overpass clearing - Montana Owners Club

genecurp · 07-16-2006, 02:14 PM

I got my 2006 3295RK last November at start of 2006 model year. I have a second air conditioner over the bedroom. I was told I need 13 feet 6 inches of clearances when I called Montana Customer Service. Think this correct or is it perhaps rounded to give a margin of safety?

Thanks to all.

Cat320 · 07-16-2006, 02:44 PM

Sounds about right, don't know for sure. But here's a web site that lists all low clearances in the US:

http://www.aitaonline.com/Low%20Clea...w%20Clearances

CountryGuy · 07-16-2006, 03:04 PM

I think 13' 6" is the max on the Pennsylvania turnpike. IF you set of the little red beam, you are not allowed to travel the PA pike.

Montana_1240 · 07-16-2006, 03:25 PM

I'd dare say it's definietly worth checking ahead to make sure.

Maybe even measuring it for yourself, just to be as accurate as possible.

Or else...Something like THIS could happen:

D'Oh!

Steve

CountryGuy · 07-16-2006, 03:29 PM

Goodness Steve,

THAT IS UGLY!

Montana_1240 · 07-16-2006, 04:11 PM

Not as ugly as if I were watching my Monty wipe the underside of a bridge.

You should see the rest of the pics of that wreck! The equipment is sticking up through the bridge's road surface.

It came as a joke about it being a "Math Problem." (Speeds, weights, lengths, stopping distances, clearances, etc.) And ended with some "Extra Points" for if you think it caused the driver to lose contact with his girlfriend on his cell phone. Don't know if it was true or not. But someone wasn't doing his/her math!

Steve

Fordzilla · 07-16-2006, 05:54 PM

Gene My trailer is a little older than yours and when I towed it with my last F350 I had it measured one time @ 13'3" to the top of the front A/C. I have vowed to never go under anything marked 13'6" or less.

ken · 07-17-2006, 01:56 AM

Gene, the height measurments sound about right. we have a 2005 3475 Montana and had a satellite dish mounted on top. My wife and I measured it on flat ground with a board, level, and tape measure and came out at 13'4" in height. I get a little nervous at 13' 9". If trucks can go under a bridge, so can I.

richfaa · 07-17-2006, 04:49 AM

The highest point on our 06 3400 is the max-air vent over the bathroom vent at 13 feet 3 inches..we have 2 A/C's. Used the 1x2 board leveled on top of the vent and distance to level ground method.

Sweetfire · 07-17-2006, 11:07 AM

Just don't bounce.

OntMont · 07-17-2006, 12:28 PM

From the website posted by Cat320: NY state: I-190 Buffalo- 0.8 mile east of NY 5 12'6".

This is kind of interesting, we nust have passed under this overpass numerous times, I don't even recall that there is any low overpass at this location! Anyway, if the list is right, then we must be under 12"6"!

Our 2005 edition of the Rand McNally Motor Carrier's Atlas does not show this location as low clearance. Odd.

Wrenchtraveller · 07-17-2006, 04:28 PM

3.96 Metres or 13 feet. That is the height I need to pass under. I make up a sticker and I put it
on my rear view mirror because I don't trust my memory for something this important. Every overpass I have seen has the height posted and most service station canopies have too. My wife saved us in Boomtown, Nevada because she stopped me from going under a low roof, only because she read the sign, and the sticker on the rear view helps remind you.

genecurp · 07-18-2006, 07:32 AM

Thanks, CAT320 for the web site of low clearances. And thanks to all others for their input. I will try to measure myself.

I know 13' 6 " is the standard before a rig has to have a special permit in most states. I traveled on Maine Turnpike this month and it has Warnings posted that it is 13'6". I had no problem. (Yes, there are commercial tractor-trailers using the Turnpike.)

Funny, in the Portland ME Casco Bay Ferry terminal parking garage I was having trouble parking my longbed F250. I was about to drive onto the roof for open air parking and I noticed that the clearance notice was LOWER than stated at the entrance down on the street. My truck was too high. I stopped in time. I don't know how or why I noticed the posted clearance, but luck smiled on me.

Thanks again.
Gene

Montana Sky · 07-19-2006, 06:05 PM

My coach measures in at 13'3" to the top of my FF vent in my kitchen.

genecurp · 07-20-2006, 05:25 AM

OK, I climbed on the roof with broom handle and weighted string. My able assistant at ground level. We measured twice from top of front AC (over the bedroom). I think that is the high point on my 3295RK year 2006. It measured 12 feet 9 inches. I went to the ground, then climbed up and did it again. Same 12 ft 9".

When I called cust service this week, the fellow said he had no info in his manual on height regarding a second AC, just that his manual said "max height at AC" or words to that effect. COuld it be the cust serv manual is correct, and it written really to give the max heght IF a second AC is installed? All models in the online spec sheet say height 12'9".

BTW the shroud of the front AC is 14 inches tall, and is a few inches down the slope.

So I am now convinced MY unit is 12'9". But I will continue to avoid any underpass posted for less than 13'6" .

cs413 · 07-25-2006, 08:31 AM

Well hell. I guess I didn't do my homework. I didn't think about the heighth when I had the second unit installed and of course the dealer didn't speak up. I should have got the low profile because now I am 13'8" in the front. And according to the clearance chart 32 of 50 states have a "statutory clearance of 13'6". Does that mean anything 13'6" or higher is not marked? Now I'm getting a little nervous and paranoid about clearances. I still am not traveling much but would like to in the future. I may have to eat a $900.00 installation and purchase a low profile unit. It would save me about 5" to 13'3". For those of you who travel a lot, is this a real concern I need to address immediately? I usually do not get too far off the Interstate, but not all parks are just right off the interstate. Your input would be appreciated.

Broome101 · 07-25-2006, 03:00 PM

From what I understand is that all over passes less than 13'6" must be clearly marked, per Federal DOT laws. So just keep your eyes for low overpasses.

Fordzilla · 07-26-2006, 07:49 AM

Many if not all states will require you to have a over sized permit to move your trailer if it is over 13'6" as well. I don't know if the DOT will ever bother you but if they did pull you over you could get fined for being over height and not having a permit. Just something someone told me when I was measuring mine and a trucker friend told me. Maybe there are different rules for RV's.???

cs413 · 07-26-2006, 11:47 AM

Swell. I'm going to measure one more time. I used the board and level, but maybe I looked at it wrong. I don't think so though.
Ron- from your picture the second a/c unit is pretty much on the top level portion of the roof. I looked up the 04 heighth for the 3685 and it's 2" taller than mine w/o the second unit. What is different? Did Keystone raise heighth of the kingpin in 05? I guess it doesn't matter. Regardless of how hard I look at it, if it's 13'8", it's 13'8". The other thing is I have 2 vent covers on the roof also and they are 10" tall. Boy, things we don't think about when we buy a 5th wheel!
Heighth problems would sure be a way to ruin a vacation - and costly! (VERY COSTLY)

Fordzilla · 07-26-2006, 04:07 PM

I was lucky enough to have a friend measure to the top of my trailer to a overhead bridge he was standing on and then we measured the distance to the ground to that same spot and came up with 13'3". Make sure you are on level ground when doing your measurments as the streets could be crowned by 6 inches or more. So you could be getting a false reading. I think I may have more pin weight pushing the front of my trailer down a couple more inches as well. I am looking to get some airbags to hold the back end up a bit soon and will have to re-measure after they are installed.

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