The Better half

[Chopper Scott]

My wife brought it to my attention that she is concerned that if need be she will not be able to drive the bus. I will get her behind the seat in some isolated area to prove that it can be done. Just wondering if any other nuts have their better looking co pilots take the controls. Later

[WEC4104]

This subject has been raised several times during our 9 years of ownership.  I don't believe my wife has any aspirations of becoming a regular driver, and usually she starts by describing some scenario where we are on vacation and I become sick (Wishful thinking??)

I have been hesitant, because the 4104 with it's 4 speed Spicer is a beast.  Although my wife wants to think it is like driving a really big minivan, it is not.
 
I did take her out driving locally once.   Only once.   We tooled around a huge empty parking lot for a while and then ended up on some rural highways.  I think it took several years off my life.

I think if I had an automatic transmission she would have faired much better. 

[RickB]

My wife drives our bus often and really, really well. The hardest thing was trying to get her to realize where she "is" on the road as compared to where she thinks she is. We specifically planned for her to learn on a lonely divided highway that was fairly straight and then I asked her to drive as much with the rear view mirrors as she was with the windshield, that allowed her to see where she was on the road. The tendency was for her to move way too far off the center line. Now, with 3-4K miles under her belt, she drives our bus with a heavier foot than I do which I chalk up to the fact that I know how much a rebuild costs!

The other issue was hitting curbs while turning on city streets. At first she would only drive from onramp to offramp but I took her to a parking lot, she once again focused on her mirrors, and she figured it out quick. When we tow the car she still gets a little nervous making turns but I just reassure her and watch her mirrors with her. I have yet to reach R.E.M. sleep with her driving but I have had a couple of good catnaps with her behind the wheel.

Lastly, having an inexperienced driver take the wheel in heavy side winds or having them learn on a coach with loose front end steering issues are probably not the best ways to instill confidence with any new driver behind the wheel.

My wife is proud of the fact that she can drive our bus well and I am proud of her for conquering her fears by trying and succeeding.

Rick

[PP]

My wife loves our bus, but she has made it abundantly clear that in the case of my death, she only wants to know how to start it so the guy (or girl) that buys it can see it runs. End of story. Will
BTW, am I correct in assuming that when I reach 500 posts I won't be a senior any longer? Because if that's the case, LET"S GITTER DONE!!

[Dreamscape]

My wife wants to, but we have a small problem. She is 5'2", weight is *#%, and doesn't lift weights. We have Armstrong Steering, a 4 speed Crash Box, a 22" steering wheel, the driver seat won't go far enough forward, we don't have pedal positioning, and one more thing, she has no desire!

PS she said that if we had power steering and an automatic she would reconsider. Yeah right!

Guess that leaves the driving to me!

~Paul~

[Singing Land Cruiser]

  Wow, what a topic. My better half and I were just talking about this very thing. Looks like we will embark on all the tactics all of you have gone through. If my bride is willing and the Lord is willing? I will do my best to be willing. All the Best, M&C

[RJ]

Having trained over 250 bus drivers in my career, I'm more than willing to help anyone, male or female, who'd like a weekend's worth of training from a retired professional.

Often times having a pro substitute for spouse relaxes trainee & spouse alike.

If anyone's interested, PM me for more info.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[JackConrad]

    When we had our 4106 with the 4 speed standard transmission, my wife said "No Way!!"  Now that we have our MC-8 with automatic transmission, she has driven it a few times.   Usually the last 10 or so miles to our place.  She would rather be co-pilot than pilot, but that is OK because I really enjoy driving. She does drive enough, that if she had to she could drive it.  We know several couple that the wife drives as much or more than their husband.
    What RJ said is very true. Most of the time, a wife will learn faster and better, if not taught be their spouse.  Spouses usually do not have as much patience and frequently expect the learning to proceed at a much faster pace.  Jack

[Van]

RJ,atta boy!,you hit the nail right on the head.This should be interesting ,to hear from the members how they have or are dealing with this issue.I myself have trained the most untrainable students to pass the road tests,but training the wifey,another story.

I have always pulled the miles in on trips ,for that matter,any time we are both in the same vehicle I drive ,I don't know ,it always seems to have been that way.

Heck when I first met Cheryl at a bike rally,she had wanted to learn how to ride a harley,so off we went ,and with in a half an hour or so she picked it up astoundingly quick,and returned to the rally (to her friends amazement)with her driving my bike(picture this,18" ape hangers,6" risers)and me sitting in the back with my hands clasped behind my head(another rider is born,right?)and wifey right at home at the controls.

;)That was 11 years ago,let's speed up to today,she will not drive with me in the vehicle ,suspects I am always grading her ,and she gets nervous .Cheryl has gotten behind the wheel of the Eagle and moved it abit at Clifford s place on her own.Point being that another person would be the best instructor,no pressure.

[Dallas]

Since I don't like to drive that much anymore, (28 years behind the wheel of a truck... 3.5 million miles), Cat and I have a deal.
I drive the bus or any large equipment and she drives the car anytime we have to go somewhere without the bus.

She is qualified to drive semi's and has driven buses around the farm, (Ask her about the great time she had pond jumping in Slow Rider's MC8  ). She can also drive our PD4103 if needed, although it never has been.

[Blacksheep]

I don't remember who I was with but I DO remember getting out of your car and kissing the ground!

[Dallas]

I never did more than about 80 mph with that bad tire going down the freeway! 

I don't remember who I was with but I DO remember getting out of your car and kissing the ground!

[grantgoold]

I made a deal with my better half. You help with the conversion (manual labor) and I may consider letting you drive her. I believe that if you want an opportunity to sit behind the wheel and act as King of the road (or queen!) then you better have put some blood, sweat and tears into it. Wow! how Puritan of me.

Really, she has little desire and says she would rather have me hurt the bus than her!

Good day.

[luvrbus]

My,wife has driven every bus we have owned over the years manual transmission with no power steering and autos with power steering.Only one time did she complain and that was driving the MCI 5 with a four speed in downtown Phoenix at 5.00 pm the clutch about did her in standing up to push it down.They do need to learn to drive one you never know when it will become necessary.   good luck

[busshawg]

I know my wife is capable but hasn't got behind the wheel as of yet. Years ago I got her driving the tractor trailer unit we used to own. I had to trick her into it the first time with a switch on the road. After I pulled that trick she gave me @#@# saying if she's going to drive she's going to start from a dead stop and shift. It wass all good to me but I find she lost confindence (like I would as well) when she hadn't drive for awhile.