Fifth wheel bridge clearance

[BLuRRnAWAY]

Hi there,

My wife and I will be looking into an RV next year, and wanted to do some research. The only thing that stresses me out is traveling on roads that are unfamiliar and bridge heights. Will be traveling from NH - FL and maybe making our way around the country at some point.

How do you map your trips out?
Are there certain apps that you can input your vehicle size and it will route you the safest way?

Thanks!

 

[Wileykid]

There are a lot of phone apps for RV GPS, and one can also use trucker GPS apps that keep you on the roads that you should use, and away from low bridges. I have a Garmin RV GPS (760LM) that you put in the trailer height, length, and weight. It works like a normal GPS, but keeps you away from low bridges, and small roads. I like it as it is an independent GPS, and doesn't rely on cell coverage.

I did a trip using Google maps, and while it was okay on the west coast, it tried to get me into a lot of trouble on the east coast. It thinks you are a 5' smart car, not a 50'+ truck/trailer. Immediately after that trip, I purchased the Garmin.

 

[MikeXM]

AFAIK only truckers GPS have some bridge heights. So, I would just plan a route that suits you and do not PASS UNDER any structure without reading its height. Measure yours, add a safety margin and you will be safe.
Usually those with low clearance will have warning well in advance so you can alternate your route before reaching the structure.

 

[Wileykid]

AFAIK only truckers GPS have some bridge heights. So, I would just plan a route that suits you and do not PASS UNDER any structure without reading its height. Measure yours, add a safety margin and you will be safe.
Usually those with low clearance will have warning well in advance so you can alternate your route before reaching the structure.

Actually, the dedicated RV GPS, does have bridge heights. The Garmin I have has warned me a number of times about low bridges that are on my route that I would still fit under, and will route around any bridge it knows that is my height or lower.

As always, double check the sign on any bridge, never just trust the GPS. The max height of a trailer is 13'6", and I believe federal recommended standards is a minimum 14' bridge. Not sure when they start marking the bridges as low.

I think the only difference between the truckers GPS, and RV GPS is the RV specific (i.e. campgrounds, repair shops, shoe stores for the wife...etc), and Trucker specific stuff (hazmat..etc), although I still get warnings on weight restrictions.

 

[Brutal_HO]

Lots more info specific to RV's in the RV facebook groups, forums, etc.

RV Copilot is a popular GPS app as opposed to a dedicated GPS unit. Paid app.

RV Trip Wizard is a popular routing and campground app and has an add-on GPS app as well. Annual subscription.

 

[geektoad]

Lots more info specific to RV's in the RV facebook groups, forums, etc.

RV Copilot is a popular GPS app as opposed to a dedicated GPS unit. Paid app.

RV Trip Wizard is a popular routing and campground app and has an add-on GPS app as well. Annual subscription.

RV copilot also lets you download the entire map, so you aren't reliant on cell coverage to keep loading the map. Downside...it's a big file to have on a phone, but at least in my case, i have more space than i'll ever use anyway.

 

[Brutal_HO]

RV copilot also lets you download the entire map, so you aren't reliant on cell coverage to keep loading the map. Downside...it's a big file to have on a phone, but at least in my case, i have more space than i'll ever use anyway.

As long as it works with an SD card (Android) wouldn't matter.

 

[bdhays63]

A Rand McNally Trucker atlas has low bridges listed by state and route in the front. It’s only going to tell you state and federal routes not county or local roads. But no gps is complete either. You can pick one up at most truck stops for about $12 for the regular paper back. Handy to have just in case.

 

[kobra]

Lots more info specific to RV's in the RV facebook groups, forums, etc.

RV Copilot is a popular GPS app as opposed to a dedicated GPS unit. Paid app.

RV Trip Wizard is a popular routing and campground app and has an add-on GPS app as well. Annual subscription.

Great info, thanks @Brutal_HO !

Do you know if there are any RV GPS apps that are Carplay compatible? Or Android auto compatible?

Thanks,

B

 

[Brutal_HO]

Great info, thanks @Brutal_HO !

