Pulling through big cities

[Dso66]

Wondering what people do when they have to pull their rigs through the bigger cities. Also is there a book or app. That has preferred routes to destinations. Just thinking driving certain places with a 5r or a TT isn't a lot of fun

[Veebyes]

We try to give big cities a wide berth but sometimes they are unavoidable. To go anywhere we have to deal with either Baltimore or Washington. Try to pick mid day for passing through but sometimes you have to deal with what it is.

Watch the signs, know your exit # & stay out in at least lane #3 till you get a mile or so from your exit. Let the speed demons race by on the left & the on & off crowd do their thing in the two lanes to the right.

[noe-place]

I've driven our Class C through San Francisco multiple lanes with no issue and in the late afternoon, across the Golden Gate to the park. Also across the GW in New York in the afternoon with the only problem of retracting mirrors to miss the booths. Been through Atlanta many times with never the first problem. Pick your spots carefully though.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

Dso66 wrote:
Wondering what people do when they have to pull their rigs through the bigger cities. Also is there a book or app. That has preferred routes to destinations. Just thinking driving certain places with a 5r or a TT isn't a lot of fun

Most important: *KNOW* the exact height of whatever you are driving!
Get "up top" and measure from highest point to the ground.
Sometimes a couple of inches can make a BIG difference!

Put a "reminder" on your visor, or?

*Through* big cities, as in on an Interstate, freeway, expressway, major highway, etc.:
Avoid rush hour/s.
Look for highway bi-pass that go *around* rather than through.
Height - if you see tractor-trailer rigs as your fellow travelers - you're OK.
If *not* better figure out why not in a hurry!.:?

"In" big cities, but *NOT* on the above - more local highways, roads, blvds, etc.:
Plan your route in advance.
Back to the above - what is on the road with you - trucks or no trucks?..:@

Plan for a "180" -
*If* you need to turn around (or?), can you get it done?

Carry truckers atlas, use GPS with clearance info - but don't completely rely on either - there can be construction, etc.


~

[mileshuff]

2gypsies wrote:
One exception is the greater Phoenix area because our daughter lives there. We have never seen the major highways in Phoenix with trees. We do the I-10, I-17, 101 and 202. We stay on the outskirts at the Maricopa County parks and still don't encounter trees.

We live in Phoenix so have to drive the streets. Parts of Cactus, Thunderbird, 7th street, Greenway and many more have large over hanging trees.

[Lantley]

colliehauler wrote:
I just avoid rush hour if possible. I hate stop and go traffic pulling a RV.

I hate it with or without RV!
I live just outside of a big city. Congested traffic is a way of life.

[colliehauler]

I just avoid rush hour if possible. I hate stop and go traffic pulling a RV.

[2gypsies1]

If you're driving through big cities (Phoenix, Houston, etc) there's no reason to get off on streets with overhanging trees. Stay on the major routes like truckers do. Interstates don't have trees or curves or narrow streets.

Personally, we avoid those kinds of cities. We'd rather take a more scenic two-land state highway. Yes, it's slower but we've got plenty of time. We're rarely on interstates unless we really need to be.

One exception is the greater Phoenix area because our daughter lives there. We have never seen the major highways in Phoenix with trees. We do the I-10, I-17, 101 and 202. We stay on the outskirts at the Maricopa County parks and still don't encounter trees.

[mileshuff]

K Charles wrote:
In the city most roads are straighter and there are less trees hanging over the road. I think is the same as the country roads only different.

Roads are straight in Phoenix but trees line the sides everywhere. They allow them to hang out across the far right lane and trim them for clearance....sort of. They don't trim often enough and more often than not clearance is less than 12'. I have to drive down the inside lanes much of my way around Phoenix.

[tatest]

The Interstate highways are designed to carry interstate commercial truck traffic through large cities. If you must go through, I don't think you can find a better route than what the big trucks use.

However, I like to avoid big cities by 50 to 100 miles, if I can, not so much because of the cities but because of the universally bad driving behavior I encounter on suburban freeways or expressways. For example, I've worked out a number of routes between NE Oklahoma and southern Michigan where the largest city I must go through is Springfield, Illinois, though the fastest routes might take me through Saint Louis, Kansas City, Indianapolis, or across the south edge of Chicago.

If I must go through, I figure out which lanes the big trucks are using, and blend in with them.

[shootandfish1]

From a guy raised in a 'One Stop Light' town. I make sure to take a break, use the restroom, fuel-up if needed, and do a 'walk-around' before entering the larger urban ares.

Plan on delays from construction or accidents, Always grateful when passing thru a larger city is 'event-free'.

As a side note, construction zones and fear of a tire failure in urban area are one of the main reasons that I have bought my last single axle trailer.

[Vulcaneer]

The biggest issue in driving on city streets is the dreaded Right Turn. Swing wide to the left before the turn..(even into the opposing lane if you can do that safely) and use the entire road after you make the turn. Many time a street corner will have a sign, a street light, A tree, a group of pedestrians waiting to cross, or something else stuck very close to the road at the corner. A right hand turn, you need to swing wide to get your trailer around that obstacle. If you need to wait for traffic to clear before you can use the opposing lanes....just wait. Put your "hater blockers" on. While most other drivers will be helpful. There is always one that wants to demonstrate his importance to you.

I have been in situations where a GPS has put me into a dead end street. Had to back up a half mile to get turned around. Curvy road with cars parked on both sides. People came out of their houses to watch the fun. Kids riding around the street on bikes. I had DW outside with her radio, guiding me back. This is where you take a deep breath and say..."OK calm down. Relax, and we'll get through this." Then go back to the basics and take your time. Slow and steady wins the race. Took us 45 minutes. But we escaped. I learned not to ALWAYS trust the GPS.

[rhagfo]

Wow some people sound real uncomfortable with driving their rig!!!!
Semis drive through big cities every day, we are no different! When my 5er is hooked up I know how big I am, I know how far I need to make a corner.
I DD my TV so I start with the advantage of knowing how it fits places. The Tralier just makes it a little longer, just use the mirrors.
Big not an issue try the coastal towns on the Oregon coast on a weekend hill roads and stop and go traffic. I will take big city driving any day!

[martipr]

Three or four shots of Jim Bean seem to help.
Seriously, I try to avoid big cities if at all possible whether I am pulling or just in a car. Most large cities have a loop around. Of course often that is of no help because every one else is on the loop to avoid the city. I often find no choice and have driven in many big cities. I think Kansas City must have been planed by some evil sadist. Time and again lanes end with only about 50 foot warning. I think the worst ever was driving with my 30 foot TT through downtown Chicago. I have since been told that it is not allowed. It is not really that horrible, except because of never ending construction don't even try I-35W north of Fort Worth except possibly between 2 and 4 in the morning, just slow down, plan ahead and shut your eyes tight.

[chiefneon]

Howdy!

If your looking for a map (book) get yourself a Motor Carrier Atlas. If you want a app look at Co-Pilot. I use Co-pilot as my gps it has a setting in it for RV that you can set the height up to 13'. I've used it also while traveling in Canada with no problems.

Co-Pilot GPS app

"Happy Trails"
Chiefneon