Knowing Your Motorhome's Height Can Prevent Major Mishaps
By Fred Smith
July 24, 2015
Lazydays Graphic
When you’re driving a car or truck, it’s rare to be worried about low clearances. Now that you have upgraded to a motorhome, one of the many new things to be aware of are the low clearances everywhere. Writing down and learning the height of your motorcoach is a great idea. Putting it on a sticky note and attaching it to the windshield or dash may come in handy whenever you see a sign for low clearance.
Not only is it smart to know your vehicle’s height in feet and inches, but also you should know it in meters and centimeters. This practice will be extremely handy when traveling in Canada.
The Rand McNally book is still one of the best tools to have onboard the motorhome. It lists every low clearance bridge in the country. Most truck stops still sell the book for about $20.
Some GPS units can warn you of low overpasses. Most importantly, although they can be a little pricey, they are updated frequently with new locations. Plus, it’s cheaper than the repair on your motorhome roof and a bridge.
Also, when you are pulling into a gas station that has an old appearance, be mindful that they may have repaved the parking lot and the new elevation may just make you a few inches taller. Low-hanging vegetation, especially on back roads, can not only scratch your paint finish, but can cause major damage. Trees don’t normally have clearance signs, so use your best judgment. If you try to drive in the interior lane, you can avoid these low-hanging obstacles.
When you backing your newly purchased Lazydays RV into the driveway at your house, be careful that you are aware of just how far the eaves of the rooftop stick out as you park your motorhome for the first time.
For more helpful advice from our service experts, visit out Lazydays Tampa or Tucson locations or log online to learn more.
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