Quint Da Man
Peabody, MA
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Joined: 08/02/2007
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This is my 1st year pulling a fifth wheel and have a couple long trips in mind. How do people go about planning an appropriate route to take so you don't get in a bad situation for example roads to tight or underpass to low, avoiding tunnels, ect.
2008 Cedar Creek Silverback 30LSA
2007 Chevy Silverado 2500HD D/A
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DaveG39
Goleta, CA
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Joined: 11/02/2000
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I decide what venues I want to see then plug them in to MS Streets and Trips along with loading the low clearance file. I tweak to go on the type roads I like to travel then I look for other attractions along the route. This is a general guide that changes along the way as we decide what else to see as we travel. Once in an area of interest we use the GPS to guide us to other venues that may attract our attention.
2001 Dolphin 5332 towing 2002 Honda
CRV, Goleta, CA
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outdoorsman2007
In the Woods - Somewhere!
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Joined: 04/12/2007
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I do it the manual way. I plan on what campgrounds I'm going to stay at and then call them to get low clearance information for the area, or at least the route to the campground from the highway. Once we're at the campground, we're disconnected from the fifth wheel so height isn't an issue for sightseeing.
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chasfm11
Dallas/Ft Worth Areas
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Joined: 02/28/2004
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I use Delorme's Street Atlas. I provide the start, end and stops along the way (waypoints in GPS terms). There are map overlays which work with Street Atlas that identify low clearances. The overlays come from www.discoveryowners.com - look for the map overlays in the public section.
We use Street Atlas with its GPS when we travel. One of my concerns has always been dealing with a detour or alternate route while underway. Things happen. Plans change. With our route loaded and the low clearance overlay active, I feel reasonably secure if we have to leave our plan. Nothing is for certain, however and keeping your eyes open to signs and overpasses is important. Actually, the biggest danger is from trees in towns and no planning is going to help with that.
2000 Georgie Boy Landau 36'DP Cummins 5.9, Allison 1000 5sp
1994 Saturn SL1 Toad, Falcon2 Towbar, BrakeMaster Toad Brake
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Dieselgem
Pennsylvania
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Joined: 04/07/2005
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Quint Da Man wrote:This is my 1st year pulling a fifth wheel and have a couple long trips in mind. How do people go about planning an appropriate route to take so you don't get in a bad situation for example roads to tight or underpass to low, avoiding tunnels, ect.
Nothing is perfect. I use a GPS with low clearances loaded into the POI file. AlwayS check your route with a truckers atlas. I like the Rand McNally, they have a lot of information. I usually check with the campground if there is a road to look out for because of low trees, etc. Here is a site you can check in addition for low clearances. Remember all these things are man made. Good Camping.
AITA
08-KZ Escalade 41'CKS Escalade Pics
2008 F450 Super DutyTruck Pics
97 & 2003 FLSTS
2003 FLSTC (Wife's)
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erpa
South Central,East Coast. FL
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Joined: 05/28/2001
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We use MS Streets & Trips and Delorme Street Atlas for planning. To check for clearances and roads we shouldn't be on we have a RandMcnally Motor Carries Atlas.
Eric & Pat
2002 Dolphin 5356
W22 Chassis
1999 Saturn SL1
2002 Trip FL to Alaska & back to FL Photos Link below
http://community.webshots.com/user/erpafl1020
Other Trip Pictures;
http://s125.photobucket.com/albums/p80/erpafl1020/
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Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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Joined: 06/16/2004
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I use link Dieselgem gave. Easy to print any pages of concern and take along.
Note except for a very very few low bridges, don't think we've found a road we couldn't do.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Lovely German Shepherd.
1999 Mercedes ML320 TV
2003 Wanderer 187TB Toybox (3620# UVW, 4800# loaded)
Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories.
I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
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Ravensara
Colorado
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Joined: 03/21/2008
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I've found AAA's online TripTiks a really easy way to plan. One can specify parks/cultural places/etc for sightseeing, rated lodging and dining establishments, etc. Their info on the sightseeing stuff is comprehensive and helpful.
- 2009 Host Motorhome 270
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PackerBacker
Montreal, Quebec,Canada
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Joined: 08/22/2002
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First I'd get very familiar with the limitations of what you can do or can't do. Over the years I've found that it's rarely the highways and rural roads that get you in trouble, it often the access roads leading to some of the campgrounds and the roads inside the campgrounds themselves. Remember that your rolled up awning sticks out and can catch tree limbs. You need to learn how sharp a corner you can cut before dragging the side of your rig thru the trees and bushes. You should also get an actual measurement of the height of your rig at it highest point (Ac cover/MaxxAir vents etc...) and memorize it in both feet/inches and in meters/fraction of meters if coming into Canada. Never 'test' these heights if you're unsure, it can get very costly and ruin your vacation.
Another important thing to remember is how much tolerance you have between the trailer overhang and the top of the bedrails in your truck. The important element here is not just the 6"-9" on the flat, but how steep an incline that you can turn down into such as from a road into a downhill entrance and the other way; that 6'-9' gets eaten up very quickly.
Good luck and have fun. 
Eric
2004 Wildcat 27RL, Honda EU-2000i.
2003 Dodge Ram 2500 Hemi, 3.73, Reese 16K, Prodigy,long box, Line-X,
Good Sam's - FQCC/Camping Quebec
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wdunff
Northern IL, USA
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Joined: 12/28/2003
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I prefer main roads (multi-lanes) whenever possible while going to and from destination. I have found this is easier to find fuel and not fight large grades and low heights. I pre-plan the CGs on/near the route as a daily goal to drive. I shoot for 325 miles per day...give or take depending on CGs. Some people prefer to drive back roads an sight see the country, that may happen once I retire and have no particular place to go with no time limitations.
'07 Chevy CC 1500Max w/Max Trailering Package
Equal-i-zer'd '05 Dutchman 30B DSL
1 Driver, 1 Wife, 2 Kids; all investments protected by GSD Security
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