GPS with accurate weight avoidance? (was THREE TON BRIDGE)

Topic: GPS with accurate weight avoidance? (was THREE TON BRIDGE) (Read 1521 times) previous topic - next topic

GPS with accurate weight avoidance? (was THREE TON BRIDGE)

May 30, 2017, 08:55:13 am

Anyone know of a reliable GPS system that has accurate, up-to-date bridge weight restrictions?

Before I could react, my 14 ton U270 was crossing this short 3 Ton bridge near Green Lane, PA. This can be a $10,000 fine. My reaction was delayed because:

1. It looked like a single, routine sign, only 20 feet from the bridge. No prior warning.
2. In denial that 3 Ton bridges existed. Upon manually searching a database of PA bridges, there are 100's of 3 and 6 Ton bridges in PA.
3. My GPS was in RV mode (CoPilot for iOS) and thought it would route accordingly.

Since this happened, I have been searching for the best GPS navigator to avoid weight-restricted bridges. There appears to be no clear winner because CoPilot Truck, Garmin, Rand McNally, TomTom, Sygic, Google Maps and Cobra all have limitations with regard to accurate, up-to-date weight restriction databases. Truckers report that these GPSs can place them on no-truck roads.

I learned to be more vigilent about weight restrictions and turn around when necessary.

Sounds like a business opportunity for a reliable GPS system. Attached is a map of PA restricted roads in my area, but it's not integrated with a GPS system.

[modified topic title to be more descriptive - Michelle]

Re: THREE TON BRIDGE

Reply #1 – May 30, 2017, 09:57:05 am

Scary! Bridge musta been built in the "horse & buggy" days. Heck, most full-size pickup trucks with a load in the bed probably exceed 3 tons!

Answer to your GPS question: Not sure. Our Garmin RV760LMT lets you enter your vehicle weight, but don't know if it would route around low weight limit bridges. Have never encountered one in our driving...

Re: THREE TON BRIDGE

Reply #2 – May 30, 2017, 10:07:25 am

Looks like a good opportunity for someone to develop and sell a custom POI set. I suggest "Headknocker" as a title.

Re: THREE TON BRIDGE

Reply #3 – May 30, 2017, 10:22:38 am

Looks like a good opportunity for PA to get the bridge rebuilt at the expense of an unwary traveler.

Re: THREE TON BRIDGE

Reply #4 – May 30, 2017, 10:33:00 am

In Venice Ca. there are condo's that can't be reached without going over bridges marked "no vehicles over 6,000 lbs." One of my customers wanted me to put up a skylight on one of them. After talking to the home owner I found out that to build the condo's cement trucks traveled over the bridges and the trash trucks travel over them every week. I did the job with the understanding that the contractor was responsible for any problems arising from crossing the bridge. I am light than the trash trucks 31,000 lbs.
How far would you have had to travel to get around that bridge.

Re: THREE TON BRIDGE

Reply #5 – May 30, 2017, 10:48:19 am

Agreed. One mile from my home, we just had a 50 Ton rig on a 2 Ton bridge. What's funny is that it crashed on the SECOND crossing. See Township Responders Had Hands Full Monday - The Post

Re: THREE TON BRIDGE

Reply #6 – May 30, 2017, 10:53:20 am

I tried Co-Pilot but dumped it as it made too many mistakes. I think accurate truck and RV apps for old bridges are years away. I The economy is really tight for many places outside big cities so not much money/manpower for updating infrastructure or records.

Pierce

Re: THREE TON BRIDGE

Reply #7 – May 30, 2017, 10:55:11 am

Quote from: Tim – May 30, 2017, 10:48:19 am

Agreed. One mile from my home, we just had a 50 Ton rig on a 2 Ton bridge. What's funny is that it crashed on the SECOND crossing. See Township Responders Had Hands Full Monday - The Post

Not sure the truck weighed 100,000 lbs. looking at it. I believe they were using its lifting capacity 50 ton crane.

Re: THREE TON BRIDGE

Reply #8 – May 30, 2017, 10:59:52 am

A couple of years ago, I drove from Laughlin to Las Vegas on a 2 lane highway with lots of short bridges with weight limit signs. The signs posted limits besides silhouettes of truck/trailer combinations. Apparently I would have been over limit writhout the towed, but was ok towing. Makes no sense.

Re: THREE TON BRIDGE

Reply #9 – May 30, 2017, 11:02:43 am

Quote from: Tom Lang – May 30, 2017, 10:59:52 am

A couple of years ago, I drove from Laughlin to Las Vegas on a 2 lane highway with lots of short bridges with weight limit signs. The signs posted limits besides silhouettes of truck/trailer combinations. Apparently I would have been over limit writhout the towed, but was ok towing. Makes no sense.

It is actually called "bridge weight" and the distance between axles is what the silhouettes are referring to.

