Reading the signs

[Glenn the fifth]

Hello all. On the way home yesterday from our "epic summer vacation" to North Central Washington and then over to Northwest Idaho I got a little lesson (that some of you have spoken about before here on the site). I was coming back following my GPS to get back on I-90 to head back across the mountains to "our side" of Washington. We ended up in downtown Spokane and then all of a sudden the GPS got a little lost. The screen had us in the middle of an area with no roads most likely due to some recent construction. The maps in my 2012 Ford F450 were just updated 6 months ago, but I know they don't always catch all the changes. I had experienced this same issue before with every GPS I have ever used, so I was not too worried. I could see I-90 off to my left, but needed to figure out how to get up there on my own at this point. My wonderful co-pilot/wife and I started looking for signs to lead us up to the freeway and we finally found some. I took a left following them (remember, we are in downtown Spokane with a lot of one way streets at about 8:30 on a Friday morning) and then it happened. I was on a 3 lane one way street and about half a block in front of me I see a bridge (with I-90 on top of it) thinking I was in the clear, I noticed something... a large yellow sign that says "11 feet, 6 inches". Rut row...that won't work, I am now about 13 feet, 6 inches with my new front A/C. Okay, stop...think, look around. No place to turn around before the bridge. Put the truck in park, turned on my flashers and got out. My co-pilot was out on the sidewalk talking to a nice young man that came out of one of the buildings and he was telling her he sees this happen 2 or 3 times a week with "big rigs". I walked back down the side walk watching cars safely go around our rig to determine my next move. The road we had turned off of was about 3/4 of a block behind me and it was also a one way. I decided that I had to back the trailer back to that road, turn around and head back to where I came from. I asked my wife to come down to that corner and let me know when it was clear for me to back around the corner and get going back from where we came. She did just that and I watched her in my side mirror for the all clear sign as I approached the corner (I could not see around the corner at all with all the buildings in the way). As I approached the corner she is waving me on and that is what I did. I got it backed around the corner and asked her to get back in and we were again safely on our way. We then went a couple of blocks the other direction and found another (higher) bridge to go under and get up on the freeway. After all that I can see how folks sometimes run into things. You are looking around for signs in an unfamiliar area and you may miss a REAL important sign. Glad it worked out for us without any damage and happy I saw that sign showing I was about 2 feet too tall to make it (that would have hurt). Just passing along and hoping everyone is traveling safe and happy! -Glenn

[K0LCB]

Glad it turned out ok for you. We've had to back up and turn around a few times. My wife calls me on her cell phone and I answer using my truck blue tooth features, sure helps to have hands free

[bigskyjimmy]

WOW! Glad everything turned out OK Glenn,that is Scary stuff good thing you had your wife to get ya outta there ,I have driven thru Spokane many times and never did like driving my big rig down there,But I know how you feel I drove a big rig doing 40 stops a day in Downtown Seattle and when I first started I pulled down a few one way streets by mistake and had to get out and stop traffic to turn around NOT FUN!! AND Embarrassing for a "professional" truck driver

[Glenn the fifth]

Thanks KOLCB and Jimmy.
Jimmy- I got lucky with the lights when I was backing into the side street. It was one way too and the lights the block up were red giving me plenty of room to back into that street. They started coming at me just as I was ready to go forward again. No harm, no foul. Darcy was more worked up about it than I was. I love to get a chance at a more challenging backing evolution, but not in the middle of a downtown during the morning rush hour. Great trip all and all.
Looking forward to seeing you guys soon! -Glenn

[DQDick]

That's why I don't use the GPS that came with mt truck. So far the RM GPS hasn't done that to me.

[1retired06]

Good catch!!

[WaltBennett]

No matter how good a GPS or map may be, if you don't pay attention to the signs, you'll get in trouble someday. New construction, old roads that have had bridge changes, whatever. I've got my clearance written by Sharpie at the top of my windshield just to remind me.

[mlh]

How do you make a 11 foot 6 inch camper out of a 13 foot 6 inch camper and do it quick, ignore the sign. May not be pretty but it will work.
Lynwood

[Mike117]

I will be heading back that way from Idaho next month. I am going to make sure if I can to stay away from,that. I think I have been on the road with my old travel trailer and it was confusing. Good reminder because I would never make it now.

[leemedic]

When we travel in unfamiliar areas we have backups.

We have a Garmin 760LMT as our primary.

I also have my iPad programmed using the Waze app.

Then my wife uses her iPad with Google maps.

We compare routes while we are traveling.

[MikenAngie]

Glad your experience turned out well. We had to back up over a mile one time when we found a road that simply ended! No signs, no warning...no easy place to turn around. Good backup practice. Be safe

[JandC]

Now how much fun would that have been if your were double towing?

[jlb27537]

We figure that if we don't have to make a U-turn, cut thru a gas station, or such, we have not had a good trip.

Jim