Geeeezzzzzz! 13' 8" Tall !!!

[MillerTime]

Originally Posted by boowho

Just asking MillerTime..... But are you sure about that? I thought that DOT rules/regulations apply only to commercially licensed vehicles, but not to POV's.

Boowho??

Yes. The limit is 13'6" everywhere in the USA. If you apply for oversize/wide load permits you can exceed this height. It varys from state to state on what height you will need an escort, and what routes will be allowed. Ive had os/ow permits here in Ok and in Mo. With the permit in Missouri I was allowed 14' when traveling on or within 10 miles of, interstate, designated or primary highway. 15' is allowed if traveling exclusively within a single commercial zone.
Ive got a book from a truck stop with all the state and providence oversize load permits and restrictions.
- believe it or not in Mass., you are required an escort if 13'9" &over.

You all can check your selves but everywhere ive been and seen it's 13'6" for legal DOT height ( unless you have permits).
-if you do find out otherwise from a reputable souce please state it.


Edit- btw DOT applies to EVERYTHING on the road and everything in or on the ride away- including signage and barriers. If it aint dot approved it aint legal - if you get caught

[MillerTime]

Well ive found a couple states that will allow 14' w/o a permit. Some have routes that should be followed. But there are some 13.5' states inbetween them

Edit-
14' states, alaska, cali, hawaii, iowa, Kansas, montana, nevada, new mexico, North and south dakota, orgon, Texas, washington, wyoming

14.5 states- Nebraska and colorado

Rest are 13.5
This is according to aaa

I guess I got my 13.5 from "Interstate Travel" which is what you would need to be legal in ALL states.

[mlatter]

Originally Posted by rattleNsmoke

Milford CT, I-95 southbound they placarded the overhead bridge at 13.5"

I found it on Google street view where High Street crosses the i95. I checked northbound and there is no height shown at all. I guess I'll be avoiding that bit of road. Thanks!

[Duckogram]

A couple of sources for those who want to know... The federal regulations can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations. Specifically Title 23. You can read about all the regs that States must comply with there.
Here is where to go: http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/ECFR?page=browse This is a GPO, Government Printing Office, website.

Next resource is the AITA website. AITA is America's Independent Truckers Association. They are in Grain Valley, MO and have a great parking lot for adjusting brake controllers.
Here is where to find their interactive map. Adobe flash is required so us iPhone users are out of luck. http://aitaonline.com/?pageid=2006

You should also be aware that States apply and enforce all Federal Regulations by incorporating them into their own codes. Where there are Federal Minimums, States may make those more stringent so you really need to look at each State to get the "Final Answer". Each State has a statutory minimum height for overpasses. That does not mean that there are no overpasses in that State under that height. It just means that signage and warnings must be posted. So while you are motoring down the road at 13' + height, you simply need to be aware of where you are so you do not end up with a rare Cedar Creek convertible. Hope this helps.

[boowho]

Originally Posted by MillerTime

Yes. The limit is 13'6" everywhere in the USA. If you apply for oversize/wide load permits you can exceed this height. It varys from state to state on what height you will need an escort, and what routes will be allowed. Ive had os/ow permits here in Ok and in Mo. With the permit in Missouri I was allowed 14' when traveling on or within 10 miles of, interstate, designated or primary highway. 15' is allowed if traveling exclusively within a single commercial zone.
Ive got a book from a truck stop with all the state and providence oversize load permits and restrictions.
- believe it or not in Mass., you are required an escort if 13'9" &over.

You all can check your selves but everywhere ive been and seen it's 13'6" for legal DOT height ( unless you have permits).
-if you do find out otherwise from a reputable souce please state it.

Attachment 42143
Edit- btw DOT applies to EVERYTHING on the road and everything in or on the ride away- including signage and barriers. If it aint dot approved it aint legal - if you get caught

Well, I may have to do some further research myself. I'm particularly interested if weight limits apply to MH's as well as trucks. At this time we are not required to enter the DOT scales, but if we do enter (especially Oregon), and are found overweight, I've heard they can shut you down.

Further, I've heard that they will give a semi a little more lee-way than they will for a MH; on a MH even being over by 10 lbs could get you shut down. That's what I've heard, anyhow.

In reality, I suspect that there is no hard-and-fast policy on any of this; actual enforcement could depend upon something so trivial as the DOT officer's mood.

Boowho??

