I've had dreadful trouble getting a definitive max hieght of my unit - the brochure says 2.85m, but elsewhere says 3m... anyone any good tricks for working this out?
Thanks
David
Thanks
David
Dopeyngrumpy
Hi You can get one of these digital gadgets that will do it. Sorry no cant remember what its called. QVC had them a few years ago. Will ask around for you.RAINE said:i would get a long bean stick, get on the roof, get missis to hold bean :wav: stick up, you find the highest point, mark the bean stick (you gotta use a long one silly!) then measure it,
SIMPLE :lol: :lol: :lol:
Motorhomer.
I use a Leica laser device at work. Highly accurate, measures straight line, square area, cubed, etc., but a bit expensive for a one off, although invaluable if you have loads of measuring to do at home (even better when you can bring it home from work at no extra charge )
Try a simple method, climb up on top if fitted with ladder or place free standing ladder against side, use a good, metal tape measure (retractable type used by tradesmen/diy), then depends really on how accurate you want to be.
Fairly good rough measurement, simply drop tape to ground level (holding onto one end of course :lol: ) or use a piece of light batten to guage highest point and use tape measure as before from end of batten.
)Try a simple method, climb up on top if fitted with ladder or place free standing ladder against side, use a good, metal tape measure (retractable type used by tradesmen/diy), then depends really on how accurate you want to be.
Fairly good rough measurement, simply drop tape to ground level (holding onto one end of course :lol: ) or use a piece of light batten to guage highest point and use tape measure as before from end of batten.
Surely if you lay the motorhome on its side then you only have to measure the width which is much, much easier. 8)RAINE said:
SIMPLE :lol: :lol: :lol:
Use a spirit level sticking out from the highest point (If your level is only a little one rest it on a suitable length of STRAIGHT plank). Measure from the underside of the plank to the ground (The ground being at th same level as your campervan). If you want to be super accurate make shure you have the correct payload and tyre pressure.
A
A
Also essential to have payload evenly distributed, otherwise one corner could be lower than another, the opposite would be higher. Possibly a good idea to empty Motorhome of all extras to get lightest weight and of course greatest height.
What about using a vernier on the end of a fixed rule to get really accurate. There would be a possible need to compensate for the ambient temperature in case of any expansion due to the coefficient of expansion of the materials used in its construction. If a part of the roof is highest, not an aerial for example do check that it is bonded and cannot rise in high ambient temperatures.
Good Luck!
:wink:
What about using a vernier on the end of a fixed rule to get really accurate. There would be a possible need to compensate for the ambient temperature in case of any expansion due to the coefficient of expansion of the materials used in its construction. If a part of the roof is highest, not an aerial for example do check that it is bonded and cannot rise in high ambient temperatures.
Good Luck!
:wink:
If I was to say something intelligent it would be a world breaking first but I can't see why you cannot get a ball of string with a weight at one end and a human at the other top end. Then mark the string, climb down and measure the string and the weight.
Did I say that.....YES.....Breadstick, breadstick
...or...and this comes from thinking on my feet in the forces....you can throw an anchor and chain off the roof and all you have to do is measure the chain and anchor and subtract the depth of the hole in your driveway. 8O
Did I say that.....YES.....Breadstick, breadstick
...or...and this comes from thinking on my feet in the forces....you can throw an anchor and chain off the roof and all you have to do is measure the chain and anchor and subtract the depth of the hole in your driveway. 8O
Probably your van's roof area is the same as the floor area, both sides are the same height, so.......get a big bit of string wrap all the way round, measure your floor width, take of the same measurement for your roof and divide the answer by 2. Voila figure left is height, plus of course the measurement from ground to the skirt.
You could use your GPS's altimeter :wink:
OR
Buy a theodolite and measure the horizontal distance from the highest point and the angle to the highest point then use this formulae:
(L x tan(a)) + T = H
where L=Length from Theodolite to Centre of highest point of Van
a=Angle from Theodolite to Top of Van
T= Hight from Ground to Theodolite
But seriously children using a spirit level and metal tape is the best way. The spirit level will garantee a correct reference from your roof.
A
OR
Buy a theodolite and measure the horizontal distance from the highest point and the angle to the highest point then use this formulae:
(L x tan(a)) + T = H
where L=Length from Theodolite to Centre of highest point of Van
a=Angle from Theodolite to Top of Van
T= Hight from Ground to Theodolite
But seriously children using a spirit level and metal tape is the best way. The spirit level will garantee a correct reference from your roof.
A
Pete,
2.8 to 3m is only 6 inches but is the difference between the cheap Speedferry service being an option or not.... hence the question...
To the rest of you .... :notworthy: These suggestions have been truly awesome, you have all demonstrated that this site is also motorhomemadness and I am proud to be a member... :notworthy: and I think I'll try them all out and compare results for you...
