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 > Highway Restrictions and Vehcile Classification (NY)

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IggyQuartet

Adirondack Mountains

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Posted: 10/26/09 04:15pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

We just picked up our Pleasure Way this past Saturday on Long Island. I drove the Smart car with my husband driving the PW behind me. Since I am the one more experienced with NY traffic he followed my lead, though we each had a GPS.

Twice I entered highways that made me raise my eyebrows a bit... one was the Cross Bronx Expressway which said "Passenger Cars Only". Since the dealer who sold us the van said that it was registered as an ordinary passenger vehicle, I took the position that it qualified. However, there was nothing even close to that size or shape on the Expressway, and luckily we weren't on it very long.

Next came the Palisades Parkway... this time it said "No Commercial Vehicles". Again, I remembered our registration, but again it felt extremely conspicuous.

Tolls were not an issue as we had EZ Passes, but they didn't even cross my mind until I read this forum.

I've done both Google searches and a search of this site for some guidance on what we are for purposes of highway travel, but I am not finding much in the way of a listing in any location.

trop-a-cal

Palm Coast Fl

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Posted: 10/26/09 05:13pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

The term Passenger Cars Only is the easiest way to exclude commercial traffic. The details of what each roadway allows is different for each state and their DOT's have the written law. It envolves the size and weight that a Passenger Car usualy is. Since the Pleasureway is no bigger than a big car like a Lincoln, it should have no problem on that roadway. But, just for your information go to the DOT sites and inquire or call the Parkway headquarters and they will give you information.

1775

NY

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Posted: 10/26/09 05:16pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Hi. I am in NY as well on Long Island. I do not have a Class B yet, but as I understand it - if you have regular passenger vehicle plates you should nave no problem on roads marked Passenger Cars. If you do not have commercial plates OR you do not have a business name painted on the van (like "Joe's Plumbing") you are not a commercial vehicle and have no problem on those roads.

What you do need to be aware of is the height of the overpasses. We have a few on the Southern Parkway on Long Island that say they are below the height of most of the Class B's that I have looked at. You don't want to get stuck under one of those.

ALSO - please tell me what dealer on Long Island you found the Pleasure-Way. I was not aware that there was a dealer anywhere near here. Thanks!

IggyQuartet

Adirondack Mountains

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Posted: 10/26/09 05:37pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

1775 wrote:

Hi. I am in NY as well on Long Island. I do not have a Class B yet, but as I understand it - if you have regular passenger vehicle plates you should nave no problem on roads marked Passenger Cars. If you do not have commercial plates OR you do not have a business name painted on the van (like "Joe's Plumbing") you are not a commercial vehicle and have no problem on those roads.

What you do need to be aware of is the height of the overpasses. We have a few on the Southern Parkway on Long Island that say they are below the height of most of the Class B's that I have looked at. You don't want to get stuck under one of those.

ALSO - please tell me what dealer on Long Island you found the Pleasure-Way. I was not aware that there was a dealer anywhere near here. Thanks!


You know, when we were traveling on our way TO pick up the PW I was noticing some overpasses at 7' 10", way too low for a Class B. I asked the dealer when we got there about heading back, and he specifically said stay off the Southern Parkway... which I hated anyway by the way, no acceleration lanes and I had to pull into traffic from a dead stop! Anyway, it was hard because the GPS kept telling me to take some of the smaller highways but I stuck with 495.

The dealership is Continental RV in Farmingdale... about a half hour southeast of Glen Cove. They are very small and don't have much inventory but can probably order just about anything. We just happened to luck out on a used model.

Here is their website-

http://www.continentalrv.com/

topless

Wichita, KS

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Posted: 10/27/09 05:56am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Wow, 7'10" isn't tall enough to get a lot of vehicles under around here, much less a B. I don't think I've ever seen a bridge that low on a busy road.





AdirondackBob

Bolton Landing, New York

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Posted: 10/27/09 03:53pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

IggyQuartet wrote:


one was the Cross Bronx Expressway which said "Passenger Cars Only".


