route planning / sat nav app for large-ish rental van?

[yorkshirelad1]

I'm helping someone move furniture and belongings from central London to East Anglia at the weekend. There's a hire van and we're sharing the driving. My go-to satnav/route planning tools have failed me in that none of them seem to allow for anything other than a car. Can anyone recommend a route planning app or website that will help check my route, incorporating height/width restrictions, and speed limits on e.g. dual carriageways. I don't mind spend a bit on e.g. a sat nav app if it will assist with the driving and nudge me about speed limits for a larger vehicle etc, but a free website planner would be a good start too. Can anyone recommend an app for route planning for a large-ish (that's the only description/dimension I've been given so far!) hire van? TIA

[yorkshirelad1]

I'm helping someone move furniture and belongings from central London to East Anglia at the weekend. There's a hire van and we're sharing the driving. My go-to satnav/route planning tools have failed me in that none of them seem to allow for anything other than a car. Can anyone recommend a route planning app or website that will help check my route, incorporating height/width restrictions, and speed limits on e.g. dual carriageways. I don't mind spend a bit on e.g. a sat nav app if it will assist with the driving and nudge me about speed limits for a larger vehicle etc, but a free website planner would be a good start too. Can anyone recommend an app for route planning for a large-ish (that's the only description/dimension I've been given so far!) hire van? TIA

Some digging has found https://mydrive.tomtom.com/en_gb which lets you select between 4 types of vehicle which is a good start.

[redsturgeon]

You are not likely to be hiring anything which would be wider or taller than normal roads would allow so it's just really the speed limits that would apply. The speed limits when your see a NSL sign would be 50mph on a single carriageway, 60mph on a dual and 70mph on a motorway.

Google maps or waze are available a free apps and IMHO as good as anything from Tom Tom.

John

[AF62]

You are not likely to be hiring anything which would be wider or taller than normal roads would allow

Sure about that? A Luton van is 3.3m / 10’8” high.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/7dPUyFWmxPyoib1Z6?g_st=ic or https://maps.app.goo.gl/6QwbGGMTTdKzn2yy6?g_st=ic

East Anglia has a number of such exceptionally low bridges, which normally have a bypass over a level crossing, but not every van driver remembers they are driving a van…

[redsturgeon]

You are not likely to be hiring anything which would be wider or taller than normal roads would allow

Sure about that? A Luton van is 3.3m / 10’8” high.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/7dPUyFWmxPyoib1Z6?g_st=ic or https://maps.app.goo.gl/6QwbGGMTTdKzn2yy6?g_st=ic

East Anglia has a number of such exceptionally low bridges, which normally have a bypass over a level crossing, but not every van driver remembers they are driving a van…

As you say, these exceptionally low bridges are very rare and have an easy way round.

John

[bungeejumper]

For instance:

https://www.lowclearancemap.com/

https://www.hgvalliance.com/Helpful-Gui ... -finder/uk

https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... n_GB&gl=US

I'm still looking for a map of car parks with height restrictions. Otherwise, all you have to do is make sure you don't ram your van into the canopy at the filling station.

BJ

[robbelg]

It is important to be aware of bridge heights getting it wrong can have consequences

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USu8vT_tfdw

Rpb

[bluedonkey]

What van is it?

Look out for chicanes on side roads, typically 6ft 6in or 7ft wide. Best avoided.

[bungeejumper]

It is important to be aware of bridge heights getting it wrong can have consequences

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USu8vT_tfdw

Ah yes, the infamous Durham bridge. Fortunately, that's Durham, North Carolina. The bridge has now been raised by 8 inches (spoilsports), but it's still 20 inches short of the 14 foot US standard. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk_S ... t_Overpass

There's a 14 foot 3 inch railway bridge near us that somehow still manages to snag three or four lorries every year. Even though they've lowered the road surface underneath it by quite a bit. Not everyone remembers what they're carrying on the back pf the low loader.



BJ

[servodude]

It is important to be aware of bridge heights getting it wrong can have consequences

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USu8vT_tfdw

Ah yes, the infamous Durham bridge. Fortunately, that's Durham, North Carolina. The bridge has now been raised by 8 inches (spoilsports), but it's still 20 inches short of the 14 foot US standard. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk_S ... t_Overpass

There's a 14 foot 3 inch railway bridge near us that somehow still manages to snag three or four lorries every year. Even though they've lowered the road surface underneath it by quite a bit. Not everyone remembers what they're carrying on the back pf the low loader.

BJ

there's a famous one round these parts
with its own website
https://howmanydayssincemontaguestreetbridgehasbeenhit.com/

[bungeejumper]

there's a famous one round these parts
with its own website
https://howmanydayssincemontaguestreetbridgehasbeenhit.com/

The comments are fun. I particularly liked the one (about the concrete mixer): "Just needs to deflate the tyres".

BJ

[DrFfybes]

East Anglia has a number of such exceptionally low bridges, which normally have a bypass over a level crossing, but not every van driver remembers they are driving a van…

As you say, these exceptionally low bridges are very rare and have an easy way round.

John[/quote]

And are quite well signed

Main thing is just stick to the major routes. All A-roads and most B roads will be fine, and if they're not there will be signs well in advance of alternative route for higher vehicles.

In fact I'd suggest the best thing you could do with the satnav is turn it off once you've checked the major route is accident free.

Paul