Night travels- pro's & con's

[generdawg]

Seems there is a pattern of preferred travel days for those who camp up only for a short time, say one to ten over nighters.

I know that during non school holiday times, I prefer Tuesday Wednesday and Thursdays. Monday and Friday being shoulder days unless there is a long weekend where Tuesday or Thursday become shoulders depending which side of the weekend the holiday falls. My reasoning is that mum and dad are back to work and the kids are back in school, resulting in less traffic. This is especially important for those necessary shopping trips on Monday through Friday in metropolitan areas where the hours between 09:00 to 15:00 are most productive. This of course does not apply during any holiday periods as the malls will be shoppers and kids 24/7.

Please let us know your take on this by qualifying your *class and rational.

dawg in A'van B class

Class: C - less than 6 metres. B - less than 9 metres. A - 9 metres or more. Add a plus for towing eg A+ B+ C+.

[BruceS]

It doesn't really bother me much which day I'm on the road although most times over the weekend there are less trucks trying to earn a quid for me to annoy.
On the otherhand there are usually the weekend footy followers & Sunday drivers to contend with.
I always like to be off the road at night & let the big boys have it to themselves.... I have more time than them...

Bruce "B" class person.
MH "B" class.
Wendy ... "still determining her class" ... or lack of...

[BernieQ2]

Wendy's gunna wack you Bruce.
Bernie.
Mean while we don't drive in the dark...already parked... don't drive in rain if I can avoid it.
We don't travel on public hols unless we are with grandkids.
me again.

[Dot]

Get him Wendy, good and proper

[dapope]

We dont care either.
Classy "a"s
Any time on the road or camped up is good time

[T1 Terry]

A+ : try not to travel through major cities during peak hr or on Friday afternoon, but that's about it. Generally off the road by 1 am, but not always After driving over width loads up the Cumberland Hwy (back way through Syd before the M7 was opened) where the only time you were allowed on the road was before 10 am and after 2:30 pm, peak hr... no idea what the logic was there but nothing much phases me as for as a motorhome and trailer combo ...... big bus towing the Kombi might be a different story though

[shonky]

Hi, all..

We just try not to travel. Once a week to Rainbow Beach is the deal at present, and we have 220km left from June's tankful. As for driving at night? No thanks. Then again we have the bus (Class B ) serviced every year whether it's needed or not.

[generdawg]

Hey Admin; could you change the title of this to, "Night travel: pros and cons?"

dawg (see, I told you to never try herding cats - I mean retirees, but you wouldn't listen!)

[SteveW]

My advice to those who would travel at night on main highways is; be prepared to travel at the same speed as the trucks or you will cause mayhem. As a rule trucks travel at 101 kph.

I know - you have seen trucks speeding. But so have we all and they are as annoying to truck drivers as they are to you, however, the truck that is doing 105 or 110 waits for his chance to pass and does so without input from you. I'm not justifying it at all - just saying what happens.

If, however, you are travelling at 85, 90, or 95 every truck on the road has to approach you, slow down, wait for an opportunity, pull out, gain speed slowly, overtake then pull back in. 80% percent of interstate truck travel is done at night and, rightly or wrongly, much of it is to a time schedule. The highways are much busier at night than at day and so the opportunities to pass decrease and the dangers to all are increased. Daytime truck drivers are less likely to be in a rush, are accepting of caravans, motorhomes and other slow moving traffic and more inclined to work in with you on the radio.

I'm not looking for an argument - just telling it like it is and suggesting, just as most seem to agree, that night time travel is not pleasant for the tourist unless you are prepared to travel along at the same speed as the trucks.

[supersparky]

I live in Qld and all my family is in Vic. Consequently I travel the N-S Hwys of the east coast a lot. I still do quite a bit of night driving. I always try to keep up with the trucks and keep out of their way. Always listen to the appropriate UHF channel as well. That is unless we are just touring around the byways. Then we will be off the road by afternoon peak.
We are class B. Haven't gone to B+ yet.