1) Bean stick measure worked a charm, until I realised I didn't know how long my beanpole was
2) Used various means to obtain laser measure, I should get off with a hefty fine for a first offence, apparently you need permission to borrow one of these from a building site... 8O 8O
3) Extremely concerned about expansion so have arranged to use daughters turbo hairdryer to make sure maximum expansion, :lol: also using helium in the tyres for best effect 8O 8)
4) Anyone know a good ground works builder - there are several holes in my drive 8O one of them has an anchor vertically in it... Pusser have you any idea how hard it is to get an anchor to stick vertically it took several goes :roll: I'd have tought that you could have warned me. But a truly heavy metal attempt :headbang:
5) Pusser I threw a couple of humans off of the roof while holding string but the length of the screams only allowed for a very approximate calculation as I could not get a wholly accurate measure of the speed of sound and the string broke when I tried to pull them back up to try again
6) Jabber - The sports arena, ran into a real problem in that they have some unreasonable rule about not allowing black soled shoes onto the flooring. I did try and point out that tyres are not really shoes but they just were not in a mood to be reasonable. I guess it could have been the widening and raising job I did on the doorway to get the m/h in there in the first place....
7) Thanks for pointing out the problem with laying on its' side Raine - I had the thing halfway over before I spotted that one :angel11:
8) Apasher - GPS altimeter seems to think the thing is 23m tall... guess that leaves all bridges out from now on :la:, I tried stacking my children and fastening with metal tape but they really did complain, I think you forgot to mention the gaffer tape to gag them first!
9) HelenB tried the string thing but my arms aren't long enough to hold onto it and for some reason by the time I got this far all family, relatives and neighbours that were not in casualty had run off! any volunteers!
I'm off to talk to the police again now - they caught me trying to remove bricks from a railway bridge - I needed to get it a little lower you see.....
:notworthy:
David
2.8 to 3m is only 6 inches but is the difference between the cheap Speedferry service being an option or not.... hence the question...
To the rest of you .... :notworthy: These suggestions have been truly awesome, you have all demonstrated that this site is also motorhomemadness and I am proud to be a member... :notworthy: and I think I'll try them all out and compare results for you...
1) Bean stick measure worked a charm, until I realised I didn't know how long my beanpole was
2) Used various means to obtain laser measure, I should get off with a hefty fine for a first offence, apparently you need permission to borrow one of these from a building site... 8O 8O
3) Extremely concerned about expansion so have arranged to use daughters turbo hairdryer to make sure maximum expansion, :lol: also using helium in the tyres for best effect 8O 8)
4) Anyone know a good ground works builder - there are several holes in my drive 8O one of them has an anchor vertically in it... Pusser have you any idea how hard it is to get an anchor to stick vertically it took several goes :roll: I'd have tought that you could have warned me. But a truly heavy metal attempt :headbang:
5) Pusser I threw a couple of humans off of the roof while holding string but the length of the screams only allowed for a very approximate calculation as I could not get a wholly accurate measure of the speed of sound and the string broke when I tried to pull them back up to try again
6) Jabber - The sports arena, ran into a real problem in that they have some unreasonable rule about not allowing black soled shoes onto the flooring. I did try and point out that tyres are not really shoes but they just were not in a mood to be reasonable. I guess it could have been the widening and raising job I did on the doorway to get the m/h in there in the first place....
7) Thanks for pointing out the problem with laying on its' side Raine - I had the thing halfway over before I spotted that one :angel11:
8) Apasher - GPS altimeter seems to think the thing is 23m tall... guess that leaves all bridges out from now on :la:, I tried stacking my children and fastening with metal tape but they really did complain, I think you forgot to mention the gaffer tape to gag them first!
9) HelenB tried the string thing but my arms aren't long enough to hold onto it and for some reason by the time I got this far all family, relatives and neighbours that were not in casualty had run off! any volunteers!
I'm off to talk to the police again now - they caught me trying to remove bricks from a railway bridge - I needed to get it a little lower you see.....
:notworthy:
David
At least you tried David - it is better to try and fail than not try at all - I have been giving this prob a lot of thought as you know and I have been toying with an altimeter method although I need to do further research on this matter. You will be the first to know if I get satisfactory test results. 8)
I'm afraid my m\h height varies Rainey. This is because the world is round so quite obviously it will be higher at the ends rather than in the middle. However, as I have had this m\h now since the middle of May and still cannot use it because of the faults on it height is not something that has been of concern. So today we are deciding whether we need to take it back to the dealer to get things all right or wait a further month to get the van sorted by a local caravan dealer which is under guarantee. I think we made a mistake to start off with, buying from a dealer miles away.
