Why do some motorhomes and caravans hog the centre line.

Santa · Guru

Why do some motorhomes and caravans hog the centre line.

Red Dog · Senior Member

Agree to big a vans and to small a tugs

brickies · Guru

Santa 100% right , There are a lot of our kind out there given us a bad name , I always kept up with the flow and when ever I can pull off to let the traffic past I do , After all we are not in a hurry and there are people on the road trying to make a living .

Santa · Guru

brickies wrote:
Santa 100% right , There are a lot of our kind out there given us a bad name , I always kept up with the flow and when ever I can pull off to let the traffic past I do , After all we are not in a hurry and there are people on the road trying to make a living .

Perzactly. wink

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Agree with everything you said Santa, and add our pet hate which is drivers towing caravans without extended mirrors so they cant see whats behind. Have seen a few of these lately, almost had an accident when one pulled out in front of me, gave no signal either.

Ontos45 · Guru

Agree with all of the above, BUT, don't forget the speed sign is a maximum limit sign....it is not compulsory to drive at that speed if YOU don't think it's safe to do so. You can drive at 80=90kph if you do not impede traffic flow. I have seen many maxi 4x4s towing maxi caravans towing at a 100 swaying all over the place because of improper loading.
Take your time and smell the roses don't be dead on time.

Peter

Cloak · Guru

One thing I've found is fit small additional parabolic mirrors so you can see the van wheels and where they are tracking.

Gives a bit more confidence so you can run closer to the road edge and avoid centre line running.

Of course extended mirrors, we all use them right?

Keep the shiny side up.

Steve

mongrel · Guru

How true Cloak. I agree. However ,trucks are just as bad with their mirrors..I have followed many a truck at low speeds unable to pass. Must sit there and wait for the right time to do so. Have you seen the signs on the rear of the trucks?.IF YOU CAN'T SEE MY MIRRORS I CAN'T SEE YOU..You have to go over half a lane to be able see their mirrors..,And God help you if something is coming the other way. Why don't trucks have wide veiw mirrors?.In saying that most trucks will pull over if they can see you..Their not all bad and the same is said for MH and C/V drivers...Alan the Mongrel....

Roving-Dutchy · Guru

mongrel wrote:
How true Cloak. I agree. However ,trucks are just as bad with their mirrors..I have followed many a truck at low speeds unable to pass. Must sit there and wait for the right time to do so. Have you seen the signs on the rear of the trucks?.IF YOU CAN'T SEE MY MIRRORS I CAN'T SEE YOU..You have to go over half a lane to be able see their mirrors..,And God help you if something is coming the other way. Why don't trucks have wide veiw mirrors?.In saying that most trucks will pull over if they can see you..Their not all bad and the same is said for MH and C/V drivers...Alan the Mongrel....

If you can't see the trucks mirrors, it means only one thing, you are travelling too close to the rear of that truck, therefore you cannot be seen by the driver, back off.

Cheers

David

briche · Guru

I could not agree more. I would be lying if I said I have never done that but you soon pick it up when next I look in the mirror which make a habit of doing that about every 30 seconds or so. So often when you see a line of traffic behind a caravan or motorhome its pretty obvious that the driver is just not in touch with whats going on behind them. I was trained that if you find yourself in that sort of position, do the right thing and pull over to let the traffic past you and in doing so you may defuse the situation when someone takes the chance they should not have taken and a disaster happens. After all at the end of the day what does 60 seconds make. It might just saves someones life. The other thing that so many people don"t realize is that the speed limits are just that, speed limits and its ok to travel at 80 or 90 kph if its safe to do so. I have had so many caravans and motorhomes go past us as if there is going to be no tomorrow, its really scary.

Sorry about that but said a bit more than I intended but I have seen so many near misses that have chilled my blood.

drive well with care

briche

-- Edited by briche on Saturday 11th of May 2013 08:58:57 PM

Santa · Guru

Ontos45 wrote:
Agree with all of the above, BUT, don't forget the speed sign is a maximum limit sign....it is not compulsory to drive at that speed if YOU don't think it's safe to do so. You can drive at 80=90kph if you do not impede traffic flow. I have seen many maxi 4x4s towing maxi caravans towing at a 100 swaying all over the place because of improper loading.
Take your time and smell the roses don't be dead on time.

