New to fivers - Bridge

[Red_Wolf]

Hi all! Our new 12.5' tall will be arriving in a few weeks, and I wanted to ask you wise, older 5ers....how often do you need to worry about low bridges? I figure if I'm on interstates it's not an issue, but I'm not usually traveling on interstates, but back roads, I thought I'd ask. 🙂

Our Jayco TT was only 11.5' tall, and I never worried about it.

[Red_Wolf]

45Ricochet wrote:
Yes measure it sitting on your truck.

Just keep a good eye on signs, even then back roads may not have em.

Oh, that makes me cry. 😄

[rhagfo]

45Ricochet wrote:
Yes measure it sitting on your truck.

Just keep a good eye on signs, even then back roads may not have em.

You got to Love pictures like this!!
Falls under Were you paying attention to your DRIVING???
Really feel sorry for the guy in the picture, but at 8' I would be think is just the truck going to clear.

Then again it could have been a Diesel and smaller 5er, and he just didn't know it was back there!!!

[45Ricochet]

Yes measure it sitting on your truck.

Just keep a good eye on signs, even then back roads may not have em.

[chiefneon]

Howdy!

You absolutely need to check the height on your new RV. I use a GPS app Co-Pilot that has a height setting up to 13' it has worked well and kept me off of low clearence roads that would cause problems. Also one of the biggest problems RV'er have to worry about is not bridges, but low power lines and tree limbs. Tree limbs especially in RV parks and campground cause more damage than bridges.

"Happy Trails"
Chiefneon

[2oldman]

Red Wolf wrote:
.how often do you need to worry about low bridges?

Almost never. It's low hanging tree branches that freak me out, and they're everywhere.

[Allworth]

We run 12'-8" on the truck and in ten years we have only found two "NO-GO" locations. One in Idaho where a dirt road went under the main highway and we cleared that by staying Way left. The other was a series of railroad underpasses in Binghamton, New York that were only 10-6. Clearly marked, but only at the last cross street before the underpass.

We had to run parallel to the railroad until we could get back on the Interstate and go over the tracks

Look out for gas stations.

If you ever go to Canada, you have to know your clearances in Meters.

[notruffinit]

And just because the literature says that your trailer is 12' 5" doesn't mean that it really is that height. When you get it home and hooked on to your truck you should measure it. Our literature said 12' 8", but when we are hooked up, I measured 13' 2". Only had one place where we were surprised by a 12'8" clearance in New York. we stayed off the curb and went under on the low side of the trestle and cleared, but we pay much better attention to the signs now.

[craig7h]

There are books out there stating bridge heights across the country. If you are on any road where semi's travel you should be ok.. When in a town just be on the look out for bridge height signs. All so for your own info... once your new unit is hooked to your truck and on level ground take a tape measure and 2x4 on the roof, extend the 2x4 out over the edge of camper and drop tape measure. Now you know the correct height of your unit.

[kakampers]

The only area we had to be VERY careful with height was the northeast....every where else there are very few low clearances. We used a truckers atlas and checked our routes and then upgraded to an Allstays low clearance app for our android smartphone.

[jjj]

I have been pulling a fiver for over 20 years now and have never came across a low bridge yet. I drive a semi and minimum height for a trailer is 13'6". If you do come to a area with a low bridge there should be posted signs way before you get there. I know there are places with low bridges but I have never been there. I don't see it being to much of a problem, just keep your eyes open for signs. My biggest fear is gas stations. there are a lot with low over head roofs that are low enough to take out the A.C. on the trailer roof, just be careful of them. I always stay to the outside pump for them.