bus height

[ruthi]

What are the usual heights of bus conversions, with roof raises? Ours, with the satelite installed, will be 13 ft at the top of it. It will settle some when it is converted and loaded. I know the max height allowed is 13.5. We mostly stay on the highway, but have to do a smaller highway occasionallly. What is the height of traffic lights. Guess I am just kinda freakin out. 

[VanTare]

13.5 Ruthi trucks go on those highways too and today's buses most are 12ft and taller  residential areas that is another thing   

David

[bobofthenorth]

I wouldn't worry about traffic lights or signals as long as you are under 13.5.  The bigger issue for our high vehicles when we get off the beaten path is overhanging trees.  Narrow sideroads with overhanging trees that don't get beaten off by passing semis can be a real issue.  The stuff the city or county deliberately hangs isn't likely to be a concern.

[Sean]

What are the usual heights of bus conversions, with roof raises? Ours, with the satelite installed, will be 13 ft at the top of it.

Ours is 13'0" to the top of the roof airs and MotoSat dish.  That's pretty tall; most conversions are lower.  We have not really had too many problems, although we've broken the anemometer for the awnings on low trees, and I go through about one CB antenna (which sticks up to 13'9") every nine months.  We do have a Motor Carriers Road Atlas (available in any truck stop) which shows the statutory height in each state and province, and indicates any clearance lower than the statutory height on any marked truck route.

It will settle some when it is converted and loaded.

You don't say what make of bus you have, but if it has air suspension such as an MCI, Prevost, Van Hool, or Setra, then, no, it will not settle when it is loaded -- the air suspension will simply compensate for the additional weight by putting more air in the bags, maintaining a constant ride height.  It's designed to do just that.

If you have torsion bar or spring suspension, you may see some compression.  But torsion bars should be indexed to provide the proper ride height when the coach is fully loaded.

I know the max height allowed is 13.5.

The "statutory height limit" actually varies by state.  And outside of the Interstate highway system, jurisdictions are free to set limits lower than 13'6".  This is why you should carry a truck route atlas if you have a 13' vehicle.  Many states actually have higher statutory height limits.

Also know that some sections of Interstate have clearances lower than 13'6".  I-395 under Washington, DC, for example, is 13'0".  Some other "roads of interest" have some even lower obstacles, such as the Blue Ridge Parkway south of Grandfather Mountain.

... What is the height of traffic lights.

Most traffic signals are higher than 13.5'.  However, if you are on a route that is not designated for trucks, you may find some lower.

We had to back up and go a different way when we got to low wires on the main street in Nuevo Progresso, Mexico.  We also had to let all the air our of our suspension and drive really slowly, down the middle of the road, on Manasota Key when we could find no place to turn around after passing the low clearance sign -- several miles of arbor covering the road (world famous, but we didn't know about it till we were under it).  And we had to widget our way through the narrow streets of old town St. Louis after the marked turn we wanted to take to the Gateway Arch had a 12'6" railroad bridge across it.  So it pays to be careful, and always read the signs.

It helps that we don't have a toad.  When we come to something that's too low to fit under, we usually just back up and go around.  If you intend to tow, you should have a plan for how to back up.  For most, that means unhooking the toad, though I have heard of some who can manage to back up with someone in the toad steering.

HTH,

-Sean
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com

[ruthi]

Most all the routes we travel, we make sure trucks use them also. Our travel invloves work, so we are not looking for tourist attractions. We live in the country, off of a highway, so that is not an issue.  Well, the info makes me feel a little better. We will still be at least 5 inches lower than the limit. We have the normal 14 inch dish. We thought about getting the small 4 inch dish, but we did some checking, and were told that when we are parked, it could collect rain, dew etc and interferre with the reception. Has anyone else used the small satelite dish on top of their bus?

[BG6]

When you are done, measure your coach, and learn to pay attention to ANY obstructed-height signs you see.

Federal highway law calls 13'6" the "maximum standard height" in the East and 14'6" in the West.

[junkman42]

I received a teletype gps from My better half for christmas that allows You to put in height weight and length so that it can route You safey.  it is intended for truckers and I have not yet figured out exactly how to use it.  But so far I have all of the carbunkles on the roof.  John

[Sean]

... Federal highway law calls 13'6" the "maximum standard height" in the East and 14'6" in the West.

I'm not sure what "Federal law" you might be referring to here.  I just did a quick check of the CFRs and could not find this anywhere.  Also, I could not find a legal definition of "maximum standard height," even though you've quoted it as if it were a standard term.

Moreover, the statutory height in several western states is lower than you claim.  For example, CA is 14'-0" and AZ is 13'-6".  CO has a 13'-0" statutory height on "non-designated" roads; it's 14'-6" only on "specially designated roads" (most of the STAA network).

Remember that highway laws are mostly a matter of state, not federal, jurisdiction.  Federal powers extend only to regulating interstate commerce.  The feds influence highway standards through the regulation of commerce, and through provisions attached to federal highway funding, upon which every state relies.  Generally speaking, federal influence regarding construction standards (height, width, and load limits) will only extend to the STAA network.

-Sean
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com

[ruthi]

Thanks for the help.