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Topic: Road classifications, RV lengths, and capabilities (Read 6 times) previous topic - next topic
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Road classifications, RV lengths, and capabilities
Yahoo Message Number: 98532
Is there anyone on the list with knowledge of this subject? For example, I see winding switchback roads that have signs such as "vehicle length limited to 22 feet". How does that relate to vehicle length, wheelbase, length with trailer, road width, etc? Are there road types where one could say, if I want to use those roads, with opposite direction traffic passing at wide spots, how long should my RV or RV plus trailer be?

My only experience really is driving a 19 foot F250 Class C on switchbacks whose signs say 22 foot length, which seems easy. How do truckers and RV'ers decide, and avoid getting "stuck" or avoid not using a road they could fairly easily use? There must be more of an exact road/vehicle engineering approach to this.

Regards,

Terry Settergren
Re: Road classifications, RV lengths, and capabilities
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98533
Quote
Is there anyone on the list with knowledge of this subject? For example, I see winding switchback roads that have signs such as "vehicle length limited to 22 feet". How does that relate to vehicle length, wheelbase, length with trailer, road width, etc? Are there road types where one could say, if I want to use those roads, with opposite direction traffic passing at wide spots, how long should my RV or RV plus trailer be?

My only experience really is driving a 19 foot F250 Class C on switchbacks whose signs say 22 foot length, which seems easy. How do truckers and RV'ers decide, and avoid getting "stuck" or avoid not using a road they could fairly easily use? There must be more of an exact road/vehicle engineering approach to this.
I have rarely had much trouble negotiating places which specify limits of 20' in length, with our 22' Chevy-powered model. I've been much more apt to end up in sticky situations in the back-country where there were no posted size limits. The exception is where a WIDTH limit is posted. I would not try to brave that situation, and have likewise come upon situations where I wished something HAD been posted. This would be even more significant with newer models which exceed 8' wide.
Crossing thru Glacier N.P. (MT) is an example of a trip you can't do - they will rightly turn you around and head you back.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: Steer Safe (new topic)
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98536
I was attending the FMCA Rally at Indio this past week and finally decided to buy the "Steer Safe" driving stabilizer. They had a show special of $394 installed. After hearing the various comments about damage from front-tire blowouts (average damage cost is $2875), I wanted a preventative as well as more peace of mind. And...yet I was a bit skeptical.
 I had a good chance to test it out on our drive from Indio to San Diego on routes 10 and 15 yesterday. Lots of trucks, traffic, some winds and mediocre road conditions. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it made driving much easier with all of the truck traffic passing us by as we averaged 55-60 miles per hour. I never realized how many times I felt "white knuckled out" at the end of a day holding onto the steering wheel firmly so as not to be buffeted by the trucks and wind. For the first time, I felt more relaxed, confident and relieved. I think it's a wise investment for all LDers.

Happy Travels, David (1998 MB LD)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Steer Safe (new topic)
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98537
David
 we also have this on our 30TB and I like it a lot.  While the rig has always driven well, I think this is a huge improvement.  Like you, I find it to be most noticeably better when semis are passing us as well as in high winds.

A great investment IMHO

Kate
 http://cholulared.blogspot.com &

http://www.cholulared.com & http://www.flickr.com/photos/83282349@N00/

Want to find us? Click below, we're #3096 http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=3096
Re: Road classifications, RV lengths, and capabilities
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98538
Hi Terry,

I haven't had any difficulties with our 2000 RB but when we were on the road full time in a bus conversion I used "The Truckers Friend" and the "Mountain Pass West" books extensively.  The truckers friend identified roads that had limitations as to height and width.  The Pass book covered many of those and grades, altitudes, other road hazards as well.

I hope this helps.

Safe travels,

Dave N Albuquerque

...snip...

Quote
How do truckers and RV'ers decide, and avoid getting "stuck" or avoid not using a road they could fairly easily use?
...snip...
Dave

2017 TK
Re: Road classifications, RV lengths, and capabilities
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98539
Dave  wrote: "..the "Mountain Pass West" books" ---
 "The Mountain Directory" (western and eastern editions) is an essential reference for RVers, IMO. Amazon usually has the best prices on either or both (as a set), but the books can also be ordered from
www.mountaindirectory.com, www.rvbookstore.com, CW, etc.

Joan
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Road classifications, RV lengths, and capabilities
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98540
Thanks for the correction Joan.  I didn't have access to the book and should have tried to ind it on line.

Quote
Dave  wrote: "..the "Mountain Pass West" books" ---
 "The Mountain Directory" (western and eastern editions) is an essential reference for RVers, IMO. Amazon usually has the best prices on either or both (as a set), but the books can also be ordered from
www.mountaindirectory.com, www.rvbookstore.com, CW, etc.

