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07-10-2011, 08:36 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Southern Alberta
Posts: 459
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Low Bridge YIKES
So we decide to take a side trip to Niagra Falls -
We follow the signs and exit onto a Parkway. Half way down the curving single lane entrance ramp is a sign that says bridge 12 ft. HUH??? Our rig is 12' 6". OK so I pull into that little trash filled triangle between the entrance ramp and the road we a joining, traffic whizzing by on both sides to figure out what to do. Can't back up - a fast stream of cars is exiting like I did. No shoulders. I'm facing 3 bridges which indeed look short. While I'm sitting there a tour bus, about our height, whizzes off the exit ramp and heads across 2 lanes of traffic to the middle of the bridges and at full throttle goes underneath (obviously he's done it before). It looked like he had plenty of room for a sheet or two of paper to slide between the top of the bus and the bridge. A utility truck, clearly shorter than we are heads towards the middle and slides under again with no daylight between the top of his bucket crane and the bridge (did I see it rub?).
We see another tour bus again about our height head towards the middle lane and slip under. What exactly is one supposed to do in this situation?
Sweet husband takes a walkie talkie and climbs the ladder. I inch across the two lanes to the middle in a miraculous break in traffic to the middle lane, left tires scrubbing the curb. We make it under the 3 bridges with not a finger width over the A/C and properly sober after the experience are again on our way.
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***** ***** ***** 2011 Georgetown 320DS new June 2010
days camped in 2010: 61
days camped in 2011: 37 (up to Aug 1st)
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07-10-2011, 08:44 AM
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#2
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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I carry a pancake compressor with plenty of hose to check and fill tires while traveling. I also have a few air powered tools (like the grinder I use to trim our GHP's Velociraptors nails).
You might be able to "buy" a few inches by deflating the tires for that "creep" under the bridge then reinflate on the other side. I doubt a few yards would hurt the tires more than getting killed or crushing the camper's roof.
Hopefully there "won't be a next time".
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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07-10-2011, 08:52 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Southern Alberta
Posts: 459
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How do you find bridge height in advance?
1,500 miles from home we're not familiar with the local bridge heights and clearly waiting until you can read the numbers on the bridge is too late. Anyone have a great source for learning height restrictions beforehand? We've got another week in Mass and PA where tight twisty roads and low bridges aren't uncommon. Right now we're in Boston
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***** ***** ***** 2011 Georgetown 320DS new June 2010
days camped in 2010: 61
days camped in 2011: 37 (up to Aug 1st)
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07-10-2011, 08:58 AM
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#4
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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There are GPS recievers that have all bridges less than 14 feet built in to the unit. When you set them up you input your height and it will not route you down a road with a low bridge. They may be available at a "box store" near where you are camping.
http://www.lowclearances.com/
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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07-10-2011, 12:01 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Jamestown NY
Posts: 588
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Here's a hint for New York state bridges etc from a NY Truck Driver. Posted heights for NY bridges are one foot less then the actual clearance UNLESS there's a sign posted with the height sign that says "ACTUAL". So if it says 12' it's really 13' unless marked ACTUAL. This is done for 2 reason, 1) Insurance reasons, and 2) So that they can give tickes to truckers that know a 13' bridge is really 14' and go under it with a 13'6" trailer, and they do this in New York City all the time. Also trucks are probibited from ALL PARKWAYS in NY - reason, numerious low overpasses there. SO best bet with a 5th wheel is stay off all NY Prarkways.
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07-10-2011, 01:21 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Central NY
Posts: 145
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Lived on Long Island for 40 years..At least once a week a truck is hitting a bridge somewhere on a parkway. Most on-ramps have multiple lighted signs approaching them warning of low bridges and no trucks, but it makes no difference. Traffic woes is on the long list of reasons for moving away !!
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07-10-2011, 01:37 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Lake Charles, La.
Posts: 1,536
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i have the garmin 465t and it warns me abt a mile before getting to one in tn that is 11'. i don't know if the warning would give u time if there wasn't a place to go.
there are others: cobra and megellan come to mind.
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07-10-2011, 02:17 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Broken Arrow, OK
Posts: 1,112
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The new Rand McNally GPS is supposed to be a good one for RVers. Just what I have read on here.
