Women drivers?

[Someday'59]

Originally Posted by Someday'59

I can't remember the last time my husband drove when we were towing.

He does know how though. You know, in case of emergency.

[sb55]

A longer trailer is much easier to back up than a shorter one due to the longer wheel base length from the tongue. My wife practiced backing with our John Deere gator and short utility trailer. No power steering and both have short wheelbases. Get the hang of that and and the truck trailer combo is a breeze. Also, spouses shouldn't teach spouses! LOL

[robert claus]

At Custer State Park one year, we ran into a group called Women on the Fly. There were about 50 women who gather at locations around the west - all traveling solo or with another woman, all pulling trailers (many vintage). It was a great group of friends who had four rules to follow at their get togethers: no husbands or boyfriends, no kids, no pets, and you have to be nice

[Jenniflow]

Originally Posted by robert claus

At Custer State Park one year, we ran into a group called Women on the Fly. There were about 50 women who gather at locations around the west - all traveling solo or with another woman, all pulling trailers (many vintage). It was a great group of friends who had four rules to follow at their get togethers: no husbands or boyfriends, no kids, no pets, and you have to be nice

I love that. We're always hoping, aren't we? that if we could just make it a rule ...

[handn]

My wife takes her turn at driving our 25 Safari. It tows so well she is not nervous driving it. She wouldn't attempt our ex rig a humongous motor home.
She is very creative about figuring a way not to back our trailer but she would if she had to. She took a trip alone with a former travel trailer and asked for pull throughs or had somebody back in the rig.

[Ag&Au]

My wife and I split the driving 50/50. However sometimes she does more than that. I would rather ride and she would rather drive unless there is good scenery or she is tired. She always does the backing for one main reason. She thinks she's better. However, I think I give better directions. My opinion is that she gives lousy directions. So it all works out.


Ken

[switz]

Since the Airstream owner's crowd reflects a lot of white/silver hair, we would all be wise to train the life partner how to drive the rig in case we were incapacitated, or worse. Knowing how to unhitch the trailer to drive only the tow vehicle might be a life saving ability in an emergency.

Back in my flying days, the AOPA flying organization offered a "pinch hitter" course so the partner could get the plane on the ground and walk away from the landing even if the plane would never fly again.

Thanks for the idea of a CDL school maybe offering a RV training class.

[Minno]

My dad taught me to tow a travel trailer when I was 16. (That was 41 years ago.) Hubby and I share driving equally now. The only thing I don't have much practice in is backing into a campsite. I have done it and know I can do it. He's just better at it and I'm better at hand signals than he is...
I firmly believe that both partners should be able to drive the rig if at all possible, barring medical issues. That way you don't get stuck if the other one is sick or etc.


Kay

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by switz

Since the Airstream owner's crowd reflects a lot of white/silver hair,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>..

It may look that way to the untrained eye. However to me it will always be just a lighter shade of blond. If you want to see white/silver look at my avatar.


Ken

[LiLNomad]

Im a solo female rv'er. Uwe at Area 63 Productions gave me my towing and hitching lessons.
LilNomad

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by robert claus

At Custer State Park one year, we ran into a group called Women on the Fly.

It's Sisters on the Fly…

SOTF

Originally Posted by robert claus

It was a great group of friends who had four rules to follow at their get togethers: no husbands or boyfriends, no kids, no pets, and you have to be nice

Yep - it is a great group of ladies, "we have "more fun than anyone" and you gotta love "the rules".

Shari
Sister #2459

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by InsideOut

It's Sisters on the Fly…

SOTF

Yep - it is a great group of ladies, we have "more fun than anyone" and you gotta love "the rules".

Shari
Sister #2459

Hey, I can see the no men and no kids, but no pets!? , that's going too far. How can you camp without pets?


Ken

[mstephens]

We got our AS 2-1/2 years ago and I taught my wife immediately how to do everything including backing into spaces. She drives not too often, but often enough to keep her skills up. We did it for safety reasons. You never know what might happen out on the road.

Although backing up gets most of the attention, my wife is more worried about driving in heavy freeway traffic where there are lots of interchanges and lane changes ala Los Angeles. I think it's the wide body aspect - pulling something wider than the car, takes a bit of getting used to.

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by Ag&Au

Hey, I can see the no men and no kids, but no pets!? , that's going too far. How can you camp without pets?

Ken

I know, I really struggled with that one at first, having two dogs & a cat that travel with me most of the time. But, I'll tell you - it's okay (and usually only for 3-4 days)...they have at home time with "dad". And boy, are they ALL happy to see me when I get home…absence makes the heart grow fonder.

I have found that when camping with my furr-babies at dog/cat friendly rallies it is different. It's an interesting dynamic... when there are no pets around, it's less about the critters and more about the people & friendships. When pets are around - everybody is distracted by them instead of focussing on the people around them. Also, people don't hide behind their pets or use them as an excuse for not socializing.

It's kinda nice to have a weekend away when I don't have to "go potty the dogs" or "feed the cat"…there are no limitations to what I can go and do or how long I can stay away from the trailer or who's going to take issue because there's a dog locked in the car/trailer. It's kind of freeing as I imagine it would be for folks with kids (I don't have any) to have a night out or weekend away occasionally.

BTW, there are dog &/or male friendly SOTF events…sometimes. I don't go to those - I'm sure it changes the whole dynamic of the gathering. The thing I like most about SOTF is that it is for women only…for some, it's the first time they've ever done anything on their own - it's empowering…& fun!

Shari

[m.hony]

We travel to rallies with a "low maintenance" cat. She eats from an auto feeder. When we leave the trailer she gets on the bed and stays there until we come back.

[John&Vicki]

Just got back from a three month 3,000 mile trip. We discovered many things, one of which is that my wife is an ace backing up without the trailer. She does the backing up for hitching up and with me giving a couple of hand signals nails it in less than two minutes every time. I read a lot here about backup cameras, walkie-talkies, etc. No need for any of that - I just turn it over to her.

Poppy

[Smartstream]

I teach for one of the RV driving schools offering private lessons and many of the lessons are for both husband and wife. Sometimes the wife is a "ride along" but I try to get her involved in all aspects of the lesson and you would be surprised how many times I get the wife behind the wheel before the lesson is over.


The lessons are helpful for learning a new driving experience the proper way rather than by trial and error and also there is usually less tension learning from someone other than your spouse. In the end who is driving is not an issue as long as they are doing it safely.

[SterlingWB]

I am the only one who pulls my trailer. I don't trust my hubby to. 😜 He rarely camps with me.


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[cwf]

My DDW (dear driving wife) does great.... But lacks only time as PIC (pilot in command)...her primary training and function over 38 years has been Nagrivator...

[Rich W]

Originally Posted by cwf

..her primary training and function over 38 years has been Nagrivator...

OH! I REALLY like that title, maybe Nagrivator In Charge.