miata. MH easier to park, takes about half the time to load/hook up the MH than the TT.

[suesodyssey]

Think it all depends on what you get used to. We have a 5th wheel and tow with a Freightliner. I feel very comfortable driving the Freightliner with the 5er attached. I can set up and break down, back it in...do what ever is necessary. We did get Big Foot hydraulic levelers put on, so that is a much easier job. I feel with the Big Foot, we can set up as quickly as any motor home. And we have only one drive train to worry about!

[trvlnthrds]

Definitely a motorhome. Safety is the issue especially for a women traveling alone. Don't have to get out of the tt and go to the tow vehicle to get out of a situation. Think ahead. I was widowed 6 years after going fulltime and I am glad I had a motorhome, knew how to do the outside work and the driving. I did take a driving course and that really teaches you how to park. I have been from the Everglades to the Alaskan Glacier's from NY to Ca alone and now with a companion. I traveled with him last summer in his 5th wheel and I never could hook it up so we traded both of our rigs in and we now have a new motorhome together. He even agrees the MH is more convenient for settling into a site.

[loveoutdoors]

I am so excited I just found this site. I am a single older women - nearing retiring in a couple of years and my finances are limited. I have a Toyota Rav4 and wanted to know if there is anything small I could pull.

Thank you so much.

[artandcaroline]

I think a motorhome is much easier to set up than a 5th wheel or other towable. I frequently drive a 38+foot diesel pusher and it's a piece of cake except when there is road construction. I drove our motorhome cross country several times without a co-pilot but he was following in additional vehicle. Happy Trails :)


neither, i would never attemp to drive one, too darn big, leave it to my hubby, lol

[lou0403]

I have always had small RVs. First a 22 foot fifth wheel and now a 24 foot Class C with which I sometimes pull my Honda Civic. I much prefer the Class C. I only take the car along if I'm going to stay in one place for a while. If I'm traveling I can always stop for groceries, etc. And I feel safer in it.

[supernavywife]

I have pulled a TT and now have a 33 ft motorhome. I LOVE driving the Class A, and it is much easier pulling into a campground and hooking up. Happy Travels!

[rvwines]

i have a similar question? I'm also consered with $ and maitnence. i'm looking to trael around and visit friends and family for around a month at a time, foe 6 mon. -a yr. so I;ll need an rv or trailer and a vehical to drive around in, I also thought of getting a scooter for quick short get aways. What do ya'll think woulsd be the best combo considering $, maitaneice and ease? any and all advice wecomed! thanks!!:rolleyes: Look at the Winnebago View Diesel

[anchors]

i am a woman and feel that our 33 foot motorhome is much more easier to drive and park then was our truck and travel trailer. just my opinion tho.
i am new to this site.

i am also new to this site actually 1st time. we have a 35 foot mh and im test drove it on an expressway to practice and it is physically challenging to me, but, i did it. would not like to be driving in the city. that i will leave to my hubby:)

[missmary]

Hi There,,,

I drive a Dodge Dually and pull my 35 ft fifth wheel with it and it's great!!.. but I've heard many people like the motor homes too.. guess it's just personal options.......... I'm new to this site too,,, contact me anytime, happy rv'ing!! mary:)

[trvlnthrds]

"neither, i would never attemp to drive one, too darn big, leave it to my hubby, lol"

And what happens if your husband breaks a leg, arm or god forbid dies and you are stranded? You won't be laughing then...LEARN, it's not that bad

[nhnomad]

Hi Loveoutdoors
I am new to rving and we are waiting to take delivery of our first RV in about 6 weeks. We will have a "dinghy". Check out the MotorHome magazine. They had a section on all of the 2008 vehicles that could be towed.
Good Luck
NHNomad

[campingmom]

I drive our motor home, a 31 Class C, towing a Saturn Ion. When hubby drove, we had a Chevy crew cab long bed towing a 30 foot tt, way too long for me. Then he started losing his eyesight and now can't drive at all. I love our motorhome. I just pretended that the difference between driving the car and the pick-up was just about the same as the difference beween driving the pick-up and the motorhome. It's new, handles great, and my test drive was getting it from the dealer in NH to our home just south of Boston. It was either the tt on a seasonal (not happening) or the motor home camping wherever we want. So I drive. No big deal. And I much prefer the motor home to the tt, never have to get out of it unless we're getting gas. Feel it is much safer while on the road, as we usually spend the nights in rest areas or truck stops until we get to our destination.

[dxsmac]

I'm a woman, I drive Class C. I'm 5'4" and I sat in the cockpit of a Class A, NO FREAKING WAY!!!!! TOO BIG!!!!!!! I feel like a mousie trying to drive a truck!

