Where Can We NOT Go?

[minke]

[QUOTE=honda03842;590966]

Originally Posted by mary and bob

We drive the Garden State in NJ every year and always use the express lane towing our trailer. It is not our job to announce our trailer. There is no sign prohibiting trailers. I've never looked to see if they count axles in the express lane on my bill.

On the Chesapeake Bay bridge trailers are directed to manned booths so they can ask you if your propane is off.

somewhat off topic:

This past winter we towed a one axle Bambi on the FL turnpike and had a Sunpass transponder. The Bambi was registered on the Sunpass transponder. When not towing the bills were correct. When towing, even on successive segments, the Turnpike Authority would randomly assign three or four axles. Generally one phone call would suffice to correct the bill.

[Elizabeth EWA]

Originally Posted by Kai in Seattle

Chuckanut Drive going to Fairhaven campground along the north Washington Puget Sound coast only allows a 15' trailer, if I remember
correctly...the road has cliffs practically right along the road edge; we barely made it with our van! I would never tow a trailer along it.

Not that there are any Chuckanut Cops...but when you leave half your trailer on the cliff rocks, you'll wish you'd gone all the way around North on I-5 and come back down to the campground the easy way.

I've encountered several roads like that. Fortunately most of them are posted but some of them are mountain passes where the alternate route is a long way around. Fortunately I wasn't towing a trailer at the time. A GPS RV/Trucker app would be good to let you know before you get there.

[Evergreengirl]

Originally Posted by Jack L

The Zion Mt Carmel tunnel has some restrictions and permit requirements but large tractor trailer rigs use it all the time. It's safe to say that any travel trailer owned by anyone on this forum can easily transit the tunnel. The tunnel was built when cars were much narrower and its very dark inside so two way traffic is impossible. It's always one way only.

When we went through a few years ago, we had to buy a permit. $15 or $20, I can't remember. I was the lead vehicle. There was no escort ! I had to have the permit because of the width of the Bigfoot. I don't think a Scamp, Castia, Escape, or similar trailer would have to pay any extra. The trip was interesting and exciting but never scary or challenging. The tunnel has several surprises in it but I'm not telling what they are . The element of surprise the first trip adds a lot. Don't be afraid, go for it.

Jack, yes, you're right. I'm probably remembering the escort part wrong. And I won't spoil the "surprise"!

[Mr Lynn]

Thanks for all the responses.

I posted the same question on another forum I frequent (the MacResource Forum, Macresource Forums :: Tips and Deals ); the most useful response was from one 'testcase', who offers several good links:

The best advice I can give would be to find and attend an RV Boot Camp. The Escapees RV Club run an excellent one, usually over a weekend. Other groups also offer Boot Camps. In RV Boot Camp you, along with about 200 other "newbies" will have all aspects of RVing explained and demystified. Mistakes with RVs are often expensive and, sometimes dangerous. People who complete a Boot Camp before they buy a rig tend to be MUCH more knowledgeable buyers and better-educated consumers.

Pick up a printed copy of the Rand McNally Motor Carriers' Road Atlas. It's the truckers' bible and, has a wealth of useful information. If you can, buy it at a truck stop as it's heavily discounted there. As for the tunnel near Baltimore, LIMITED amounts of propane are allowed but, in general, it's better to avoid that tunnel if you can. The tunnel near Virginia Beach allows propane AS LONG AS the valve(s) are closed. Same for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. LOTS of other good resources. Spend the $9.99 for the All Stays Camp & RV App.

RV Education 101 - videos, DVDs, books, tips and information for RVers (DVDs covering most aspects of RVing)

www.escapees.com (the BEST RV group in my opinion. GREAT forums and so much more)

Low Clearance POI - GPS Data (extensive database of low overpasses that can be added to most GPS units)

The low-clearance issue may not be one for small fiberglass campers to worry about, but even my Casita is about 9' tall (with AC unit). The height restriction on Storrow Drive in Boston is 10'; some of you may have rigs taller than that.

Here's what can happen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzkW...=PeterHemmings

Edit: According to this site,

http://camping.about.com/od/rvfullti...egulations.htm

In Connecticut width for RVs is limited to 7.5 feet, 8 feet high, length 24 feet and weight 7,300 pounds on the Merritt and Wilbur Parkways.

So even my Casita would be too high.

/Mr Lynn

[gordon2]

Dont trust those signs either.. (esp at drive thru restaurants, etc.)
11' 8" could be 10' 11".
If it even looks close, take it at a snail's pace.

[Stretcher]

The Merritt Parkway in Connecticut doesn't allow trailers.

[Radar1]

Originally Posted by Stretcher

The Merritt Parkway in Connecticut doesn't allow trailers.

Sometimes ignorance is bliss. A few years ago when heading from DE to NH our GPS sent us to the Hutchinson River Parkway in NY and Merritt Parkway in lieu of congestion on I-95. I do believe I saw some signs indicating "no commercial vehicles" and "no tractor-trailers" but those signs didn't signal to me that my Scamp would not be welcome.
That drive was pretty and pleasant, so it was our route of choice the last 3 years as we headed to or from NH to visit our son.

Last year, coming back, we passed a sign stating "no trailers" and it got me to wondering so I started trying to research NY DOT websites to figure out if camping trailers were prohibited, or if that sign was for tractor trailer rigs. The only prohibitions I could find in the NY websites all referred to tractor trailers and commercial vehicles, and mentioned if your truck was registered as a passenger vehicle you were OK. Still nothing in writing about camping trailers in NY so I was still in the dark.

Your mention of the Merritt Parkway caused me to look up CT rules, and those were much easier to find. My Scamp is not allowed on the Merritt Parkway, right there in black and white. Guess I'll stick to I-95 next month since I can only guess that NY has the same rule. I've been lucky so far and enjoyed the CT and NY Parkways, but no more. Probably just as well, since one of those low overpasses was too close to the height of our future lifted Escape 19 (9'2")