Bridge Weight Limits

[rff105]

Now that I look for low clearance signs everywhere I drive, even in my pick-up truck, I was wondering how you guys handle bridge weight limits. I have not weighed our H3 yet but I am guessing it is somewhere north of 25 tons. 20+ tons should not be a problem on most state routes but I can see how you could come across some lower weight limit bridges in rural areas getting to campgrounds. I know there is a safety factor of three built in there but that assumes the bridge inspector is right. I don’t want to end up at the bottom of a stream and I am sure our insurance company does not want to buy a new bus and a bridge.

What kind of weight limit bridge will you cross and when do you start looking to back-up and find another way around? It also makes a difference how long the bridge is, if the whole bus will be on the bridge at one time or only the front and rear axles independently.

[Just Plain Jeff]

This is a good discussion topic.

See this thread: http://forum.prevostownersgroup.com/...e+meter+canada

More recent experience with Fast Roger Foster, in I believe what was the Great State of Missouri on the Black Horse Road (there is some dispute about all of this after the fact) a Prevost is not intended to be driven on a gravel road leading to a 1930's Model T WPA bridge.

It was my contention that a guy could get up enough speed to make it safely over the bridge, but Fast Roger's assessment was different. He backed around and went back...

But you could see and hear the Interstate from where we were! Just one bridge to cross...

[phorner]

I hope that everyone realizes that bridge design considers several elements, one of which is impact, which is based on the speed of the approach.

The real bad news is.....faster is worse, not better, for the loading on the bridge members.

On the plus side, in most cases, it's not he initial overload condition that results in a collapse, as it merely stresses the structure and prepares it for failure....... it's the next, perhaps smaller load (think school bus) that ends up at the bottom of the creek.

Actually..... not much of a plus after all....

[Just Plain Jeff]

I never said that going across a marginal bridge would necessarily leave it particularly good condition for the next guy.

[win42]

According to all the Roadrunner - Coyote cartoons, I have learned faster is better when it comes to bridges and cliffs. There are some bridges in the midwest to be concerened about weight on. There are some bridges west of Tulsa you need to take turns crossing on. You do not want to smack mirrors with another rig , it tends to take your ear off with your mirror. Heads up!!

[Denny]

We have to be careful when crossing bridges with the weight of our busses. A friend of mine, who drives truck, was just fines $17,000 in Virginia because he crossed a bridge that had a reduced weight limit on it. It was in a construction zone, he did not see the detour signs nor the weight warning signs (or he ignored them) and the cop was waiting for him when he reached the other side.