Peter

I have no problem with people traveling at speeds below the limit Peter, what I have a major problem with is them sitting on their (LEGAL) 90kmh totally oblivious to what's going on behind or around them. furious

As I said before, use your rear view mirrors as well as UHF on CH40, talk to trucks behind who want to get through, then let em through.

As far as CH 18 is concerned, forget about it, waste of time.

Sheba · Guru

Zoomtopz wrote:
. Most modern cars in Australia are capable of in excess of 200kph . Hypathetical
question , why buy a car that can do 200 But only drive it at 70 or 80 , bot th speed limiot is still 100.
Richo.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have a Hi-ace, and normally travel at 90 on the open road, moving over to let traffic pass when it's safe to do so. The reason I like to travel at 90, is the fact that at that speed, I use 25% less fuel, to cover the same distance, that I would doing 100.
Proved by the RACQ, and I've tested it myself.
As a pensioner, I need to make every Dollar count.
Cheers,
Sheba.

-- Edited by Sheba on Saturday 11th of May 2013 09:18:03 PM

Scotty01 · Senior Member

I drive a MH very similar to yours Santa and in a strong side wind I do tend to sit near the centre line but i watch my mirrors very carefully. I also vary rearly travel at the 100kph

magraret · Senior Member

my husband is an ex trucky

before we started our traveling we fitted a UHF for that reason we also fitted cameras on the back of the van to see what was behind

My husband will call them up and tell them he will pull up or slow up for them to pass he also lets them know when to come in that way if they no you wont get impatience drivers

my husband also only drives slower if there is no one behind him

be considerate if you want to crawl get of the road follow the speed limits its not the truckys who are the problom no wonder they hate us on the roads

also we always get a big thank you from them

Shuttlebugs · Veteran Member

No need usually to ID yourself by license plate when using a CB, Gary. It has such a limited range, people know you're talking to traffic nearby most of the time. We just stick to business and say what we're going to do when someone with a CB is behind us, wanting to pass. People say 'roger' instead of yes and 'over' when they finish speaking. They also say 'copy that' when they understand/agree with things. 'Breaker' means you want to break in on a conversation/channel but be careful not to interrupt people inconsiderately. Here's a link about the basics:

http://adrianryan.net/caravan/manual/excerpts/cbradio.htm

There is a whole 'nother language on channel 40 though like Lance says...so turning it off when not in use is a good thing as it doesn't spoil the peace of your drive that way either. I see a CB as a safety tool but it is also nice to connect with others occasionally as it allows you to relate on a whole new level with other CBers.

EDITED: Thanks for the info about making the links live, Gerty. I had to use the hyperlink button instead though.

-- Edited by Shuttlebugs on Saturday 11th of May 2013 10:42:31 PM

-- Edited by Shuttlebugs on Saturday 11th of May 2013 10:42:50 PM

johnq · Guru

Who do you reckon is after you, Santa? biggrin

Seriously though, it would be better if all drivers attended to their mirrors more. I have to keep reminding myself. But save me from drivers who make those valiant moves to let vehicles through and risk upsetting their rig or putting their van wheels on the broken verge. Obey road rules, be predictable, let 'em through as good opportunities arise and smile.

way2gokev · Senior Member

G'day,

One word sums up this topic AGREE.

Cheers

Kev

GaryKelly · Guru

I suspect you're preaching to the converted, Santa. Anyway, I've never used a UHF. Do you select Channel 40 and say something like, "Motorhome (licence plate) calling truck behind me. Come in. Over." Pardon my ignorance.

Kaid · Guru

Got held up on the way to Townsville today by a caravan doing 80kph.
Had a long , long line behind him.
On the other hand, when we have been doing 100,
we have been overtaken by cars towing vans.
Reckon they have to be doing bout 120 to pass us

barrie · Guru

Everyone has a gripe about drivers but so long as they abey the rules and pay insurances ,road tax etc they are allowed to use them without hassel, where is there a road rule stating you have to keep to the curb I think the rule is to stay within the white lines.

Olley46 · Guru

Anybody (sitting )on channel 40 with there wife ,or lady friend,sitting beside them must not have any respect for them what so ever,the language on the truck channel is unsuitable for my wife ,this is my view only ,but I do go to channel 40 to talk the trucks around ,and get off that channel as soon as possible.