Do you know if there are any RV GPS apps that are Carplay compatible? Or Android auto compatible?

Thanks,

B

Google allows only Google Maps and Waze on AA. They don't allow any other 3rd party GPS apps on their platform.

Can't say for Carplay. With the exception of a mini I won at a company event years ago that my grandson uses, we don't do fruit here. Yummy desserts only. ;-)

 

[Spedly]

I use the truckmap app. It has a ton of useful stuff built in like the locations of cat scales/dump stations/overnight parking/def pumps etc. I just have our 5th wheel listed as a 13’ 6” x 40’ dry van. We haven’t had any problems out of it up and down the east coast. Sagging wires on back roads have been an issue two or three times but nothing will tell you where they are located

 

[Brutal_HO]

I use the truckmap app. It has a ton of useful stuff built in like the locations of cat scales/dump stations/overnight parking/def pumps etc. I just have our 5th wheel listed as a 13’ 6” x 40’ dry van. We haven’t had any problems out of it up and down the east coast. Sagging wires on back roads have been an issue two or three times but nothing will tell you where they are located

Good call!

I apparently had this installed on one of my old phones and didn't even realize it.

 

[lovegolf44]

Great info, thanks @Brutal_HO !

Do you know if there are any RV GPS apps that are Carplay compatible? Or Android auto compatible?

Thanks,

B

I've chatted online a couple of times with the folks at TruckMap (see Spedly's post above) and they claim their app will soon be compatible or have the capability to integrate with Google maps through Apple CP or Android Auto. They estimated by the end of this year.

Haven't seen anything yet so who knows if that's true but, that would be a great way to use navigation through the Uconnect. Downside; it'll be a wireless data eater like others have pointed out.

 

[Phil T]

Just put the hammer down. The trailer will make a terrible noise if it encounters a low bridge.

 

[RV_Goose]

Ever wonder how people survived traveling before all these electronic devices became so cheap?

 

[kobra]

Yes, I remember trips with my wife having the map all spread out on her side of the truck and me asking for directions. What added to the fun was when I had to tell her that the map was upside down, and that we had just left that city and not that we were about to go into it. Yup that was so much fun, and less stressful too... NOT

EDIT; my wife got a good laugh at the above, but then reminded me of the "next generation" roadtrip navigation... her with a laptop and then the battery would die and she'd be scrambling to plug it in. Or, we would get into an area where obviously there was new construction, so we would drive into a residential neighborhood and I would slowly drive by houses until she found a wifi signal; I'd pull over, she'd connect and download an update to the maps then plot a new route. Hey don't judge me, it was better than the paper map scenario!

B

 

[BLuRRnAWAY]

Thanks for the replies! Great stories


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[Theb2b]

Yes, I remember trips with my wife having the map all spread out on her side of the truck and me asking for directions. What added to the fun was when I had to tell her that the map was upside down, and that we had just left that city and not that we were about to go into it. Yup that was so much fun, and less stressful too... NOT

EDIT; my wife got a good laugh at the above, but then reminded me of the "next generation" roadtrip navigation... her with a laptop and then the battery would die and she'd be scrambling to plug it in. Or, we would get into an area where obviously there was new construction, so we would drive into a residential neighborhood and I would slowly drive by houses until she found a wifi signal; I'd pull over, she'd connect and download an update to the maps then plot a new route. Hey don't judge me, it was better than the paper map scenario!

B

That was called war driving, hackers used open wifi to do their nefarious hacking and not get caught instead the owner of the wifi would be.

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[Nick]

Along with all the hi tech stuff go to a Truck Stop and get a Truckers Atlas . In the front it will list by state and hi way all the low bridges in the state. Always carry an Atlas gives you the big picture page by page .

 

[SMK Shoe]

I drive Truck for a living now and the latest Garmin ( Dezel 760 ) can toggle between car, truck and RV. At each start up you verify dimensions and it figures things out from there. But ALWAYS use common sense and your eyes to determine clearances.