If your unit is marked up as being 14" 4’ and your trailer is 4.2 meters (14" 2’ ish) and you hit a bridge that’s marked as 14" 6’ with the trailer who’s fault is it■■? 
And also most trailers say the height based on a 5th wheel of 1200 mm, how do you actually know what the height of your 5th wheel is■■?
Thanks guys
If the bridge is incorrectly marked then it cant be your fault
londonerupnorth:
If your unit is marked up as being 14" 4’ and your trailer is 4.2 meters (14" 2’ ish) and you hit a bridge that’s marked as 14" 6’ with the trailer who’s fault is it■■?And also most trailers say the height based on a 5th wheel of 1200 mm, how do you actually know what the height of your 5th wheel is■■?
Thanks guys
4.2 M is 13ft 10inch, well to be precise 13ft 10 is 4.2164 M
So even if the 5th wheel is a little higher, I cant see a 13ft 10 trailer hitting a 14ft 6 bridge
Has the road been resurfaced? Maybe Highways are to blame
londonerupnorth:
And also most trailers say the height based on a 5th wheel of 1200 mm, how do you actually know what the height of your 5th wheel is■■?Thanks guys
Measure from the ground to the base of the trailer where it sits on the fifth wheel.
londonerupnorth:
If your unit is marked up as being 14" 4’ and your trailer is 4.2 meters (14" 2’ ish) and you hit a bridge that’s marked as 14" 6’ with the trailer who’s fault is it■■?And also most trailers say the height based on a 5th wheel of 1200 mm, how do you actually know what the height of your 5th wheel is■■?
Thanks guys
How can you know your trailer was 14’ 2" if you don’t know your 5th wheel height??
Might not apply to your situation but Scania 5th wheels are 1295mm/4’ 3" which is nearly 2 higher than Volvo and I’m sure Man, Daf and Merc. Having the lift axle up on the Scania will add another 3 inches to your height. Your 14’ 2" trailer can soon become 14’ 7" with not much effort. As I say it might not apply but it’s a thought.
Mark28:
londonerupnorth:
If your unit is marked up as being 14" 4’ and your trailer is 4.2 meters (14" 2’ ish) and you hit a bridge that’s marked as 14" 6’ with the trailer who’s fault is it■■?And also most trailers say the height based on a 5th wheel of 1200 mm, how do you actually know what the height of your 5th wheel is■■?
Thanks guys
How can you know your trailer was 14’ 2" if you don’t know your 5th wheel height??
Might not apply to your situation but Scania 5th wheels are 1295mm/4’ 3" which is nearly 2 higher than Volvo and I’m sure Man, Daf and Merc. Having the lift axle up on the Scania will add another 3 inches to your height. Your 14’ 2" trailer can soon become 14’ 7" with not much effort. As I say it might not apply but it’s a thought.
That’s my problem and hence the question. I’m going by what is says on the trailer and I cant be 100% sure of the actual height
Harry Monk:
londonerupnorth:
And also most trailers say the height based on a 5th wheel of 1200 mm, how do you actually know what the height of your 5th wheel is■■?Thanks guys
Measure from the ground to the base of the trailer where it sits on the fifth wheel.
And that should be 1200mm? Is 1200mm about the average height or is there a lot of variation between different unit’s?
Buy a tape measure and simply measure the height of your 5th wheel 
No discussion needed!
londonerupnorth:
Harry Monk:
londonerupnorth:
And also most trailers say the height based on a 5th wheel of 1200 mm, how do you actually know what the height of your 5th wheel is■■?Thanks guys
Measure from the ground to the base of the trailer where it sits on the fifth wheel.
And that should be 1200mm? Is 1200mm about the average height or is there a lot of variation between different unit’s?
I’ve driven MAN, Daf and Volvo that were all set at 1250mm/4’ 1". The Scania’s I’ve driven were set at 1295mm/ 4’ 3".
The Trailer says height is 4.2 M with a 1.2 M 5th Wheel
That means the trailer alone is 9ft 11 plus the height of the 5th Wheel
Worse case scenario with a 5th wheel at 4ft 3inch 1295mm, The trailer would be 14ft 2 Inch
To hit the bridge with the trailer stated, the 5th wheel would need to be over 4ft 8 or 1420 mm
So was the air suspension up on the trailer? if so, Driver fault
Was the road resurfaced? Highways fault if signs not changed accordingly
Or was the trailer height incorrect at the start of journey? Not sure if Driver fault for not double checking, or Workshop fault, Probably Driver fault more so?
