Women drivers

Rip and Rosie · Guru

Women drivers

solarpanel4 · Veteran Member

I have encouraged my wife to tow,break the coupling & connect up again too.
In the event of a problem she knows how to handle it & get it all together.
Gives me a chance to look around as well.

Regards Jeff.

GaryKelly · Guru

A relic from the chauvinistic days, I reckon. Women drive buses, trucks, big mining machinery, fly planes and whatever else these days. The only thing they still can't do properly is push a trolley around a supermarket. :)

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Any woman who sits back and doesn't take a turn is risking being stranded if anything happens to her partner which prevents him from driving.
I don't drive a lot, don't like it, and am a terrible reverser, but at least I could do it if necessary.

valnrob · Guru

I am capable of towing our van, reversing have only had a few goes but managed to get the van into the driveway finally. If anything happened to the 'pilot' I could get us on the road. I haven't hooked up yet but there would always be some help around to give a hand Im sure.

Cheers

eureka · Senior Member

GaryKelly wrote:
A relic from the chauvinistic days, I reckon. Women drive buses, trucks, big mining machinery, fly planes and whatever else these days. The only thing they still can't do properly is push a trolley around a supermarket. :)

Your a lark Gary (get a giggle every time) thanks mate

2weis · Senior Member

my wife normally lets me drive.but on a recent holiday i had a health scare at burrum heads and she (with me directing) had to hook up and tow back to brisbane, which she id with no problems once she got the feel of the van on the back
the women have as much skill as the men they just have to be willing and a bit more adventerous
brian

Zoomtopz · Guru

hey Gary , talking about pilots .

If it is known as a c*ckpit , when a bloke is piloting a plane.

would it be a box office when a woman is flying disbelief

just a thought

Onedodger · Guru

I only wish my wife would have a turn at the wheel when we travel.

Although she can drive the Patrol and does she will not tow.

And no matter how I try to coax her or our friends try she will still not tow.

kandagal · Guru

I call my husband my chauffeur as he does most of the driving when we're in the motorhome but I do all the driving (in the Suzuki) when we're in that. A heavy vehicle licence is required for our motorhome & I do have one & if I had to I could drive it. Hey I drove 85 tonne dump trucks in a mine once for a living.

Ontos45 · Guru

I don't blame anyone ...man or woman...not wanting to tow a c'van. Its the most dangerous combination on the road.

If I was incapacitated Sue would just disconnect the van and continue with the Discovery.

We are now looking at a MH to 4.5 tonne to get away from towing and using step-through motor scooters to shop with.

Peter

freehazzas · Senior Member

I do all the towing of our 25 ft van and soon to be had 30 ft fifth wheeler. It makes sence. I have had more ecperience towing large horse trailers and i have a semi truck licence from farming days. My husband ( yes i am the wife) does all the driving when we are out and about. We figure, we could still have an accident, but as I have more exp and my reflexes are faster, we minimize our risk by having me do the towing. He has no probs with it as he knows its for the best and is safest.
Macho drivers IMO are dangerous ones. They insist on all the towing ect, even when they are not the best or safest for the job.

Cloak · Guru

Ontos45 wrote:
I don't blame anyone ...man or woman...not wanting to tow a c'van. Its the most dangerous combination on the road.
If I was incapacitated Sue would just disconnect the van and continue with the Discovery.
We are now looking at a MH to 4.5 tonne to get away from towing and using step-through motor scooters to shop with.
Peter

Now there's a great idea scooters to get around in. I've always discounted the MH because of the inconvenience to break camp for a litre of milk.

MH may well be back on the table.

Thanks Pete.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

You could even have one motor-scooter and take turns being the pillion passenger!

GaryKelly · Guru

You shouldn't be allowed out, Zoomtopz.

neilnruth · Guru

Biker and his babe.jpg

One day this will be me!

My hubby does all the driving when we have the caravan on but I have been known to tow when there has been an emergency. As we only do small distances these days, I'm happy for him to drive. If we were doing long distances I wouldn't be as happy as he does get tired regardless of what he thinks.

I am a hopeless reverser though so hope he's still around to do that.

I think I would give up travelling if anything happened to him. I think I've seen enough of Australia to keep me happy.

Cloak · Guru

I wonder what he's like reversing her into the hair dressers?

Weedy Pigeon · Senior Member

GaryKelly wrote:
A relic from the chauvinistic days, I reckon. Women drive buses, trucks, big mining machinery, fly planes and whatever else these days. The only thing they still can't do properly is push a trolley around a supermarket. :)

As Sir Humphrey says in Yes Minister, "very courageous" to make that comment about the shopping trolley GaryKelly. I'm not as game as you but I'll agree with your comment on the understanding that when the flak starts we can all point to you as having said it first.

