Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > GENERAL DISCUSSIONS > General Discussions about our Montanas
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 08-30-2017, 10:31 AM   #1
happy camper x2
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Bixby
Posts: 59
M.O.C. #20088
height issues

any body have advise on how to avoid height issues with their camper. length doesn't concern me but the height scares me
 
__________________
Pete and Susan
2018 Montana 353 RL
2013 Dodge 2500
happy camper x2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2017, 11:05 AM   #2
Razrbk
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Eureka Springs
Posts: 432
M.O.C. #17829
Quote:
Originally Posted by happy camper x2 View Post
any body have advise on how to avoid height issues with their camper. length doesn't concern me but the height scares me

I use an RV GPS that I can program my fiver's height, weight, etc. Also, I use a trucker's atlas. For tree limbs, etc, I'm developing a pretty good eye...
Razrbk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2017, 12:26 PM   #3
DQDick
Site Team
 
DQDick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
RV GPS for us also. Old rig was 13''5" since we had a full sized AC in the bedroom. New one is taller so also close to 13'5" and so far no issues.
DQDick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2017, 03:10 PM   #4
Former StClairSailor
Montana Fan
 
Former StClairSailor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Caledonia
Posts: 345
M.O.C. #17151
We purchased a Large Scale Rand McNally Motor Carriers' Road Atlas. It has laminated pages and Low Clearance Locations by state. It can be purchased at pretty much any truck stop.

Quote:
Originally Posted by happy camper x2 View Post
any body have advise on how to avoid height issues with their camper. length doesn't concern me but the height scares me
__________________

John & Laura___& Bentley
2017 Montana 3950BR
2015 GMC Sierra Denali Dually
Former StClairSailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2017, 03:26 PM   #5
BB_TX
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,133
M.O.C. #6433
We rarely get off of US and state highways and have never had a problem with those. If we get off those then it is typically a road to a state, city, or COE park and have found those roads to have good clearance since they do have frequent RV traffic.
Inside the parks I just watch very carefully for any tree limbs that look too low and stop just short and get out and take a look to be sure. And I would do the same for any other side road or street. Same for service station awnings, pull close and get out and look before pulling all the way in.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
BB_TX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2017, 03:31 PM   #6
topjustice
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Coeur D Alene
Posts: 264
M.O.C. #19835
Quote:
Originally Posted by Former StClairSailor View Post
We purchased a Large Scale Rand McNally Motor Carriers' Road Atlas. It has laminated pages and Low Clearance Locations by state. It can be purchased at pretty much any truck stop.
A related question for Former StClairSailor. It looks like the garage behind your Montana has 14 ft. doors like mine. Does the 13.5 ft. height of the Montana include the A/C's on the roof to allow it to clear the garage door? I currently have a 39 ft. Alpine with a height of 12ft. 8in. and it clears the 14 ft. door nicely. I am looking at the Montana 3791RD and want to make sure it will also clear the garage door. Thank you.
topjustice is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2017, 04:17 PM   #7
MARK A
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: STAYTON
Posts: 1,118
M.O.C. #18157
Quote:
Originally Posted by topjustice View Post
A related question for Former StClairSailor. It looks like the garage behind your Montana has 14 ft. doors like mine. Does the 13.5 ft. height of the Montana include the A/C's on the roof to allow it to clear the garage door? I currently have a 39 ft. Alpine with a height of 12ft. 8in. and it clears the 14 ft. door nicely. I am looking at the Montana 3791RD and want to make sure it will also clear the garage door. Thank you.
It has to go through a 14' door, otherwise it'd be overheight. I would think they are required to meet DOT regs. ?
And before all of you sharpshooters our there in 5er land jump me about all the low bridges out there, the guy was asking about a door opening.

Mark
MARK A is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2017, 04:24 PM   #8
DQDick
Site Team
 
DQDick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
Just remember, for the 13'5" to be correct it has to be level on the truck.
DQDick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2017, 05:33 PM   #9
topjustice
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Coeur D Alene
Posts: 264
M.O.C. #19835
Quote:
Originally Posted by MARK A View Post
It has to go through a 14' door, otherwise it'd be overheight. I would think they are required to meet DOT regs. ?
And before all of you sharpshooters our there in 5er land jump me about all the low bridges out there, the guy was asking about a door opening.

