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Overhead Clearance Explanation Needed
I’m new to PC and have two questions regarding overhead clearance that I need to get a grip on. Once retired, my wife and I will be living near the beach in Maryland. In order to travel south or southwest from there the logical route is to go through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel into Virginia rather than northwest to utilize the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, eventually connecting to I-95 and adding 1.5 hours to the trip along with the traffic congestion between Washington, DC and Annapolis, Maryland. The Bay Bridge-Tunnel opened in 1964 and has a clearance of just 13’6″.
Questions:
- Does an indicated clearance of 13’6″ mean a vehicle 13’6″ will safely clear the tunnel or is 13’6″ the actual measured vertical height of the opening? The info I’ve found on DOT websites is confusing on this issue.
- What is the overall height of a H3 Prevost conversion including rooftop add-ons like A/C units and a satellite antenna? I’ve been told by a dealer that overall height of a XL2 is 12’6″ so we should be fine if that’s what we purchase, but I’m very concerned about clearance issues in case the perfect bus turns out to be a H3 when we’re ready to buy. Either way, we’ll definitely be buying a used bus. I understand the differences between the two including basement storage, interior ceiling heights and the frequency of skin delamination, but we have no definite preference at this point, although I do love the polished stainless of the XL2.
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16 Replies
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I can’t answer many questions, but this one I know the answer to. A vehicle that is 13’6″ can go through the bridge/tunnel. We used to truck through there often at the full 13’6″.
Final coach height is dependent upon accessories on the roof and varies accordingly, but 13’6″ is the legal limit in most states east of interstate 35, out west is 14′.
Kim
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All coach heights are dependent upon what is on the roof. Converters add awning packages and then add spoilers or fairings to blend them in raising the height, antennas add to the height, especially satellite antennas. Some coaches with roof air are close to or at the limits.
But unless there has been a total disregard for height limits a coach is going to be at or lower than 13’6″.
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Our H3 is 13’3″ to the top of the roof airs.
Tom Hamrick
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I have an H and won’t go under anything less than 13’6″. The maximum legal height is 13’6″, but there are lots of factors in our coaches that can make them different than someone elses.
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I measured my coach very carefully before the trip we’re on. (Alaska) Aired up and ready to go, it measures 13’1”. I had never encountered a problem in the lower 48, but, I wasn’t exactly sure about Canada, the Yukon Territory and Alaska. In 7000 miles of every kind of road you can imagine, we’ve not encountered a problem (up to now, anyway). My Rand McNally 7730 GPS also keeps an eye on low clearance situations so they can be avoided during the planning stage. There was one low clearance warning that popped up somewhere in Northern California (as we were laying out our stops), but we just changed to another route and all was well. Good luck with your travels…a low bridge can ruin your whole day! ty
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Thanks for the info everyone. It sounds like we’ll be okay whether we choose a XL or a H model. We passed through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel again just a couple weeks ago and were lucky enough to see a semi going the opposite way inside one of the tunnel sections. The trailer looked to be full height since it was a few inches taller than the sleeper roof fairing on the tractor. It appeared to have nearly a foot of clearance inside the tunnel.
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The truck standard height is 13’6″.
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I’m at 13’2″, which is the height of my Max Vent cover. Went thru a tunnel in NY which was 13’6″. However, I forgot about my antenna height.
One of my center antenna’s, I believe for the radio or GPS, dragged along the ceiling the entire 1-mile stretch. Kept us on our toes and thankful we weren’t any taller … I believe my antenna is now 13’6″ 🙂
Tradewinds Coach
Kyle Bennett (Service)
Brian Miller (Sales) -
Very interesting conversation… I’ve been curious about my antennas as well and I’m not 100% sure of the height of my coach? But I know that I have at least two antennas that are above the highest item on my roof, the in motion satellite. What do you do if your antennas hit the top of a tunnel? I also know my rear antenna is curved/bent towards the rear, this may be why?
Harry
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We’re now back in the states after 10,000 miles on this trip. Just a quick note to say our 13’1″ height has not been a problem at all. We are back in Oregon now, but Alaska, British Columbia, the Yukon, etc has not had anything even close enough to worry about….I think we went under one somewhere that probably had 6-8″ to spare…that’s the closest we’ve come. How much credit my Rand McNally deserves with this, I’m not sure, but we’ve sure had no problem….and don’t want any, either!!!
I think turns…fueling situations…campground dangers and other slow speed maneuvers that constitute the real risk.
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Is it true that each time the highway is repaved it changes..I have been told as much as 2-3 inches?
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I cannot speak to the accuracy of height clearances, especially after repaving, but I do know in the snow belt of western NY the posted clearance has some compensation for the potential of snow accumulation.
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We go to Western NY each year to visit family and after buying this bus, my CB antenna hit almost every overpass on the Thruway from Erie to Rochester. My bus is 12’10”, but the CB antenna being higher was likely 14′. The paving on the Thruway definitely has decreased the clearance heights. If your following a truck being 13’6″, it’s almost scary how close the 14′ clearance looks.
This year, no CB hitting the overpasses, I bent the antenna back at a 45.
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Diane,
A typical resurfacing thickness is 1 1/2″. In NC the District Offices re measure the bridge clearance and report to Traffic Services. As needed the new clearance to the lowest point on the bridge to the new surface is posted. If the resurfacing creates a condition less than the legal 13′ 6″ a detour route should be posted before getting to the overpass.i do have a couple of stories for the campfire Ian a future rally.
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Will & Carol…
Glad to hear that !!
Cheers, Diane
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