do you women love driving your lorries?

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Horse-Rider

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hey was just wondering if you women love driving your lorries and how you find driving something bigger than a car/4x4 ? My mother will drive our 7.5t lorry but will try everytrick in the book to get out of it :) she's a confident driver in our 4x4 but when it comes to the lorry she lacks the confidence ! my mother used to live on a farm and used to be driving round tractors at the age of 10 :) have you also got any tips or advice i can give to her ? :)
I look up to all the women drivers who will get in their lorry and amaze the man drivers of the road ! Even though im a lad , you can put us to shame sometimes ;)
 
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Blimey Horse-Rider, you're brave. The last time I paid women drivers a compliment, I got accused of being condescending and was nearly stoned to death (with handbags).
 
yes, i love driving mine. even loved driving the old one with the utterly vile clutch!
umm, tips that gave me confidence... as long as you're going straight, think of the side mirrors as being like a cat's whiskers, if they went through, the rest of the body will go through! (doesn't work on hard lock etc obv), does give confidence when squeezing through tight spaces though.
don't drive it in the gutter! i got yelled at for that till i learnt not to.
on most roads there's a paler stripe/area on the tarmac about 2' to the left of the centre line, the paler area is where the car tyres don't go. when i'm driving, if i line my left foot up with that pale line, my horsebox is spot on in the middle of my lane. that helped me a lot early on, can't remember who pointed it out but i'm grateful to them.

Neil, I noticed the inadvertent sexist condescension but decided to cut him some slack as he's obv a kid! ;) ;)
there was a vid going around of a woman parallel parking a chuffing huuuuuge horsebox into the tiniest space you ever saw, she did it first time, without hesitation. well impressive. we're not all spacially challenged, you know. ;) ;)
 
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kerilli said:
Neil, I noticed the inadvertent sexist condescension but decided to cut him some slack as he's obv a kid! ;) ;)
there was a vid going around of a woman parallel parking a chuffing huuuuuge horsebox into the tiniest space you ever saw, she did it first time, without hesitation. well impressive. we're not all spacially challenged, you know. ;) ;)
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My post (some while ago) was paying compliment to a friend of ours who can manoeuvre her Daihatsu Fourtack and Ifor trailer into spaces that make my eyes water, either forwards or backwards. I don't care if your male, female or hermaphrodite; good driving skills are rare (especially on our plonker filled roads) and deserve recognition.

It's a mans burden, damned if we do (compliment) damned if we don't (bother). :D
 
I'm 19 and did my test about 6 weeks ago now and I love it! I drive myself everywhere and find it really easy. I did my HGV text but am currently driving a 7.5 tonne.

I find it useful when turning to always imagine you need to leave a double yellow lines space away from the kerb and then you will be ok and not kerb it.

Also by finding a marker on your lorry to use so you know where the end of it is at a point on the lorry.

Agree with the comment about if your mirrors will fit through so will the body!

I think confidence is key though as you are less likely to make mistakes if you aren't nervous :)
 
Tip - don't go into the non-hgv section at the petrol station if you're not sure you'll fit under ;) taping up the roof vent requires much batting of eyelashes at nimble Irish men and thoroughly exhausts oneself! :D
Chatter1 herself taught me that :D :D
 
Have just thought of a great way to raise money for the Pony/Riding Club!!!

Hold a Male V Female driving competition - round cones (so no damage!!) with lorries and trailers:eek::D.

To include reversing into tight places, and turning in a very tight space!!!:eek:

Reckon I could beat most with both trailers and 7.5 ton - but then I do have mega age and many many years of experience on my side!!;):cool:
 
I did my HGV in September so I could drive our 7.5 tonner. In general I'm a confident driver, just lazy so would rather not drive than drive!! novelty wore off driving the wagon after about 4/5 trips out and I'm happy for someone else to drive if they are available!

My mum HATES driving cars on the motorway but loves the lorry, strange!

The guy I did my HGV test/training with said girls were loads better than boys! :)
 
Awww I wish I had half the confidence you lot all have :(. I get nervous driving my lorry, Im not scared of the size of it and once Im in it Im fine, its just the thought of it :confused::confused:. I was much better towing the trailer.
 
Starbucks said:
The guy I did my HGV test/training with said girls were loads better than boys! :)
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I used to teach people to shoot and the same applies. All blokes think that they can shoot and don't need to listen. Women listen to the instructions, and 90% of the time end up a better shot at the end of the first couple of lessons.

I had one couple where he was ex-army and she wasn't. She was a MUCH better shot and he got in a right piss. :D
 
NeilM said:
I used to teach people to shoot and the same applies. All blokes think that they can shoot and don't need to listen. Women listen to the instructions, and 90% of the time end up a better shot at the end of the first couple of lessons.
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that's exactly what the guys that trained me to do my hgv said!

I much prefer driving my lorry (7.5t) to driving my car :)
 
Love driving my lorry, went from a Bedford TK to a Ford Iveco 7.5t and it's heaven, power steering is great..lol...

