Low Hanging Trees?

Lessons learned about the importance of avoiding low hanging trees and other obstacles

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Imagine this: It's a hot summer day and you're traveling in your RV or motorhome and realize you have to take conference call and it's like 95 degrees outside. You're in a remote location and see a Walmart with an awning that will cover your RV or motorhome entirely. So you head over and park your rig there to avoid the sun while you're on your call. You fit perfectly.

During your call the Walmart team waves you to move you rig because you're parked in the online pickup area. No problem you think yourself. You start up your vehicle and start to depart but instead of driving thru to the end of the awning, you decide to take a quick left to quickly exit the area and you hear a loud noise and feel your tow vehicle hit a bump and hop. You're first thought is what did I hit. After you get off your call, you exist your vehicle to do an inspection only to realize that you exited the awning too early and the awning has completely removed your air conditioner from the roof of your rig and left it barely hanging off the side.

It was Friday and I was able to find an RV repair company not too far from my location even though I was quite remote. While driving down the highway, I received many glances from onlookers that saw the air conditioner waving to them as they passed by. Even one individual rolled down his window at a stop light and told me, "do you know your air conditioner is hanging off the side of your RV". I reacted and stated I was on the way to have it repaired.

Upon arrival and inspection, the RV repair company stated there was nothing they could do with the air conditioner. It was completely destroyed and they removed it and thru it in the garbage. The most they could do was to tape up and cover the whole where the air conditioner was located. I thought to myself, "good lord, I need a drink and make it a double".

Being that this was the third (3) RV I had purchased from the same dealer, I called them and alerted them that I was on my way to them and would need them to quickly replace the air conditioner. They had a spare on-hand in their service department. During the repair, they ddi advise me that the roof was going to need work as well. I didn't want to invest in that expense as I knew that my travel trailer was going to be traded in later in the year.

Saturday afternoon, they finished the air conditioner repair and sent me on my way.

Lesson Learned: Watch for Low Hanging Trees, Bridges and other obstacles

This experience taught me to always be aware of my surroundings. My rule of thumb if you don't know the exact height of a bridge, trees or other obstacles while you're traveling:

1. Watch other similar vehicles on the road while you travel. If they don't have problems with bridge heights (as an example), then most RVs and motorhomes will not either. My rule of thumb is I watch for semi-trucks. If they are on your route, then 9 times out of 10 you're ok to proceed as well.

2. If you are unsure, always best to be safe and stop your vehicle and evaluate before attempting to take your rig thru/under a bridges, trees or other obstacles.

3. Read the owners manuals for your rig so you're aware of the height of your RV or motorhome before you get on the road.

4. Check your travel route bridge heights.

5. Whenever you stop (for gas, breaks, etc.), make you are aware of what you're driving under. Don't put yourself in situation where you have to guess.

For more information on this blog posting or product recommendations, you can reply back to this posting or send your questions to therealrvblog@konvrgence.com.