JJ

[dutchdi]

Well, here's my 2 cents worth. I have driven both but we own a 38ft 5th wheel and pull it around with our 1 ton Dodge dually. We share the driving 50/50. My reasons favoring a 5th wheel are: I am always driving the same vehicle hooked up or unhooked so there's not a lot of adjusting from like a MH then a toad. We have a nice big truck to explore with and plenty of room for our golf clubs. I don't have to un hook our tow vehicle before getting into an RV spot. I feel my 5th wheel is more steady on the road. We don't "sway" like others we have seen pulling back in after passing us. Being steady on the road sure makes driving more comfortable. Easier to maneuver in construction areas. Definitely can back up easier [that's compared to a MH that has a toad behind it]. I have taken a wrong turn here and there and I can turn around. I don't need as much room as a MH. I'm sure there are other reasons but just a few that popped into my head when I read your post.
Re: Easier set up. It depends on what you have in your 5th wheel. We push a button to open our slides. Push a button to extend our jacks. Just pull our truck out from under the 5th wheel. Have automatic entry steps and have a roof mounted satellite system. I'm not typing this to say what I have but to say that I'm set up to "set up" as easily as a MH. Being fulltime Rv'ers this was the way we felt worked best for us. I'm sure you'll make the decision that works best for you, Diana

[utmtman]

We have a 37 foot motor home and the wife and I split driving, two hours at a time each. Works good. And we stay rested up. Try never to go over 8 hours a day.

[chips]

It is so important that both partners feel confident in driving your RV. Not only does it give a break for one driver and keeps you fresh, but think how easy it would be for one to break an ankle while hooking up or such. Not to mention heart attack. Then you may have to learn to drive and also be under stress. This past year my husband had cataracks in both eyes so could not drive for a few months till all were taken care of. I did all the driving with no strain. Hey guys, I know it is scary sitting on the right side after being behind the wheel, but fair is fair.

True story: I drove into an RV park one afternoon and the girl behind the desk greeted me by saying, "Do you drive that big thing?"
"Why not?" I asked. "It has power steering, power brakes and all that so it really doesn't take much strength. Surely you don't think men have more brains." She looked at me like I was senile....(I am well into my eightys so maybe........)

[gypsy97]

True story: I drove into an RV park one afternoon and the girl behind the desk greeted me by saying, "Do you drive that big thing?"
"Why not?" I asked. "It has power steering, power brakes and all that so it really doesn't take much strength. Surely you don't think men have more brains." She looked at me like I was senile....(I am well into my eightys so maybe........)

YOU GO, GIRL!!!
gypsy (well into my 60's and a little scared to try)

[akmshrm776]

Way to go girl.....I feel every woman should be able to drive the rig at any time. I've been driving as a profession for 25 years and really think that each and every woman should learn how. If you are traveling with a sponse - what are you going to do if something happens to that person. We are now traveling in a 42 foot class A towing a F 150 with two trikes attached to the pickup. We take two hour shifts driving and then switch. It means we have a reason to stop and take a short break and also we both spend the same amount of time behind the wheel. We have been doing this since we got our first travel trailer and continued up through the 5er and now with the motorhome.

I think it's easier to handle the motorhome and back it in with no assistance at all. With our TT and the fifth wheel, it was much easier with a spotter to back the rig in.

I just think it's great that a woman is planning to do some traveling around and actually doing the driving.........way to go:D

[crzyltlmama]

Definitely a motorhome. Safety is the issue especially for a women traveling alone. Don't have to get out of the tt and go to the tow vehicle to get out of a situation. Think ahead. I was widowed 6 years after going fulltime and I am glad I had a motorhome, knew how to do the outside work and the driving. I did take a driving course and that really teaches you how to park. I have been from the Everglades to the Alaskan Glacier's from NY to Ca alone and now with a companion. I traveled with him last summer in his 5th wheel and I never could hook it up so we traded both of our rigs in and we now have a new motorhome together. He even agrees the MH is more convenient for settling into a site.
I am looking to buy a used MH and get into full-time for a while. I agree that a MH is best for a woman alone, like me, but was wondering, with your experience, what you can tell me about towing a vehicle. I currently drive a 2003 Monte Carlo. How difficult would that be to tow? Would I be smarter to get a smaller vehicle? For that matter, how difficult is any vehicle for a woman alone to hook up and tow? Plus, I imagine backing up is either very difficult or not even an option! I appreciate any advice on this.

[akmshrm]

So I have to ask.....what happens when you are in Arizona and you normall live in NY and something, God forbid, happens to the old hubby that handles all of the driving?

Learn now before you are faced with something like that........

[lindah]

if I got an RV which do you think is easiest for a woman to drive a truck pulling a tt or fifthwheel or driving a motorhome pulling a car for a newbie, first timer?

Why does no one ask what the easiest RV is for a MAN to drive? Why is the fact that you are a woman have anything to do with the type of RV you get? You can drive anything you want regardless of which gender you are, so get whichever rig you like.

[3mmms]

Since retiring in 2005, my husband and I have traveled in the plains, in the mountains and in the valleys and I do most of the driving. We have a 35 ft bounder. The first miles where somewhat intiminating for my husband, so I took over the driving.I drive no more than 350 miles a day and stop every 100 miles or so. The most important KNOW your rig and your limitations.I love to drive and have learned that 55 miles per hr is fast enoug and let others pass you. Be sure you stay in the right lane, so others can pass you/or move out of others way and be courteous. We are enjoying the flowers along the way.