Know your height and pay attention

[Freep]

During our eclipse trip we were driving in Wyoming and there are a number of low railroad bridges. I normally would have noticed but I was starting to get tired and I almost went under a short railroad bridge like this.

Luckily my wife was paying attention and we stopped short and did the backup of shame away from the bridge. When I looked under the bridge I could see the evidence of many others before me who didn't stop short.

15 seconds of inattention can ruin a trip. Sometimes there are nice flashing signs telling you that you are too tall and to turn now, but too often it's just a sign or two.

[Terrick_down_Un]

I just had a look at the google maps photo, you can see the marks from people hitting it and where they have moved the electrical conduits out of the way. Makes a shiver up your back.

[btggraphix]

Freep wrote:

btggraphix wrote:
As a wild guess, I bet the bridge you came to was in Green River Wyoming?

I've only had to turn around 3 times that I recall, one of them being in Green river under the UP railroad bridge. I was within an inch or two and skipped it to play it safe.

OK, I found it. It was Casper. Right here.

Hah! Thanks for checking! Yeah I've seen signs in Casper but never seen that underpass. I just tried google maps street view to snag a picture of the spot I was thinking of, and apparently the google vans with the cameras are too tall also....it turned on a small side street just before the bridge. Never even thought about that...wonder if there are any sequences of google street view images on a road like that where the last image is of the face of the bridge just before tagging it with the cameras! That would be awesome 🙂

[Freep]

btggraphix wrote:
As a wild guess, I bet the bridge you came to was in Green River Wyoming?

I've only had to turn around 3 times that I recall, one of them being in Green river under the UP railroad bridge. I was within an inch or two and skipped it to play it safe.

OK, I found it. It was Casper. Right here.

[btggraphix]

As a wild guess, I bet the bridge you came to was in Green River Wyoming?

I've only had to turn around 3 times that I recall, one of them being in Green river under the UP railroad bridge. I was within an inch or two and skipped it to play it safe.

[SidecarFlip]

I broke a front spring loaded front HJ on a whoop that wasn't marked. Quite an wake up experience. Pulled the tie down completely apart. Had to finish the trip with a stop at the local Tractor Supply for a length of chain, a turbuckle and a heavy spring. Went 'old school'.....

[SugarHillCTD]

Yeah- ALWAYS pay attention- above AND below.

A few years ago, driving out of Freeport, Maine towards the Recompence campground, there is a speed bump (wide- more like a speed plateau) with lots of warning signs, etc.

Went over it several times on one weekend- no problem. Then the boss and I were talking on our way back to the CG and I hit the thing at 25+. Camper must have bounced 6 inches off the bed. Got to the CG and the tiedowns were still locked but had a few inches of slack. While the camper was OK, we had bent the rear torklifts.

PAY ATTENTION. :S

[Oregun]

sgip2000 wrote:

wnjj wrote:

anutami wrote:
great video,

its nice having a lower profile unit while driving, but not so much when camping,

I'm 10' 4"

Hey, I recognize that trestle. Unfortunately, this guy didn't fit in July:

http://www.kptv.com/story/35916636/section-of-helvetia-road-closed-after-dump-truck-hits-train-trest...

That's just about 2 miles from my house. They really need to fix that.

First time I drove under that trestle I said to myself I can't ever bring my camper up here.

[sgip2000]

wnjj wrote:

anutami wrote:
great video,

its nice having a lower profile unit while driving, but not so much when camping,

I'm 10' 4"

Hey, I recognize that trestle. Unfortunately, this guy didn't fit in July:

http://www.kptv.com/story/35916636/section-of-helvetia-road-closed-after-dump-truck-hits-train-trest...

That's just about 2 miles from my house. They really need to fix that.

[SidecarFlip]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
My 5vr is 13'4" TALL

We traveled FT for 7 yrs using secondary/back roads MAJORITY of our travels coast to coast/border to border

Majority of Low Overpasses/bridges/trestles ARE 'POSTED' far enough in advance one can take ALT. Route......IF one pays attention.

I only remember a couple of times we didn't see any signage until we got to the low clearance ----then we just turned around. Whether it took lots of backing up, 5-6 point turn etc......but that is just part of the adventure.

Have had MORE close calls/encounters INSIDE CGs :E

Tree branches and rubba roofs don't get along well...

[wnjj]

anutami wrote:
great video,

its nice having a lower profile unit while driving, but not so much when camping,

I'm 10' 4"

Hey, I recognize that trestle. Unfortunately, this guy didn't fit in July:

http://www.kptv.com/story/35916636/section-of-helvetia-road-closed-after-dump-truck-hits-train-trest...

[anutami]

great video,

its nice having a lower profile unit while driving, but not so much when camping,

I'm 10' 4"

[Old-Biscuit]

My 5vr is 13'4" TALL

We traveled FT for 7 yrs using secondary/back roads MAJORITY of our travels coast to coast/border to border

Majority of Low Overpasses/bridges/trestles ARE 'POSTED' far enough in advance one can take ALT. Route......IF one pays attention.

I only remember a couple of times we didn't see any signage until we got to the low clearance ----then we just turned around. Whether it took lots of backing up, 5-6 point turn etc......but that is just part of the adventure.

Have had MORE close calls/encounters INSIDE CGs :E

[campinginthewoo]

I used to work for my local Utility company and in all of our Line trucks big and small (think F350/450 Chassis) and all dump trucks have a sign on the dash stating the height of the truck. Not that we have any low bridges around but its a great reminder. However the city of Champaign IL 20 miles south of me has a couple of LOW bridges that get hit routinely YES the bridges are MARKED with Hi-Vis Yellow paint and Flashing lights and signs leading up to the bridges yet Drivers hit them regularly. Maybe if the signs read WARNING CAN OPENER AHEAD Maybe the truck drivers would realize that the bridge is LOW LOL. The bridges do a number peeling back the roofs of trailers :B As for my TT I have a sticker on my dash reminding me and fortunately I haven't found low bridges while traveling yet.

[1handyhubby]

Agreed. I was getting gas in Bridgeport in July and as I was pulling in I had my wife watch. I cleared the satellite dome by an inch. I got out and looked around for a sign and it said 12'6". I'll never forget that number. I'll keep it to 13' or better from now on.