Trifun Owners Website
A site for Comments and Resources for Trifun Vehicle Owners
Driving a TriFun
With a little practice you will find that Driving your TriFun will be more fun than Driving any other vehicle. TriFun vehicles drive with some of the characteristics of a 4 wheel car or truck and some of the characteristics of a motorcycle. Get to know your TriFun before you go barreling into heavy traffic.
Important! Your TriFun will Turn much sharper than a regular vehicle! While this makes it easy for you to turn around on a 2 lane street without having to back up, you will need to get the feel of the quick turning radius before you take any sharp turns at speeds.
Find a large open parking lot and practice turns and braking. It won't be long before you get the "feel" of the vehicle.
Driving and Turning Tips:
When entering a driveway that has an up or downhill angle from the road, DIRECTLY APPROACH THE UNEVEN DRIVWAY, DO NOT approach at an angle. You will want the front and rear wheels of your TriFun to approach the driveway "straight on".
Parking lot bumps (sleeping policemen): Because your TruFun is designed to carry approx. 1,000 pounds of cargo in the bed, the springs are very still when you are not loaded. In order to keep the fillings in your teeth, I would recommend a slow and straight on approach to speed bumps.
When turning sharp avoid hitting the brakes hard or downshifting. Use even more caution if you are going down hill and turning.
Practice Braking. In a parking lot, practice braking from slow to moderate speeds. Always brake in a straight line.
Watch out for uneven road surfaces.
Just like a motorcycle, your TriFun will handle differently with 1 person, 2 people and with a load in the bed. Use caution when you have different loads until you get used to the response.
Weather:
Allow extra caution in wet and freezing weather!
Take your time and get used to the feel of your TriFun and you will see that it has some of the best characteristics of both 4 and 2 wheel vehicles.
Shifting:
Your Feet: Since you are sitting upright, you may find it easier to use your toes on the shift/brake/gas pedals. This will also allow you to rest your heals on the floor.
Gearshift: The shifter will loosen up as you get some miles on the vehicle. The Gearshift is spring loaded to be in the center. When you shift into First and Second gear, you will need to also apply pressure on the shifter toward the driver's side of the vehicle. Third and Fourth gears should work easily. Fifth gear will require a push to the passenger side of the shifter. After a while you will get used to it and will be shifting smoothly.
Let us know what you think!
Email me and let me know if you think you need a motorcycle
endorsement or at Trike Endorsement or just a regular driver's
license to drive a TriFun.
Flat Tires: If you have a blowout or flat tire carefully slow down and pull off the road.
Defensive Driving: OK, so you are no match for a full sized
Hummer. Drive Defensively and watch our for the other drivers.
Keep your headlamps ON.
Most accidents with small vehicles occur during left turns. Assume they Don't see you! Make sure you have time to complete the turn.
Leave extra room between you and the car in front of you.
BECAUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You know what they call small vehicle driver's that do not drive defensively.......Organ Donors!
After 16,000 miles in my TriFun, I have not had even ONE close call.
Keep your eyes open!
Disclaimer
The Driving instructions on this page are from my own experience.
Always follow posted driving laws and attend a motorcycle training course.
The information on this page is intended to provide an introduction to the driving characteristics for anyone considering the purchase of a TriFun