Community Forums

leadfree01 · 07-11-2021, 03:07 PM

Is there a way to determine the height of a coach to safely go under bridges without getting up top with a ruler?

thanks, Leadfree01

Warhorse6 · 07-11-2021, 03:14 PM

The specifications page of your owners manual will give you the height, then give yourself another couple of inches just to be safe.

**hamm2018** · 07-11-2021, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leadfree01

Is there a way to determine the height of a coach to safely go under bridges without getting up top with a ruler?

thanks, Leadfree01

There is only one way I know of measuring the height without getting up on the roof. That is to have somebody else get up on the roof.
But seriously I had our measure when the MorRyde IS system was installed. They measured the height at all 3 AC units to make sure of the height. They used a long level and then dropped the tape measure down to get the numbers.
As far as I know this is the only sure way to get the measurement you need. You may find it by looking at the brochure/website for the RV/by the manufacturer for the basic information. But max height should be under 13'6".

SLOweather · 07-11-2021, 03:19 PM

Sorry, but IMO, the safest and most accurate thing to do is measure it. Do it from the side wit a ladder, long straight board, level, and tape measure. Put the board atop the A/C or whatever is highest, put the level on it and level it at the edge of the roof, measure from the bottom of the board to ground level.

Having a helper would make this easier, plus a clamp to clamp another long vertical board to the level one while you make the measurement. A 1x4 on edge would be stiff enough, and half the weight of a 2x4.

LETMGROW · 07-11-2021, 03:30 PM

I wouldn't trust any source for the height other than a physical measurement. Too many variables such as A/C units, antennas and satellite equipment.
Pretty sure isn't close enough.
My A/C units are the highest point on my coach. I took a 10' 2" X 2" up on the roof with a 2' level. I laid the 2" X 2" on top of the A/C units, made sure the 2" X 2" was level and had a helper measure the distance from the bottom of the 2" X 2" to the ground. I measured down from both A/C units and used the higher measurement for my height.

YC1 · 07-11-2021, 03:31 PM

Tow truck driver had a huge square to check the overall height when our rv was up in the air. That was quite a sight.

RRR · 07-11-2021, 04:14 PM

Well if you brush up on your basic trigonometry or even geometry class from high school it isn't that hard.

Skip426 · 07-11-2021, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RRR

Well if you brush up on your basic trigonometry or even geometry class from high school it isn't that hard.

High School, I was thinking Boy Scout training. Lol

Measure! Everything else is guessing!

FIRE UP · 07-11-2021, 10:05 PM

When we'd receive new fire trucks to prepare for service, the factory specs and our specs, would call for a given weight, height, length and width. I was involved in outfitting new ones. We'd ALWAYS recheck all those measurements and specs, against the factory specs. We found the factory specs off some, but not by much. For the height, we would find the tallest part of each truck, mostly the emergency lights and, place a 3" x 3" x 1/2" (thick) x 12' long piece of aluminum angle across the lights.

We'd then place a 6' level on that angle. That would take two people on or near the roof. And, it would take two more people, one on each end of the aluminum angle and a tape measure. This way would provide for the most accurate measurement of height.

I have done the same style of measuring our coach and found it to be 1 1/2" higher than the coach specs. This is done ONE TIME in 10 years so, it's well worth the effort to do it correctly and know, once and for all, just EXACTLY how tall your coach really is.
Scott

YC1 · 07-12-2021, 07:56 AM

Here is what the tow truck driver used after hooking up and raising my RV.

ArtJoyce · 07-12-2021, 08:12 AM

I used a tall step later and a level. Set the level ontop of the AC unit and leveled the level. Measured to the ground. Distance was 3" less then what the manual said. So I thinking the mfg adds a cushion.

MSHappyCampers · 07-12-2021, 10:12 AM

[QUOTE=SLOweather;5827495]Sorry, but IMO, the safest and most accurate thing to do is measure it. Do it from the side wit a ladder, long straight board, level, and tape measure. Put the board atop the A/C or whatever is highest, put the level on it and level it at the edge of the roof, measure from the bottom of the board to ground level.

That's the easiest and most accurate way! Just be sure your coach is at travel height when you do the measurement!

69Stang · 07-12-2021, 10:22 AM

The brochure for mine said 12' 7". That is true for the A/C's, but there is a round antenna that (I'm not 100% sure what it is) is 12' 9". I'm guessing an OTA antenna.

To be 100% sure of the height you need to get up there and measure.

Sonic · 07-12-2021, 11:55 AM

If you happen to be an Escapees member, they have an adjustable height measuring tool (essentially a huge framing square) at select campgrounds that will give you the exact height.
Newmar says mine is 12' 8". Escapees measured it at 12'10"