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Topic: Bigger is not necessarily better. (Read 366 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: Bigger is not necessarily better.
Reply #1 –
If they had gotten the coach through, they still would have lost the tow dolly.
And that's even the "wide lane".  Might be a pilot error situation, rather than overall width...

Chip
2000 Front Lounge
Re: Bigger is not necessarily better.
Reply #2 –
"Might be a pilot error situation, rather than overall width..."
----
The motorhome looks like an older Winnebago Journey; the overall width for a new model is listed at 101.5" , and I suspect that this one is the same width. ( I don't know if this width is measured across the back bumper or includes the mirrors.) An LD is 99" across the back bumper, but with mirrors, quite a bit more in total "whack something" width. The "wide lanes" on the GG are ample for clear passage in most large vehicles if one is paying attention and centers in the lane; it appears that this driver didn't do either.

IMO, this mishap appears to be caused by pilot error, not lane width.
2003 TK has a new home
 
Re: Bigger is not necessarily better.
Reply #3 –
Yet another reason NOT to get a class A or a tow dolly!
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Bigger is not necessarily better.
Reply #4 –
Quote from: JCT  - 
"Might be a pilot error situation, rather than overall width..."
What else could it be? Large motorhomes and semi-trucks cross the Golden Gate hundreds of times each day.
Many of us have been across it in our LDs.
The Golden Gate doesn't have toll collectors anymore, it's all done using FastTrac transponders.
If you don't have one, the Bridge Authority's has automatic cameras set to photograph your car, sending a bill to the car's registered address.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Bigger is not necessarily better.
Reply #5 –
Haven't been across that bridge since '76, so not really up-to-date on gate width...
My assumption was that they would only allow Prius and Tesla on the bridge nowdays...  :)

Chip
2000 Front Lounge
Re: Bigger is not necessarily better.
Reply #6 –
Larry, you misquoted me!  ;)  My post said that the mishap appeared to be a result of inattention and not centering in the lane, i.e., "pilot error".

Like others, I've crossed the GG in both directions many times without any problems. (A FYI: the toll is $7.50) 
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Bigger is not necessarily better.
Reply #8 –
Quote from: Bob Siegel  - 
Please revisit logic 101.  The driver either panicked ot simply failed to steer properly.

My statement was logical.

Since we are human and not perfect, eventually we drivers will make an error.  While I agree this particular incident was probably a case of operator error, overall class A's are generally less safe than class C's when an error does occur.

You'll note in this incident, there was only one door in the class A in which the occupants could escape from after getting wedged in the toll gate.  That would never happen in a class C.  Good thing the RV didn't catch fire!

Also, class C's need to meet certain safety and structural requirements.  Not so on class A's.  Refer to the RV Consumer Group for more detail.  In addition, and I may be incorrect on this, aren't most class A's a little wider than class C's, leaving less room for error?

Just my thinking but feel free to drive a class A.  I'll take a B or C instead.

Here is another article:

Errant RV Driver Crashes Into Golden Gate Bridge Tollbooth: SFist
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Bigger is not necessarily better.
Reply #9 –
Quote from: JCT  - 
Larry, you misquoted me!  ;)  My post said that the mishap appeared to be a result of inattention and not centering in the lane, i.e., "pilot error".
Quote
Joan

I intended the response to be an agreement with your assessment of "pilot error".
Sorry if I got it wrong.

A novice RV driver, in a rented Class A, not having a good feel for where the 'other side' of the MH is, could easily get into this situation.
Anyone with a valid driver's license can rent a mega size RV.
I remember it taking a 1000 miles or more, behind the wheel of the 2003 LD, to get use to the "wide body", compared to our narrow 1983 LD.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Bigger is not necessarily better.
Reply #10 –
Ok. I'll stick my neck out in this conversation. I was born in the City and raised throughout the Bay Area. If I had a nickel for every time I passed over the golden gate ....

Having done so with our 30' towing a number of times now I can honestly say it is a tad scary. The bridge lanes are tight. If for any reason you find yourself in anything but the slow lane coming off the bridge to the toll plaza; making your way over to the two left gates is impossible. I know the two left are the wide truck lanes. And as traffic splays out to almost five lanes to pass through the toll booths it recondenses on the other side. Or it forces you off the exit you don't want into the presidio. Add lousy stinking single occupant baby carriages flying through there at best speed.... Well It's not much fun.

One can think of so many different possibilities to distract. A text. The sudden question of height of vehicle and clearance. A slosh of coffee in the wrong place. You name it. If you don't know what to expect you can easily end up being called a bad name by some one in the other lanes.

I'm sure we can all agree to that.
Best fun and safe travels everybody!

