Low Clearances (PDF)

Our motorhome is 13 feet and we have had to stop and back up a few times, so having this list will be a welcome addition to the current resources we have to avoiding trouble while traveling.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and make a comment. If you drive a vehicle that requires you to use some sort of clearance guide, why are you using one of the the Garmin RV or Dez GPS units. They both contain the clearance databases it uses to make sure you don't get routed to a low clearance underpass.

I know the units are a bit more expensive, but it's a small price to pay to not have a foot of roof torn off, or a couple thousand dollar towing bill to get. you our of a predicament.

Garmin has a lot more money an resources to devote to creating a Low Clearance database than most of the fly by night databases I've seen.

Whats the old saying? "Penny wise and Pound Foolish!"

Before relying on any posted list, are you sure it contains every single location with a low clearance? Those of you out west may be surprised to learn that there are thousands of low clearance locations in the New York City Metropolitan area.

Many of them are in the Parkway system. The parkways are limited access highways. They are in the city and suburbs and were built in the 1930s to keep trucks out. The many overpasses are typically about 9 feet. It is routine to have big rigs crash into them despite the posted signs.

The famous New York City subway is mainly elevated railroad on a steel structure over city streets. There are thousands of locations below 12 ft 6 in and some as low as 11 ft 0 in.

There are several tunnels in the area with clearances of 12 ft 6 in or 13 ft 0 in. LP gas is not permitted in the tunnels and several bridges with two levels.

This is serious business which demands a professional GPS, whether you drive a big rig or an RV.

dobs108

I will say that as for NYC, all bets are off. I drove a truck in the city. The FD used to have an 800 number you could call and get routing for trucks. Because of their engines, they had the most complete list of all clearances. Alas, I don't think they maintain it anymore since the advent of the extensive digital connectivity.

Back Pre 2015 when we lived in NW Suburb of Chicago, I assisted with someone (forgot who) in finding all the LOW CLEARANCE Areas in Evanston and Skokie Illinois... Some CTA Overpasses were quite low... I assisted in getting the data, but did not need the POI, so I never loaded it... but it was available here....