Just found this forum today. Right now I am waiting...waiting for hubby to come get me and the motor home.
We travel/live/work with a carnival in the Pacific Northwest. On Monday we were moving from Wenatchee to Sequim for the next carnival. Hubby was driving the motor home, Albert was driving his jeep pulling his trailer, and I was driving the company van with six passengers.
First we drove over Stevens Pass in an unexpected snow storm. Even had white out conditions at times. It was definitely a white knuckle experience.
Then we heard that the ferries weren't running from another one of our group who also happens to be our bosses. We quickly called 511 and found out that our ferry was running so we continued to the ferry terminal. Got there just in time to catch the 2:25 ferry. Made it to Kingston from Edmonds just fine. Hubby was leading the caravan. I was following and being followed by Albert. As hubby pulled away from a stop light there was this awful metal on metal grounding sound. Hubby pulled over and we all followed suit.
Ruben, one of the guys riding in the van with me, jumped out and went up to the motor home, spoke to hubby, Ron is his name, and crawled under the motor home and what did he see...the drive shaft laying at an angle on the ground. Ron made a phone call to our insurance company/emergency roadside service. Was told it would be an hour and a half wait for the tow truck. Decision was made that Albert and I would take our respective vehicles and passengers on to Sequim. We left Ron waiting for the tow truck driver.
We arrived in Sequim about 45 minutes later. I called Ron and found out he was just getting towed to the mechanics shop. He had talked with Del, the mechanic, and he could do the repairs on Tuesday. So I took Albert's jeep and drove back and met Ron and the tow truck driver to follow them to the mechanics. We got situated at the repair shop. Del had left an electrical cord out for us so we would have power for the night and it was no problem for us to stay in our rig. And so we waited by spending the night in our rig in the mechanics repair lot.
Tuesday we found out that Del could not get a yoke for the drive shaft locally and that he would have to get one delivered by UPS on Wednesday. So we called our bosses and told them the situation. Made plans that Ron would go to work on Wednesday morning and I would wait with the motor home.
Today is Wednesday, Ron left for Sequim at 6:30 this morning to have plenty of time to get to work in Sequim. Today they are setting up the carnival for an afternoon opening tomorrow. I waited at the motor home. I slept till 10 a.m., ate breakfast, waited some more by spending time on the computer. At 3:00 the motor home was repaired. The mechanic drove it from the repair lot around the block to his huge driveway where I am now waiting for Ron to come back from Sequim to drive the motor home down to Sequim.
The waiting cost us $642 to fix the drive shaft and change all the U-joints. I am tired of waiting...sure hope Ron gets here soon.
One thing I have thought of during all this waiting is that I MUST learn how to drive this 37' vehicle! I would not have to be sitting here waiting...I could be driving to Sequim!
I just needed to tell someone what I was doing....
bjoyce said
09:20 AM May 6, 2010
There will be an RV Driving School instructor in Washington state this summer. We know the instructor well. The website is http://rvschool.com/ with the email and phone number on the bottom of the main webpage.
My wife and I drive the motorhome 50/50 and have for over eight years. You can do it.
We are in the Olympia area right now.
jimdee said
12:17 PM May 6, 2010
We just took the driving school in February and it's well worth it. We have a fifthwheel and the training is excellent. I can now tow the RV without hesitation. The same class is for the MH and it's excellent.
You should know how, it could save your life or you might have to drive it if something critical happens to your hubby.
Please learn it, it's worth it.
ali1257 said
12:34 PM May 6, 2010
Hi Jim and Dee
I follow your blog and remember reading your posts about learning how to drive, back up and hook up your fifth. I have sent an email to them to see when and where in WA they will be. This Sunday when we leave Sequim Ron is going to have me drive. We can take our time getting to Port Townsend, it is only 25 miles from here.
I am very excited to have made that decision and am so ready to follow through on it. I am really looking forward to Sunday.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Terry and Jo said
01:07 PM May 6, 2010
Ali,
Take heart, Young Lady.
During our research for choosing an RV, we test drove two Tiffin Phaeton motorhomes. One was a 40 footer and the other was a 42 footer. We insisted on driving them for a ways since I want Jo (my wife) to be able to handle whatever it was that we chose to purchase.