Breadsticks was with reference to an advertisment for a mobile telephone company I think where this woman is demonstrating using breadsticks instead of mobile phones. (I don't know why either)
Breadsticks was with reference to an advertisment for a mobile telephone company I think where this woman is demonstrating using breadsticks instead of mobile phones. (I don't know why either)
Ah ha! So you were wanting info on how to measure the height of your van as well, were you, so (thinks!!) you must have tried out the anchor throwing (so how come you didnt tell him about the dents and how to remove said anchors afterwards- not nice P!) Hm, horns of a dilemma, about your van,(very painful) I know when we were waiting for our scout to come in, all the shows were coming.........and going.............in the end we hired a benimar anthus (?) 6 berth- just the two of us, for York last year, (glad we didnt buy one) what an amazing sight, i think it was 4.000 vans or more, breathtakinggulp!! . Could you take it back as its under Guaratee, and ask for a loan mh? (with threats- sorry i mean pretty please? ARgh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!know how you feel! :xafter all the law breaking and environemental unhealthy suggestions do it the boys scouts way.
Take a stick in your hand, stand back from your MH about 10 meters.
hold the stick in your hand with a straight arm. Hold the stick upright en make it so that your hand is on the position of the pavement and the top of the stick is level with the highest point on the MH.
The rotate the stick with your hands 90 degrees and see where the top of the stick matches a brick or so on the pavement, then mesure the distance between the two points on the pavement. this gives you the distance and this is also the height. Do this a couple of times and take the average.
This is about the same method as putting your MH on the side :lol: :lol:
Leo
Take a stick in your hand, stand back from your MH about 10 meters.
hold the stick in your hand with a straight arm. Hold the stick upright en make it so that your hand is on the position of the pavement and the top of the stick is level with the highest point on the MH.
The rotate the stick with your hands 90 degrees and see where the top of the stick matches a brick or so on the pavement, then mesure the distance between the two points on the pavement. this gives you the distance and this is also the height. Do this a couple of times and take the average.
This is about the same method as putting your MH on the side :lol: :lol:
Leo
Forgive me for stating the obvios but don't forget to take your measurement from the very highest point, ie. top of TV aerial, top of sat dish or any other forgotten protrudance that you may have on the roof. If theres no aerials from the top of the vents there can be up to 3inch difference in those alone. Regards, Eddie.
Re: Height measuring
The calculation would then go like this:
One way to use triangles to find the height of a motorhome makes use of
similar triangles. Put a vertical post in the ground (or have someone
hold it vertical), and measure its height and the length of its
shadow. Measure the length of the motorhomes' shadow, before the sun
has time to move. Now you have two triangles, with three known
lengths:
H
|\
|.\
|..\
|...\
|....\
|.....\
|......\
|.......\................|\
|........\.............h|..\
|_____\..............|...\____
.....L.....................l
You know the height h and shadow length l of the post, and the shadow
length L of the motorhome. The two triangles are similar. From
these facts you can find the height of the motorhome
Mike
I like lateral thinking.jackkelly32 said:
The calculation would then go like this:
One way to use triangles to find the height of a motorhome makes use of
similar triangles. Put a vertical post in the ground (or have someone
hold it vertical), and measure its height and the length of its
shadow. Measure the length of the motorhomes' shadow, before the sun
has time to move. Now you have two triangles, with three known
lengths:
H
|\
|.\
|..\
|...\
|....\
|.....\
|......\
|.......\................|\
|........\.............h|..\
|_____\..............|...\____
.....L.....................l
You know the height h and shadow length l of the post, and the shadow
length L of the motorhome. The two triangles are similar. From
these facts you can find the height of the motorhome
Mike
Hi Jack
I wrote my last bit with my tongue firmly in my cheek, but strangly after joking about it, I now have the exact same problem that the original Poster Drandall has, I need to know exactly how high my Motorhome is. This morning I went down to my normal garage MOT place, my motorhome will need an MOT soon, to see if he would do it. He said Yes but only if I can get it into the building and onto the rolling road. The entrance height is so close to the height of my motorhome I guess the only way will be to drive down there and give it a go. It will need someone up a ladder to watch it into the building. I suppose I could let the tyres down a bit and fill up the water tanks!
mike
I wrote my last bit with my tongue firmly in my cheek, but strangly after joking about it, I now have the exact same problem that the original Poster Drandall has, I need to know exactly how high my Motorhome is. This morning I went down to my normal garage MOT place, my motorhome will need an MOT soon, to see if he would do it. He said Yes but only if I can get it into the building and onto the rolling road. The entrance height is so close to the height of my motorhome I guess the only way will be to drive down there and give it a go. It will need someone up a ladder to watch it into the building. I suppose I could let the tyres down a bit and fill up the water tanks!
mike
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