Low Clearance?

[4kmprs]

I am losing sleep thinking about leaving my ac unit behind as I drive under an over pass, a tree branch or a cover at a gas station.

Please help put my mind at ease. What's the magic number I need to be looking for from a height perspective to ensure my Roo 233s with roof top AC will remain on my roof?



Thx

[mkillora]

Why don't you look at the specs for your TT, i.e. the height measurement, and then add about a foot and a half for the AC unit.

[crocus]

Or better yet, just measure it.

[Dave_Monica]

The overpass would have to be very low before you need to worry with your Roo. 5th wheels being much higher have a bigger concern.

As suggested, get a buddy, straight edge/level and a tape measure and get the 'real' number.

Dave

[4kmprs]

Although i know it is less than 12', it definitely is an adjustment from towing the pop up. it is like the first time i drove my tow vehicle into a parking garage. i knew it would fit, but i actually found myself ducking my head.

would enjoy hearing other tales if anyone has them.

[Mountainmanbob]

Originally Posted by 4kmprs

I am losing sleep thinking about leaving my ac

Please help put my mind at ease

put yourself at ease
next time you enter someTHING with a top
have your passenger get out
and watch for you
or you yourself get out a few times
I saw an RVer do this
just the other day at a gas stop
he was at least 8' from hitting
but
this is how we learn our rig height
Mountainman

[Herk7769]

You will most likely never have a clearance problem on major roads.

You will have issues on back roads; local neighborhood; and tree overhang (even in some campgrounds).

Low hanging cable TV wires and tree branches are the worst.

Of course you can make this worse.

The host at the campground I just stayed at said that a motor home left his antenna up when he drove out and wiped out the TV cable for the entire campground. A popular guy afterwards.

[TURBS]

I think those stupid antennas need interlock switches
On them with a flashing beacon a siren and a monkey
In the passenger seat when antenna is left up.
By the way don't confuse the monkey with my dw.
I crowd that line all by myself!

[RonLynnJr]

I was on a trip from Fort Dix, NJ to Elizabeth City, NC once with my work tractor/trailer. A little narrative first, the trailer is a 48' Featherlite (looks just like the trailers that race car drivers use) it's height is 13'3". The route I took was through Delaware and accorss/through the Chesapeake Bridge/Tunnel. The tunnel has a height clearance of 13'6". Talk about a butt pucker factor, three inches is not much room when your traveling with something that big. If anything my advice to you is just drive faster, it makes you shorter/skinnier, lol.

[Oakman]

With your camper being just 10 feet tall you really shouldn't have a problem. Tree branches on back roads will be the main thing to watch for. If you drive in urban areas there are some (very, very few) railroad overpasses that are less than 10 feet high. Also there are very few filling stations still around that have canopies that are 10 feet or less. If you're really concerned, put a post-it note on the steering wheel or dashboard that says "10 FEET???" as a reminder. When not towing remove the note.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by RonLynnJr

If anything my advice to you is just drive faster, it makes you shorter/skinnier, lol.

If you drive a touch faster, you become so heavy your tires will pop from being overloaded. This will really make you a lot shorter.

[4kmprs]

Great Tips and Good Laughs too. Thanks all. I especially like the drive faster approach. It's like ripping off a band aid. If I screw up, it will at least be over quick.

Sticky note definitely going up re: HDTV antenna in the Camper. Kids have enjoyed cranking it up and down and I can envision us being one of those contributors to "old school" camping by inadvertantly tearing down cable/phone/power lines.

[Mountainmanbob]

Originally Posted by 4kmprs

HDTV antenna in the Camper.
Kids have enjoyed cranking it up and down

that is one THING
I would tell the kids not to touch

not a toy
if it get's broken
you will understand

Mountainman

[Herk7769]

Yep, when the "dealer's" maintenance boys did my roof treatment for the first and only time (one year maintenance), they over cranked the antenna up and broke the last tooth off the antenna.

They were very generous throwing in that repair "For Free!" Grrr...

[Cowracer]

Get a magnet mount 1/2 wave cb antenna. stick it to your hood (near the windsheild so it dont look so out-of-place) and cut it down to 1 inch over your A/C height.

It wont help a bit at speed, but would reassure you when under gas-station awnings, and other tight spaces.

tim

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Cowracer

Get a magnet mount 1/2 wave cb antenna. stick it to your hood (near the windshield so it don't look so out-of-place) and cut it down to 1 inch over your A/C height.

It wont help a bit at speed, but would reassure you when under gas-station awnings, and other tight spaces.

tim

I actually did this one! I had no trouble clearing the overhang with the camper, but the whip antenna broke every fluorescent tube in the overhead lights.

Needless to say I just kept right on going and gassed at the next exit.

(JK)

[h20ski]

I use a colored clothes pin as an antenna reminder. Clothes pin on handle when antenna is down, clothes pin on tongue of TT or leading edge of pin box when antenna is up. If I forget to ensure DW (HA HA) I will see colored clothes pin when hooking up camper. I always do a walk around also and look. Again (DW) put antenna down, forgot to line up the arrows, antenna hanging over side of camper by about 2'. HA HA Gotta love her

[Rod Johnson]

My second trip out, I was trying to get fuel. I had the GF hop out to spot, about the same time the gas station attendant came out to also spot.

The GF remembered the AC, the attendent would have run me right into his awning.

One thing I noticed is that if the overhang is low enough to hit, you probably won't be the first one to do it. Take a look next time you encounter one you're worried about, if its too low, it'll be all banged up or have paint transfers already.