Unless the bridge is incorrectly marked then it is the drivers fault, it is law to know your height and relying on what you are told is your choice or check for yourself.
londonerupnorth:
Mark28:
londonerupnorth:
If your unit is marked up as being 14" 4’ and your trailer is 4.2 meters (14" 2’ ish) and you hit a bridge that’s marked as 14" 6’ with the trailer who’s fault is it■■?And also most trailers say the height based on a 5th wheel of 1200 mm, how do you actually know what the height of your 5th wheel is■■?
Thanks guys
How can you know your trailer was 14’ 2" if you don’t know your 5th wheel height??
Might not apply to your situation but Scania 5th wheels are 1295mm/4’ 3" which is nearly 2 higher than Volvo and I’m sure Man, Daf and Merc. Having the lift axle up on the Scania will add another 3 inches to your height. Your 14’ 2" trailer can soon become 14’ 7" with not much effort. As I say it might not apply but it’s a thought.
That’s my problem and hence the question. I’m going by what is says on the trailer and I cant be 100% sure of the actual height
If you are going by what it says on the trailer and not measuring it then you are an idiot. The marking on the trailer isn’t worth the paint it is marked with, too many variables for it to be accurate.
I hope this clarifies matters. 
The bridge at Nailsea & Backwell station (in North Somerset) is 12’ 6".
The warning sign on the bridge as you come from the Nailsea direction is missing and has been for a while.
Network Rail were not interested when they were informed of this…“it’s the councils responsibility” they said.
I bet they’d have a different view if the bridge was hit and the line closed pending an inspection with the disruption to services and insurance costs 
The bridge actually gets hit quite often, but as the drivers don’t stop or hang around, then Network rail don’t hear about it!
Thread Title
Bridge Strike! Whose Fault?
It can only ever be the drivers fault, especially if he doesn’t have a clue how high it is or how to measure it.
You only need a sweeping brush and a tape measure to set your height marker exactly. That way if you hit a bridge, you can ring the owner
londonerupnorth:
If your unit is marked up as being 14" 4’ and your trailer is 4.2 meters (14" 2’ ish) and you hit a bridge that’s marked as 14" 6’ with the trailer who’s fault is it■■?And also most trailers say the height based on a 5th wheel of 1200 mm, how do you actually know what the height of your 5th wheel is■■?
Thanks guys
The bridge in this case will have been marked incorectly 
According to UK regulations every bridge must be atleast 3 inches higher than maked therefore a 14’6" bridge must have atleast 14’9" clearance.
i took my volvo and flat trailer under a 11’ 2" bridge the other day to get into a factory. the only way in to it. the unit alone measures 13’ 3" so how does that work? 
oddly enough i had a height related issue the other day. the unit height indicator was set at 13’6" but as i had no idea what trailer had been pulled i wanted to check first as the trailer height indicator only told me the body is 3 metres tall and there is no 5th wheel height indicator which is odd for a volvo. the manager told me it was correct for my trailer. a driver told me on the quiet that my trailer was 14’3". there is a 14’ bridge just outside Milgavnie
Coffeeholic:
If you are going by what it says on the trailer and not measuring it then you are an idiot. The marking on the trailer isn’t worth the paint it is marked with, too many variables for it to be accurate.I hope this clarifies matters.
I don’t know what job you do but are you saying that if you changed units or trailers several times a day you would measure every one?
To be honest I would just build in a safety margin for the bridges I went under but probably 4" would be most likely ok as far as I’m concerned.
Pat Hasler:
: According to UK regulations every bridge must be atleast 3 inches higher than maked therefore a 14’6" bridge must have atleast 14’9" clearance.
which regulation is that ?
I watched my tm measure my trailer load of roof trusses once, 15’9 he said. When I got to delivery site I found I had shaved off the top corners and slacken all my straps on a bridge with no height marking, minimum 16ft I thought these have to be? Luckyi never lost the load as the straps came off by hand without opening the rachets. 
