GarySueLola Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Hi - we're new on this forum so a big hello from the New Forest! We're moving up from a VWT5 camper with a poptop to a higher roofed La Strada Pronto, based on the Ford Transit so it is 2.7m high as opposed to the our previous 1.9m van. When were in France we were passing a large town (I can't remember which one) and the satnav took us through an underpass that was about 2.5m high - scary but the van fitted, phew! However, if we'd been in our new van it would have been a different matter and I did notice a larger motorhome went round the roundabout above the underpass. I guess their satnav avoided the low underpass. So, I'm thinking I need to upgrade our satnav but the only facility we need is to put in the height as our van is not particularly wide, long or heavy. Basically all I really need is the same satnav a plumber needs for their high roof transit. Any advice on which are the best, basic satnav with height option....spending as little as possible as the Mrs says we've already overstretched our budget on the van . Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billggski Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 A number of favourable comments on this forum about truck sat navs. Many on eBay at a range of prices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Hi Gary and welcome to the forum, And my advice, for what it's worth, is to stick with your existing sat nav and just be extra vigilant! Our MH is 3.05 metres high so we legally have to have the height visible to the driver (over 3.0 m is the law) and in the last seven and a half years have never had to turn back just by carefully reading road signs and being vigilant. I would suggest you put the vehicles height, width and length on your sunvisor with something like a Dymo or Brother label printer and save your money. And by the way, the 'Truck' and 'MH' sat navs are only as good as the mapping on them, if for any reason a height restriction is not on the mapping then your sat nav will not warn you. So if you do buy one do not be too complacent with it! Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Billggski and Keith are both right. If colliding with a bridge is a real concern for you, then you must act and gain the additional reassurance a truck satnav, or similar such as a caravan/motorhome one, will provide [they are not infallible]. You might not settle otherwise. If it was just a passing moment you experienced, keep with what you have, remain vigilant and put a note in sight on the driver as to the vehicle's measurements [measure the vehicle yourself, particularly height] and weight. I do this even though my van is marginally under 3m and 3500kg. I include tyre pressures on the note. If you travel in the UK other than to the ports, I'd also keep the measurements in imperial as well as metric. I once when down an underpass in an overcab motorhome. The sign said the underpass was 10' high [no metric equivalent quoted]; I only knew my height in metres. It was afterwards I realised I had less than 3" to spare. It did explain why the car behind me waited until I went through before following. If you've overstretched on money and there are two of you in the van who can watch for hazards, wait until you need to change the satnav. And welcome to the forum. The Pronto is a nice van and La Strada have an excellent reputation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 All bridges with a clearance below about 4.5 metres will have a restricted height warning on the approach. As said, sat-navs are not infallible, the mapping is not necessarily up to date or correct, and there is always the risk of being diverted off the sat-navs route onto a road with a height restriction. The best answer is to keep a sharp look out for height restrictions, just as you doubtless do for speed limits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 A sat nav is a driver navigation AID. In other words it HELPS the driver to navigate. It is not a substitute for the mark 1 eyeball. I've been using standard TomTom sat navs all over Europe for 10 years whilst driving vans from 2.7 to over 3.0 meters high and I have never been confronted by an unexpected low bridge. Vinyards, bridge less rivers, dead ends, disappearing roads, yes - but low bridges - not yet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazooka Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 I agree,been close acouple of times but allways spotted the height signs in time. Baz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Are truck/camper sat-nav devices sufficiently subtle to discriminate between roads that have low bridges/underpasses and roads that are just unsuitable for wide/high vehicles like large lorries or large coachbuilt motorhomes? What I’m asking is, if GarySueLola obtained a specialised truck/camper sat-nav and input say, a 2.8m height dimension, would this allow all common-or-garden routes to be selected except those that had a sub-2.8m bridge/underpass or would the height datum restrict route selection much more stringently? The La Strada Pronto is an ordinary panel-van conversion based on a high-top Transit and I’m very doubtful that a truck/camper sat-nav would be ’smart’ enough to guard against low height-clearance obstructions without seriously limiting route selection. All of my motorhomes have been higher than a Pronto (and a good deal wider) and I’ve never felt the need to use a specialised sat-nav. I have come across bridges/underpasses in French towns where the clearance has been a bit marginal (and one where the stated clearance equalled the height of the motorhome and, fortunately, I was able to avoid!) but I’m certain that a specialised sat-nav would not have guarded against this as I was inevitably lost when this happened. So I agree with Keithl - for a Pronto-sized motorhome a standard sat-nav should be OK, but watch out for height restrictions particularly at night http://www.normandie-actu.fr/encore-deux-camping-cars-coinces-sous-des-tremies-a-rouen-en-24-heures_81752/ http://www.tendanceouest.com/rouen/actualite-74704-un-camping-car-encastre-dans-tunnel-a-rouen.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 We also are over 3 metre high .Do not have problem with Tom Tom, just have to be wary of bridges. With a sat nav you still need to keep your eyes on road. We have on a couple of occasions had to change direction due to height !! PJay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will H Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Provided there are larg-ish trucks going the same way then that would seem OK. If you notice them all branching off then be aware. That's how we assessed it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Will H - 2015-10-29 3:53 PM Provided there are larg-ish trucks going the same way then that would seem OK. If you notice them all branching off then be aware. That's how we assessed it. And maybe not... ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogher Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 SatNavs should know the height of all low bridges. Mine has managed to steer me clear of those less than 3.5m high. What it hasn’t done is save me from low branches, bunting and low balconies. You still need to keep an eye open for overhead objects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 rogher - 2015-10-29 10:29 PM SatNavs should know the height of all low bridges. .................... Only if you buy the "truck" or "camper" type versions. Otherwise they do not. I agree about the need for general vigilance on non-bridge height obstructions, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Hi Gary, Are you still with us? I see you haven't logged in since shortly after posting your question so wondered if you where still checking for answers? Please let us know if you are :) Another solution might be to add Low Bridge poi's to your existing sat nav and then set it to warn you if you near one of these poi's. You can buy poi's for under a tenner from here.. http://www.lowbridges.com/bridgex.htm Or there seems to be a free set here... https://poi.gps-data-team.com/united_kingdom/transportation/ I've never tried either but may be worth looking into. If you search I'm sure you may also find more. For example, if you have a TomTom are there any available on TomTom Home? Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two-Six Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 I keep a card with my vans dimensions clearly printed on it on the back of the sun visor. If in doubt I can flip it down and have a quick check. I have only been worried once or twice about height clearance, its unusual to come across a properly low bridge. Still, hitting one would be a NIGHTMARE, its worth being paranoid about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogher Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 If you add POI to your satnav, it can only warn you as you approach one. That’s certainly better than nothing, but it won’t take them into consideration when planning your route. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Two-Six - 2015-11-01 1:48 PM Still, hitting one would be a NIGHTMARE, its worth being paranoid about it. Really? Let's put that in perspective shall we? I've not yet hit a bridge, a low flying tree or parapet or anything else above bumper level - but then again I've only been driving vans for 45 years, but to be fair with only 10 years of sat nav use, so I will keep trying! And I suspect that I am far from alone in this experience? As previoulsy stated, the Mark 1 eyeball is the single most effective navigation aid known to mankind! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two-Six Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Ok paranoid isn't quite the right word. Cautious or aware might have been better but NIGHTMARE to describe how it would be if you did hit a low bridge is exactly the right word. So yes REALLY it is worth paying attention to, why pick up on what I said? In fact you have countered and criticised every post I have made on this forum so far. Very welcoming. All I was saying that in all my considerable driving experience of 30 years, some of it spent driving big vans professionally, I have only once or twice had any concern about being too high for a bridge and that I have a reference card to check my vans dimension.... What's wrong with that?? You are not alone, lots of people don't hit low bridges either but then again a lot of people do, all the time. I don't get your angle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George.. Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Hi Gary/Sue I would recommend using a Garmin sat nav, one of the camper van/truck ones.When inputting a route they do actually allow for the height,weight and width you have pre-input (our Garmin Dezl 560 does).We did turn off the route once and the sat nav soon corrected us by saying there was a low bridge ahead. So yes while they are obviously an aid to your own observations they are worth the extra cost. Having driven over a large part of Europe using several Garmin sat navs we have only been caught out when not using them.. Regards George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Two-Six - 2015-11-02 1:25 AM In fact you have countered and criticised every post I have made on this forum so far. Very welcoming. I don't get your angle. I was unaware that I had criticised your every post - all 16 of them as of now - and although I do find that bold statement a bit hard to accept I do kinda understand your grumble. I am sorry if you feel offended but I can assure you that it is not personal and that whenever I see a post that I disagree with no matter who posts it I will offer my own or a different perspective whilst trying not to have a go at the poster. New members and contributors are the life blood of any forum so don't be put off if someone disagrees - just counter with your own perspective and experiences, as you have done, but do bear in mind that just as you have the right to politely express your views so does everyone else. I don't have any angle, except when carrying a full Thetford cassette 100 yards as that does create quite a list! Peace? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 For a Tranny the most likely height restriction you are liable to come across is a height bar on parking, AFAIK satnav's will not warn you of these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith T Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Whatever SatNav you have or get, surely the main thing is that it does not replace your brain or eyes...! It is, as has previously been said, merely an 'aid'...... As far as I cam concerned, and certainly when driving the motorhome, it doesn't even totally replace a printed or downloaded map. Many is the time when the SatNav wants me to go in a certain direction, and either I have a gut feeling that this is not the best way, or often - and especially in France - it is better to follow road signs. they are often more direct, or more suitable for our vehicles. As far as the underpasses are concerned, yes, we have encountered many in 25 years of driving in and around France, but always there has been an alternative, and always we have found the height shown. Our Van is about 2.7/2.8m high, but I would ad=void anything of 3m or lower just to give a margin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malc d Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Brian Kirby - 2015-10-30 12:16 AM rogher - 2015-10-29 10:29 PM SatNavs should know the height of all low bridges. .................... Only if you buy the "truck" or "camper" type versions. Otherwise they do not. I agree about the need for general vigilance on non-bridge height obstructions, though. .. ........and, of course, pedantically speaking, sat - navs know nothing. Being computers, they are only as good as the info that has been loaded into them. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 malc d - 2015-11-02 12:28 PM....................Being computers, they are only as good as the info that has been loaded into them. ;-) Indeed! GIGO, innit? :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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