While it did take a few miles, she became very comfortable with handling a rig that big. I merely advise taking it easy, and even after a lot of time driving your motorhome, ALWAYS keep a healthy respect for it and the traffic around you. If you become too complacent with driving something that big, you could be inviting problems.
When I drove 18-wheelers, we always said that when you lost the "fear" of driving something that big, then you lost your caution. Hang in there as there are a lot of ladies driving big rigs, both RV's and commercial rigs.
Terry
two travelers said
07:22 PM May 6, 2010
I have a 83 year old single female .. who I am presently treating in the Rehab center I work at who drives a 36 ft motorhome by herself from Pa to Fla and back every year.. She has been doing this solo for 8 years now since her husband passed...She is such a little thing.. I bet she does not weigh over 100lbs... She told me when she gets well she was bring it over and teach me how to drive it... I can't wait...patti
We travel/live/work with a carnival in the Pacific Northwest. On Monday we were moving from Wenatchee to Sequim for the next carnival. Hubby was driving the motor home, Albert was driving his jeep pulling his trailer, and I was driving the company van with six passengers.
First we drove over Stevens Pass in an unexpected snow storm. Even had white out conditions at times. It was definitely a white knuckle experience.
Then we heard that the ferries weren't running from another one of our group who also happens to be our bosses. We quickly called 511 and found out that our ferry was running so we continued to the ferry terminal. Got there just in time to catch the 2:25 ferry. Made it to Kingston from Edmonds just fine. Hubby was leading the caravan. I was following and being followed by Albert. As hubby pulled away from a stop light there was this awful metal on metal grounding sound. Hubby pulled over and we all followed suit.
Ruben, one of the guys riding in the van with me, jumped out and went up to the motor home, spoke to hubby, Ron is his name, and crawled under the motor home and what did he see...the drive shaft laying at an angle on the ground. Ron made a phone call to our insurance company/emergency roadside service. Was told it would be an hour and a half wait for the tow truck. Decision was made that Albert and I would take our respective vehicles and passengers on to Sequim. We left Ron waiting for the tow truck driver.
We arrived in Sequim about 45 minutes later. I called Ron and found out he was just getting towed to the mechanics shop. He had talked with Del, the mechanic, and he could do the repairs on Tuesday. So I took Albert's jeep and drove back and met Ron and the tow truck driver to follow them to the mechanics. We got situated at the repair shop. Del had left an electrical cord out for us so we would have power for the night and it was no problem for us to stay in our rig. And so we waited by spending the night in our rig in the mechanics repair lot.
Tuesday we found out that Del could not get a yoke for the drive shaft locally and that he would have to get one delivered by UPS on Wednesday. So we called our bosses and told them the situation. Made plans that Ron would go to work on Wednesday morning and I would wait with the motor home.
Today is Wednesday, Ron left for Sequim at 6:30 this morning to have plenty of time to get to work in Sequim. Today they are setting up the carnival for an afternoon opening tomorrow. I waited at the motor home. I slept till 10 a.m., ate breakfast, waited some more by spending time on the computer. At 3:00 the motor home was repaired. The mechanic drove it from the repair lot around the block to his huge driveway where I am now waiting for Ron to come back from Sequim to drive the motor home down to Sequim.
The waiting cost us $642 to fix the drive shaft and change all the U-joints. I am tired of waiting...sure hope Ron gets here soon.
One thing I have thought of during all this waiting is that I MUST learn how to drive this 37' vehicle! I would not have to be sitting here waiting...I could be driving to Sequim!
I just needed to tell someone what I was doing....
You should know how, it could save your life or you might have to drive it if something critical happens to your hubby.
Please learn it, it's worth it.
Take heart, Young Lady.
During our research for choosing an RV, we test drove two Tiffin Phaeton motorhomes. One was a 40 footer and the other was a 42 footer. We insisted on driving them for a ways since I want Jo (my wife) to be able to handle whatever it was that we chose to purchase.
While it did take a few miles, she became very comfortable with handling a rig that big. I merely advise taking it easy, and even after a lot of time driving your motorhome, ALWAYS keep a healthy respect for it and the traffic around you. If you become too complacent with driving something that big, you could be inviting problems.
When I drove 18-wheelers, we always said that when you lost the "fear" of driving something that big, then you lost your caution. Hang in there as there are a lot of ladies driving big rigs, both RV's and commercial rigs.
Terry