Lydia.
Lydia.
Current: 2020 JLUR w 15’ Squaredrop
Former: 2006 30IB Anniversary Edition
Re: Bigger is not necessarily better.
Reply #11 –
"If for any reason you find yourself in anything but the slow lane coming off the bridge to the toll plaza; making your way over to the two left gates is impossible. I know the two left are the wide truck lanes"

That is important to know. Thanks!
Re: Bigger is not necessarily better.
Reply #12 –
Coming across the GG in the toll direction, i.e., southbound, RVs and large vehicles are relegated to the curb lane. If one wants to head south through the tunnel, the park, and onto 19th Ave., the wide lane at the far right is the choice; take the 19th Ave. exit; it comes up quickly after the "toll booth" and curves around to the right.

If one wants to take their rig into the city (which I strongly suggest as a choice to reconsider), one might look very carefully at Google maps, plot the route in advance and know where you're going, check for road/street closures, and be prepared to find extremely congested streets (traffic and people), difficult maneuvering, plenty of hills (with the inevitable red light at the top!), and no parking. I have no idea how accurate most GPS directions are for in-city navigation, but I would be very cautious about relying on these to make one's way around.

As ever, YMMV.



2003 TK has a new home
Re: Bigger is not necessarily better.
Reply #13 –
Adding to Joan's comment- in The City, don't rely on Google, Apple or Waze type maps. Unless you have a way to customize your vehicle profile (share how to!), you are assumed to be driving a typical compact vehicle. I seem to inevitably find a route with impossibly tight turns or low overheads. I suggest a mapping program that lets you specify an RV or at least a truck. And remember, if an 18 wheeler can get there, you can too. You may not want to, but it is possible.
Paul
'92 Mid Bath
Re: Bigger is not necessarily better.
Reply #14 –
Paul's observation and suggestions are good ones; there's no way that I know of to customize Google/Apple/Waze for specific vehicle types except for "transit" and "bicycle" options on Google maps, and neither of those are relevant in this case. (I don't like Apple maps, and seldom use Waze.)

I use "satellite view" much more often than "map view" because it can offer a more realistic view of actual road conditions; check the image date for currency.
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Bigger is not necessarily better.
Reply #15 –

Does anyone use a trucker navigation system in their LD?

Amazon Best Sellers: Best Trucking GPS Units

As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Bigger is not necessarily better.
Reply #16 –
If you're just going to transit San Francisco, going either north or south via the Golden Gate Bridge, I'd recommend staying on US 101 all the way through. It is wide enough and flat enough to result in only minor terror. Frankly, I wouldn't try to go much of anywhere else. SF streets can be extremely squirrelly, with weird intersections that are not intuitive as to where to go, impossible hills, outtamyway buses that own the road, including your lane, trolley cars that you have to avoid, and just generally soul-crushing traffic. I hate driving there in my car. And, there is virtually no place to park a rig in the whole city. "Just passin' through" should be the mantra. -- Jon
(Former) ‘06 TK “Albatross.” And (former) Vespa 250.   Alas, no more; both are gone.😕 Great memories remain! 😄
Re: Bigger is not necessarily better.
Reply #17 –
Quote from: Jon & Loni  - 
If you're just going to transit San Francisco, going either north or south via the Golden Gate Bridge, I'd recommend staying on US 101 all the way through. It is wide enough and flat enough to result in only minor terror. Frankly, I wouldn't try to go much of anywhere else. SF streets can be extremely squirrelly, with weird intersections that are not intuitive as to where to go, impossible hills, outtamyway buses that own the road, including your lane, trolley cars that you have to avoid, and just generally soul-crushing traffic. I hate driving there in my car. And, there is virtually no place to park a rig in the whole city. "Just passin' through" should be the mantra. -- Jon

There's lot of parking @ Crissy field and the Marina. We drove from Tahoe down to Marin and then over the GG a few years ago. Hung out all day @ the Marina, then headed down Van Ness (US 101) to San Jose. Now, granted, parking would be tough in a class A, or even long C, but our LD is only 22'.

It's sort of why we don't abide by the informal early morning RV travel rules. We leave whenever we feel like it, and if we're stuck in traffic, why it's no different than being in a passenger car.

As for FastTrak, absolutely love it. We have 4 vehicles (including our LD) under account. I wish they would create more toll roads throughout Calif. The new expressway from CA55 to I15 absolutely rocks. Only one off/on @ CA73; otherwise, gun it all the way (either direction).
Re: Bigger is not necessarily better.
Reply #18 –
Back in the day I lived in the "Haight/Ashbury" before there were 'Hippies'.  I've driven on some streets that other folk don't know about. I've even used public transportation when it was still safe to do so. Does anyone here remember the "Rickshaw" on Ross Alley in China Town. The Smothers Brothers were the feature at the Purple Onion and it was safe to walk the streets of North Beach after dark.

That was then...

Now I won't go near the place, even on BART, for which I have a free pass!   :o   >:(
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!