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Driving School or Teacher

Yahoo Message Number: 64375
Does anyone know of a place and/or person that will help a new owner learn to handle a CC?

Mike Farnsworth

2003 Magna Resort #6236

Re: Driving School or Teacher

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64386
Hi Mike,

I too wonder where you are located. We bought our CC 40 foot from John at Central Florida Bus Company. He actually used to work for the State of Florida and had to train and approve the skills of those that drove city busses. If you are interested in hiring someone, look him up.

Good Luck. Deb

Re: Driving School or Teacher

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64387

As others have noted - not knowing for sure where you are - Lazy Days in Seffner, FL offers a driving course to anyone for free. According to their most recent magazine (propaganda) they still offer this service. Both wife and I have taken the Lazy Days and FMCA courses. You will learn some things that will make driving these big rigs as relaxing and comforting as it can get.
We highly recommend you get some pointers on driving someplace particularly from professional drivers. It is well worth it no matter the source.

Bob (rthandren@...)
'05 Inspire 51178

Re: Driving School or Teacher

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64389
Robert, thank you for the excellent information. I took the driving lesson CC offered at our gathering in Jekyll Island and learned a lot, but I have a lot more to learn. Luckily, my husband Mike is pretty good at it all. I've learned enough to know where my chair is supposed to be in relation to the corner I'm about to turn into and to no longer have to check the white lines in my side mirrors so often!

Mary Frederick
06Inspire 51784

Re: Driving School or Teacher

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64394

Mary.

I sure would like you to explain your relationship with the chair and the corner you referred to in your post.
Fritz 98 Allure 30223

Re: Driving School or Teacher

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64406
Hi Fritz,

Sure! The CC driving instructor told us to look where the chair the driver is sitting in is in relation to the corner about to be turned into. We're supposed to have the chair and our hips right about where we want to be, or have our hip pointed at the spot we're going to be driving after we turn, and then turn the wheel fast and hard to where you are going once you're turned. If that doesn't make any sense, I'll be happy to try again!

Mary

06 Inspire 51784

Re: Driving School or Teacher

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64408

Mary,

Are we talking about a 90 degree turn trying not to hit the curb with the rear wheels? Does the drivers chair line up with the area it will be in after the turn ( ie left side of the lane due to the width of the coach) or the curb we are trying not to hit?

Fritz 98 allure 30223

Re: Driving School or Teacher

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64451
Fritz, one other way to think about it is a hint that the salesman gave me when we test drove our Inspire: On a 90 degree corner, go straight until the front wheels are just past the near side of the lane you are turning into, then spin the steering wheel hard and fast to make the turn -- the rear wheels will track right around the corner missing the curb or whatever. Has always worked for me -- however, there is one caveat, if you are towing (tow dolly or 4-down - don't know about a trailer since I have never pulled one with the RV), you need to get the front wheels a little farther out into the lane you are turning into because the tow will tend to cut the inside of the corner more than the rear wheels of the coach. Find a shopping center parking lot and get out in the area where nobody parks and experiment/practice while using painted lines at the ends of the rows like curbs (the coach doesn't bounce quite as bad if you miss and run over the line as it does when you climb a curb - plus it is easier on the tires and suspension).

John and Linda

'06 Inspire DaVinci 51905

Re: Driving School or Teacher

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64453
John and Linda,

Thank you for responding to Fritz. I hesitated in answering him because I could not think of a good way to explain what I meant, and you did an excellent job of it!!! Of course you can tell that I forgot the point was not the chair in which I was sitting as the driver but rather the front tires!!! Thank you again.

Mary

06 INspire 51784

Re: Driving School or Teacher

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64470

John and Mary

I have been making exaggerated turns. The info will fine tune them.
Fritz 98 Allure 30223

Re: Driving School or Teacher

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64472
Drove convention school bus for years, then they put me in a pusher, just like our coach. Had a hard time until I mentally placed myself on the front bumper to make turns. Once I adjusted to think that much farther ahead on corners, stopped running over curbs. They teach non-experianced people, mostly women, to safely drive big school busses every year in some of the worst traffic to be found. They do it safely, daily and have to deal with a bunch of rowdy kids and very bad drivers. They teach to never stop moving the eyes, all mirrors to be checked every 10 sec's. This is how one comes to know your envelop of space you require and where you are at all times. Visual reference points is what they call it. Find visual reference points for turing, i.e. front door past curb before turning, this short of thing. Once you figure out key visual reference points you will always know where you are.

Find the time of day when traffic is light and drive. Oregon requires 20 hrs. of behind the wheel experience and testing before one can haul a single student on the big busses. Give yourself 20 hrs. of driving over several days and see how much you improve. Still remember how much I sweated when I started training. Two hours a day was very long and exhausting.

Leonard Kerns
97' Magna 5418
 

Re: Driving School or Teacher

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 74689
Hi Fritz,

I'm looking for any info on some engine hoses, and I just saw this which I don't think I answered! I'm sorry I didn't. Yes, you have it figured out! The seat of the chair in which you are sitting does end up where you want to go. For example, turning to the right you drive into the intersection and when your hips are in the lane you want to be in, you turn the steering wheel really fast and you not only miss the curb with the rear wheels, but you end up where you want to be. Please let me know if this makes sense. Thanks. Mary 06 Inspire 51784