Just a reminder to know the height of your rig

paulm999 wrote:
Like one post already said, repaving changes the clearance but not the sign. SOP is to lay 2 inches asphalt each time a road is repaved, and the 3rd time, all the asphalt has to be grinded off before repaving. So the clearance can be 2-6 inches off, unless your going to put all your faith in DOT and contractors to follow SOPs and change signs each time.

I know for a fact that the clearance signs in our TxDot district indicate the clearance as being 3" lower than it actually measures on most bridges. A little buffer if you will. Our signs are definitely changed if there is a need to keep the clearance shown on signs plus at least some buffer. Most of our work under bridges consist of a mill and inlay which doesn't decrease the clearance in most cases.

paulm999 wrote:
Like one post already said, repaving changes the clearance but not the sign. SOP is to lay 2 inches asphalt each time a road is repaved, and the 3rd time, all the asphalt has to be grinded off before repaving. So the clearance can be 2-6 inches off, unless your going to put all your faith in DOT and contractors to follow SOPs and change signs each time.

I checked on a few of the low clearances we crossed this summer and it looked like they had ground the road bed down to acomadate the new asphalt. On US 36 near Tuscola IL just west of town there are 2 low clearances one was 13'6" and the other 13'9". The shorter one I came to a complete stop before inching my way, it didn't scrape but I didn't get out and look to see how close it was

Great Tip - never thought about that and we do intend to make it to Canada in the next couple years.

While you're making note of the height of your vehicle it's a good idea to do so in both English and metric units--that way you won't be stuck with having to do quick math in your head to convert when you encounter a low clearance marked in meters in Canada (or vice versa if you're from Canada).

noe-place wrote:
That's why they call them accidents.

Ahhh, but in the industry, there are Chargeable Accidents and Non-Chargeable Accidents, but no just plain accidents.

Like one post already said, repaving changes the clearance but not the sign. SOP is to lay 2 inches asphalt each time a road is repaved, and the 3rd time, all the asphalt has to be grinded off before repaving. So the clearance can be 2-6 inches off, unless your going to put all your faith in DOT and contractors to follow SOPs and change signs each time.

There is an app (if you have a smartphone) called low clearance notifier. One costs money but the first one or the one below is free. It shows the height of anything that might be high all over the country. :C

campinginthewoods wrote:
Opps and just a reminder of know the height of your rig :B low bridge vs firetruck

I speak from experience... :(

I peeled the A/C unit off the top of our 5'r (and the antenna) on a RR bridge that I have passed through a thousand times. Just never with the RV. It is clearly marked, but sometimes you just go brain-dead and I never gave it a thought. I do now!

Just to add to the Fire truck . It has only been in service for less then two weeks at the time of the accident. It back in the shop on Friday for a complete refurb. This will be on top of the purchase price. Also have to correct my height of the truck 11' 6" According to the build sheet.

I went to college in River Forest, IL. That is not a poor community!! Downtown Chicago has lower level Wacker DR and all Greyhound buses used to go to the old terminal that way. The sign says 11' clearance. I have heard of people getting tickets for getting stuck down there because they have repaved and never changed the signs. A 10'8" truck can get stuck there now.