"Cargo Van" Truck Driver School in So. Cal?

[BigFatGuy]

You know those really amazing box-truck drivers who can back up, in traffic, at speed, around some absurdly complicated driveway, and just kiss the loading dock with the bumper?

I'd like to be that good with my Sprinter.

I'd like to learn in somebody else's Sprinter, for obvious reasons.

Most of the driving schools I've seen are either RV-based, and seem to cater to the brand new, timid driver, or geared entirely for people looking for a CDL.

Anything between?

[jon]

Slow practice is the best school.

[BigFatGuy]

Originally Posted by jon

Slow practice is the best school.

I've found slow practice with someone who knows what they are doing is bester.

[InterBlog]

I've had the same interest, but I haven't found anything in Texas.

Slow practice is great, but as a biological species, we also learn from others who may have worked out superior ways of doing things that never occurred to us. I'd pay for mentorship in this area out of curiosity if nothing else.

I sometimes try to teach my husband driving tricks, because I have most of the experience (I'm the primary driver). The Sprinter has a 50-foot turning radius and desperately low rear end clearance due to the undermount generator. My husband is perfectly capable of slow learning, but if I offer tips, it might help him to cut to the chase, especially where the departure angle is concerned. I have a better feel for what actions we can get away with than he does.

[Peder_y2k]

Simply rent a big U-haul or Ryder box truck for a few hours and practice in an open parking lot. Get the extra insurance in case one hits a light pole. A walkie-talkie can be handy with an observer.......

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by Peder_y2k

Simply rent a big U-haul or Ryder box truck for a few hours and practice in an open parking lot. Get the extra insurance in case one hits a light pole. A walkie-talkie can be handy with an observer.......

Great idea! That is exactly what I did before I bought my Sprinter B-van. I had a Ford E-350 passenger van and wanted to be sure the much larger 24' Sprinter would fit in my driveway and be easy to drive. I rented a 24' Sprinter cargo van from local Penske dealer.

[booster]

Originally Posted by Boxster1971

Great idea! That is exactly what I did before I bought my Sprinter B-van. I had a Ford E-350 passenger van and wanted to be sure the much larger 24' Sprinter would fit in my driveway and be easy to drive. I renter a 24' Sprinter cargo van from local Penske dealer.

The slow practice is good, but beware that it can be a transmission overheat disaster for some vehicles, so keep an eye on that. A scangauge or other trans temp gauge is essential, IMO, if you are going to practice a long time.

[rowiebowie]

Originally Posted by Lafante87

Howdy guys, thanks for that topic.

Greetings Lafante. Are backup cameras standard on caravans in England?

[mumkin]

Practice is the key, of course. But the day I arrived in Arizona with my shiny new Libero (that I had already had an oops moment with), I went to my neighbor, who just happened to be a retired Teamster Trucker. He said the key is learning to use those mirrors. We spent an hour backing in and out of my narrow driveway from various angles while he stood outside and told me exactly where to look both on the ground and the mirrors.

It was probably one of the most useful hours of my lifetime of driving... and I'd been driving for nearly 50 years.