Log In | Register
Skip to main content
Topic: Confession.. (Read 523 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 7 Guests are viewing this topic.
Re: Confession..
Reply #25 –
"When navigating tight areas, GOAL: get-out-and-look."

Amen! Looking back, the only times I really got myself into trouble were when I failed to do this, ending up crosswise on a dirt road or backing into a rock.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Confession..
Reply #26 –
"GOAL: get-out-and-look."

And also read the road signs. All of them.
Years ago we were heading to a boondocking site alongside a river I had heard about.

The bridge crossing the river was a very old bridge. Upon approaching the bridge, two signs caught my attention. Narrow Bridge and 10'4" clearance. I was OK with the narrow part. I approached the bridge slowly, stopped and climbed up on the roof to satisfy myself about the 10'4" clearance part. It was tight but workable.

After crossing and getting parked, I took a walk across the bridge. That's when I noticed the Weight Limit 3 Tons sign.

I meant to notify the state DOT that their bridge had been field tested at 7 tons.   :o

Ed
Re: Confession..
Reply #27 –
Although I had driven large vehicles on the ranch, I signed up for driving lessons with the "RV School" (owned at the time by Dick Reed; see RV School for current information)  before I took delivery of the LD in 2003. At the time, the course was four hours of "hands on", on the road instruction per day for two days. My instructor was a retired trucker with 2 million accident-free miles on his CV, and a patient, knowledgeable, and skilled instructor.

Under his tutelage, I drove the L.A. freeways, through the narrow streets of neighborhoods, shopping centers and fuel stations, "worked cones" in parking lots, and wound around as many narrow, up and down, curving streets and roads as he could find. One of his first instructions was GOAL; since I travel solo (no spotter) and my spatial perception leaves a great deal to be desired, I learned to put this admonition into play from the get-go! One of the very few times that I didn't GOAL (it was a "dark and rainy night"!), I backed into a sprinkler standard hidden in bushes and punched the bumper. Bandaid applied, lesson re-learned.

As Andy and others have said, GOAL is critical to keeping one's LD as free as possible from ugly evidence of inattention! As my Mama said, "Don't be goin' at this like you're killin' snakes!"

As ever, YMMV.

Joan
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Confession..
Reply #28 –
Quote from: JCT  - 
Although I had driven large vehicles on the ranch, I signed up for driving lessons...As my Mama said, "Don't be goin' at this like you're killin' snakes!"

As ever, YMMV.

Joan

I had driven commercial Bob-tail trucks for the printing industry for many years. Heavily burdened rigs carrying tons of weight with blind spots in every conceivable place. It paid to "take a look" often when maneuvering parking lots and loading docks.

When my DW and I purchased our LD, I questioned Todd about driving classes. He reassured me that with my experience I would do fine. He did suggest I take my wife into an open area to practice her driving the rig in a controlled environment. Good suggestion, but as of yet we really haven't had much chance to do it.

She wants to spell me at the wheel on longer drives so the opportunity for lessons seems more critical at this point.
And then there is my daughter too. Maybe pro instruction is the best way to achieve my "scratch free" goals.

Now to check our calendars. That's going to be tough.  :(

Kent 
2015 27' RB "MissB.Haven"
Re: Confession..
Reply #29 –
Quote from: Kent Heckethorn  - 

And then there is my daughter too. Maybe pro instruction is the best way to achieve my "scratch free" goals.

Kent

When we got out first TT years ago, my wife and I took it to a shopping mall on early Sunday morning and practiced parking, turning corners, backing up, etc.
Nothing to run into and the lines make for good reference points.
Ed
 
Re: Confession..
Reply #30 –
Ed, your account of the bridge reminds me of a similar one. We owned a Bigfoot camper, on a F350 dually. 10,200# loaded.

If my wife sees goats on a trail, she says brightly "let's go there!"  I love a challenge. One day, after a two hour drive over some hellacious narrow steep winding roads, we descended to a beautiful valley. With a bridge. With a 3 ton limit. And it looked it.  With my nerves frayed, I declared, "I am not going over that *^#+~* road again. The wife (by now that was what I called her), got out to walk. I made it over. It helps that the bridge was only about 3 feet over the flat dry wash below. Yes, this was stupid. I don't recall any sign on the road leading in about the weight restrictions.

Lesson? Don't follow me.
Paul
'92 Mid Bath