I pulled the Monty on the Interstate - Montana Owners Club

Driftwoodgal · 06-17-2008, 01:33 PM

Bob had to take a conference call on our way up to Wisconsin. He gets on the phone and they tell him the call will be two hours long.

We still had a long way to travel that day, so guess who had to pull on the interstate???? Yeppers, that would be me. I had only pulled the Monty to the dealership that was 20 miles from the house.

I really couldn't feel that I had a big monster behind me. I feel better about my ability to pull this thing now. I will make sure that when we take it to Marble Falls in July that I pull it through town and into the RV Park. I want to be prepared if I have to ever pull this thing all on my own.

Colleen

rogue · 06-17-2008, 01:47 PM

Glad you feel positive about driving it now. I'm a firm believer both spouses should know how to drive it, as well as hook up and unhook. One never knows when they might have to do any of these. Thanks for posting this.
Bob

slewis · 06-17-2008, 02:20 PM

WOW, so proud of you. I pulled our SOB once. I've not drug the Montana yet, tho. It's such a major high when you know that you've done it successfully. Congratulations.
Sandy

Mrs. CountryGuy · 06-17-2008, 02:32 PM

WAHOOOOOO COLLEEN!!

Congrats, it really is not as bad as it seems.

If a lady can drive an 18 wheeler, we can drive these units!!! How many ladies drive a school bus??? LOTS!!! We can drive these units!

Also we believe that in an emergency we should both be able to get the unit to the next stop. (Been there, done that)

YEA GIRL!!!!

Driftwoodgal · 06-17-2008, 03:14 PM

Oh my goodness I feel the love.......I really was tickled when I was pulling the Monty. He was so busy with the conference call he didn't have time to be white knuckled about my driving. I must say I did notice how stupid drivers are about putting their life in an RV'ers hands when the pull out in front of you with little space between us. I will pull again, but want to do it in short periods to work my way into a long pull. The next challenge is backing it!! Oh, I forgot I need to hitch the thing up too!! Ok, I am not passing out...one step at a time hee hee.

Colleen

bncinwv · 06-17-2008, 03:19 PM

You go girl, I am trying to get Cathy to get behind the wheel also. I will show her your post for inspiration!!!
Bingo

Driftwoodgal · 06-17-2008, 03:36 PM

Bingo,

Just remember be calm when you are giving her suggestions. It was really great that Bob was occupied when I was driving. He only had time to give me one tip. "Start stopping sooner."

I does take practice learning how long it takes you to bring this things to a dead stop. That is why I want to drive more on shorter jaunts. Also, learning the turning radius......on this trip he even miss judged how long we are. I want to learn all I need to know to get this thing from point A to point B safely.

Colleen

sailer · 06-17-2008, 04:51 PM

Well driftwoodgal that was great ,, sharon asked when we went to the keys in fl if she could drive so i said yes and on alagator alley ,,, I-75 she took over and drove half way to miami ,, now evertime i see const ahead i ask , do you want to drive,,,,,sailer

LonnieB · 06-17-2008, 04:52 PM

Right On Colleen!! There is nothing to fear but fear itself.

I agree with Mrs. CountryGuy, all of you ladies should get behind the wheel once in awhile, just to get the feel of things should an emergency ever arise. Vanessa has never pulled the Montana, but I have no doubt in her ability to do so. 5 or 6 years ago we had delivered a load of equipment to southern New Mexico, and on the return trip I got so sick I couldn't drive. It was a 38 foot gooseneck flatbed, and it was the first trailer she had ever pulled. Naturally she was scared, but having no other choice, she decided to give it a try. After a few miles she realized it wasn't near as hard as she had imagined it to be, and after a couple of hundred miles, she was actually comfortable with it.

So ladies, please put your inhibitions in a zip lock bag, and give it a try. Even if it takes very small steps to begin.

bob n pam · 06-17-2008, 07:48 PM

Way to go, Colleen! Congratulations.

Pam

Waynem · 06-18-2008, 01:27 AM

Way to go! Maybe next trip you can drive my rig with DW as shotgun and I can ride BSD with your DH!

Besides backing for the first few times, one of the important things to remember when you are coming off the freeway, or in town, is WIDE turns. Those curbs and roadside things will jump up and scare you!

kroencke · 06-18-2008, 02:03 AM

Colleen-Noticed you said you were going to Marble Falls in July. My husband and I are going also and will be there on the 10th and will be staying at Sunset Point RV Park on Lake LBJ. Just wondered when and where you are staying. Jackie

Ms McGyver · 06-18-2008, 03:26 AM

Yahooooooo! Another experienced lady RV driver! It's not so bad once you put your concerns away and just "do it". I've pulled ours in rural areas and on the highway and DH gives me no trouble if I should want to drive it in the city.