__________________
2011 FORD F350 CREW CAB DUALLY DIESEL 4x2
2010 Salem LA 292FKDS
One of the Original 14 F.R.O.G.s
1st, 2nd, and 3rd INTERNATIONAL F.R.O.G. RALLY Branson. MO.
1st, 2nd, and 4th INTERNATIONAL RALLY Goshen, IN.
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07-10-2011, 04:49 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 409
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Go to a truck stop and get you a truckers road atlas.
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07-10-2011, 05:23 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 755
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Quote:
Originally Posted by transamz9
Go to a truck stop and get you a truckers road atlas.
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Thats your best bet
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07-10-2011, 10:34 PM
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#11
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Anacortesians
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Anacortes, WA
Posts: 1,166
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A truck was jammed under a bridge locally a few weeks ago. When the patrol guys asked the driver if he was stuck he said "No, I'm just delivering this bridge and I got lost."
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Frank and Eileen
No longer RVers or FR owners
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07-10-2011, 11:01 PM
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#12
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J. Parham
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 88
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"Exit Now" book that Good Sam Club publishes has a section in it that lists low bridges by state. We have used it for a couple of trips now and the info it provides has been helpful.
__________________
2011 8528BHSS
2013 Silverado 2500HD 6.6L
Nights Camped in 2011: 32
Nights Camped in 2012: 85
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07-11-2011, 07:30 AM
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#13
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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Quote:
Originally Posted by snjparham
"Exit Now" book that Good Sam Club publishes has a section in it that lists low bridges by state. We have used it for a couple of trips now and the info it provides has been helpful.
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We also keep a current copy of "Exit Now" in the cab of the truck at all times. What a wonderful asset to use for fuel planning and that "I am hungry/have to P" question that prompts a look at what is coming up as we travel.
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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07-11-2011, 05:57 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 409
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Quote:
Originally Posted by herk7769
We also keep a current copy of "Exit Now" in the cab of the truck at all times. What a wonderful asset to use for fuel planning and that "I am hungry/have to P" question that prompts a look at what is coming up as we travel.
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When we have that question come up I just hit the nearest exit with a shoulder and hit the fridge and bathroom Im'a pullin.
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07-11-2011, 07:06 PM
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#15
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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Quote:
Originally Posted by transamz9
When we have that question come up I just hit the nearest exit with a shoulder and hit the fridge and bathroom Im'a pullin.
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That is fine for emergences but I like to tie stops with fuel as well.
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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07-11-2011, 08:20 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: BC Canada
Posts: 643
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I just bought the Rand McNally 5510 and still learning to use it, it has a ton of RV features and single tap on the screen next exit feature for the interstates but since I have not used an interstate since I got it I cant coment on how usefull that is.
Like most trucker Gps's you program, your length, height weight etc, so it will not take you under bridges that are too low, (in theory), One great feature is the verbal and viual speed limit warning, the MPH digits on my Canadian RAM Odometer are tiny compared to the KMPH digits and with sunglasses are invisible, this is very useful.
I originally had the WorldNav 5200 which I sent back for a refund it gave endless problems and all though they claim it is for RVs it is not. The Rand though is clearly built for RVs, time will tell, but so far I am very impressed. Camping World members price $319.
__________________
Nigel & Bev
Brit Driver & Canadian Naviguesser
We summer in Cowichan Valley BC Canada & winter in Monchique Portugal great camping in both!
2011 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8280ws 2011 Dodge Ram 3500 4x4 Diesel 2000 Honda S2000
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07-11-2011, 09:50 PM
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#17
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 800
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2Susan was this low bridge in Fort Erie or in the Niagara Falls area?
There are a couple of bridges that I'm familiar w/ that are a bit lower than normal. Generally that route isn't really a truck route, so I doubt you'd see any truck traffic.
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07-11-2011, 11:06 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Colorado
Posts: 221
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07-16-2011, 09:24 PM
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#20
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Waxahachie
Posts: 64
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Oh goodness. These videos freak me out. We are new FW owners and have always had TT. Now we have to be so much more aware of our height. We have a Garmin NuVi but think we need something else that allows for height input.
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2011 Cedar Creek 36RE
2002 Ford F350 Crew Cab 4x4
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