Kymery
03-24-2009, 08:41 AM
Ok, I posted a thread about this last year...just can't find it. I know this is long, but wish I had this info and detail BEFORE I went. The handbook does not tell you all this!
There is and has been a crack down on people who pull or drive RV's that are mainly as follows: (which I know is 1/2 the people that are camping at SC!)
There have been check points on the way to the river and to the desert...so WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!
* travel trailers weighing over 10,000 lbs. GVWR, not used for hire.
* 5th-wheel travel trailers weighing over 15,000 lbs., not used for hire.
I have taken the written test a couple months ago and received my "permit". I finally got to do my behind the wheel (offered in only certain DMV offices)
I PASSED!!:D This is not your typical driving test! First I had to do a walk around my truck and 37' 5th wheel and act as if I was teaching my instructor what I do for my "pre-check inspection".
Check oil - how? well, pull dip stick read, fill etc..
how to fill?
Check air filter, check for leaks...where do you check for them? on the ground, around the oil filter, cap etc.
Check power steering fluids, brake fluids..and where.
Check for worn belts - how? if they are frayed, stretched, glossy, etc.
Check for cracked hoses and clamps (missed this damn one!!)
Tires..are they worn? How do you know?
Proper air pressure
Lights all there and not broken..do they work? how do you check?
Check that my emerg brake cable was attached to my hitch.
Am I plugged in. Hitch bar connected and locked in
Then onto the trailer. Are lights working? how do you check? Have someone check as you are in the vehicle testing them
are the tires worn?
Axle seal leaking?
Check brakes (if you can see them)
How do you know your brakes are worn? 1/4 inch i think?
Check that you tires are set up against the rim properly..BEAD is SET! I missed this and know better from Quad racing!! duhh
Are SIDE lites working properly if equipted.
Are all doors locked and secure.
Where is your fire extinguisher
Where are your safety triangles/lights if you brake down.
Then I got in my truck
How do you turn on the defroster.
Check the windshield wipers
Are there cracks in your windshield (i missed this..but note they will NOT take you on the drive test if it is!)
Check brakes...how do you check them? Depress three times and then hold..do you loose pressure? (i missed this)
Check you trailer brakes..how do you set them or adjust them.
I put on my Tow Haul button
I put on my Jake Brake (manufacture installed in my Dodge)
Check headlights.
Check E-brake..set it, put it in drive does the vehicle move at all? now give it a bit of gas..do you move? no...awesome
Now...I finally hit 10 pts!! phew..she was cool...giving me hints on "what else" hahaha
Ok..now I have to do a parking lot test in front of about 40 guys waiting to do their BIG RIG tests! Ok..the pressure..little blondie pulling a huge 5th wheel..yeah right, they were waiting for the show of their life.
I had to pull down a wide opening between cones..make sure my back end was past a specified cone, then back into a narrow coned off spot..as if you are backing into a doc...or camp ground spot. I watched the line the guy did in front of my with his tractor trailer..he did it perfect....so here i go!!
(note you get mark downs if you have to re-adjust..like pull forward a bit to straighten out)
I backed her right in, only had to pull forward one time about 3 feet in order to make sure I was straight in my spot...you have to back it in all the way till your back end of your Rig is RIGHT at the two back cones (so as not to hit a building tree etc..)
Now, pull out of there, then turn around and go down a 75' aisle of cones...come to a complete stop at the line (dont go past or too short!). Then back up 50 ' in a straight line. Perfect! I am on a roll.
Now she takes away a cone to my left so I can perform a "right hand turn" and she tells me my rig tires need to come close to the inside cone without knocking it over..as if you are on the street and dont want to hit the curb. but you MUST end up back in the right lane out of the turn so as not to let people cut in on you in your lane...yes you go a bit into the 2nd lane, but you must keep control of YOUR right lane.
I come withing 2" of that cone!! Did it perfect! Guys are applauding me!! hahaah How effin embarassing.
Ok..she gets in and we head out to the city streets of lovely San Berdo! She tells me I cant ask for advise but she will give me direct directions. So I am on two lanes, to the right, and then after the signal it is now three lanes so I know I need to move to the right, but I ask her if we are making a left ahead so I dont have to cut back over....she seals her lips!! hahaha..Ok I move to the right..THEN SHE SAYS..OK YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE A LEFT AT THE NEXT SIGNAL...biattcch!! ok..cutting people off...i get back over.
Ok..pull over up here as if you are parking at the curb and getting out. I pull over nicely. set my e brake, put it in park. She says OK..go.
Left here. right here, get on freeway...merge, etc etc.
We get back to the yard. Everyone watching as I pull in...did she pass?/hahah
She said I did perfect in the lot and on the street. Only thing I did wrong.
I didn't turn my wheels to the curb when she had me park on the street, it was on a slight incline!! ughhh
And I didnt look around enough!! Now this is funny...I kept checking my right mirror, just never turned my head...cuz I though she would think I was trying to read her notes! dammit!!
Oh and I should of checked that damnb RR crossing better! there were no gates and I slowed but didnt do left right enough!!
Most of this is common sense!! Just make sure you can back her in, come to a stop and make tight right hand turns...constantly check your mirrors.
I get my papers and head to the office with the applauds from the guys! I get asked if I "give lessons" hahaha. I walk in and the lady at the counter says "you go girl!!" She said they were all watching from in there (another 10 people) and she was telling them..haha look at her and you guys cant pass and its your job to drive!! BRWWAAAA AHAHAH..ONE FOR THE GIRLS WITH RIGS!!:D:D:D:D:D:D
There is and has been a crack down on people who pull or drive RV's that are mainly as follows: (which I know is 1/2 the people that are camping at SC!)
