Alright, I admit it, I never thught I'd run into a low underpass situation here in the west, much less in San Diego. My coach is about 13 feet tall with the solar panels, air horns and low profile air conditioners, and even the lateral arm awnings on the top.
I was driving a bunch of my family to the airport after a family renion - seemed natural to take a high passenger capacity vehicle, not to mention eveyone always seems to love riding in the bus.
Terminal 2 where most of the flights leave from these days, and one that was built in the last 20 years, has a pedestrian overpass that is only 12' 2" high. I had to back out while the trafic cops stopped traffic. They were very nice, said it happens all the time.
Very irritating, and I guess I won't drive the bus there again.
Jim,
Always one of my fears having a taller coach!
Glad that you stopped in time......
Cliff
I'm worried about the same thing when I get to the Reno Airport at the end of September. There isn't any place else besides the airport to rent a car that is open reasonable hours. The rental lot isn't in the airport, but the rental counter is.
Off airport rental places aren't open very often or they charge a lot more than the airport rental places.
Quote from: belfert on July 25, 2007, 12:08:49 PM
I'm worried about the same thing when I get to the Reno Airport at the end of September. There isn't any place else besides the airport to rent a car that is open reasonable hours. The rental lot isn't in the airport, but the rental counter is.
Off airport rental places aren't open very often or they charge a lot more than the airport rental places.
Brian your bus was under 12' when you bought it! I don't have a clue how tall yer roof air(s) are but I don't think you'll have problem! Beside haven't ya heard of parking nearby (at a hotel or any place for that matter) and using the free airport shuttles?
;D BK ;D
Quote from: Busted Knuckle on July 25, 2007, 12:20:19 PM
[Brian your bus was under 12' when you bought it! I don't have a clue how tall yer roof air(s) are but I don't think you'll have problem! Beside haven't ya heard of parking nearby (at a hotel or any place for that matter) and using the free airport shuttles?
;D BK ;D
I haven't measured, but I would guess I am right around 13 feet now. 13 feet is pretty tall for most airports except for deliveries.
We really want to get a rental car and go without hassles of finding a shuttle to the airport. As it is we're already spending an extra 2 hours to drive into Reno to pick up a rental car. Towing a car isn't an option because we have another trailer to tow already.
Wow-that's pretty weird having that happen in California. New York or Chicago I'd expect it. But considering that California has a 14'0" height, someone wasn't thinking. Glad to see that you were thinking though and didn't end up like a sardine can. Good Luck, TomC
Hey Jim, whatever you do, if you're driving up University avenue just north of Park Blvd, GET IN THE LEFT!!! There's an old (very arched) bridge that I swear is only 8-10 feet high in the edge of the right lane. I don't even drive a truck on that side! It's arched enough that the left lane is fine for anything.
Yes, there's a few of them in San Diego... although truthfully I never thought of driving my bus to the airport... I'd be worried that they'd think it was something they didn't want on the property, and be much less than friendly about it !! You're brave!!
Cheers
Gary
Man, that's scary, Jim. I was cringing when I clicked on that headline...wasn't sure whether I wanted to know the rest of the story! Glad you didn't abreviate your bus...
Dennis
because someone asked or commented: when we've needed to rent, we've found Enterprise to be reasonable, cooperative and they pick us up. last couple times, they've been less than avis or hertz. the important is that they pick you up.
allow plenty of time, they're slower than molasses in january.
thank goodness you saw the sign and overhang in time, Jim.
Gary,
Yes I know that bridge, and it is very arched. I have no interest in driving my bus there on University, but you never know where I'll end up. I have a ways to go to be nearly as adventurous as Sean, but I do like to use the bus whenever I can.
The airport has chains dangling down that set off lights and a orn if you touch them with the top of yoru vehicle. Its embarrassing to confess that without that, I might have tried to go forward closer to the bridge. My passengers were goading me to go on. But after this experience, I am more chasened, and I realize more definetly that no matter what, you can always stop, and there is a way to deal with it, and no matter how much pressure you feel to go on, its still better and cheaper to back up or turn around. Sounds obvious, and like a no brainer, but in the moment, its not as clear.
oh well confession is over.
Jim,
I am about 12' 8"-10".
My future plans are to put one of Petes level systems on and I COULD dump the air out to crawl under something that was really close.
I just can't convince Julie to look out the roof hatch to verify I will make it...LOL
We have been under a few 13' bridges and I just yell "DUCK"
All kidding aside, being able to dump the air would be a great option to have.
Cliff
that's a really good idea, beter than letting the air out of your tires.