Mark
Good point! Thanks.
topjustice is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2017, 06:02 PM   #10
mhs4771
Montana Master
 
mhs4771's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Sebring
Posts: 3,657
M.O.C. #9969
Just a word of caution: While RV GPS and Trucker's Atlas are great tools, once you get off the main routes and onto to secondary and local roads, all bets are off. There are several low overpasses near our Home Base that do not show up on any data base or atlas and even the GoodSam Trip Router does not show them.
__________________
Michelle & Ann
2018 Chevy 3500HD High Country DRW 4X4 Crew Cab w/Duramax/Allison, Formally 2010 Montana 2955RL, Now Loaded 2016 SOB, Mor/ryde IS, Disc Brakes & Pin Box, Comfort Ride Hitch, Sailun 17.5 Tires.
mhs4771 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2017, 07:22 PM   #11
catskiner
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: big pine
Posts: 128
M.O.C. #9253
If you stay on roads marked as a truck route you will be safe usually.
catskiner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2017, 07:48 PM   #12
Jay Bird
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Fayetteville
Posts: 2,351
M.O.C. #6831
RV GPS and Truckers Road Atlas. Put RV in RV mode and as catskiner said stay on roads marked as truck rout. We have used this method many years. We have had only instance that we approached an under pass that was to low (10'6") and the GPS told us to detour.
Jay Bird is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2017, 08:37 PM   #13
Jcroome
Established Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Sandersville
Posts: 19
M.O.C. #20350
I printed the height 13'5" in reverse print in a size I can see from my driver side mirror. Taped it to the Montana under the overhead but where I can see it. Probably 2" high print. Great help when I see low clearance ahead and the height to double check the mirror.
Jcroome is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2017, 09:18 PM   #14
CaptnJohn
Montana Master
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: South East NC
Posts: 1,768
M.O.C. #19865
My Garmin LM 760 has been great but still have to be observant. It never steered me to a low overpass or underweight bridge.
CaptnJohn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2017, 11:43 PM   #15
Mark N.
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Ogden
Posts: 638
M.O.C. #13862
I do two things: I stay on truck routes through cities and I carry an extension pole with twist locks. This pole is marked with a permanent marker as index marks so I can quickly extend the pole to the same exact (measured) height as my trailer at its tallest point. Then, I can walk under anything that looks dicey, and if the pole hits, My trailer will hit. I have had to prune many branches in RV parks that were too low for my trailer. Yes, I also carry an extension pruning saw!
Mark N. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2017, 05:06 AM   #16
JandC
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Frostproof, FL USA
Posts: 2,362
M.O.C. #13272
Quote:
Originally Posted by DQDick View Post
Just remember, for the 13'5" to be correct it has to be level on the truck.
Very good point Dick. The exact same fiver year and model could sit 2 to 3 inches higher or lower on two different tow vehicles, and never go by what the dealer or printed literature tells you the height is.

I have always measured my own RVs height, then generally add an inch and record that for reference.
__________________
Previous: 2008 Montana 3400RL & 2014 3725RL
Current: Full Time 2022 SOB TT Toy Hauler
JandC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2017, 06:06 AM   #17
Loneoak
Montana Master
 
Loneoak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Winchester
Posts: 900
M.O.C. #19514
We use an RV GPS. I also use the Allstays app. It tells you about low bridges, etc. I have labels on the dash of the truck telling us our height in feet and in meters since we cross the border a lot. I like that pole idea though.
__________________

2017 High Country 305RL
2015 Ford F-250 Super Duty
Loneoak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2017, 06:53 AM   #18
TLightning
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Kville
Posts: 2,865
M.O.C. #7871
Quote:
Originally Posted by catskiner View Post
If you stay on roads marked as a truck route you will be safe usually.
Yep, anything an 18 wheeler can get under, you can get under.
TLightning is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2017, 09:42 AM   #19
Mark Stueck
Established Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Kissimmee
Posts: 48
M.O.C. #18844
Send a message via AIM to Mark Stueck
our 3610RL was 13'5" BEFORE (empty) then we loaded up for travel with our "Full Time" stuff. Measured 13'2" when ready to go. Also have Road Atlas and Garmin RV 760.
Mark Stueck is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:33 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.