Bob Shaw
Newnan Ga
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Jeff, I think some of your concerns are justified. I have a 40' 5'er and there are some parks, mostly state parks, that I can no longer go to. Usually the sites are oling enough but, some of the roads are too narrow and have too sharp of curves to accomodate a big rig. IIRC some of the Georgia state parks I like to go to are limited to 35' in length or less. I know some of the were really tight with my 31 footer. One other park I called recently wouldn't accept a reservation for a rig over 35'. But, the reservation agent hinted that the sites could handle longer rigs and they didn't measure the rig when you got there. If you said it was 35', it was ok.
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NC Hauler
Asheville NC
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Joined: 05/20/2005
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JeffPritchard wrote:Hmmmn, so far I'm nervous. Everybody that has posted is willing to compromise on what "parks" they go to. I hate that idea. I don't want my rig to force my decision about where I camp. (within reason).
As mentioned in my (longish) post, my preference is for "not a KOA" sort of place, but rather in less "posh" places. Most of them were "designed" and built back when 30 feet was a big RV.
Should I stop thinking 5th-wheel?
thanks,
jp
Compromise....not hardly, world would be boring if everyone had the same taste, not everyone want's to stop at a supermarket or a Wally World and I hate KOA's... We've been to a lot of "less posh" places and loved them, even done some boondocking in several places...never had an issue..again, if there were a "length" issue, we just found another campground or area that offered the same of what we wanted, or more....Stop thinking 5er? When it's all said and done, it'll be a decision you'll have to make and live with. Can't compare what we have to a C or an A, have never owned one of those or cared to.just pup's, TT's and 5er's....to the wife and I our 5er is the best for us for our camping needs and where we take it.
Jim & Kathy
07.5 Chevy K3500DRW/CC/LB/LMM/D/A/6speed/ LTZ,Prodigy,Reese 20K Ht.
08 Jeep Liberty Sport Trail Rated
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skylos
Issaquah, WA
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JeffPritchard wrote:Skylos,
Thanks much. "Getting through there" isn't the whole equation though. What about parking it in various places. One good example is a Wally world or super-market parking lot. With a 30 foot 5-er, can you jacknife the whole rig into a few spots in the "back 40" and not create a problem for the other patrons?
Yes.
JeffPritchard wrote:Just trying to figure out the parameters for that based on other folks experience. So Skylos had some useful info with regard to getting into and out of and through places...but what about parking it? Is there some specific length of 5th wheel that all of a sudden finds itself not fitting in lots of places that a shorter one will?
Well JP, I've parked my 35' in spaces that people who had been observing my maneuvering come by and say afterwards, "I didn't think you were going to be able to get that thing in there!" It honestly never occured to me that I couldn't - but then I have a pretty good spacial sense and took my time and had a strategy and path planned. I think it would be easier with remote cameras.
The old RV size maxed at about 30 feet, so if you're longer than that you'll have issues with the depth of the spots in the tighter/older parks - but not the turning radii if you're thoughtful. You may have to park closer to trees than you're comfortable with.
the 30+ length is probably where you'll find *more* problems - but not insurmountable ones. 
Skylos
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JeffPritchard
San Diego California
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So I think I'm hearing that a "30 foot" 5-er and a a super-crew F350 short bed will get me into most of the places I'm used to getting into? (and parked)
When you guys around this forum talk about the length of a 5th wheel, do you typically talk "real length", or the length that the manufacturers claim? Seems like a "XX28YYY model from XYZ corporation is usually actually more like 32 feet long.
thanks,
jp
Jeff Pritchard in San Diego
2008 Lance 1191 on 2008 F-350 DRW 4X4
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NC Hauler
Asheville NC
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My 5er is a 37 RLQ..inside measurement from inside walls, front to back is 37'..from the front of the pinbox to the front of the ladder, it's 39' 9" long.
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slomark
San Luis Obispo, CA
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Joined: 04/09/2008
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Jeff, I too had this concern in using our parks in CA. Initially there was a strong draw to go larger, more options and the like. However considering our desired use of State and NP campgrounds, we stayed at the 30' marker. Here's a link for the CA campground length recommendations. CA
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slomark
San Luis Obispo, CA
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Jeff, here's another link that might be of interest, CA 2
and this one too CA 3, lastly NP 1.
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azbohunter
arizona
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Sounds like we are the exception here! We worked are way from slide in PU camper to a 28'5ver with two slides. I understand the apprehension and we too prefer state/national parks and a lot of boondocking. We still have to "think ahead" a little when you go into shopping center parking lots etc: Fuel stops are very seldom an issue. We frequently pull a boat or utility trailer with a Polaris Ranger behind the 5ver. Still have never really had a problem but with that we have to be even more careful. Backing when double towing is a problem but other than that, for us, going to the 28' 5ver was great overall!
2006 Dodge Quad Cab Cummings 5.9 Automatic 4x4
2002 Lakota fiver
2006 Polaris Ranger
16'Lund w/50HP Merc tiller
A great wife who loves to travel and fish
I love to archery hunt/she joins me and cooks!
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JeffPritchard
San Diego California
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Mark,
You bring up a good point...but this thread is not about California! I've sorta been stuck here on the left coast due to limits on vacation length (Golden Handcuffs). This research is for a purchase that will happen just before I throw away that chapter of my life and head into the next one.
What about New England and the right-coastal areas? Seems like there might be lots of places up there where camping was established even earlier than out here. Probably lots of length restrictions out that way?
thanks,
jp
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SteveRankin
Sequim, WA
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We too prefer going to backwater places and state/national parks where the sites are frequently small and the access roads are frequently narrow. So, we can relate to your concerns Jeff.
Frankly, I have to wonder why folks with huge 5vers ignore your preferences and instead talk about how they simply go on to another RV park if this one doesn't have a site big enough for them. That's fine for them, but it's totally irrelevant to your question.
Our experiences. We've owned a wide variety of RVs from an 11' TC on a GMC 3500, to TTs ranging from 18-34', a 37' DP and currently a 26' 5ver. We just traded our 30' TT for the 26' 5ver for exactly the reasons you mentioned, as well as a few others.
I'll wager that I could make a curb-to-curb U-turn on a 30' wide street easier and quicker with our 37' DP than could be done with a similar 5ver. Of course, that assumes no toad. So, I'm not one to think that ANY 5ver is going to be more manuverable than your 26' Class A. Generally, much less so because 5vers cheat in turns and the fact is that maneuvering an articulating vehicle requires more mental math than a straight vehicle.
Our solution was the Arctic Fox 24-5N. Our choice of coaches was limited to Arctic Fox, Excel and New Horizons because they are currently the only makes of 5vers for RV trekking (extensive use off pavement). The other limiting factor for us is our need to have the max height well under 12'. Only Arctic Fox had models that met that requirement, too. Of course, we're OK with not having standup head room in the forward cabin--reminds us of the sailboats we had for many years.
IMHO, there are several 5vers in the 26-28' actual length range that are very livable for months at a time. We liked the Excel 26TRW as well but it was too tall for our barn. We go out for 3-4 months at a time, often a week or more between hookups. And anyone that knows us would never accuse us of traveling light. Quite the opposite.
The bigger the rig, the less maneuverable. There's no getting around that. OTOH, the larger rig is not necessarily more comfortable. Once you get to about 29' all of the basics are in place, the rest is extra elbow room and nice, but unessential features.
Steve & C. J.
"Gracie" the Rough Collie & "Bo'sun" the Bichon Frise
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2005 Chevy 2500HD Duramax 4X4 Crewcab
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