Tunnels and Other Sphincter Tightening experiences?

[kckohlhaas]

Family and I spent a great few days in VA Beach on our real first trip in our new precept 36t. On the way down the I64 tunnel eastbound (built more recently than westbound) I had a max clearance of 14'6, no problemo... Height everywhere I looked was 12'6 for my rig. I compared to most standard 18 wheelers, everything looked good, I'm was a few inches shorter. On the way back the max height was 13'6... I'm 12'6, a bit close, but a foot should be more than enough. Go through propane check and head into the tunnel. About 100 feet in, I start to hear a relatively loud scraping sound. Of course at this point my entire body tensed up and I went through the 5 stages of grief in that 3 minute drive: 1. Denial and isolation; 2. Anger; 3. Bargaining; 4. Depression; 5. Acceptance.

When I pulled over at the next opportunity, it ended up that it was just the am/fm antenna, no harm done, except to my steering wheel from extremely firm grip.

Guess the antenna is not included in the stats.

Any other tunnel stories or lessons learned?

[norty1]

The first time I backed my 2011 rig under my old shed I was concerned about the front ac clearance which from my math was about 4 inches if I was exactly in the middle. I was over half way in before the front ac came into play and then I hear this "Ptang....Ptang...Ptang noise that tightened mine. It was the radio antenna hitting the ribs on the metal roof!

We had to raise the roof 18 inches to give some additional room to prevent the ac from potentially hitting the roof peak.

[NorCal Eagle]

I had a clenching experience going thru a bridge toll booth across the San Mateo bridge. Inexperienced as I was, I didn't notice or take the truck lane which is wider and instead headed for the normal car, Fastrak lane. As I'm entering the toll booth I realized my mistake, I had just inches side-to-side of the trailer. We actually got through unscathed but I was sweating bullets. Lesson learned.

[LuckyDuck]

Originally Posted by NorCal Eagle

I had a clenching experience going thru a bridge toll booth across the San Mateo bridge. Inexperienced as I was, I didn't notice or take the truck lane which is wider and instead headed for the normal car, Fastrak lane. As I'm entering the toll booth I realized my mistake, I had just inches side-to-side of the trailer. We actually got through unscathed but I was sweating bullets. Lesson learned.

I would never have thought about this — thanks for the lesson!

[kckohlhaas]

Another rookie move I find myself making is getting in the far left lane when there are 2 left turning lanes. Good thing is I outweigh the other vehicles by at least 10000 lbs. So they usually let me in. Still a boneheaded move on my part. I've pretty much got it down now though.

[jcrammell]

Originally Posted by kckohlhaas

Another rookie move I find myself making is getting in the far left lane when there are 2 left turning lanes. Good thing is I outweigh the other vehicles by at least 10000 lbs. So they usually let me in. Still a boneheaded move on my part. I've pretty much got it down now though.

I always go with the "Lug nut rule" He who has most lug nuts wins. LOL

[jpgale]

Originally Posted by NorCal Eagle

I had a clenching experience going thru a bridge toll booth across the San Mateo bridge. Inexperienced as I was, I didn't notice or take the truck lane which is wider and instead headed for the normal car, Fastrak lane. As I'm entering the toll booth I realized my mistake, I had just inches side-to-side of the trailer. We actually got through unscathed but I was sweating bullets. Lesson learned.

I have only done the Richmond San Rafael Bridge and I don’t have fasttrak either so I just stick to the right side even those make me nervous even after following an 18 wheeler through, I could not imagine taking a narrow lane. I really hate going through Oakland on I880 south of the port where the road is rough and there are lots of 18 wheelers and idiots driving.

[North of 49°]

Provincial Road 313 crossing the Winnipeg River. Yes, this is two-way traffic. They have since installed traffic lights at either end to make it one-way, each side taking turns. The bridge is so narrow that when it was two-way, there was zero margin for error; whenever I crossed, I prayed that I wouldn't meet a truck coming the other way.

[WeRJuliian]

Our favourite local state park has/had a very exciting little bridge to gain access to the camping area. Not especially high, but very narrow and more than little rickety... and there's always somebody trying to come the other way at the same time.