Confidence is the key element, also agree regarding the mirrors.... and give yourself plenty of time to get to places, then you wont get flustered and make mistakes.

Kerilli - I too had the habit of driving in the gutter, don't do it know..

Also take it for plating and have found the testers are really nice, they have even taken me to look under the lorry and point things out.........
 
Yes I love driving mine! It is an 18 tonne Scania and very pretty.

I'm currently buying lorries for work as well so enjoying life lots atm ;-)
 
kirstyhen said:
Tip - don't go into the non-hgv section at the petrol station if you're not sure you'll fit under ;) taping up the roof vent requires much batting of eyelashes at nimble Irish men and thoroughly exhausts oneself! :D
Chatter1 herself taught me that :D :D
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I was under the impression that Chatter1 had sent passengers out to check she would fit under and they had assured her that she would.....so I would question the spatial awareness of the other parties involved personally ;)
 
I love driving it. (well will as soon as it is plated again)

I hate all the hassle of a trailer, right from the hitching it up to the trying to reverse it arrghhh
 
I do enjoy driving the lorry! So nice to be able to Go when ever and where ever you want.

Have had a few eek moments like on sat going to gatcombe with sat nav in charge or directions and ending up in minchinhampton on a very small car filled road- cue some revering and off we went again!

I would say my best tip is don't panic. My instructor was great and said if in doubt just slow down!
 
SpottedCat said:
I was under the impression that Chatter1 had sent passengers out to check she would fit under and they had assured her that she would.....so I would question the spatial awareness of the other parties involved personally ;)
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Heeheeeheee :D :D Actually, I don't remember anyone getting out, just the random MAN (lorry-driver!) passing who assured us that we had bags of room. Trouble is that he couldn't actually see the TV aerial and roof vent which were (briefly) on top of hte lorry :eek: :eek:

I love driving mine too, have driven it all over Europe. Only thing is, in the last year, the unreliability has made me lose confidence and definitely detracts from my pleasure in driving - I spend all my time watching dials, and any strange noise makes me nervous :( :( Have spent too many hours waiting for breakdown trucks :rolleyes:
 
One thing that does totally stress me out with it is parking when hunting! i don't really know the area that well where I hunt and you've always just got to park on the road and I don't seem to be able to judge where is an appropriate place to park! Had an incident with a grass verge that was kind of up about 8 inch from the road - I ended up with one front tire on the road and one on this bank - we were on a right angle it was well scary!!! maybe I'll get better with time!:)
 
TableDancer said:
Heeheeeheee :D :D Actually, I don't remember anyone getting out, just the random MAN (lorry-driver!) passing who assured us that we had bags of room. Trouble is that he couldn't actually see the TV aerial and roof vent which were (briefly) on top of hte lorry :eek: :eek:

I love driving mine too, have driven it all over Europe. Only thing is, in the last year, the unreliability has made me lose confidence and definitely detracts from my pleasure in driving - I spend all my time watching dials, and any strange noise makes me nervous :( :( Have spent too many hours waiting for breakdown trucks :rolleyes:
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And I thought she was such a reliable, honest type, fitting you all up like that, I dunno.... ;)

I adore my lorry. I do not adore wondering if the noise I have heard is one of my horses breaking something, trying to exit inappropriately, or otherwise doing something they should not. They appear hell-bent on destroying it. That not only makes me sad but also makes me terrified! Driving it without the horrible animals in is great fun. Though ultimately both expensive and pointless.
 
NeilM said:
Blimey Horse-Rider, you're brave. The last time I paid women drivers a compliment, I got accused of being condescending and was nearly stoned to death (with handbags).
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Hmm .... yes one friend is semi in controll and it isnt relaxing to travel with her so far its tree one mirrors nill and a scrape on a skirt and a look of terror as she is over the line from other drivers ..... another I wont go with unless im driving I think she thinks she's that pushy bird on the Ice road truckers...best just to smile and change the subject..runs for cover......:D
 
I adore my lorry. I do not adore wondering if the noise I have heard is one of my horses breaking something, trying to exit inappropriately, or otherwise doing something they should not. They appear hell-bent on destroying it. That not only makes me sad but also makes me terrified! Driving it without the horrible animals in is great fun. Though ultimately both expensive and pointless.
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I smiled when I read this, this is exactly how I feel :D:D
 
Sanolly said:
Link please Kerilli!

I've never driven a horsebox but was perfectly happy driving a long wheel base Sprinter about which is almost as long as a 3.5t :)
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you'd have to ask Groom42, she showed me the link, i think she had it sent to her on facebook. it's an awesome bit of manoevring in anyone's book.

ah, yes, the comments about Chatter1's misfortune on the way to Burgie reminded me, NEVER trust anyone when they say you'll fit. get out and check, it only takes 20 secs...
I saw a big truck get totally stuck under a railway bridge once. Nice to learn from someone else's mistake!
 
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