I found the RV Driving School online, and picked a teacher from the site map based on our travel obligations. Though there were a few teachers in states closer to my home, Steve was located conveniently along the route of our trip. He flexed his schedule to accommodate our travel itinerary.
He also recommended a nice campground that we liked, for our overnight stay.
Just as per the reviews from other students, I experienced Steve to be top notchl, personable and knowledgeable. His teaching approach and soft skills was a great match for me!!
Steve was understanding, and flexed skill practice considerately; communicated precisely, patiently and had skill steps broken down to smallest tasks, and in sequential order. He had a fun humor too at the right times. He demonstrated and explained well the technicalities and cautions for rationale behind RV driving principles.
Not once did he treat me (or speak) harshly. Not once did I feel frustrated or overwhelmed during the 8 hours of lessons. Which says a lot about his teaching talents, because I’m a sensitive person, and had extra fear, having been a passenger in an RV wreck 4 months prior.
Thanks to your school and Steve’s skill, today I confidently gave my husband 2 two- hour breaks from driving the next day continuing to our destination.
Dave & Barb S.
Gary H.
I just wanted to send you some constructive feedback on our joint lesson the 19th and 20th of July. Our instructor was Mr. John Gaquin and he was very good. I was worried and apprehensive before the class and concerned that the instructor might be impatient or a yeller! Well, I was very pleasantly surprised from the first minute I met John! He was a friendly, kind and very understanding instructor that put us at ease, both myself and my wife, from the very first minute! He taught at a pleasant pace that helped both of us learn from him and each other. There were two very important and valuable things he taught us! The first was, how to maintain proper lane centering by looking well ahead of the coach and focusing slightly right of the lane lines. It helped immensely. The second important point was, how to properly turn the coach, without having to figure out the pivot point, by using the driver’s hip line when passing the turn point. These both will make better coach drivers out of both of us. One of the funniest things that happened was when my wife, Janet, was parallel parking the coach for the first time. John patiently drew it out and instructed her how to accomplish the maneuver and then turned her loose. When she parked it perfectly on her first try, I think someone?? Was heard to say and I quote, “damned!!!” Seriously he taught in a way that made both of us comfortable and that created a very positive learning atmosphere. The only thing I would have liked to practice a little more was getting in and out of gas stations but with the one we did and all our discussions about acceptable stations, I have gotten to where I evaluate almost every station I go by. I always look for ones with islands that have a good 50′ from the store so I can either go through and turn on the outside island or one that has an exit around the outside of the store. I also watch the height and told my wife, if it comes down to it, however is not driving will get to go outside and marshal to driver in watching for proper clearance. Finally, I would like to thank all of you for the instruction and confidence we acquired taking your RV Driving School class with John. Thank you and if you have any questions, please feel free to call me at (318)573-9761.
Gary H.
Bill & Michelle F.
We wanted to drop you a line about our recent driving experience with your instructor Joe Powell in Grayling Michigan. Joe was very knowledgeable in all things having to do with recreational vehicles and large vehicle maneuvering in general. He was very methodical in the way he taught the class and repeated the course until we grasped the road skills. My dear wife is now more confident in driving our RUV and I picked up lots of tips that will be a great help in our future travels around this great nation. Thank you for providing a wonderful resource for the RV industry and it’s enthusiasts.
Bill & Michelle F.
David F.
We completed our driving school with flying colors thanks to Candace Rivero. She was prompt in arriving both days and we got right to work. Her pre-driving instructions were very valuable. We got to know each other then hit the road. Candace was clear and concise with her instructions. We practiced driving on highways, small town roads including traffic circles. We practiced both days on backing up the fifth wheel. During our time together Candace gave us loads of RV and RVing information. To sum up I highly recommend driving instructions and the RV Driving School if your new to this especially like we are. Candace was fabulous and I highly recommend her as an instructor. Thank you and see you on the road.
David F.
Debra P.
It was a pleasure having Duane Kunze as my instructor for he eased my mind, and nerves, with the needed confidence in driving my 5th wheel.
Duane is a credit to his profession and to the school.
In addition to providing instruction on highway driving , proper methods in maneuvering turns, changing lanes and my biggest fear of backing up and 90 degree and backing into a parking spot. He also taught me proper truck stop etiquette.
I feel the cost of the lessons was well worth the cost in helping me feel more secure when driving the “Beast”
Debra P.
Pam T.
I intentionally waited a couple of days before
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responding…. Today I picked up my tow car for the very first time and drove back to my campsite. After unhooking the car I backed into my spot solo! I had no challenges driving the RV even with the length of an added car! I truly feel more confident and comfortable in operating and maneuvering the rig! While I had to jump in feet first and drive the RV a few times before this course and on some ridiculously curvy roads to get to my current location, I certainly wasn’t comfortable nor relaxed – far from it in actuality. This course truly changed that. My instructor, Phillip, was knowledgeable, full of helpful ideas well beyond driving, and down right personable. I felt like he cared and he believed in me, which in turn helped my confidence! The time and money for the course was without question – money well spent. Now I feel much more prepared to begin my solo quest to scuba dive in every state while living and working remote from my little house on wheels. Thank you RV Driving School and Phillip being part of my journey!
With Gratitude,
Pam T.
Lauryn E.
