Summer Driving Woes

[blas]

The pains in the ass that are known as people with RVs and trucks hauling boats.

The other night on the way to work, everyone was passing a giant RV that was going 50 mph on the freeway. This alone is a huge pet peeve of mine, most RVs can't do highway speeds. But what really got me is that the RV was hauling one of those Suzuki mini SUVs that are basically big go-karts. Either the thing wasn't hitched on correctly or it's just because of the odd shape of the vehicle, but the damn thing was swerving all over the place. I had to veer into the fartstrips (rumble strips) as I passed because the stupid thing would weave in and out of the lane, off to the left, off to the right.....almost hitting everyone who passed the RV.

A few weekends ago, and this happens EVERY damn summer, a truck was hauling a boat, and there were rocks being kicked from the boat. Apparently, some people should do a good once-over before leaving the lake, lest they want to buy everyone around them new windshields.

There was a truck hauling a boat in the McDonalds drive thru today. I absolutely hate when people think it's ok to do this. It takes up the space of two or three vehicles, so everyone gets backed up and has to wait longer than necessary. Go inside and order.

[teh_blumchenkinder]

I never understand how RVs function, let alone with a car or a boat attached. They scare me so much...
EDIT: intellectually, I understand; intuitively? nope!

[Andara Bledin]

The guy hauling the recreational vehicle should have had it on a trailer.

I can't count the number of times I've seen a vehicle that wasn't rated for freeway/highway speeds being dragged around behind some larger vehicle as if that was just peachy keen. >_<

^-.-^

[sms001]

I hear ya Blas. Welcome though those tourist dollars are, sometimes it's too much. Last week I saw a FIB's RV (Big as they get before they are a mobile home.) towing a Hummer, which in turn had a boat behind it! I honestly think people should have to qualify for a different license once their vehicles get out of the pickup truck size range.

[slavetotheman]

The guy hauling the recreational vehicle should have had it on a trailer.

This confused me for a moment because "recreational vehicle" = RV, which are of course rated for highway speeds (even if, as Blas pointed out, they generally don't hit those speeds in real life). Wouldn't be much point to having one if you had to put it on a trailer, LOL

I think the vehicle that was hitched to the RV in this instance was in fact a car that could be driven on a highway and therefore towed in the manner described; see the link and you'll see why she said it might as well be a go-kart -- is this right Blas?

Suzuki Sidekick

[Chromatix]

Over here, you *do* need a separate licence category to drive bigger vehicles. I forget exactly where the boundary lies, but I think you can drive a Ford Transit (or derivative) on a standard licence, but not a full-size van.

You also need a separate licence category for towing a trailer. *Any* trailer.

This wasn't always the case. My dad is grandfathered in to drive both largish vehicles (not HGVs though) and trailers, since they were included in the licence he was originally issued. Of course by the time the new rules came in, he had plenty of experience with both anyway.

[Andara Bledin]

I know in my state, California, you can drive a 25-foot van with a trailer attached with a standard Class C (non-commercial) license. I've done both, when moving a friend and his semi-functional car from central to sou Cali.

^-.-^

[suburbandecay]

I hear ya Blas. Welcome though those tourist dollars are, sometimes it's too much. Last week I saw a FIB's RV (Big as they get before they are a mobile home.) towing a Hummer, which in turn had a boat behind it! I honestly think people should have to qualify for a different license once their vehicles get out of the pickup truck size range.

I am about 99% sure that this guy would actually require a doubles license (Class A CDL with doubles endorsement) in order to haul two trailers. Either way it is an incredibly stupid thing to attempt.