There have been check points on the way to the river and to the desert...so WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!
* travel trailers weighing over 10,000 lbs. GVWR, not used for hire.
* 5th-wheel travel trailers weighing over 15,000 lbs., not used for hire.
I have taken the written test a couple months ago and received my "permit". I finally got to do my behind the wheel (offered in only certain DMV offices)
I PASSED!!:D This is not your typical driving test! First I had to do a walk around my truck and 37' 5th wheel and act as if I was teaching my instructor what I do for my "pre-check inspection".
Check oil - how? well, pull dip stick read, fill etc..
how to fill?
Check air filter, check for leaks...where do you check for them? on the ground, around the oil filter, cap etc.
Check power steering fluids, brake fluids..and where.
Check for worn belts - how? if they are frayed, stretched, glossy, etc.
Check for cracked hoses and clamps (missed this damn one!!)
Tires..are they worn? How do you know?
Proper air pressure
Lights all there and not broken..do they work? how do you check?
Check that my emerg brake cable was attached to my hitch.
Am I plugged in. Hitch bar connected and locked in
Then onto the trailer. Are lights working? how do you check? Have someone check as you are in the vehicle testing them
are the tires worn?
Axle seal leaking?
Check brakes (if you can see them)
How do you know your brakes are worn? 1/4 inch i think?
Check that you tires are set up against the rim properly..BEAD is SET! I missed this and know better from Quad racing!! duhh
Are SIDE lites working properly if equipted.
Are all doors locked and secure.
Where is your fire extinguisher
Where are your safety triangles/lights if you brake down.
Then I got in my truck
How do you turn on the defroster.
Check the windshield wipers
Are there cracks in your windshield (i missed this..but note they will NOT take you on the drive test if it is!)
Check brakes...how do you check them? Depress three times and then hold..do you loose pressure? (i missed this)
Check you trailer brakes..how do you set them or adjust them.
I put on my Tow Haul button
I put on my Jake Brake (manufacture installed in my Dodge)
Check headlights.
Check E-brake..set it, put it in drive does the vehicle move at all? now give it a bit of gas..do you move? no...awesome
Now...I finally hit 10 pts!! phew..she was cool...giving me hints on "what else" hahaha
Ok..now I have to do a parking lot test in front of about 40 guys waiting to do their BIG RIG tests! Ok..the pressure..little blondie pulling a huge 5th wheel..yeah right, they were waiting for the show of their life.
I had to pull down a wide opening between cones..make sure my back end was past a specified cone, then back into a narrow coned off spot..as if you are backing into a doc...or camp ground spot. I watched the line the guy did in front of my with his tractor trailer..he did it perfect....so here i go!!
(note you get mark downs if you have to re-adjust..like pull forward a bit to straighten out)
I backed her right in, only had to pull forward one time about 3 feet in order to make sure I was straight in my spot...you have to back it in all the way till your back end of your Rig is RIGHT at the two back cones (so as not to hit a building tree etc..)
Now, pull out of there, then turn around and go down a 75' aisle of cones...come to a complete stop at the line (dont go past or too short!). Then back up 50 ' in a straight line. Perfect! I am on a roll.
Now she takes away a cone to my left so I can perform a "right hand turn" and she tells me my rig tires need to come close to the inside cone without knocking it over..as if you are on the street and dont want to hit the curb. but you MUST end up back in the right lane out of the turn so as not to let people cut in on you in your lane...yes you go a bit into the 2nd lane, but you must keep control of YOUR right lane.
I come withing 2" of that cone!! Did it perfect! Guys are applauding me!! hahaah How effin embarassing.
Ok..she gets in and we head out to the city streets of lovely San Berdo! She tells me I cant ask for advise but she will give me direct directions. So I am on two lanes, to the right, and then after the signal it is now three lanes so I know I need to move to the right, but I ask her if we are making a left ahead so I dont have to cut back over....she seals her lips!! hahaha..Ok I move to the right..THEN SHE SAYS..OK YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE A LEFT AT THE NEXT SIGNAL...biattcch!! ok..cutting people off...i get back over.
Ok..pull over up here as if you are parking at the curb and getting out. I pull over nicely. set my e brake, put it in park. She says OK..go.
Left here. right here, get on freeway...merge, etc etc.
We get back to the yard. Everyone watching as I pull in...did she pass?/hahah
She said I did perfect in the lot and on the street. Only thing I did wrong.
I didn't turn my wheels to the curb when she had me park on the street, it was on a slight incline!! ughhh
And I didnt look around enough!! Now this is funny...I kept checking my right mirror, just never turned my head...cuz I though she would think I was trying to read her notes! dammit!!
Oh and I should of checked that damnb RR crossing better! there were no gates and I slowed but didnt do left right enough!!
Most of this is common sense!! Just make sure you can back her in, come to a stop and make tight right hand turns...constantly check your mirrors.
I get my papers and head to the office with the applauds from the guys! I get asked if I "give lessons" hahaha. I walk in and the lady at the counter says "you go girl!!" She said they were all watching from in there (another 10 people) and she was telling them..haha look at her and you guys cant pass and its your job to drive!! BRWWAAAA AHAHAH..ONE FOR THE GIRLS WITH RIGS!!:D:D:D:D:D:D