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How do I drive an 18ft long van?

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  • 04-04-2008 2:37pm
    #1
    slumped
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,946 ✭✭✭


    I am renting a van today and by my calculations is is 18ft long.

    A ford transit LWB.

    Any tips or advice on driving something that long??

    S


Comments

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    #2
    Anan1
    Registered Users Posts: 22,815 ✭✭✭✭Anan1


    Take your time. Be careful to leave enough room when making sharp left or right turns. Try to avoid reversing. And most importantly - make sure you pay extra for FULL CDW. :)


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    #3
    peasant
    Registered Users Posts: 17,819 ✭✭✭✭peasant


    Make sure your side mirrors are correctly set up and make good use of them, especially going round tight corners and filtering in and out of traffic.


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    #4
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    Make sure you have a C class licence


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    #5
    slumped
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,946 ✭✭✭slumped


    Talon Salty Uterus wrote: »
    Make sure you have a C class licence

    have been told by europacar that a class B is fine!


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    #6
    Silent Partner
    Registered Users Posts: 148 ✭✭Silent Partner


    As above, set up your mirrors correctly and make full use of them.
    Allow yourself plenty of clearance when turning corners.
    If you've to reverse, get a mate to help you.
    Make sure you load the van properly; don't just bung everything in. Try and stack everything in that allows for as little movement as possible.


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    #7
    Feelgood
    Registered Users Posts: 2,191 ✭✭✭Feelgood


    Drive it like BA in the A-Team!...

    In 2008 a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the boards.ie underground. Today still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem. If no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire, The SLUMPED Team.


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    #8
    slumped
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,946 ✭✭✭slumped


    Feelgood wrote: »
    Drive it like BA in the A-Team!...

    In 2008 a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the boards.ie underground. Today still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem. If no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire, The SLUMPED Team.

    that's the best idea yet.

    I could plough through the cones on the M50, drive in the Emergency lane at 100 kmh and break through the barriers on the toll bridge before turning violently and blocking three lanes of traffic with my 18ft monster!

    Cool....


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    #9
    granturismo
    Registered Users Posts: 1,919 ✭✭✭granturismo


    I rented similar twice and was not used to driving something that long. One serious problem for me - the rear near side wheel mounted the kerb once when I turned left , luckily no pedestrians about at the time. No problems after that after I stopped trying to drive it like a car, slowed down at turns and allowed for greater turning circle. Luckily whenever I had to reverse, there was plenty of space. I found the engine to be very noisy especially after driving for 5 hours.


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    #10
    MarkN
    Registered Users Posts: 4,195 ✭✭✭MarkN


    Tailgate cars that would pi55 all over your Transit just because you have "all that torrrrrque bud"...

    Swerve from lanes without any condiseration for anyone else...

    Don't indicate....

    Stop dead in traffic and put your hazards on cause 'you are making a delivery'...

    Drive like any other van driver.







    (I am only joking but you know it's true). :pac:


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    #11
    Feelgood
    Registered Users Posts: 2,191 ✭✭✭Feelgood


    slumped wrote: »
    that's the best idea yet.

    I could plough through the cones on the M50, drive in the Emergency lane at 100 kmh and break through the barriers on the toll bridge before turning violently and blocking three lanes of traffic with my 18ft monster!

    Cool....

    wow wow wow.....your completely forgetting about the mid-air flip. You have to jump the cones, do a 360 spin in the air and still manage to land on the wheels all while smoking a cigar.

    Don't know where your going to get a chunky a-team looking cigar, guess a regular hamlet will have to do the job.


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    #12
    slumped
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,946 ✭✭✭slumped


    MarkN wrote: »
    Tailgate cars that would pi55 all over your Transit just because you have "all that torrrrrque bud"...

    Swerve from lanes without any condiseration for anyone else...

    Don't indicate....

    Stop dead in traffic and put your hazards on cause 'you are making a delivery'...

    Drive like any other van driver.

    (I am only joking but you know it's true). :pac:


    I bet I can do all this before leaving the Airport!


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    #13
    MarkN
    Registered Users Posts: 4,195 ✭✭✭MarkN


    slumped wrote: »
    I bet I can do all this before leaving the Airport!

    :D


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    #14
    Wossack
    Registered Users Posts: 7,015 ✭✭✭Wossack


    slumped wrote: »
    I bet I can do all this before leaving the Airport!

    thats the spirit! theres a little white-van-man in all of us :pac:


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    #15
    mickdw
    Registered Users Posts: 23,357 ✭✭✭✭mickdw


    slumped wrote: »
    I am renting a van today and by my calculations is is 18ft long.

    A ford transit LWB.

    Any tips or advice on driving something that long??

    S

    An executive car would be about 16 ft and im sure you would have no bother with that. You just need to be able to reverse in your mirrors. Vans have great mirrors usually so should be no problem.


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