Exterior height

[RNP88]

Seriously considering purchasing a 2020 AF Grande Ronde 27-5l. However I am very concerned about the over all height of the trailer. Can anyone give me their experiences with pulling this high of trailer? On this one looks like several Maxxair vent covers are the highest points.

[RocklinDave]

Our 2016 29-5T height at the highest point is 13'-6". We've never had an issue with trees, low bridges, etc.

Just have to remember while driving off the freeway or highways in an unfamiliar area, to scan ahead not only from side-to-side, but also up. There are maps, apps and websites that show low objects that may interfere with higher RV's.

The height of a 5th wheel is something you quickly get used to with practice... just like the width of any trailer, compared to a tow vehicle.

The basement and interior cabinet storage storage of a 5th wheel, far outweighs any height concerns. Also in my opinion, a 5th wheel is much easier to tow (no swaying on highway / wind) and backing, compared to a pull-behind trailer.

[MikeZ]

Fifteen months ago I laid eyes on my first trailer a 32-5M which currently measures out at 13' 5.5", and I wondered what on earth had I gotten myself into. I have friends that say that they would never pull anything that large, and they still ask me about pulling it. My attitude is that if they were going to crash into every tree and bridge nobody would be towing them.
Pulled it from Ohio to the west coast twice and never had a problem on the road since any state route has to meet the specifications for commercial vehicles which are compatible with the Northwood fifth wheel trailers. My only encounter with a low and strong tree branch was within a KOA campground.
As Dave said looking up is a constant when pulling into a wooded area. I think it must be a psychological thing that the road into a campground always looks narrower and lower on the way in than on the way out.
Well maintained campgrounds that accommodate trailers at 13' 6" almost always have the trees trimmed back to handle the height of their customers tall vehicles. I still carry an extendable Fiskar tree trimmer in the basement and know where the height of my trailer is when extending the pole. Only been to one place where I walked through with it to check the branch heights prior to pulling into the campground.
A Garmin GPS for RVs has been helpful for routing me away from weak and low bridges.
I did have to move up from a single rear wheel to a dually due to the pin weight of the trailer. Very stable ride on the road while towing.

[Deciduous 1]

My 27-5L had a published height of 13' 5" but measured out to 13' 2".
The drawing NW sent me for my 32-5M show a height of 13' 3 1/4" to the top of the main aircon. The literature that came in the Owner's Packet sayd 13' 7". I have my GPS set for the 13' 7" until I get a confirmed height. I have 2 tunnels that show a published height of 13' 5".

[MtCamper]

Ours is 13'6". You quickly develop looking up skills. The only thing we worry about is leaf covered branches. It's hard to say if the leaf is on just a twig or a 2" main branch. Mostly a problem in state and federal campgrounds. As far as tunnels go, I've been known to take my 1/2 down the middle. The height is measured at the fog line, at least in theory. We've successfully navigated well arched ones that were only 12'. OK, I walked the centerline first with my tape measure. If a semi can travel where you are going, you're golden. Worst case scenario is insurance will pay for stupidity, once.

[USAFA69]

That's a new term to me. What's the "Fog Line"?

[crabby97440]

The fog line is the white line along the right side of your lane, generally on a two lane road.
To quote CalTrans;
"The solid white line on the right side of the roadway is called the “fog line.” It is designed to help motorists under foggy conditions. When you find yourself driving in areas where the fog is impeding visibility, use the fog line to keep you on track and on the highway."

[Deciduous 1]

I'm sensitized to height. My Titanium was 12'8". The RV park had a power wire that was 14'. I pulled out and ripped the cover off my bedroom aircon, but did not hurt it mechanically. The wire popped off the back of the Titanium hurting nothing else. The owner had lowered it so he could reach it for maintenance using a 12' ladder and took a coffee break. The owner and I got into a very heated discussion that became somewhat touchy-feely. I quickly headed out and bought a cover with installation at Granbury TX, RV, saying nothing to my insurance company. Bottom line: keep looking up.

Next case: an Airstream friend took his 9'8" AS through a 10' hole in the wall. It must have been only 10' right in the middle because he took his whole aircon off the roof; hence the reason for constantly looking up.

[USAFA69]

I'll definitely have to check the height of my new 28F when I pick it up next Friday. There are four tunnels near me that I go thru frequently. Two are on I-70 at Idaho Springs and the Loveland tunnels. These are all 13' something but the other couple are on highway 6 between Golden and Blackhawk and they're much older - I don't know their heights. I go up the latter getting to Golden Canyon State Park and my old 25Y has no problem there.

[txshirle]

We had a 2019 27-5L and the antenna was the highest point at 13'6", but we had a single lowpro AC. If you had a regular AC it is likely the highest point, unless you have the Magnadyne antenna. The new Foxes use the Winegard antenna which has a lower profile but I am not sure about the 2020's.
We picked up our 2021 29-5T at the end of August and it has an advertised height of 13'4". On our first day on the road we exited a highway and turned left to go through an underpass and the sign said 13'6". We held our breath and drove very slowly with two Colorado state trooper cars right behind us. Since we didn't get cited for leaving debris on the road I figured we were okay but I climbed up on the roof as soon as it was safe and confirmed everything was intact.

[Arctic Rebel]

I replaced, actually lost my TV antenna once and now the new one is bent again. We boon dock most of the time so branches are an issue. We just spent 3 months back in the Midwest and the farther you go back east, the more you will encounter short bridges. We use a GPS for RV's that really have helped on this last trip. like others have said, you just have to be aware of every turn and look up. One good idea, once you know the exact height, make a note somewhere in the truck so you can check each time you approach a low bridge. They come up quickly!
Be safe.

[nwtraveler]

I replaced, actually lost my TV antenna once and now the new one is bent again. We boon dock most of the time so branches are an issue. We just spent 3 months back in the Midwest and the farther you go back east, the more you will encounter short bridges. We use a GPS for RV's that really have helped on this last trip. like others have said, you just have to be aware of every turn and look up. One good idea, once you know the exact height, make a note somewhere in the truck so you can check each time you approach a low bridge. They come up quickly!
Be safe.

I found the front arm of my tv antenna bent up a couple of times. Last time I just bent it
down until it's about 2" from touching the roof. So far so good.

I just installed vent covers and noticed the forward one is about an inch higher than the
LoPro bedroom AC. I don't know the actual height of our rig.

[USAFA69]

This discussion brings up a question I've had for awhile. How do we determine the actual height? I was envisioning needing a tall pole, a step ladder, a leveling laser and a lot of patience. Has anybody actually measured their rig?

[Arctic Rebel]

I used a 2x4 from the top of my AC and used a level to be sure it was level. I then measured from the 2x4 to the ground and got 13' 5" +/-
I now carry a laser to check Fueling stations (thanks to Pete Crosby's idea) as when we went to a few fueling stations in the Midwest, that if we did not check, we would of hit! I set my RV GPS for 13' 9" just to be sure.

[Rolland]

I measured our 27-5L the same way Arctic Rebel did and while connected to the truck ready to roll. Had vent covers on all vents so the bathroom vent was our high point. I taped the level to the 2x4 edge out by where I was on a ladder then had Judie pull the tape to the ground so I didn’t have much slack in it, then looked at the tape at the bottom edge of the 2x4 when it was level.

for those tunnel with heights noted on the fog line, I also measured the side of the rig so I knew both.