any one here planning on becoming mobil soon

[Headache]

Rudy the most important element in all of this is time. The longer you "work" at it the more confidence you will build. As you build more confidence, you'll notice you're able to drive for longer stretches without your shoulders, neck and spine getting knotted up. It will take longer for fatigue to set it.

Driving larger vehicles is definitely mental(all driving is but in larger vehicles it's even more so). You may notice that you become mentally and emotionally tired while physically you feel okay, that's normal. It shows you're using that gray matter upstairs.

Night time driving is not much different and if you can, you should work on that and build up confidence in that as well. Nothing is more annoying than trying to sleep somewhere and have lot lizards or the law come a knocking. That's why most try to hit up Walparks and truck stops but you can become fatigued anywhere making the first place you can park your safest and best option. There were a few times where I ended up on a highway entrance(NEVER use an exit ramp!) ramp for a few zzzz's before continuing on.

You have some time left before the "big day". Is there a mall or big parking lot somewhere nearby where you can drive around and get used to your ride? This way you can get used to the sounds it makes while moving and turning, you can practice driving in lanes, parking in between lines and get used to visually lining yourself up via the mirrors.

Once you are more comfortable with that you can jump on the highway, go up a few exits then turn around and come back, taking longer trips each time. All of this will help you spatially and assist you in understanding your turning radius. In addition to building your confidence you'll also be building up some road stamina which will make your "real" trip much less stressful and much more enjoyable.

Lastly, "fear" itself can be a good thing. It assists us in keeping focused, aware and attentive. What's not good is when intense fear and/or paranoia steps in. If that happens pull off at the first safe place you can, work it down using whatever relaxation techniques are comfortable for you until the intense fear eases, it will pass. Take a few deep breathes and continue on your journey.

When I get my bus I'll be doing the above as well. Sure, I drove big rigs for 15 years but buses are much different and I'll have a difficult time retraining myself, especially making turns without a pivot point at the 12 ft. mark. I am not spatially aware regarding buses with the exception of being centered in my lane. I have a lot to learn and some confidence to build up as well.

I'll almost guarantee you that once you make your trip(and barring anything additional such as mechanical failure) you'll be looking at your bus and telling yourself that wasn't so bad.

[Rudy]

Alex, thanks for the info and pep talk.

[splummer]

never one to give much advice but here goes, if you are going to do this trip ,the best thing is to jump right in balls first. start driving it in your drive way ,then around the neighbor hood , then maybe a longer one..get used to your bus before the trip,

[splummer]

this may sound crazy to you but the first day i drove my duece, and never driven it , and after checking brakes and all fluids and fuel i jumped in and drove her home, about 50 miles and on some of the scariest roads you want to be on , call it foolish but its here and after that trip every ride a peice of cake

[splummer]

also same thing with my bus, never drove one until i bought her ,years ago i was in new mex and found a 59 vw bus ,i bought her and after checking her out we were on the road headed for maine ,

[Rudy]

never one to give much advice but here goes, if you are going to do this trip ,the best thing is to jump right in balls first. start driving it in your drive way ,then around the neighbor hood , then maybe a longer one..get used to your bus before the trip,

Jump right in! Sounds exciting. I do intend to make some test drives before the trip.

Thanks for the optimism.

[splummer]

your welcome, this may not be for everyone one but works for me,that is something we taught at the school., a quick story when my oldest daughter got her drivers licence , on her first day went up on the kank, and got caught in a blizzard, if you know the kank you would know its a horror show in the winter . keep a postive attitude and you can do anything, she didnt tell me this until later tho, i wont go on the kank

[Griff]

I never drove a bus before I got mine either, but I have never been afraid to try to drive anything so I wasn't nervous. After checking the fluids, I hpped in and took off. It only took a few miiles to get a feel for how she handled and away I went, from MA to NC with only minor issues.

If ya want to build yerself up a little, here's an excercise you can try:

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side.

With a 5-lb potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides, and hold them there as long as you can..

Try to reach a full minute, and then relax.

Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer.

Once you feel comfortable there, move up to 10-lb potato sacks.

Then try 50-lb potato sacks, and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato sack in each hand, and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. (I'm at this level.)

After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each sack.

C'mon, Rudy, you can do it!

[Rudy]

Griff, your humor is always welcomed.

[Rudy]

Yippee! I got the bus registered today. $150. $100 for tax on the $1000 buying price. $50 for registration.

The fly in the soup is when I went to a place that sells insurance (Progressive). The lady had no clue what I was insuring.I had to tell her it was a bus/motorhome.

The best she came up with was $600 a year. I politely declined. I guess I may try to seek a price on the internet.

[Griff]

Progressive is notorious for high rates on converted busses, if they'll even insure it (many times they'll drop you just after they pick you up). You may want to check into GMAC, they are known to give "skoolies" very good rates.

You may also want to look into Good Sam Emergency Road Service - for only $79.00 a year, it's well worth it. Unlike other ERS's, Good Sam ERS will actually tow it where YOU want it towed, i.e. if you break down on the road, they'll tow it to your destination...and it won't cost you any extra.

I haven't had to use it (yet), but after 5 years of paying ($395.00 total) it's still cheaper than if I had to call a local "Joe Wrecker" just to haul TWE to the nearest town...and that's IF he had a proper wrecker to handle a skoolie.

Just some food for thought...

...and speaking of food for thought - people say all kinds of stuff tastes like chicken, right? So why don't eggs taste like chicken?

[ezrablu]

good question....they smell more like a chicken coop to me



I've heard the same thing about Progressive. And have heard many people recommend GMAC for bus insurance.

When I hit the road, I'm definitely gonna be a member of Good Sam. I've also heard very good things about it. I think being stranded and having to be towed would be one of my biggest fears while traveling in my bus.

[Dennis The Bus Dweller]

Progressive is notorious for high rates

I use Progressive and my big bus is 450 ande the 35 footer is 350 and I have good sams platinum road side service and I think it was 100 bucks

[Rudy]

Dennis, I know you use Progressive. I was perplexed at the lady's quote.

[Jones'n4chrome]

Hey Rudy,

Did you title your bus in TN or MO?
When I bought the Crown in Springfield MO. I went the motor vehicle office and bought a "trip permit" it allowed me to drive through every state until I arrived at the address in CA. that I specified.
I think it was only $14.00 Then I titled it in CA.

Another thing that I did, that you may want to do, is to remove any DOT numbers off your bus. Then go to the hardware store and get some reflective adhesive letter stickers and put "PRIVATE" on both sides of you bus near the front.

Now drive past all the highway weigh stations, even the ones that require "Buses" to pull in. Your bus is only a "Bus" on this forum, everywhere else it is a "Motorhome" If you get pulled over always refer to it as a motorhome.
Your "bus" is very clean so I don't think you will have a problem.