Since when is the Cross Bronx Expressway "passenger cars only"?
That's the truck route to the GW Bridge.
You probably mean the Cross Island Parkway.

Expressways = cars and trucks
Parkways = Passenger cars only

SHADOWMCPD

NYC

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Posted: 10/27/09 08:34pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

topless wrote:

Wow, 7'10" isn't tall enough to get a lot of vehicles under around here, much less a B. I don't think I've ever seen a bridge that low on a busy road.




DITTO!


I'm not sure this is correct unless they were doing construction and lowered the hieght by placing a wooden support structure during repairs. (As was done on the Henry Hudson Pwy some time back.


I travel extensively in a Class B in NYC and parts north
(L.I. included) and I have never found a clearance problem to speak of.

This includes The Bronx River Pkwy from start to finish. *

The Henry Hudson Pkwy Start to finish.

The Sprain Pkwy start to finish

Saw Mill River Pkwy start to finish.

Cross County Pkwy start to finish.

The Hutchinson River Pkwy Merit Pkwy start to finish

Jackie Robinson Pkwy

White Stone Expressway

Cross Bronx Expressway
(AKA the Cross Bronx Parking lot) (Re: it never moves!)

The Bruckner Expwy

The FDR Drive / RFK

The West Side Hwy

The Harlem River Drive

All access ways onto the Major Degan Expressway

Every bridge in and out of NYC

Brooklyn Queens Expwy

Belt Pkwy start to finish

Gwanus Expwy (Spelling might be off?)

Garden State Pkwy (NJ)

Palisades Pkwy (NY / NJ) start to finish

As a matter of fact the only low point I found in my travels in NYC was at the JFK Intl Airport Parking area and that was due to a badly placed height sign indicating less than 8' clearance
(I'm 8'6" counting fan cover on a 1990 Dodge Coach House Class B )

If anyone knows of any low clearance areas not able to accommodate a Class B Motor Home here in NYC give a holla!!**


You are pretty much sure to have no more difficulty, than a custom van would have anywhere in NYC and they are only limited to parking problem which is common to any large vehicle in a metropolitan area.

My only real advice for persons using a vehicle of this type (Large, long and high) is to condition yourself to backing into mall parking spots so as to have a better field of view when pulling out into traffic. (The key is good use of mirrors (and just like makin' love)
SLOW N EASY GETS IT DONE EVERY TIME

As a matter of fact this would be good for any vehicle since anyone backing out into vehicle and pedestrian traffic would have to back out more than half of the vehicle before they can see anything left or right of the rear bumper.



*I have indicated start to finish on Pkwys as they are by far more scenic vistas also less lanes with some (Bx Rvr Pwy for example) winding turns but nothing that can't be navigated)

**Hey we're talkin' NYC so cut me a Hus on Da slang YO!!


Fred S
NYC


PS Congrats on the PW MoHo Hope you have great fun in your travels. (Even if only to the mall a trip in a Class B is an experience not a chore)

IggyQuartet

Adirondack Mountains

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Posted: 10/28/09 05:42am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

AdirondackBob wrote:

IggyQuartet wrote:


one was the Cross Bronx Expressway which said "Passenger Cars Only".


Since when is the Cross Bronx Expressway "passenger cars only"?
That's the truck route to the GW Bridge.
You probably mean the Cross Island Parkway.

Expressways = cars and trucks
Parkways = Passenger cars only


Hi Adirondack neighbor!

My bad.... I meant the highway that connects 495 to the Throgs Neck. You're right, I think I was on the Cross Bronx Expressway AFTER the Throgs Neck which took me to the GW and did in fact have full size trucks. I must have mixed up the two intervening highways.

IggyQuartet

Adirondack Mountains

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Posted: 10/28/09 05:49am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

SHADOWMCPD wrote:

topless wrote:

Wow, 7'10" isn't tall enough to get a lot of vehicles under around here, much less a B. I don't think I've ever seen a bridge that low on a busy road.




DITTO!