I say "has/had" because the campground is now closed for 6 months, while they rebuild the bridge.. which just serves as a reminder that it was the ONLY road access, in or out...

https://shellonwheelsdotnet.files.wo...w-bridge-1.jpg

[Screwby]

Concrete construction barriers placed on both sides of highway lanes during road repairs. They never leave enough room for error and it’s miles and miles of high stress at highway speeds. Add in the hills of Tennessee and it removes years from your life.

[Gogrampa]

Originally Posted by Screwby

Concrete construction barriers placed on both sides of highway lanes during road repairs. They never leave enough room for error and it’s miles and miles of high stress at highway speeds. Add in the hills of Tennessee and it removes years from your life.

Those orange barrels
They remove more then years from your life especially on that twisty climb outside Chattanooga........clipped one that was touched by the car in front and it wobbled right into my TV left quarter and tucked in and it’s base went under the TT ........lost all the dump plumbing ........at least my tanks were empty...
I now move as far away as the road will allow and slow way down.......lesson learned ..

[ETCrockett]

I can’t stand those road construction lane shifts. They are usually short and quick with a concrete barrier on one side and traffic on the other. Two hands on the wheel and head on a swivel checking mirrors!

[Murff]

It hurts to watch, but stay for the last one!

https://youtu.be/o8Z1K37SHbE

Murff

[kckohlhaas]

Murph, That's too funny! Especially that last one. I was having visions of my ac hitting the windshield of the car behind me.

[Jagiven]

Originally Posted by Gogrampa

..clipped one that was touched by the car in front and it wobbled right into my TV left quarter and tucked in and it’s base went under the TT ........lost all the dump plumbing ........at least my tanks were empty...
I now move as far away as the road will allow and slow way down.......lesson learned ..

Been there. I was behind a 5 ton tow truck, every time he past a barrel, it wobbled. Finally one blow out into my lane. Hit it and drove over it. Luckily no damage, front bumper did needed to be buffed.

[HJ Rosch]

Orange barrels and quick construction lane changes are a pain for me driving. Hell's Backbone, highway 12 between Boulder and Escalante UT, scares the stuffing out of the wife. Narrow two lane, 12" shoulders and sheer drop offs on both sides. Only about 3-5 miles but she keeps her eyes shut the whole time.

[Midnightmoon]

This kind of thing just doesn't happen when you are towing.

My 7' tall Ram in a parking garage clearly marked 8' 6".

[FPM III]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

...My 7' tall Ram in a parking garage clearly marked 8' 6".

So, who got stuck with the cost for repairing your damage? Where was the parking garage so I know not to park in there?

I had an episode with one of the parking garages in Uniontown where only after I made the turn to enter was the clearance sign visible. The clearance height was marginal so I decided to back out, however by then, three other vehicles had queued behind me waiting to get in and I had to get them all to back up enough so I could back out. It was a lot of fun because more vehicles were lining up behind them.

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by FPM III

So, who got stuck with the cost for repairing your damage? Where was the parking garage so I know not to park in there?

I had an episode with one of the parking garages in Uniontown where only after I made the turn to enter was the clearance sign visible. The clearance height was marginal so I decided to back out, however by then, three other vehicles had queued behind me waiting to get in and I had to get them all to back up enough so I could back out. It was a lot of fun because more vehicles were lining up behind them.

Convention center garage in Pittsburgh.

On edit: I've never tried the garages in Uniontown. When I get jury duty, I try and park at that paid lot across from the courthouse. My wife has put her 1500 in the garage behind the courthouse successfully though.

[oldmanAZ]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

This kind of thing just doesn't happen when you are towing.

My 7' tall Ram in a parking garage clearly marked 8' 6".

I ALMOST had the same thing happen!
I had called a parking garage before going and asked about the clearance. They told me what it was and it was close, but OK. We had no problem at the ENTRANCE. When leaving I saw the THE EXIT WAS LOWER THAN THE ENTRANCE but there was no clearance warning!
I had to turn that long-bed crew cab around and go back out and exit at the entrance to save the roof. And, to accomplish that, my DW had to stand in the bed of the truck and push a sign that hung on chains aside while I maneuvered the truck.

We (almost) laugh about it now.

Hopefully one day you can laugh about your 8'7"Ram.