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Mirror Question
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I can drive without mirrors as far as staying in my lane, I was an over the road Owner Operator for 10 years, and have logged many millions of miles pulling over length loads. I understand getting the big picture and driving ahead of the front of the bus or truck. I can see where someone would weave back and forth if relying on the mirrors to stay in the lane. That is not what I meant, but probably what I said. I’ll go back and retract.
I do know how to adjust them. Just as a personal preference, and what works for me especially backing up. There is less head turning with them adjusted like I do. (Maybe for me only)
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In that context we clearly agree. I need to see at least a minute amount of the side of the bus as a reference when backing up. It is difficult to gauge your position relative to the next lane or a car in the next lane without having some reference point on the bus.
And I don’t know if others need that reference point, but I need it to know my placement relative to something else fore and aft. I judge where my fuel tank fill point is relative to the hose on the pump by being able to see the closest side marker light to the fuel door and the fuel hose at the same time so I can line them up.
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It all comes natural for old truckers, I don’t even know what your talking about.
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We play the mirror game like this. In my old Yellowstone Tour Bus days on the narrow roads, the name of the game was to keep your width as narrow as possible. So, for us, the drivers mirror, like Mr Mark said about his, is a knat whisker away from the window. The passenger side mirror arm is as far ahead of the bus as we can make it , and still see down the bus side. Some cities, in particular Savannah, has steeply crowned road downtown. With this steep road crown, taller vehicles like our coaches lean ovee Leaning over or tipping the roof towards the curb can have devastating outcomes. We found Savannah has its share of signs posted on telephone poles that have been planted at curb edge. If one has their passenger side mirror arm pointing away from the bus,and with the crown of the road leaning bus over, you wiill smack that pole or the sign that is attached to it. Keep it narrow as possible.
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Or just not drive the Bus in Savannah! Ouch! I will remember this on our travels!
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I used to not looking in the mirrors going down the freeway, until I saw flashing light out my drivers window. CHP had been chasing me with flashing lights for some time. That stupid California law of 55MPH while towing. I got a warning only, so in graditude I only travel at 55MPH in California and check my mirrors.
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Glen,
Bought mine when Harley was owned by AMF. People laughed at me kept telling me it was going to leave me stranded somewhere on the road. The purchase price was $3,200 in 1974 dollars. In 1998 I sold it to a Doctor who lived across the street for $9,000 in 1998 dollars.
The Harley was one of two vehicles that either made money or broke even. The other vehicle was a 1966 Dodge Town Wagon, 4-speed on the floor (1st gear was for stump pulling). Paid $500 in 1974 dollars for it from NC Surplus Property. It had 42,000 miles on it. Again people thought I was crazy because you couldn’t keep it going in a straight line. So the first thing I did was to remove the 18″, six ply tires running with 80 pounds of air pressure and replace them with split Ford Torino slotted wheels, 8″ wide in front and 8.5″ in rear. Ran so straight I really didn’t have to hold the steering wheel. Drove it to 92,000 miles on the old heavy casting 318 C. I. engine that developed a flat miss. Turned out one of the intake pushrods had mushroomed so no fuel was getting into that cylinder. Fortunately for me I had 5 early model Hemi’s lined up against the wall in the garage of the 354 and 392 C. I. variety. I chose the 392, would wouldn’t, put it in over the weekend as everything mated up except the exhaust. Fabricated some exhaust pipes with tubing and went to work on Monday morning on time. I ran that engine to 142,000 miles and sold it for $500 1982 dollars. I miss both of these vehicles but sometimes you just have to move on.
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We sometimes detach towed to drive it separate from bus so we can speed up to non towing limits of 70mph
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