The only thing that is stopping me from getting Pete's system is I'd sure like it if he had valves with the permanent magnet at each end of the throw. That way they would stay open or closed wthough any power requirement. Kind of like a latching relay. I like his first system without the gauges better.
QuoteMy passengers were goading me to go on. But after this experience, I am more chasened, and I realize more definetly that no matter what, you can always stop, and there is a way to deal with it, and no matter how much pressure you feel to go on, its still better and cheaper to bvack up or turn around.
Ok, I have a little story about that. I won't bore you with details, but I was hauling my singing group around in my 4107 and we were in the hills of North Alabama. Went to eat breakfast on a winding little dirt road. I didn't want to park in the drive way, but the guys were GOADING me with "if you can't make it in there, we need a new driver..." Well I made it, but I was soaking wet with sweat.
Then as we left, I said, I don't think I can make that turn at the bottom of the driveway...
AW SURE YOU CAN! YOU CAN MAKE IT, GO FOR IT...
Of course I did, against my better judgement, and it's a good thing our hosts had a heavy duty tractor, or we'd have missed our next date. I learned a valuable lesson that day.
LISTEN TO YOUR INNER VOICE! You know you're bus better than anyone else. I know I will from now on.
Pictures of an H3 on the FDR in Manhatten, where it absolutely did not belong, forbidden, go straight to jail....
another
and the front
The bus was empty, the driver was new, first trip to NYC. Not one of the first line carriers out of here....
Ignored/didn't see the 8000 lb limit to go up on the FDR elevated expressway on the east side.
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Hey Jim ... I got Petes level system in my coach. The levels that level the coach are all closed center neutal. So they have to be energized to add air or remove air and when running down the road they are energized for road height. They work great had them on for 8 months. And I agree I bought the first design he did, with no guages. (WE DON"T NEED NO STINKIN' GUAGES)
Ron
You only get around 4" up & down from road height on the rear ... the front goes way up
Quote from: buswarrior on July 26, 2007, 03:49:05 PM
The bus was empty, the driver was new, first trip to NYC. Not one of the first line carriers out of here....
Ignored/didn't see the 8000 lb limit to go up on the FDR elevated expressway on the east side.
happy coaching!
buswarrior
That's gonna leave a mark!
Dallas wrote: That's gonna leave a mark!
On the seat I assume! ;D
Cliff
FWIW, we've been through Denver, Billings, Palm Beach, and a couple other airports that I can't remember with no problems.
I always check ahead of time, and have even had to call the airport police once (Palm Beach). Usually there is a way -- at Palm Beach, we used the bus lane where the charter coaches pick up and drop off.
We also carry a Rand McNally "Motor Carrier's Road Atlas," which shows all the STAA truck routes, lists the statutory clearance for each state, and lists every place where the clearance is below statutory on an STAA route. Very handy to have -- available at most truck stops in paper, laminated, and large-scale versions, updated annually.
We can lower by about 3" by dropping our air bags down to the stops, and have had to do so on at least a couple of occasions.
-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com
The very first time I took my bus out I drove under a Blue Ridge Parkway arch, and after going through it, got that all too familiar cold sweat one gets when they realized that a bullet was just dogged. If you haven't seen one they can be rather small. I realized that I had no idea how tall I was and I was very happy I didn't learn the hard way. In my early driving days, I stuck a cube van in a tunnel for the same reason. The tunnel had a gradual sloping roof, and I got half way through it before it constricted enough to stop me. Never dawned on me to check my height, I forgot I wasn't in a car. Thankfully I was able to back out. Other than the scratches on the top surface (which no one would ever see from the ground) you couldn't tell I did it. That parkway bridge made me glad I was only driving a 4106. When I started reading your post I was almost sick thinking you were going to tell us you took the top off. Whew! All's well that ends well.
BW - couldn't you have shown an example that WASN'T an H3 ? - OUCH!
One of the nice things about having an RTS. ;D
(The roof height is 9' 11", excluding anything you put up there.)
It's Prevost's fault...
Bus drivers didn't historically have to think too much about "up"
GM's were all down close to 10"
Then they went up to 11' and MCI played at that height too...
Then Prevost started playing like a tractor trailer way up over 12'... well, they don't fit all over the place, hotel canopies, airports, the bus company washrack, into the shop....
Or under the bridges on the FDR...
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Ya scared me, I thought it said "LOW UNDERPANTS" ....
hehehehe
Quote from: superpickle on July 28, 2007, 08:26:43 AM
Ya scared me, I thought it said "LOW UNDERPANTS" ....
hehehehe
Paul it's great to see that you've still got your wacky sense of humor! LOL! Keep laffing as it is the best cure!
;D BK ;D