How tall is my rig

[bbaker2001]

Have 2001 cardinal
No paperwork on specs.
Would like to know how you get an accurate hight of trailer
Is using just a tape measure accurate enough, or do some truck stops have something

[dedmiston]

[cbshoestring]

measure....measure.....measure

The literature has no clue how a trailer will "sit" on your tow vehicle...it is a guestimate, based upon level towing, in a perfect world. May not include ad-ons installed by a dealer.

Do as others have said: Straight-edge from highest point to the ground, while trailer is attached to tow vehicle sitting on level ground. My personal opinion is to add an inch or two...just in case.

Write it down, know it....watch for signs that say CLEARANCE. If the clearance sign is less than or equal to the number you wrote down. GOOD. If their number is less than you number SSSSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTOOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPPPPP

[Johno02]

Make that a long STRAIGHT 2x4..

[Johno02]

A long 2x4, a level, and a tape measure is the best way. Check both sides, should be the same.

[Fred_n_Jo]

As someone has already said, you need to know your height in both feet and in meters.

The first time we entered Canada and just after crossing the border we turned a corner to see an underpass about a block away with a sign that read 4.0 meters clearance. A quick mental calculation told me we were good to go but a legal height (in the US) semi-truck would have had to go around.

[korbe]

Our AC unit is directly above the tires so the height will not change while hooked up to the truck. I stood on a ladder adjacent to the tires and extended a 2x4 with a level on it and rested the 2x on top of the AC. I measured from the bottom of the level 2x to the top of the ladder and then measured up from the ground to the top of the ladder. Then I put the total distance in my sun visor.

[donn0128]

Cardinal what? Fifth wheel will list 13'6" in the brochure. TT? Anybodies guess.

[enblethen]

Height is very important. I have it on my dash in US and metric.
I acheived the measurement by using a straight 2X4 with a level attached. One end on the high point, air conditioner in my case. I attached a measuring tape to the off rig end. My helper, wife, read the measurement to the ground.
I added a few inches for clearance.
In the case of a trailer, you will want to insure the tanks are empty. Spring compression can effect height.
Your high point could be the front vent.

[5thwheeleroldma]

Height is very important and you must measure it yourself; don't want to take the top off on some old RR bridge.

I have a trailer shed, so I measured the height to the ceiling, then climbed on top and measured the distance from the top of my highest AC to the ceiling. Subtract and found 13' 1".

You can try to measure from floor to top of highest point, but difficult as it is probably an AC, and you must have a level to measure accurately from the AC top out to the edge of the trailer. If you have no shed, I'd say; pick highest point, measure height to top of trailer at that point, then add distance AC rises above trailer top.

I always allow 3" on measurement errors (mostly theirs); ie if the bridge is only 2" higher than my calculated height, I won't go under it.

[RoyB]

This is one thing I don't have to worry about with my low height setup haha...

I used to see something on the Interstates that measured your height as you drove under it and it would flash how tall you was... Don't remember where that was at. Actually after thinking abut this it didn't tell how high you but did flash a warning light at you if you was too tall which is 13-foot something I think...

I reckon the best way to know for sure is use the tape measure...

I might drag a couple of my Ham Radio antennas going through a McDonalds Drive through but that's about it...

Roy's Image

Roy Ken

[md_procouple]

Hubby did something like that he measured from the roof to the ground, then from roof to the top of highest A/c unit then added the 2 numbers

[tmm2good]

Go up on top with your tape measure, check at the highest point the distance to the ground.