Re: THREE TON BRIDGE

Reply #10 – May 30, 2017, 11:04:27 am

So how does it relate to a two axle RV with or without towing a car?

Re: THREE TON BRIDGE

Reply #11 – May 30, 2017, 11:16:40 am

Quote from: Tom Lang – May 30, 2017, 11:04:27 am

So how does it relate to a two axle RV with or without towing a car?

It was "assuming" you were a truck and the distance was from front to rear axle. That is unless the silhouettes showed a rv.

Re: THREE TON BRIDGE

Reply #12 – May 30, 2017, 12:21:34 pm

How does it apply to an RV, if at all?

Re: THREE TON BRIDGE

Reply #13 – May 30, 2017, 12:26:19 pm

We wanted to buy a dedicated $99 tablet to use with a GPS program, but after many hours of reading through navigation apps and reviews, I couldn't find one that I felt was reliable enough for our greenhorn status in large vehicle driving. So we bit the bullet and bought this:

Amazon.com: Garmin RV 760LMT Portable GPS Navigator: Cell Phones & Accessories

The Garmin errs on the side of extreme caution. It doesn't only avoid clearance and weight limits - if a town/city/state did not provide Garmin with weight/length restrictions on a certain road, it simply won't take you on it, period, unless it is the only road by which you can access your final destination. It gives warnings as soon as you get on a road with a clearance / length issue. We got it for $280, I'm not sure I would have gone for it at the current $420 price... but I'm sure you could shop around.

I use it in conjunction with the standard google navigation app - as a little common sense can tell you that you don't need to take a 45 minute detour to avoid main street in a one stoplight town just because Garmin doesn't have the data. But by-and-large, I'm very pleased. Also has a lot of very useful RV-specific features - propane suppliers, service stations, truck stops, campgrounds, rest areas, etc. I've found them to be somewhat incomplete, but great for impromptu stops during travel.

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: THREE TON BRIDGE

Reply #14 – May 30, 2017, 12:48:55 pm

Are you aware of Low Clearance POI - GPS Data And this older one US Low Clearance POI | POI Factory

Re: THREE TON BRIDGE

Reply #15 – May 30, 2017, 01:10:46 pm

Latest version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxQXq6S2tLI

Re: THREE TON BRIDGE

Reply #16 – May 30, 2017, 01:48:03 pm

I have a Garmin RV660LMT, which is good at identifying RV parks and other RV related POIs, however, it does provide erroneous warnings. The main street two blocks from my home has a sign indicating no commercial traffic over 10 tons ahead. The sign is to my left as I leave home, while the restriction is to my right. The confusion seems to relate to where the restriction is relative to the location of the sign.

Re: THREE TON BRIDGE

Reply #17 – May 30, 2017, 07:39:14 pm

This is scary indeed. I have the Garmin Rv GPS but I always plan my routes using a Truckers Atlas- shows weight restrictions, height, width, etc. I try to run on truck routes because I figure if it works for trucks, it should work for me.

If I question anything, I will search the state DOT site for more information-worked once in Missouri as a bridge had weight limit lowered to 3 tons. I found another way.

Be safe & cya down the road

Re: THREE TON BRIDGE

Reply #18 – May 30, 2017, 08:08:40 pm

Found this bridge in Texas in 2013. Did not go over it with my coach. Found it doing the painted churches tour in a car. Any one else been there? King Iron Bridge Co. Cleveland Ohio 1885.

Re: THREE TON BRIDGE

Reply #19 – May 30, 2017, 08:58:26 pm

That may be the bridge on the "quilt block on a barn" tour. I think it is south of La Grange.

Pamela

Re: THREE TON BRIDGE

Reply #20 – May 30, 2017, 11:27:41 pm

Pamela.
You are correct about it being south of La Grange. Actually it is west of Dubina on Piano Bridge Road. Piano Bridge - SAVED! - Preservation Texas

Re: THREE TON BRIDGE

Reply #21 – May 31, 2017, 12:44:54 am

This bridge is over the Sabine river between Jasper, TX & Leesville, LA .
I'm fairly sure that it is under replacement as i was detoured away from it this past December.

Re: THREE TON BRIDGE

Reply #22 – May 31, 2017, 07:04:58 am

How were you detoured away from it?

Re: GPS with accurate weight avoidance? (was THREE TON BRIDGE)

Reply #23 – May 31, 2017, 10:19:36 am

Detour signs a few miles back stated that the bridge was closed and directed you to an alternate route.

Re: GPS with accurate weight avoidance? (was THREE TON BRIDGE)

Reply #24 – May 31, 2017, 10:51:08 am

There is no app, atlas or trucking manual that I know of that lists weight limits on bridges. There are restricted routes in truckers manual's that may or may not have something to do with bridge weight limits. The only thing you can do is keep your eyes open for weight limits and if you get too a place where there was no warning well then you have a decision to make.

Roland

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