Lance C

X TRUCK DRIVER

Baz421 · Guru

I agree with most comments here,,, but back to Santa's OP,,, they drive like that because they have no idea where the LH side is or clearance from objects on the left IMHO.

How they miss objects in city driving, multi lane etc intrigues me,,, pure good luck OR hog the line.

I talk to the truckies regularly on 40 out bush, let them decide what they want and offer to knock 10kph off when they are in the passing lane ready go,,, they like this and have said they wish more of us would offer to loose some speed for them,,, or pull over, especially road trains with poor accelleration.

Other truckies with wide loads (not the extreme widths with a pilot) often just say follow the fog line with LH wheel and I'll be fine, and they pass OK.

It's a 2 way street and we should try to educate other GN's where possible.

Good thread.

Zoomtopz · Guru

I have said for a LONG time "It is usually NOT the 70 or 80ks somebody is doing , IT IS , up & down

like a whore's drawers . 70 here 82 there , up to 90 , back to 73"

The other thing that intrigues me . Th max speed limit in most of Aussie is 100kph , 110kph in some places .

My intriguing question is . Most modern cars in Australia are capable of in excess of 200kph . Hypathetical

question , why buy a car that can do 200 But only drive it at 70 or 80 , bot th speed limiot is still 100.

I believe th 'over the line thingy , is . most people who only drive a smaller vehicle , or any driver for that

matter , get used to where they are in a lane , & that is where they sit , some low in th lane , some right up ,

so when they hook up a larger trailer or get into a heavier vehicle , unless , they acclimatise themselves ,

they sit at they're 'normal spot' .

my 2/- worth.

Richo.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

http://adrianryan.net/caravan/manual/excerpts/cbradio.htm

If you click on the space bar after entering the link it will be clickable.

PS the bad language used by truckies is worse in the cities, we listen on the open road only.

gordon_adl · Senior Member

Good question. I've always wondered what the protocol is in addressing a truckie on the road.

GaryKelly wrote:
I suspect you're preaching to the converted, Santa. Anyway, I've never used a UHF. Do you select Channel 40 and say something like, "Motorhome (licence plate) calling truck behind me. Come in. Over." Pardon my ignorance.

Santa · Guru

GaryKelly wrote:
I suspect you're preaching to the converted, Santa. Anyway, I've never used a UHF. Do you select Channel 40 and say something like, "Motorhome (licence plate) calling truck behind me. Come in. Over." Pardon my ignorance.

Not sure about that Gary, one or two replies here display an attitude of entitlement.

They are certainly the ones to be concerned about, payed my taxes, obey road rules blah blah blah, what they are really saying is, what I'm doing is within the law so screw you, common sense doesn't come into the equation. furious

-- Edited by Santa on Sunday 12th of May 2013 11:04:36 AM

brickies · Guru

I took a radio with us on one trip and never used it to direct anybody , I travel at 90 t0 95 kph on major Highways but increase to 100kph when I see trucks approaching from the rear , When I see some where to pull over I use the blinkers to pull over and let them pass , I would never take the responsible to instruct someone to overtake I feel that the overtakers choice not mine

kiwijims · Guru

I think the easiest way to call anyone behind you is to have a sign on the rear of your caravan, M/home or camper,
simply saying, for example ...... Jim & Jean Ch 40

reading this, the trucker or who-ever is following will know you when you call them saying that you have seen them and will let them pass as soon as possible.

Having such a sign on the rear, will also help the following person when they call you to say that they intend to overtake.

the sign we had on the rear of our van when traveling around the block, worked for us a hundred times,
also got a good conversation going when crossing the Nullarbor for quiet a few hours. (something to do)

cheers kiwijim

GaryKelly · Guru

Breaker, breaker, Shuttlebug. Copy that. Thanks. Over.

Mike C · Senior Member

I always try to be considerate to those following and (if safe) pull over to allow people to pass safely.

Traveling at 90k Really does save significant fuel and is the upper limit for towing an A-Framed vehicle in many cases (max speed advised in Suzuki manual).

Keeping to a constant speed is a must (that's what cruze control is for)

cheers

Mike

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.