Joan
...snip...
Dave

2017 TK
Re: Steer Safe (new topic)
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98550
Quote

 "...decided to buy the "Steer Safe" driving stabilizer...For the first
time, I felt more relaxed, confident and relieved. I think it's a wise investment for all LDers."

Quote
David (1998 MB LD)
David

What took you so long???

Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Jiggs
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: Steer Safe (new topic)
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98553
lejest2003  wrote:

What took you so long??? --- I drove my 2003 23.5' for about 5000 miles to "test" the handling and stability in several different road and weather conditions before deciding that a steering stabilizer would improve the overall "road feel".  I decided on the Safe-T-Plus; Henderson's in Grants Pass, OR, installed it.  After about 50,000 miles, the Safe-T-Plus is still doing the job.

http://www.safe-t-plus.com/

http://www.steersafe.com/
 Two caveats on the Safe-T-Plus: make sure that the shop which installs the stabilizer is experienced, knowledgeable, and competent, i.e., they select the correct stabilizer for your application and install it correctly. And, understand that the Safe-T-Plus will need occasional adjustment to maintain its function.  The adjustment isn't difficult to do, but it does require knowing which bolt to loosen and where and how much to whack the thing with the hammer!

Joan
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Steer Safe (new topic)
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98565
Quote
I decided on the Safe-T-Plus; Henderson's in Grants Pass, OR, installed it.  After about 50,000 miles, the Safe-T-Plus is still
doing the job.

Quote
Joan
Joan
 My Safe-T-Plus is also still going strong. You'll remember that we had ours installed the same day. Wow, seems like so long ago. Been a lot of miles under my seat since then. How about you?

Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Jiggs
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: Steer Safe (new topic)
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98568
lejest2003  wrote: You'll remember that we had ours installed the same day. Wow, seems like so long ago.
--- I do remember, and it does seem like a long time back! I'm happy to hear that your experience is the same as mine; the Safe-T-Plus, like almost all of the other after-market equipment I put on, has been a very useful add-on.  I think that a good test of whether a piece of equipment is worthwhile is if one would install the same thing on a new rig; I would.

Joan
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Steer Safe (new topic)
Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98580
The Yahoo search may pull up my report of a VERY scary failure  of the Safe-T-Plus installed as OE on our '97 Freightliner chassis about 18  month ago; it began binding and releasing unpredictably, a malady which showed  up (thank God) in the storage lot and not on the highway, where without question  the results would've been disastrous.
I contacted the company (and the NHTSA) and they were very  cooperative, paying to have the failed unit shipped back to the factory for an  autopsy and sending me a new one gratis.  After some thought, I decided to  go ahead and install it (myself, by the way; it's not that difficult) because on  a short-wheelbase class A pusher like ours, the strong centering action does  help compensate for the underlying chassis design deficiency.
I've posted this experience on several RV boards and have  never seen a response to indicate anyone else has had this problem, which  reinforces my belief that my experience was a fluke.

Gary Allen '98 Allegro Bus/Freightliner/Cat 3126 Williamsburg, VA "Life in the Self-Centering  Lane"
Inauguration '09:  Get complete coverage from the nation's capital. (http://news.aol.com/main/politics/inauguration?ncid=emlcntusnews00000003)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Steer Safe (new topic)
Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98581
Quote
I've posted this experience on several RV boards and have  never seen a response to indicate anyone else has had this problem, which
reinforces my belief

Quote
that my experience was a fluke.
On the other hand, as you say, 'results could have been disasterous'.
If actually fatal, then since not an oem part, any investigation might have concluded 'driver error'. Just a thought.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
 
Re: Steer Safe (new topic)
Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98586
Quote
The Yahoo search may pull up my report of a VERY scary failure  of the Safe-T-Plus installed as OE on our '97 Freightliner chassis about 18
month ago; it
 
Quote
began binding and releasing unpredictably, a malady which showed  up
(thank
 
Quote
God) in the storage lot and not on the highway, where without
question  the

Quote
results would've been disastrous.
==================================

An additional safety note regarding steering stabilizers:
 I have enjoyed the benefits of the Safe-T-Plus on my 2002 MB for 40,000 miles. However, while cruising the interstate I heard a loud bang in the front end and a trailing clank or two midway and to the rear of the coach.  The end bolt on the street side of the stabilizer had backed off and releases itself.  I managed to tie up the loose end and continue until I could have it repaired with the installation of a locknut and a good dose of Loctite.  Driving without a stabilizer is similar to driving with the Ford OEM stabilizer.;>) YMMV.

Malcolm BLUE02MB
2002 Mid Bath