Community Forums

ToledoCharli · 07-25-2011, 10:47 AM

I can see trucks MH's, going through the toll booths with a pass but how about the "pay lanes"? How many of you squeeze through without leaving part of you MH behind and are some states booths larger/smaller than others?

njs42 · 07-25-2011, 11:02 AM

The ones I am familiar with are marked for trucks or oversized----except one and it is a squeeze---and the only choice lined with concrete barriers scrubbed with fiberglass paint metal and aluminum shavings---be careful out there.

I got pushed into a Bay bridge car lane my first time out in San FRancisco----if I left room at the pay window my rig is 3/8" to wide---and received the scar on my mirror to prove it. Go slow and steady.

RVThere · 07-25-2011, 12:38 PM

I try to get over to the truck or oversized lanes but, depending on traffic, that can be more dangerous than squeezing through a car lane.

Tightest one I went through was the San Mateo bridge below San Fran. Left a little fiberglass on the concrete barrier (sounded worst than it was...)

Just go slow and don't worry about who is behind you in a rush.

Elkhartjim · 07-25-2011, 01:06 PM

I had no problems last year on the Garden State Parkway except for shelling out the dollar bills. The toll roads around Houston are plenty wide for a motorhome also.

gripper · 07-25-2011, 01:07 PM

In 2009, I was heading West, on a NY Turnpike and came to the end of the pike, needing to pass through a tollway. The pike was crowded and I only had seconds, to choose a lane. Of course, the only wide lanes I saw, were for those with passes. Not being familiar with the tollway, I had to pick a lane quickly and I unintentionally, chose an "auto only" lane. Well, the lane was just wide enough for my MH. However, when I got to the ticket machine, I realized why it was an "auto only" lane. The ticket was way below my driver's window. What to do? I couldn't reach the ticket!

So I asked my DW to step out the door, walk around the front and retrieve the ticket. When she tried to open it, the door would only open about 6 or 8 inches. Not enought room, for her to get out. So, I said "close the door and I will move to the left as far as I can". When she closed it, I turned the wheel to the left, to move over. However, the DW, didn't close the door all the way. Not enough to cause the steps to retract. And.....I didn't notice that minor infraction. Well, long story short, I struck the concrete barricade, with my steps. Did about $3000 damage, including the cost of the steps, fiberglas work and painting, etc.

To this day, I just can't understand why they have to make those lanes so narrow and why all the wide lanes are given only to those with passes!!!!

Elkhartjim · 07-25-2011, 01:17 PM

I'm now wondering what you guys do driving in all the construction zones where the barricades are next to the lane...straddle the center line?

Those lanes are the same width as the passenger car lanes at the toll plazas.

gripper · 07-25-2011, 03:50 PM

Those construction lanes are usually "white knuckle times" for me and I will straddle the center lines if I can. But at least, I don't have to stop to pay a toll or cross several lanes, to get through the construction.

tcopeland · 07-25-2011, 03:59 PM

Used the truck/mh lanes (far right) in West Virginia and Ohio. No problems.

MegaRoadie · 07-25-2011, 04:06 PM

Close your eyes, hit the accelerator pedal and blast em.... then come back to reality, exit stage right to the truck lanes and avoid the stress.....

JJH3rd · 07-25-2011, 06:29 PM

We got on the Massachusetts Turnpike (I 90) headed east at the 1st (west most) plaza. The lane/toll booth markings at the toll plaza was unclear to say the least and I chose the one next to the "Easy-Pass" lanes. The YL (Young Lady) at the booth said "You aren't in the correct lane", but gave me a ticket anyway. When we coughed up our money at the booth before turning north on I 91, the fellow took our ticket, and asked if I didn't have a different kind. I told him no, paid the appropriate amount and went on our way. SLOWLY squeezing through the toll lanes & also the NARROW lanes on I 91 at they rebuild several bridges (& in VT too but with a little more room).

JJ

Bill Adams · 07-25-2011, 06:39 PM

I have found that all lanes in all of the toll booths we have passed through were "wide enough" for our bus conversion RV. That does not mean that the far right lane (usually) which is marked for wide loads would not have been a little more relaxed as we passed through but it there are a bunch of folks in that lane I just take the lane with the least number of vehicles. To date, this has not been an issue as long as you understand that the center of the lane is the center of the lane and you MUST find it as you pass through these lanes. We have been passing through toll booths in an RV since 1995 on the East Coast, West Coast and Central US and we have yet to lose a single flake of paint on any of them but I think I might have left a bit of rubber on a few.

pwf16129 · 07-25-2011, 08:10 PM

had this same worry when i brought my mh home from Tucson. drove the whole way getting used to it and towing my car , great until i hit Oklahoma.
then it all got nerve racking i fit ok close but ok, several more before i finally got home, worst part was i didn't want to buy the turnpike just rent it for a while

next trip out back thru Oklahoma thought no problem been here before then the dw reminds me that i extended my right side mirror out six inches

we still clear but barely definitely want to just idle thru.

happy travels

Bill Adams · 07-25-2011, 08:14 PM

There is room, so if you keep your drivers side hardware as close as possible to the obstructions without hitting, the passenger side will clear by default.

Lindsay Richards · 07-25-2011, 08:30 PM

I lost lug nut covers on both front wheels at the same toll both at the same time with a small concrete inverted V directing me thru the booth. It was in Gulf Coastal Texas. Very strange. I had it pretty well centered and stopped. The toll booth operator waved me thru and I picked them clean off.