I'm with the rest of you about backing, though. To put our baby away we need to back it into a slot about 11 feet wide, bordered by someone else's boats. The problem is that we can't get close and turn into the slot, so we have to back about 120 feet into the slot. That's a lot of room to wiggle out of position. I'm hoping for an advanced driver's class in Goshen this year. Emphasis being on hook-up/breakdown and BACKING.

Driftwoodgal · 06-18-2008, 06:58 AM

Jackie,

We will be at Sunset Point from July 1-8. We live in Driftwood near Dripping Springs. Would love to see you if you have the time. Can you make Sunset Point a couple of days early? We have had reservations at the RV park for a year. Hopefully we will make it back by the 1st.

Colleen

kroencke · 06-18-2008, 07:34 AM

Unfortunately we can't be there any earlier than the 10th. Will be there 5 days. Haven't been to that rv park before. Normally go to Inks Lake SP. Would have liked to meet some fellow Monty owners.

eeoski · 06-18-2008, 03:06 PM

Colleen,

HOORAY and CONGRATULATIONS! I'm sure that having your DH occupied helped BOTH of you! You didn't have to worry about his reactions and he was pretty occupied and couldn't freak out too bad/obviously.

People ARE oblivious to the fact that you are hauling something REALLY big that takes time to stop and do such STUPID things...pulling out in front of you from a parking lot, passing you and then pulling in MUCh too soon (and THEN slowing down!), and slowing/stopping/turning last minute.

Wayne's right about the WIDE turn thing.

I'm learning that the anticipation is usually MUCH worse than the actuality and your experience seems to confirm that!

Keep on keeping on!

Robin

Snowhawk · 06-20-2008, 04:51 AM

WOOHOO Colleen!!! Welcome to the ranks of "I can drive this
big rig too!" I am SOOOOOOOOOO proud of you.

Are you coming to the rally? I believe there will be a driving
class for the gals only (sorry fellas... you can't be anywhere
near for this one!) We're even discussing an advanced
class for those who drive but would like a little more help with the backing up (which haunts so many). (some backing is covered in the beginner's class)

Keep on keepin' on... and don't let the simple things, except stupid drivers

, scare you!

Wayne and Carolyn Mathews · 06-22-2008, 07:04 AM

Congratulations on a successful run behind the wheel! You will soon be fighting Bob over who gets to drive if you don't watch out. (By the way, I'm impressed that Bob could actually get a 2-hour conference call via cell phone, if that's how he did it. You couldn't get a 15-minute cell phone call up in Montana here unless you pulled over to talk, because towers are few and far between and the dreaded CALL LOST is a frequent.)

Marble Falls--the Bluebonnet Cafe--sunsets--I'm homesick again.

We lived for over a year in our old Cardinal 5th-wheeler on Texas 1431 between Marble Falls and Lago Vista, in a now-defunct RV park called Cow Creek. The year or so we lived there was one of the best times we've ever had. If you have any reason to take 1431 into Leander and Austin, check out Idyll Glen RV park in Jonestown. We haven't seen it since it was finished, and it's where we hope to stay when we are back in Texas.

Keep on rolling, Colleen. I drive our rig a lot--that's the control-freak in me coming out. Bad, bad deal.

Carolyn

D and M On The Road · 06-22-2008, 04:51 PM

Eeoski is right. The anticipation is much worse than the actual execution. Same for backing up. Piece of cake. *LOL*

I actually enjoy the challenge of pulling and backing up the Montana. Each time I do it, I learn a little bit more and I get great satisfaction knowing that I CAN do it.

Margee.

Driftwoodgal · 06-23-2008, 05:22 AM

Thanks all of the praise you guys. I guess I need to start "firm persuading" Bob to let me hook up and do all of the outside things. I really have been lazy about learning things, but this is really our longest trip since owning the Monty.

The call was on a cell phone. We were traveling on I 40 through Arkansas between Little Rock and West Memphis. We have AT&T phone and air card service. We have had trouble with service in Minnesota as well as South Dakota. I was surprized that the farmers in Minnesota don't put up towers for extra income.

Carolyn, we live just outside of Austin in a little town called Driftwood. When we are camping in Marble Falls it is a destination spot that we camp at with other friends. They have a boat so lots of joy riding and fishing goes on. Since it is over 100 there I am sure there will be lots of water time.

Colleen

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