Bridge Too Low or 5th Wheel Too High

[MillerTime]

Originally Posted by j free

13.6 is still high for a 5er. Have you raised the 5er for your truck or what. I have had 3 5er's and never had one over 12.8 and these are big 5er's the smallest was a 40 foot toy hauler.

My 2015 Sabre 36qbok sits right at 13' 6" to the top of the front a/c while hooked to tow. You can't measure the sidewall and get an accurate overall height. If you dont have a front a/c then you might be able to get close, but you still have antennas, vents etc. Up there.

[asquared]

My sabre 34reqs measured at 13'6" hooked up. We did not raise it bug we do have a full profile fiver with a full profile front AC.

[Islander]

Last year I installed a new pin box.

The Tri Glide Air Ride Pin Box raised my overall height close to 2 inches.
I was able to lower my 5th wheel hitch 1 inch with still 1 inch to go if needed.
I also have more room to raise the pin box if I want.

I do have a very comfortable 10 inches of clearance between 5th wheel overhang and truck bed, allowing for the bounce of the air bag.
Also it makes for easy access to the connections and anything in the truck bed.

The addition of the 3 hard vent covers is what I have to measure to for the Max height for my front sections as the A/C is mounted to the sloping rear.

My method of keeping track of 'overall heights'.

First I made a sketch of my roof lay out denoting vents, antenna, A/C unit etc..

I find a level parking lot and with extra help to pull measuring tape tight I measure to the roof edge at the point of the highest item mounted on the roof.
Then add the height of the vent cover or A/C unit to get your overall height.

I did this at each location of the items I denoted on my sketch.

If the roof has a 'side slope' then a 4 foot level will show how much more to add accounting for the slope.

I keep the sketch in my RV folder and record any changes .

My rig sits at just under 13 feet or just under 4 meters.

I am going to double check my overall heights this spring when we head out for a month.

hope this helps

Islander

[5er_tom]

Okay, so I need to do another measurement. FR specs for my unit seem to be vague. GVRW was 11,900 in the first brochure, then 13,800 in the following brochure.
When we get home this week I will climb on the roof with a long pole and get the misses the do the measuring to get an accurate number.
I have added air bags to the truck, so I am curious to see the result.
I will also stop by a truck stop and get it weighed.



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[j free]

must be the saber's My Palamino has front and rear AC and I know you measure from top of AC but mine still is only 12.8 on TV and that's with a front living. Or it could be the Palamino I have only 10 inch clearance on the front landing gear when on TV.

[Islander]

5er tom....


My Wildcat 30rlbs GVWR is 11940 as on both tags (one outside and one inside) of my rig.
I will be weighing mine this spring . I will also be getting my licence upgrade (to code 5 here in B.C. Canada) for towing that weight.
However, I try never to load to the max when we travel, either the trailer or the truck, so I will find out my definition of 'light' when I weigh it (insert fingers crossed here) .


Islander

[Oaklevel]

Originally Posted by itat

fyi, 1 metre = 39 inches (approx.)

(BTW, "metre" is a metric unit of measure for distance, "meter" is a measuring device, as in water meter or parking meter. Just my pet peeve, sorry )

Not in my dictionary a meter, or metre are interchangeable for a term of weight. example from the internet

To convert from meters to feet ( m to f ) is a simple conversion. You can use 1 m = 3.28 ft or 1 m = 39.37 inches and just multiply. But this converter is design..............

[Oaklevel]

One thing I have noticed with a toyhauler. The trailer sits higher by a up to a couple of inches when it is empty.........

[Islander]

Originally Posted by Islander

5er tom....


My Wildcat 30rlbs GVWR is 11940 as on both tags (one outside and one inside) of my rig.
I will be weighing mine this spring . I will also be getting my licence upgrade (to code 5 here in B.C. Canada) for towing that weight.
However, I try never to load to the max when we travel, either the trailer or the truck, so I will find out my definition of 'light' when I weigh it (insert fingers crossed here) .


Islander

Correction:
I meant to say " Code 7" licence endorsement

Islander

[itat]

Oaklevel, since you're the second person to touch on this, I'll just say that everyone outside the U.S. spells it "metre". That's the international standard spelling. Metric is technically the SI International System of Units. "SI" comes from the French "Système international d'unités".

I agree that in the U.S., "meter" is what is used and it's considered interchangable. "Litre" is the same... It's commonly spelled "liter" in the U.S.

Didn't intend to distract from the original thread. It's just my pet peeve.

[rmoore0852]

Originally Posted by MillerTime

It varys by state on height. And in some states like Missouri it varys by the kind of road, some are 14' and others are 13.5'
Here in Oklahoma, legal is 13.5', texas is 14' and so on. Most are 13.5 feet but 14' is a close second with Nebraska and Colorado being the only ones i saw that were 14.5'.


(And in NC where 5ertom is from, bareftn was right, his states legal height is 13.5')
(Doubt rvs get checked though unless one hits something)

Thank you for correcting me. I thought that height was covered under the Federal Carrier regulations. Good to know that some states are 13'6", my toy hauler is 13'3". That's cutting awful close on bridges etc. Have to make sure to stay on main roads in those states.

[dgibbs1955]

I have the same question, but mainly about the areas in and around New Orleans, LA., especially trying to cross over to the West Bank to get to the Naval Air Station in Belle
Chase...Anybody have knowledge of that part of the world?????

[dkelly]

I'm pretty sure about this that all bridges on interstate highways are at least 14''. I drove tractor as trailers for several years that was 13'6" and never had any problems. Now on some of the roads in the Northeast you will find clearance signs showing 12'6". My trailer went easily under that bridge. I met another truck on the other side and we watched each other under the bridge. I was told that when the DOT figures the clearances up there, it is assumed that there would be ice and snow under the bridge therefore reducing the clearances. Secondary roads could be anybody's guess.

[thebanes]

Bridges under the interstate may be on a local road and some are shorter than 13-6.

Most will be posted, all should be posted. If its an old road the clearance is probably marked and probably right. What can happen is some entity; city county, state, will do a road improvement that raises the road and the sign may not be up right away. First the clearance needs to be measured then signs need to be ordered, delivered and set up. Today on state roads they would put up a message board until signs could be made and delivered. Counties or cities may not be as on top of the situation.

[Oaklevel]

here's what you don't want....... wait several campers did not make undamaged

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzkWTcDZFH0