RV length ?

bryanr · October 26, 2023

Typically when a campground states, "RV's up to 45' allowed", are they speaking of the total length of your entire rig or just the length of your 5th wheel for example?

rpsinc · October 26, 2023

My experience tells me that they are talking about Class A motorhomes. You can offer them the length of your trailer, but DONT volunteer the total length of your rig. If you want to know if you will have access and you have an HDT, know this, they dont think about us. Do your own due diligence and come to your own conclusion as to access and fit. You likely have more experience than the staff at ANY campground.

2gypsies · October 26, 2023

We volunteered in public and national parks. When they state 45' that would be their 'guesstimate' of the pad size. Therefore, it's your trailer & tow vehicle or motorhome & towed vehicle..

Having said that..... we found that those length size of sites are not very accurate. They are, most likely, given a number by someone driving by on the road and marking it down and quite often, by someone (a ranger) who doesn't even RV and has no idea how big rigs would fit on a site.

One gig was in Rocky Mtn. Nat'l Park ..... we assigned sites to incoming reservations and soon found it difficult to find a site for long RVs. We knew from walking the campground that there were more big sites than the chart in the office we had to go by..... which was done many years ago. So we asked if we could make a new chart & actually measure the sites. Having a 40' MH also help to judge if a big rig could even get into a site even though the site may be long enough but with trees and turns it may be very difficult. We came up with a new chart and found so many additional bigger sites than the original chart had. The rangers were amazed!

Edited October 27, 2023 by 2gypsies

rickeieio · October 27, 2023

1 hour ago, 2gypsies said:

There are no 45' motorhomes.

Huh? There are lots of 45' motorhomes. (and some bigger) Look at the specs of any m/h manufacturer.

2gypsies · October 27, 2023

3 hours ago, rickeieio said:

Huh? There are lots of 45' motorhomes. (and some bigger) Look at the specs of any m/h manufacturer.

Sorry.... didn't realize that. I have corrected it. So if a site is stated to be 45' typically, unless you lucked out, a 45' 5th wheel and tow vehicle would not fit which is what the OP is asking.

Edited October 27, 2023 by 2gypsies

rickeieio · October 27, 2023

Okay, that makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.

We're about 71' over all, with a 43' fifth wheel. There have been time when e've had to park the truck off site, usually very close by. It's not really a problem.

bryanr · October 27, 2023

Thanks for the replies!

trimster · October 29, 2023

We're finding more commercial RV parks that think they are making it less confusing by asking 'rig length' right after the 'what type of rig' in their online booking. So, conditioned by years of 'what is the length of your trailer?'. We've been stung a few times by answering the rig length with the length of our 5er. They assume a pickup and throw us in a 55' site. 62' doesn't fit well.

The other problem is how some are measuring (as 2gypsies mentioned).... One park outside Bend, OR, proudly advertises BIG rig sites that are 64' long. They measure from the furthest corners of an angled site. Measure down the middle and it's barely 60' if that.

If there's a comment section when booking online, I always put the 5er length + "I have a long truck. I'm 62' overall". I don't mention the truck type.

rickeieio · October 30, 2023

The distance measuring function in google maps is your friend.

SuiteSuccess · October 30, 2023

9 hours ago, rickeieio said:

The distance measuring function in google maps is your friend.

👍👍

lappir · October 30, 2023

1 hour ago, SuiteSuccess said:

👍👍

It's helped me a few times.

Rod

Danfreda1 · October 30, 2023

Google earth has the measurements too.

nawaa · November 1, 2023

Google Earth also has a time tool, like a wayback machine! You can look at satellite views from other times, and sometimes find one from winter where the trees don't have leaves to block your view. That can be helpful in some parks. You can also see where Google maps is using a view that's 6 years old when there are other views much more current. Google Earth is great if you're looking at a newer campground or other location (Costco, new Walmart) that still looks like a field of corn or a construction site.

I have found many campgrounds have a max. length for the vehicle/RV and also show the length of the pad or driveway. If you select trailer (instead of RV) logic would say they'd expect some kind of tow vehicle and figure that into the equation. We stay mostly at state parks, COEs, other public lands. ReserveAmerica usually has the extra information, Recreation.gov has it at most campgrounds - but not all. Some campgrounds only show room for 35' trailers in every site, while having many sites that are much bigger. It all depends on the data the park has given to the reservation site. Some have pictures, some don't. A phone call is never a bad idea if you can find a number to call (and someone to answer). I do my own research first, and then if I'm unsure I'll call. Always have a plan B (and C, and maybe D) in case you get there and still don't fit.

So, to answer your original question, it depends. Do your own research, measure, look at road width too! You might "fit" in a 100' spot, but if the road is one narrow lane wide will you have room to maneuver your truck around to get the trailer in there? Lots to think about. And sometimes all that still isn't enough. Good luck - I also research comments on campgrounds.rvlife.com, Campendium, CampsitePhotos, etc. and look at pictures when and wherever I can find them.