Forum Discussion

dotcommer's avatar
dotcommer
Explorer
Jul 21, 2018

Almost destroyed my 37’ RV, on an 8’8” Low height bridge

Just purchased a 2016 Thor challenger, also subscribe to the website RV trip wizard.com, where they have markings for low bridges.

While driving to our vacation rental property in Newtown Connecticut Yesterday, our iPhone GPS routed us through the Saw Mill Parkway
Well, there was nothing on the trip Wizard website that said anything about a low height bridge on that road.

As we approach this bridge, on a 55 MPH road, there was a old curved tunnel bridge, where the right lane measured at 8.8 feet . There were no markings, until you got to the bridge of which there was a sign that said 8.8 feet height.
We ended up stopping traffic, switching to the left lane, my sister stepped out of the RV to see if we could make it through bridge on the left lane. Thank goodness we were able to fit, but what a scary situation.

Has anyone else ran into a situation like this?

Are there any more reliable apps, that tell you all the low height bridges?

Thanks
Class A
  • azdryheat's avatar
    azdryheat
    Explorer
    Jul 21, 2018
    I've never had an issue with a low bridge. But then, I stay on interstates and US highways as much as possible. I use Google Maps on my phone and haven't been steered wrong. I also use the Motor Carriers' Atlas that shows trucker approved routes throughout the US. It also has a section, organized by states, that lists the low spots. Available at any truck stop.
  • dotcommer's avatar
    dotcommer
    Explorer
    Jul 21, 2018
    SidecarFlip wrote:
    Don't sound quite right. Federal highway regulations state all bridge heights under 13' 6" must be clearly marked well in advance of the bridge on any public travelled highway.

    I don't use any 'app', I use my eyes and read the signage.

    Were you too busy looking at an 'app' to read the signage?

    Sounds like distracted driving to me...


    Nope, wasn’t distracted , my wife was in the car looking at RV trip wizard.com for low level bridges As we are passed some that were questionable on the same road . Being at this road was in Connecticut, there were a lot of trees along the roadway. There may have been a prior sign, but we did not see any. Maybe they were blocked by some overgrown trees.
  • dotcommer's avatar
    dotcommer
    Explorer
    Jul 21, 2018
    I am from Arizona, and we just picked up the RV in Florida last week,

    I was very surprised, because the trip wizard website shows no warnings for low level bridges In this area

    My father-in-law, who used to drive 18 wheelers, recommended getting a truck atlas which shows low level bridges.

    I was hoping there was an app, that would show all low level bridges, just like the truckers atlas


    I actually just came across this video while searching for an app.
    Low level bridge accidents on video
    https://youtu.be/USu8vT_tfdw
  • jplante4's avatar
    jplante4
    Explorer II
    Jul 21, 2018
    I see you're not from the northeast. Here, anything that is a parkway is suspect, most being off limits to commercial vehicles and RVs. I checked Copilot RV and RV Trip Planner and neither show any low clearances in Newtown CT.

    When we get a GPS route I always check it against a trucker's road atlas.
  • SidecarFlip's avatar
    SidecarFlip
    Explorer III
    Jul 21, 2018
    Don't sound quite right. Federal highway regulations state all bridge heights under 13' 6" must be clearly marked well in advance of the bridge on any public travelled highway.

    I don't use any 'app', I use my eyes and read the signage.

    Were you too busy looking at an 'app' to read the signage?

    Sounds like distracted driving to me...

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