[jevanb]

Towing World Official Website the laws are spelled out here

[Duckogram]

Originally Posted by jevanb

Towing World Official Website the laws are spelled out here

Excellent link to the State requirements.

[greysailor]

Originally Posted by greysailor

Finally got through fixing things on the new CC34RLSA that were missed during PDI and doing some improvements, and thought I'd measure the beast before first shakedown trip. The top of the B/R AC is 13' 8" when sitting on my F350 4X4. Not happy with that....will require much closer route planning than the old 40' diesel pusher MH. I guess the Trailair pin box, 4X4 truck with factory 20" wheels all add up to "overpass stress".

Well, I got it down to 13'6" by adjusting the pin box up and the truck hitch down. Still not comfortable at this height....gonna see want the dealer will do about replacing front A/C with a low profile unit. That should shorten me another 3". I thought that is what he ordered after our discussions about overall trailer height, but ended up ariving with the taller high efficiency unit. Strange that CC would install an A/C unit that exceeds the legal height in Indiana!

[spock123]

I just don't think that DOT cares about rv's, trucks are 13ft6in and I can go under that. I think if rv's had to stop at DOT weigh stations there would be nowhere for the trucks to go as the weigh stations would be full of parked rv',, most rv's that I see on the road are overloaded, fifthwheels and travel trailers. At least on the drive and the stering too, if you are taller than 13ft6in then do what you can to get to that. I have a bedroom ac and I went to yellowstone by two different routes from North Carolina and I had no problems. If the bridge is 13ft8in tall then I can get under it, it may as well be 25ft tall, anything over 13ft6in tall I can get under. It would be nice if Cedar Creek would put a lower ac in the front bedroom, the unit says 12ft11in tall and thats what it should be from the tallest point

Thats just my two cents

[F and E Damp]

You're still 4" lower than a street-legal double-decker transit bus! We have quite a few double-deckers running in Western WA.

[mikey]

Mine is 13'4" @ the hi point on BR AC. Not had a problem in last 22000 miles. Might be luck but also could be result of superior planning on DWs part (Motor Carrier Atlas has a section listing every low clearence along a particular route w/ specific location, all hi lighted routes are clear to 13' 8" according to OTR truckers I spoke with)

Also, I don't subscribe to using lift kits or big (35" or greater) tires on a tow vehicle. Guess there might be more n one meaning to tow vehicle as in "toy" truck? 4x4 will raise the hitch height which translates to a taller trailer height!

[greysailor]

Originally Posted by mikey

Also, I don't subscribe to using lift kits or big (35" or greater) tires on a tow vehicle. Guess there might be more n one meaning to tow vehicle as in "toy" truck? 4x4 will raise the hitch height which translates to a taller trailer height!

No lift kit or other aftermarket items on my truck, but yes, the 4X4 does add a couple inches to bed height.

After discussions with dealer, it seems that the Dometic "Penguin Low Profile" A/C units are no longer 9 1/2" tall due to a recent production design change....My B/R A/C has the Penguin model numbers, but it is 11" tall. I guess they should have installed something like a Coleman Mach8 which is only 8" tall....... Waiting to hear if it is compatable with ducts/thermostat wiring...

Took another measurement with the RV unhitched and perfectly level (which is the recommended towing height) and I am 13' 7" to the top of B/R A/C. This would have required a permit in Indiana (and most other states) when it left the factory...... Waiting for return call from factory now as to how to proceed....

[Dodge Guy]

Stay away from here then!!!

11 FOOT 8

[racer4]

greysailor,

Do you have a Penguin or a Penguin II?

Dometic claims the Penguin II is "under 10 inches high".
Products - Dometic

The various Penguin II model numbers are in this brochure:
http://www.dometic.com/2664aef6-0859...0fecbb1a.fodoc

If your Penguin is 11" and the Penguin II really is less than 10", you can gain 1 inch and get down to 13'6".

It doesn't make sense that CC would build one that exceeds 13'6" when level.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[greysailor]

Originally Posted by racer4

greysailor,

Do you have a Penguin or a Penguin II?

Dometic claims the Penguin II is "under 10 inches high".

Good luck and keep us posted.

I have a Penguin II.....but I can say for sure that it sits 11" above the roof. They must have not taken the mounting gasket into consideration in their spec sheet.... Far as I can see, the Coleman Mach8 is the only A/C that will lower my overall height.