Who drives?

[Brad]

Just wondering how many people out there share the driving of the van between the partners. Even moreso, for partners that do not drive, is it because they do not feel confident to drive or choose not to?

How important is it when traveling long distances with not much between destinations to know that there is more than one person in the car that feels confident driving the van. Especially in those emergency instances where the main driver is sick? For those with only one skilled driver, what's your backstop when you cannot drive?

When backing the van, is this job reserved always for one person or do both partners know how to go about reversing a van? Do both partners know how to reverse a van?

 

[Glenn]

G'day Brad,

Im the professional driver in the family so the wife kicks back and relax's. I'm a shocking passenger anyway unless i'm Intoxicated, then i'm worse !uke:

 

[Brad]

G'day Brad,

Im the professional driver in the family so the wife kicks back and relax's. I'm a shocking passenger anyway unless i'm Intoxicated, then i'm worse !uke:

So what happens when you are on the road and not well Glenn? I am with you. I do most of the driving, but in an emergency, would your wife get in behind the wheel and drive towing the van?

 

[Xpandafan]

My wife doesn't drive at all, so I do the driving but now tend to keep daily distances quite moderate. She's great with the setting up/packing up and does all the catering during the day while traveling, so every stop really is a rest stop for me. Works well. Reversing the van is easier with her on a handheld UHF giving directions (once we agree on which way is "the other way"). She now also looks after CP bookings. She also monitors the radio and GPS. Still a pretty good team after 40 years.

 

[Burnsy]

Good point Brad, it would be handy if your partner could drive however I don't make a good passenger either. As well as that I'm not a fan of my wifes driving and don't know that she would change her habits when towing, so if I got sick I'd say we would stay another night!

Cheers.

 

[chartrock]

She's great with the setting up/packing up and does all the catering during the day while traveling, so every stop really is a rest stop for me. Works well. Reversing the van is easier with her on a handheld UHF giving directions (once we agree on which way is "the other way"). She now also looks after CP bookings. She also monitors the radio and GPS. Still a pretty good team after 40 years.

This just about covers my situation except that my wife does drive but doesn't like towing but one time I got sick she did tow our camper trailer for a couple of days so I know in an emergency, she will come through. We don't have 40 years but do have 23 years as a team. :whoo:

 

[gspy4u]

Both share the driving but I tend to do the crowded city parts more so than her. I'm usually the one reversing the van as well. But she is fine sharing the load on the long distances and it doesn't bother her at all.

 

[Capt. Gadget]

My Wife drove once! and we'll just leave it at that

 

[expanda]

My partner would like to tow but not confident....

She has been towing the boat around and is now ready to step up to the caravan.

But alas i have control issue and just won't let her ...

I was very crook one time coming back towing the boat and I had to pull over and it was a situation where I really couldn't drive so we where stranded for a bit till I could clamber behind the wheel and get us back home.

It made for a very interesting trip to say the least!

Since then I agree even if she doesn't want to tow there needs to be a competent second driver but my control issues might take over!

 

[Brad]

It is interesting to see the replies. My wife tows also but was not confident. So we went to one of those caravan driving courses. They had my wife do the full locking of brakes at speed and everything else in between.
She learned to reverse also. But that was with the old expanda. Now we have the new expanda she is more hesitant again.

 

[Harv n Bron]

Bron came and picked me up from some day surgery one day. (11 stitches in the face), she took one look and I had to drive home! I do the driving and backing. If it came down to it we would stay longer..........

 

[Matty4]

My wife just isn't interested in towing anything at all (even my little 6x4).
I too am a shocking passenger and would be more so if she was towing.

Even when not towing, I am always the driver on any trips, even into the CBD.
If it got down to it she would be fine on the open road but once traffic and towns and roundabouts etc come into it, it would be game over and we'd have to stay until I got better.

I've been towing big things since the day I got my licence so reversing is solely left up to me, she just tells me when to stop!!!

A few years ago I taught my mum how to tow their van just in case my dad couldn't. They were heading off with their van for a "lap".
She didn't want my dad telling her how to drive whilst towing, so I did....hehe

 

[straydingo]

I do most of the driving, but sort of 2hrs on, 1/2 hour off, if we don't have a stop and rest period. I love driving, but the missus does remind me I have to have a break.
The missus doesn't feel confident, and prefers the open roads, but I think shes fine....

 

[Bushman]

My better half is licensed but just isn't a driver, doesn't really like driving so just doesn't with or without anything in tow, but i guess out of desperation she could jump in the driver seat if really needed even if it meant dumping the van somewhere safe eg storage or CP and comming back for it, I need to get her in the tug and get use to it a bit more.

In saying that she is great with set/pack up once we get onsite door is opened and inside organised including poping roof once I undo the latches,while I do the outside quite often the kettle is on and brew made before I finish outside providing I remember the gas or power.

Thats also the bonus of the Panda over our previous camper, the better half will usually have it packed ready to rock'n'roll by the time I get home if we just want to shoot off for the weekend.

 

[zerosecta]

G'day Brad,
Im the professional driver in the family so the wife kicks back and relax's. I'm a shocking passenger anyway unless i'm Intoxicated, then i'm worse !uke:

Same in my house hold

 

[Glenn]

Hi Brad i have done a bit of interstate truck driving so you just tend to push on. My wife would drive if she had to though not real confident. I am self employed so like Burnsy said i would just stay an extra nite or two if i was that sick, otherwise RACV total care would get is home.

So what happens when you are on the road and not well Glenn? I am with you. I do most of the driving, but in an emergency, would your wife get in behind the wheel and drive towing the van?