Truck and camper height and overpass question?

[Freeborn530]

I have a 2004 Bigfoot 9'6' camper on a 2006 Dodge 2500, the camper does have AC. any estimates of total height?
How often and where is it likely to encounter a overpass to low to travel under?

[run100]

mattyj wrote:
I look at clearance signs but if its close I get out of the truck and look.

I do the same at drive-thru tellers. :E

[hedgehopper]

Anything you won't fit under should be very well marked as that is lower than the std. max height for highway travel.

I wish that were true. An illegally-low branch on a tree totaled our previous TC. There was no warning sign. The only warning was the
C R U N C H.

[Bedlam]

My setup is just under 13.5’ and I just went through this while visiting NC. Many rail bridges are under 12.5’ and I had to take alternate truck routes or not get into some towns.

[SugarHillCTD]

That's the infamous 11'-8" underpass. (did you post that as an image or a link?)

But here is a really nasty one- 10'- 6"

https://youtu.be/V3-UugI0JoA

[cross21114]

Here's one bridge to stay away from in Durham, NC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USu8vT_tfdw

Sorry, don't know why this is not a clickable link.

[NRALIFR]

BradW wrote:
The tunnels I worry about are on the south end of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

If they’re any smaller than this one, you won’t fit!

I think this is one of the tunnels on US16A (Iron Mountain Road) on the way to Mt. Rushmore. Or maybe it’s on the Needles Highway. Anyway, I had measured the camper height, and knew exactly how much clearance I needed. I remember the tunnel’s stated height was just a few inches more than I needed. I also remember scraping one of the side mirrors on the tunnel wall as we went through. The boss was too nervous to ride in the truck, so she took the cat and walked behind me. This was about 1989 with my 1984 F250 and my first TC, a brand-new 9.5 ft Jayco.

Edit: after refreshing my memory, I think this is in fact the “Needles Eye Tunnel”, and it may have been the width that was just a few inches more than I needed. I’ve slept since then :W Either way, it was a tight squeeze.






:):)

[billtex]

K Mac wrote:
Garden State Parkway, but RV's are allowed to use it, commercial vehicles are not, just be careful though because it has a lot of arched overpasses that are LOW on the outer lanes, best to stay in the
center lanes.

Isn’t the majority of the Garden St Pkwy (where the arched overpasses are) 2 lanes?

Edit-My bad; I am thinking of Merrit Pkwy in CT.

Sorry...

[BradW]

The tunnels I worry about are on the south end of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

[scooterh]

Also pay attention to arch type tunnels. Some will have maximum height in the center at the zipper and a different height listed for the lowest mark at the fog line. Watch your speed. if you are within a couple inches, your suspension can compress on rough road and lift you enough to be over height. Watch for roads that have been resurfaced. Road crews have been known to forget to check overpass height after a resurface on an asphalt highway.

[Z-Peller]

When you have determined what your height is, then post it on your rearview mirror in both feet and meters for quick reference when you approach an overpass, see the clearance sign and suddenly panic trying to remember what your height is.

[K_Mac]

Here in N.Y. we have quite a few "Parkways", especially in Westchester County,& Long Island's, Nassau,& Suffolk Counties. Parkway's are designated for passenger cars only. New Jersey also has the Garden State Parkway, but RV's are allowed to use it, commercial vehicles are not, just be careful though because it has a lot of arched overpasses that are LOW on the outer lanes, best to stay in the
center lanes.

[towpro]

I have the problem Kd4 talks about in my PA neighborhood. Its old Pennsylvania railroad area. I live real close to the old Lancaster Highway and original Phila to Lancaster and Harrisburg railroad routes (built 1834). Many Underpasses are over 150 years old. Most are arched tunnels that are 12' or less.

Our PA home is actually right off the original King's Highway which went between Phila and Lancaster starting 1733. yes you need to measure to know for sure.

Don't have underpass problem (or them **** buggies) at our new home in Central Florida

[jimh406]

GeoBoy wrote:
Why New York State?

I could be mistaken, but I think it was New York that has higher speed highways that also are less than 12’.

[GeoBoy]

jimh425 wrote:
I agree under 12 probably closer to 11’6”. In any case, you should be pretty good on the West coast. Apparently, the only place you are going to have a lot of issues is up around New York state. Not saying there aren’t gas stations etc that won’t be lower because there are!

As others have said, do measure it just to be sure.

Why New York State?