Longest drive in RV?

[JimPGH]

I can drive 12 hours in a car no problem. Thinking of renting a class C RV and doing a 2 day drive down from Pittsburgh. Never drove an RV before, am I biting off more than I can chew?

 

[JimPGH]

I should note that its a 980 mile drive, and should take about 16 hours

 

[serenitygr]

We are driving almost 1800 miles one way this December!

 

[veraletta]

857 Miles it took me almost 17 hours, as it was the first time for me driving
our new motorhome. I have never drove anything bigger than a caravan.
I'm hoping that this time it will not take us as long.
We are going again this December. I had sticky notes everywhere from how tall the RV was to what to turn off while getting gas... lol

 

[KristinU]

Have you driven anything big like a Uhaul or box truck, or towed trailers before? If so, then you'll be fine. You just have to keep your size in mind and don't expect the responsiveness of a passenger car.

Time wise, two days from Pittsburgh sounds good to me. Especially if you have more than one driver. From central CT we do 2 or 3 days, but a 3 day-er usually includes either a late shove-off (i.e. after school/work) or a stop to visit family in Raleigh on the way down.

 

[JimPGH]

Have you driven anything big like a Uhaul or box truck, or towed trailers before? If so, then you'll be fine. You just have to keep your size in mind and don't expect the responsiveness of a passenger car.

Time wise, two days from Pittsburgh sounds good to me. Especially if you have more than one driver. From central CT we do 2 or 3 days, but a 3 day-er usually includes either a late shove-off (i.e. after school/work) or a stop to visit family in Raleigh on the way down.

Yeah I've driven a uhaul a few times.

 

[JimPGH]

857 Miles it took me almost 17 hours, as it was the first time for me driving
our new motorhome. I have never drove anything bigger than a caravan.
I'm hoping that this time it will not take us as long.
We are going again this December. I had sticky notes everywhere from how tall the RV was to what to turn off while getting gas... lol

Did driving your RV wear you down faster?

 

[veraletta]

You will do fine JimPGH, my husband only took me out to drive the motorhome a few time to make sure I could drive it...Before he waved goodbye...

I'm sure you will have no problem. I think you will enjoy the drive a lot more in a class C than a car. That's the first thing I said to my husband when I called him to say we made it to Disney.. It was so nice for the grandchildren in the class C then the car. They watched dvd in the tv.also no getting out of the car to use the restroom...
My class c is 31 foot long and I found it to be pretty easy to drive...

 

[veraletta]

Not too much... The best thing is when you get tired you can pull over in a rest stop to take a break or even a power nap and then get back on the road...
I was tired I think because I've never drove anything so big...and the stress of it made me a little tired. Plus I'm the one that drives when it's only my daughter, grandchildren and me.

 

[RVinMomma]

This is a totally do-able trip! We drive a Class A from VA to FL in one straight shot. It takes 12-16 hours depending on how often/long we stop. This time down we will overnight at a truckstop or rest area, then keep on trucking!

 

[super_camper]

I should note that its a 980 mile drive, and should take about 16 hours

I would plan for an overall average of about 50 miles/hour in a MH including stops for fuel etc. Maintaining that average though requires few stops and they have to be pretty quick stops as well.

We travel about 1250 miles one-way and it takes over 24 hours. We split the drive across 3 days.

 

[Kleinhdr]

When I take the motorhome on a similar drive, I like to leave during the first evening we can get away, after the wife gets out of work. I then like to drive for 6 or 7 hours then pull over into a rest area or Walmart parking lot around midnight or 1:00 AM. We then sleep until 6 or 7 AM and then drive fully rested for another 10 hours or so and stop in the mid-afternoon at a state park or RV park and relax in the evening and get a good night sleep. Then it is a pretty easy drive the next day to get to the destination. Leaving the evening when the wife gets out of work and driving that first 6 or 7 hours really makes a 18 or 20 hour drive much easier in my opinion.

 

[bama_ed]

Jim,

I remember your posts from this summer about driving down in a Class C.

As long as you don't push it, you should do fine. Two days each way would not be a problem.

Just make sure you stop at the grocery store to get any food items before you settle into the Fort.

Good luck to you!

Bama Ed

 

[ClaudeZ767]

Have you driven anything big like a Uhaul or box truck, or towed trailers before? If so, then you'll be fine. You just have to keep your size in mind and don't expect the responsiveness of a passenger car.

Time wise, two days from Pittsburgh sounds good to me. Especially if you have more than one driver. From central CT we do 2 or 3 days, but a 3 day-er usually includes either a late shove-off (i.e. after school/work) or a stop to visit family in Raleigh on the way down.

Also, expect at least one fool to get in front of you and expect you to brake in time while towing a small house.. never fails..

 

[Teamubr]

My team owner rented a Class C a few years ago and accompanied us to Myrtle Beach (from St Louis). It was the first time he had driven anything other than a passenger car or pick up. He said it was very uneventful. The following year they rented a 44ft Class A and joined us at the Rolex races in Daytona and then over to the fort. Again, no drama and no problems.

It's just like I tell people when they ask how I pull the race hauler (48 ft, 23,000 lbs). Just remember how wide, tall and long you are and everything else just follows along.

It sounds funny, but cruising down the highway, there will be times you forget how big you are.

Have fun and enjoy the fort!

j

 

[KristinU]

Also, expect at least one fool to get in front of you and expect you to break in time while towing a small house.. never fails..

How true is that?!?!?

 

[jbrostek]

A 2 day schedule to drive down is more then doable. We head down every winter from the Northern VA area and take 2 days to make the trip. First day is our long haul with about 12 hours total "on the road" until we stop in a campground for the night near the GA boarder. The next day is only 6-7 hours max before we are at the checkin line for FW. That time includes stops for fuel, bathroom, dog walks, and food.

 

[phnguyk]

We drive down New Jersey and we take a day and a half to get there. 1000 miles each way for us. First day we drive as long and as far as we can so that way the next day is a lot easier on us.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

Leaving the evening when the wife gets out of work and driving that first 6 or 7 hours really makes a 18 or 20 hour drive much easier in my opinion.

My hubby and I were just discussing this. We booked our trip with a Saturday check in and intentions to leave early (3-4am) Friday morning (from NJ).

I just suggested to my DH that if he is not to tired, we may want to leave Thursday night, after rush hour, and at least get south of DC. It will mean 2 nights on the road instead of 1 but might make it a more enjoyable trip as well, with less hours on the road per day. It would also give us time to stop and visit a friend in NC, and be no more than 4-5 hours away on Saturday morning.

 

[Teamubr]

I just suggested we may want to leave Thursday night, after rush hour, and at least get south of DC. It will mean 2 nights on the road instead of 1

We often do this. I'm too impatient to wait an extra minute and want to leave as soon as I get home from work. Drive 4 or 5 hours after work on Thursday. (StL to Clarksville, TN) Then drive to within a few hours of WDW (around the FL border) on Friday and have a nice easy drive in on Saturday morning.

Coming home we generally drive straight through.

j