Cruising Granny · Guru

I regularly ask women if they tow the van the husband just reversed into the parking site. "No! It's his job!"
Somehow they think men were born with the skills required to hitch up and tow everything. Not so.
I then encourage them to at least have a go at straight towing without the hitching/unhitching or reversing, just to give them the "feel" for it. I explain that she may have to do it to get them into town or to get help if he has a fall or health issue and can't take the wheel.
So girls, the blokes were not born with the natural towing instinct. I've seen some really bad towing jobs by blokes.
The days of "his job" and "her job" are over. Girl power is alive and well out on the road in the big, wide world. Just do it!

Grams · Guru

Les will be driving more than me, as he's used to driving for longer periods. But yes I will tow the caravan, I've towed trailers in the past, even helped Les drive the semi when he got it bogged in mud, we both unloaded a full 40ft trailer of treated perma pine logs by hand. Then after the trailer was lighter, I drove the truck while he was laying bearers in front of the wheels.

So no problem with us sharing the driving.

Cruising Granny · Guru

You go girl! We are only restricted by our own limitations we put on ourselves.
It seems your avatar isn't quite accurate. You did do it!
Out in the bush where man or woman power is limited, we have to use our own wits and resources to get things done, or to get out of trouble.

Mary · Senior Member

Perhaps some Gn's should take advantage of some of the accretited courses available There are Racv on towing etc It's never to old to learn or do a refresher.Do it together and enjoy .You willboth be on the same wave lenght then.
Mary

Helena · Guru

When we had the A'Van we used to share the driving but Bill always got me to back it into the spots as it always took him longer to manage it but definite you both have to be able to use whatever you have as if there is an emergency you would be in trouble. Helena.

Rip and Rosie · Guru

Whether we are towing or not, we share the driving- 2 hours max and then a change (+/- a cuppa).
Its not about which one is more confident- confidence builds with experience, its about safe driving

Rip and Rosie · Guru

_wombat_ wrote:
Mrs W has saved my bacon 3 times because she is able to tow the van and taken me to hospital, and she also drives when I am tired I just sit in the LHS and close my eyes cos I can't stand her driving.
IMHO both drivers should be able to tow, in case of health problems with the other driver

IMHO it has more to do with the macho image of being blokey, with the wife in the passenger seat, with the man in control of the big vehicle and big van, unless he is tired or sick. Although women "should be able to tow" it seems that it isn't likely they will get a 50/50 split. disbelief

I was waiting to see if some one had some other reason for the male dominated control of the driver's seat, and I'm still waiting fellas ! smile

-- Edited by Rip and Rosie on Tuesday 18th of June 2013 09:12:33 AM

JulieM · Veteran Member

Cruising Granny wrote:
You go girl! We are only restricted by our own limitations we put on ourselves.
It seems your avatar isn't quite accurate. You did do it!
Out in the bush where man or woman power is limited, we have to use our own wits and resources to get things done, or to get out of trouble.

I agree with this comment totally! I camp with friends and 'he' does the towing. After I started towing I encouraged my girl friend to try...you know...

"if I can do it you can". She is now driving and towing, for short distances but it's a start. You just need confidence and that builds with time.

sandsmere · Guru

Judy does as much driving as I do . Specially on the bitumen . I do most of it if the roads are not so

good or steep hills etc. .

I don't mind being a passenger . See a hell of a lot more of the country sitting in the LHS seat .

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Mrs W has saved my bacon 3 times because she is able to tow the van and taken me to hospital, and she also drives when I am tired I just sit in the LHS and close my eyes cos I can't stand her driving. biggrin

IMHO both drivers should be able to tow, in case of health problems with the other driver

eureka · Senior Member

I'm thinking...............We single, female, caravan owners are something really special.

You go Girls !!!!!!

And yes you're right Cruising Granny. We all make our own restrictions and limitations. Just give it a go, better now than in an emergency.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Rip and Rosie wrote:
_wombat_ wrote:
Mrs W has saved my bacon 3 times because she is able to tow the van and taken me to hospital, and she also drives when I am tired I just sit in the LHS and close my eyes cos I can't stand her driving.
IMHO both drivers should be able to tow, in case of health problems with the other driver
IMHO it has more to do with the macho image of being blokey, with the wife in the passenger seat, with the man in control of the big vehicle and big van, unless he is tired or sick. Although women "should be able to tow" it seems that it isn't likely they will get a 50/50 split.
I was waiting to see if some one had some other reason for the male dominated control of the driver's seat, and I'm still waiting fellas !

-- Edited by Rip and Rosie on Tuesday 18th of June 2013 09:12:33 AM

just to clarify when you say in part 'I was waiting to see if some one had some other reason for the male dominated control of the driver's seat' are you referring to towing or driving the family car?

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.