Jimmy Johnson worked with us June 5 & 6 in the Memphis area. His instruction was excellent. We purchased a 40’ Tiffin Allegro Bus from Davis Motorhome in Memphis, having never driven a Class A before. Jimmy gave us a great introduction to driving a big rig, what to watch for, overview of hazards and doing pre-trip inspection, and trip planning. We got lots of practice on making turns, using mirrors, highway driving, using engine brakes. We got more confident each day of our 6 day, 1400 mile journey home to Massachusetts, handling heavy traffic, rain, fog, construction detours. My husband and I shared the driving 50/50. Jimmy prepared us very well for dealing with some of these challenges.
Here is our bus now parked in our driveway. We could not have made this trip safely home without Jimmy’s professional instruction.
Lauryn E.
Rick & Nancy S.
My wife and I started full timing after selling our house this last October. We have been pulling a fifth wheel for 5 or 6 years now with me doing all the driving. Nancy was quite reluctant to pull our 40 foot fifth wheel with our Ford 350 diesel truck. She could drive the truck fine but pulling the fifth wheel behind it was terrifying to her. As we both get older we decided having only me driving might not be a smart idea. So through Escapees we found your RV driving school and signed up. Now I thought I knew a lot about driving a rig like ours having done it for the last 5 years so I figured Nancy would learn more than me!! She learned a lot but I learned as much as she did. Don , our instructor was very thorough, very patient, answering our questions as we went along. I didn’t have a good idea on how to back the rig up so Don took us to a empty parking lot and taught us how to backup, both Nancy and I learned the tricks of backing up together, communication being the big trick to overcome. As I look back on our training I think Dons patience with us was great, this wasn’t just a job to him, but he really wanted to pass on his experiences , to make us be safer on the road. The second day of training was on the road driving. We learned turning on curvy two lane highway going up a mountain pass to 7400 ft. and back down; how to use our trucks gears rather than our brakes so much. I didn’t know some of our trucks accessories, Don showed me how to work our manual shifting system! We highly recommend this RV driving school to anyone who drives or tows an RV. It gives us peace of mind knowing how to properly and safely drive our rig.
Rick & Nancy S.
John & Karen F.
Good hands-on learning experience for those with little or no experience towing a travel trailer. Instructor was knowledgeable, friendly, courteous and professional. The fundamentals of towing and backing into a spot were covered extensively and we would recommend the 2-day course to anyone!
John & Karen F.
Leah S.
A solid foundation of skillset improvement, gained confidence, and courage to drive our RV! That is why I took this course. In two days, Paul, our driving instructor (in Casa Grande, AZ) took me from being nervous to simply start the RV to providing me with the skills and hands on experience to be able to actually drive our RV on city streets, in and out of a roundabout, negotiate through narrow traffic coned lanes in a construction zone; confidently negotiate past an accident scene; and the courage to share the interstate with tractor trailers and other drivers in a rain storm. I can now backup our rig on the street, a parking lot, or into a campground space.
Like I am sure is true of most other students, I arrived with decades of “behind the wheel” experience. Just none driving a very large and heavy recreational vehicle. We started the lesson in a wonderful venue that Paul scouted. Real live residential driving experience but in a failed housing development area. I was able to practice starting, stopping, backing, left and right turns, all without the distractions and worry of other cars and obstacles. What helped me even more was the calm demeanor of and encouragement from Paul, my RV Driving School instructor. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better.
Over time, practicing what I learned from the RV Driving School, I will become an even safer, confident, and much more relaxed driver of our RV.
Thank you Paul Metzinger and the RV Driving School for providing me with an excellent RV driving foundation.
the site map based on our travel obligations. Though there were a few teachers in states closer to my home, Steve was located conveniently along the route of our trip. He flexed his schedule to accommodate our travel itinerary.
on our joint lesson the 19th and 20th of July. Our instructor was Mr. John Gaquin and he was very good. I was worried and apprehensive before the class and concerned that the instructor might be impatient or a yeller! Well, I was very pleasantly surprised from the first minute I met John! He was a friendly, kind and very understanding instructor that put us at ease, both myself and my wife, from the very first minute! He taught at a pleasant pace that helped both of us learn from him and each other. There were two very important and valuable things he taught us! The first was, how to maintain proper lane centering by looking well ahead of the coach and focusing slightly right of the lane lines. It helped immensely. The second important point was, how to properly turn the coach, without having to figure out the pivot point, by using the driver’s hip line when passing the turn point. These both will make better coach drivers out of both of us.
She was prompt in arriving both days and we got right to work. Her pre-driving instructions were very valuable. We got to know each other then hit the road. Candace was clear and concise with her instructions. We practiced driving on highways, small town roads including traffic circles. We practiced both days on backing up the fifth wheel. During our time together Candace gave us loads of RV and RVing information. To sum up I highly recommend driving instructions and the RV Driving School if your new to this especially like we are. Candace was fabulous and I highly recommend her as an instructor. Thank you and see you on the road.
Motorhome in Memphis, having never driven a Class A before. Jimmy gave us a great introduction to driving a big rig, what to watch for, overview of hazards and doing pre-trip inspection, and trip planning. We got lots of practice on making turns, using mirrors, highway driving, using engine brakes. We got more confident each day of our 6 day, 1400 mile journey home to Massachusetts, handling heavy traffic, rain, fog, construction detours. My husband and I shared the driving 50/50. Jimmy prepared us very well for dealing with some of these challenges.
My wife and I started full timing after selling our house this last October. We have been pulling a fifth wheel for 5 or 6 years now with me doing all the driving.
towing a travel trailer. Instructor was knowledgeable, friendly, courteous and professional. The fundamentals of towing and backing into a spot were covered extensively and we would recommend the 2-day course to anyone!