kjburns
Prescott, AZ
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Joined: 07/13/2008
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A long trip like you've planned might be the best medicine. Our second trip in our MH was about the length you've planned (Prescott, AZ to Anacortes, WA). My wife doesn't drive, so getting her to drive something this big is out of the question. She really doesn't get uneasy on highways unless the road gets twisty or mountainous. The trip had a lot of everything in road conditions including some nasty crosswinds (40 mph +/-)...and it went well. Seat time might help whether she's in the right seat or the left.
2008 Winnebago Tour 40TD
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maryshus
san antonio, texas
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I had the same problem as the OP's wife. Always felt we were too close to the edge of the road. Just swiveled the seat toward the driver. I know before anyone protests it is not locked. It is not really turned much but it sure helps.
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howdy35
United States
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Joined: 07/10/2009
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I know how she feels as I have had friends drive my coach and riding in the passenger seat is a little unsettling especially when they run off the edge of the road every almost every time a truck passes or on a 2 lane when a car approaches. It takes some experience to get the rig in the middle of the lane properly and some time for the passenger to feel safe in that seat. For my wife it is the bridge and concrete road barriers. She can really give out that high piercing sound when those come up. Right now when we travel, she gets out her sudoko book and buries herself in it. Make sure she has something to take her mind off the road when sitting there and good conversation helps. Keeping her busy navigating is also helpful. I hope she can find a way to relax because the view down the road is magnificant. May you have clear roads and safe travel on your trip.
1999 National Tradewinds
2001 Honda Odyssey--Toad
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rooster55
Panhandle, FL
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Oh wow...this has been nice to read as I am constantly struggling with not making my husband boot me out of the coach. A really high/steep bridge makes me honestly have a panic attack in the A, and I'm fine in a car. DH drives just fine...I almost get vertigo of sorts? Wasn't so much in a C, but the A is up high and close to the scary rails.
We recently came through some hairy construction on I-95 in GA heading to Charleston had me in fits. The barricades and trucks crowding in . We were just on St. George Island in Apalachicola and that bridge had me wanting to down my pitcher of Sangria.
Well I feel better that it isn't just me. I love getting to where we are going, I just sure get tight on the way at times. I was hoping it would pass with some miles, but I'm still a big chicken. I'll keep trying.
Maybe sneak us a valium pre-trip, ha ha ha.
Becky in FL...frightened co-pilot.
Bob & Becky
2007 Newmar Ventana 3936
06 Ford 250 PSD
07 Yamaha FX SHO Waverunner
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Dynasty40
Northern California
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Seriously folks, you ever see a UPS driver drive?? I bet he bails outta the coach before it even stops.... ...really though, if she is that worried, letting her drive might not help. She needs to have something else to occupy her travel time. DVD player, trip planner etc. whatever you guys like to do as a hobby. Anxiety is very real and very scary at times...Good luck....Dennis
Dennis and Debi
Monaco Dynasty Baron 40PFD
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ReadyBrute
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Deen
Vancouver, WA
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Joined: 12/07/2000
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My wife is finally used to riding on most roads, BUT if there's a sheer drop off (like the East entrance to Yellowstone heading East) she closes her eyes!!
A friend sits on the floor of their MH when going across the Astoria-Megler bridge over the Columbia River.
* This post was
edited 11/07/09 12:55am by Deen *
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msredneck84
Southeastern U S (habitually)
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Read "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus". One of the obvious (after reading) facts about how different men and women are besides the left brain, right brain thing is that women's perception of distance or how close or how far away an object is (for example) is vastly different from men. Ever notice how sometimes your wife might freak out when someone stops or pulls out ahead of you and you are cool as can be knowing you have everything under comtrol, but not her. She feels as though you are about to crash into the other vehicle. Very interesting book, I recommend.
Drinking out of my saucer!
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Klueck
Georgia
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I also drive my DH crazy, but he tries to be patient. After we get going a while, I am okay. Maybe the first few miles you could take it a little easier until she gets used to it.
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twocruisin
Crystal River, Florida
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We had the same problem........My bus is a full 102" wide and when someone sits in the passenger seat it feels like I'm driving off the road when I move over to give oncoming big vehicles room to make sure our mirrors don't clash...
I solved our problem by moving the passenger seat about five feet toward the rear of the coach and putting a table in front of it...My wife doesn't feel like she's so close to the windshield, she can't see the road from back behind the table, and she's got a laptop on the table to keep her mind occupied as we go down the road.....She can also watch satellite TV from that spot and doesn't have the feeling that we are too far to the right.......When I see an on-coming big rig coming I move over about a foot to the right and it puts the body of the bus so close to the edge of the shoulder that it seems dangerous, when in fact, the steering tires are still firmly planted on the roadway.....It's an optical illusion for the passenger because I know that the right tire is still withing a foot of actually going off the pavement.......But, it is spooky to sit in that front right seat.........You can't move to far to the right when you're in a small town because the traffic signs are too close to the roadway....I know there are towns where my right mirror will clip a sign if I'm too far over to the right.........Several years ago in Tennessee I was driving a fifth wheel and pulling it with a frieghtliner tractor and didn't move over to the right side enough when a similar rig approached us....... As we passed each other our mirrors crashed and ripped off the driver's side of each vehicle.....I had my window open and had small pieces of glass in my mouth after the crash.....The road was so narrow that neither one of us could move to the right far enough to avoid the collision..The funny part is neither one of us even stopped because we both must have realized that the crash was unavoidable......I've been a lot more careful since then......
John
* This post was
edited 11/07/09 05:11am by twocruisin *
John
Crystal River
Florida
40 Foot Damon Diesel Bus
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Hiker3
Florida
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I understand your wife's nerves.
But also consider that a major 3,000 trip may also bring some butterflies in her stomach -- both excitement and nerves about such a long adventure.
Sounds like a wonderful trip, but I can understand how it is a bit daunting at first. My guess is, like others have said, she will settle in and enjoy it after some miles down the road.
Best wishes for a great trip!
Livin Lite Quicksilver 8.0 (Folding Tent Camper) only 900 lbs!
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