I'm not sure this is correct unless they were doing construction and lowered the hieght by placing a wooden support structure during repairs. (As was done on the Henry Hudson Pwy some time back.


I travel extensively in a Class B in NYC and parts north
(L.I. included) and I have never found a clearance problem to speak of.

This includes The Bronx River Pkwy from start to finish. *

The Henry Hudson Pkwy Start to finish.

The Sprain Pkwy start to finish

Saw Mill River Pkwy start to finish.

Cross County Pkwy start to finish.

The Hutchinson River Pkwy Merit Pkwy start to finish

Jackie Robinson Pkwy

White Stone Expressway

Cross Bronx Expressway
(AKA the Cross Bronx Parking lot) (Re: it never moves!)

The Bruckner Expwy

The FDR Drive / RFK

The West Side Hwy

The Harlem River Drive

All access ways onto the Major Degan Expressway

Every bridge in and out of NYC

Brooklyn Queens Expwy

Belt Pkwy start to finish

Gwanus Expwy (Spelling might be off?)

Garden State Pkwy (NJ)

Palisades Pkwy (NY / NJ) start to finish

As a matter of fact the only low point I found in my travels in NYC was at the JFK Intl Airport Parking area and that was due to a badly placed height sign indicating less than 8' clearance
(I'm 8'6" counting fan cover on a 1990 Dodge Coach House Class B )

If anyone knows of any low clearance areas not able to accommodate a Class B Motor Home here in NYC give a holla!!**


You are pretty much sure to have no more difficulty, than a custom van would have anywhere in NYC and they are only limited to parking problem which is common to any large vehicle in a metropolitan area.

My only real advice for persons using a vehicle of this type (Large, long and high) is to condition yourself to backing into mall parking spots so as to have a better field of view when pulling out into traffic. (The key is good use of mirrors (and just like makin' love)
SLOW N EASY GETS IT DONE EVERY TIME

As a matter of fact this would be good for any vehicle since anyone backing out into vehicle and pedestrian traffic would have to back out more than half of the vehicle before they can see anything left or right of the rear bumper.



*I have indicated start to finish on Pkwys as they are by far more scenic vistas also less lanes with some (Bx Rvr Pwy for example) winding turns but nothing that can't be navigated)

**Hey we're talkin' NYC so cut me a Hus on Da slang YO!!


Fred S
NYC


PS Congrats on the PW MoHo Hope you have great fun in your travels. (Even if only to the mall a trip in a Class B is an experience not a chore)


Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for. Even a couple of highways I hadn't heard of before!

I too was wondering about the parking, because we have a trip coming up where we need to fly out of EWR. I didn't want to use one of those outside private lots because I read they have security problems, and I wasn't sure if the airport lots could accommodate a Class B.

reppans

CT

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Posted: 10/28/09 10:43am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Technically, there are weight restrictions (5,500lbs) that would exclude our B's from the NYC parkways. I also recall seeing "RV/motorhome" restrictions on the parkways, but perhaps they changed them due to the definitional ambiguities.

In practice, if your B has passenger plates, and is stealth enough, you shouldn't have a problem. Something like RT 170 or 190 should be OK, but I don't think I'd try with a RT210. Having said that, in my experience, you'll probably only see a police car in a position to actually pull you over/question you, one in five times.


CLICKY


Quote:

"Can I drive my truck on the parkway?"

This is one of the most frequently asked questions at nycroads.com. The guide below should help you determine if you can use your pickup, van or other truck on New York City's parkway system.

Pickup trucks and vans are permitted on controlled-access parkways under the following conditions:


They must have passenger car plates.
They must be used only for non-commercial purposes.
They must have an empty (unladen) weight of 5,500 pounds or less.


All other trucks that do not meet the conditions above are not permitted on controlled-access parkways. This restriction includes moving vans, trucks and trailers.

All vehicles (including passenger cars) with trailers or cargo carried on the roof are not permitted on parkways in New York State.

Vehicles with "combination" plates from other states are not permitted on parkways in New York State.[\quote]

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