New experience

Tikvah · October 18, 2014, 11:27:32 AM

This is only the second time she's driven the bus, but with the wide open highway of South Dakota, it seemed the perfect opportunity.
So as she drove I moved around in the coach a bit to see how it feels. I was amazed at the sound of the engine from the bedroom. Not noisy necessarily, we're really well insulated, but a serious, heavy, roar. It sounded a bit overwhelming or even scary. All that power, all that iron just screaming away. I guess it was probably only 2000rpm, but it seemed I was on top of a top fuel dragster.

Never heard a DD running wide open, from just a few (insulated) inches away.

akroyaleagle · October 18, 2014, 11:34:00 AM

Hey! I drive in South Dakota!

Seriously, It's great to see the ladies driving. No better place to learn than the Dakotas. Very light traffic, straight, good roads and nothing to hit (or hit you). At night watch out for the deer though!

Frankie has pulled ours up or backed a short distance but I have yet to get her to drive it.

Nothing to it but realizing it's bigger than their SUV and the mirrors are there for a reason.

Keep on keepin' on!

brmax · October 18, 2014, 11:46:35 AM

Im Very Proud to see that, You go girl !
Hey Im surrounded here by 4 ladies and even when they bring there pets they happened to be girls, my gosh.
Now you I will have to have a talking to

( why you giving up the top secretness )
Good day to ya

luvrbus · October 18, 2014, 11:56:26 AM

Sonja has always driven any bus we owned only one time did she ever complain that was driving the MCI 5 with a 4 speed manual in down town Phoenix at 5 pm

A funny story she bought 2 Eagles with no power steering and 4 speed manuals then ask me how we were going to get them from Texas to Idaho lol I told her you bought it you drive it and she did but the second one I did drive for her 1/2 way

I tell her sometimes being her personal chauffeur is not in my job description so she has always driven the buses with or without me it makes no difference to her

akroyaleagle · October 18, 2014, 12:07:24 PM

Clifford,

We have always gotten away with telling the girls stuff.

We are getting older and they are not! They are getting meaner!

I am careful nowadays to not "tell" The mouth of the south anything I wouldn't like to wear in an uncomfortable place!

Take care my friend.

luvrbus · October 18, 2014, 12:27:20 PM

Lot of truth to that statement Joe over the past 45 years I have developed the "selective hearing syndrome" and practice "silence is golden" it works for me

akroyaleagle · October 18, 2014, 12:32:24 PM

Silence with Frankie just makes her madder.

I just pretend I didn't hear. Then babble something totally unrelated.

chessie4905 · October 18, 2014, 12:36:46 PM

When MY wife drove our Brill, back in the bedroom it sounded like a small rock crusher. Mid gas engine. Pulled rearend to replace pinion seal and found Two differential bolts hanging loose and one bent and broken half way with a couple ring gear teeth chipped. Robbed bolts from another rear and checked bearings, repl. seal. Worked fine with no more issues and was quiet with no rockcrusher sound.
The 4104 just had a singing roar. Must have been interesting sitting in rear seat on a commercial model.

TomC · October 18, 2014, 07:22:05 PM

I know I'm up to cruising speed because the rear end puts out a definite gear whine at speed. Good Luck, TomC

Dreamscape · October 19, 2014, 05:35:04 AM

Joe and Clifford, Wise words to live by for sure!

Becky hasn't driven ours yet, manual steering but with an auto tranny. She would have to stand up to turn the wheel!

Jim Eh. · October 19, 2014, 11:04:26 AM

My wife rarely drives outside our neighbourhood in her own car, and certainly not in my crewcab long box. Drive a bus? I may get her to drive the bus .... in a parking lot, maybe ....

akroyaleagle · October 20, 2014, 12:50:30 PM

Krank,

Bring her out to the Dakotas. She won't be nervous as there's nothing but super slab farther than whe can see!

Jim Eh. · October 21, 2014, 01:18:02 PM

Being a flatlander myself I know what it is like. However speeds being the way they are (over 15 m.p.h.) and the proximity to other automobiles (within a 20 mile radius) she gets a little nervous.

MightyThor · October 21, 2014, 02:45:04 PM

Quote from: krank on October 21, 2014, 01:18:02 PM
Being a flatlander myself I know what it is like. However speeds being the way they are (over 15 m.p.h.) and the proximity to other automobiles (within a 20 mile radius) she gets a little nervous.

Right, North Dakota is perfect for her. Nothing around and Nothing there worth worrying about. (old Montana/North Dakota joke)

Tikvah · October 21, 2014, 02:58:11 PM

Quote from: MightyThor on October 21, 2014, 02:45:04 PM
Right, North Dakota is perfect for her. Nothing around and Nothing there worth worrying about. (old Montana/North Dakota joke)

South Dakota is where that picture was taken

It was perfect area for her to drive. But after about three or four miles - wouldn't you know - construction zone.

She drives well, but she's just nervous with the size. I keep telling her she needs to know. If something happens to me, she might not find another guy until she gets back home.