I heard that most popular equipments in these places are truck campers and pop-up trailers. I'm sure this varies from places to places but in general, can I expect to find places to either camp or boondock in public lands if I bring a truck pulling a 28-30ft 5th wheels?Thanks much!

In the Western US, the real problems aren't the boondocking campsites per se, some of which might be big enough for a 30 foot fifth wheel. The real problems are the narrow and twisty forest roads, the deep ditches, and the lack of places to turn around. It is so hard to maneuver a big rig in those areas that I would not recommend getting very far off the pavement unless you first unhitch and then scout around with your tow vehicle. Really good topo maps and forest service maps are also very helpful.Notice that I'm not saying that this is an impossible dream. But you will have to proceed carefully. Good luck!

Well, public land includes both lumpy land, Forrest Service, and flat land/grassland, BLM. There are some other agencies but the two I mentioned are the largest.Profdant139 is a lumpy land guy and he's right about access to lumpyland (Forrest Service) for rigs your size. Down here on the flat land (BLM) there's much less of a problem. Deep washes and ruts are our biggest problem. Length, not so much. ;) Topos won't help much for that, recon will.Have fun wherever you end up!LS

West of the Mississippi we've never had a problem with our 40' motorhome. However, we don't just see a road and take off. We research as much as possible, read others' accounts of the area, sometimes follow the road via a satellite image, stop at a ranger station and ask about conditions, and towing a Jeep we would sometimes disconnect before getting on such roads and scout it out first with the Jeep. If the road has a good gravel base we have no qualms about driving it with the RV. Of course, we don't travel over obstacle courses of big rocks. We always found wonderful spots to boondock, quite often surrounded by mountain views, rivers or lakes. We use public areas 90% of our RVing.

2gypsies brings up a good point -- Google Earth can often reveal boondocking sites. Just "fly" low along a forest road and look for pullouts!

As suggested look at Google Earth but I'll say this. The areas that I boondock here in the east would present a problem with narrow roads, lack of pull outs, or turn around space and small camping areas. It would not be impossible but difficult

28-30ft fifth wheel boondock/campable in public lands?

grandma_lynn
Explorer
Mar 06, 2016
FS/BLM offices in the area you are interested in can be very helpful. Case in point we were to go camping with grandkids in a forest service cg out of Lewistown, MT My fs book said 20 ft limit for length. Well the beast (5ver) is 33 ft and tall. Called the office in Lewistown and the lady there gave me nearly a mile by mile break down of the road in and the campground. All back in sites. We went I got backed in ok so I wasn't the days entertainment. And we had an awesome time.
SuzzeeeQ2012
Explorer
Mar 05, 2016
Acei wrote:
I heard that most popular equipments in these places are truck campers and pop-up trailers. I'm sure this varies from places to places but in general, can I expect to find places to either camp or boondock in public lands if I bring a truck pulling a 28-30ft 5th wheels?

Thanks much!

you wouldn't have a problem in Quartzsite Arizona :)

the majority I've seen are large rigs pulling cargo trailers, or large 5th wheels.
4runnerguy
Explorer
Feb 29, 2016
2gypsies wrote:
Here's a 'Clicky' for an excellent national forest campground list. It will give you the size of the campsites and the road information to get to those campgrounds. It will also give suggestions as to whether you should take a big rig there. We used it all the time.

http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/list/nflist.htm
We find this link is generally better at giving us the true size of the campsites vs. what one may find on the NFS or Recreation.gov websites, which often understate the actual length.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Feb 29, 2016
Here's a 'Clicky' for an excellent national forest campground list. It will give you the size of the campsites and the road information to get to those campgrounds. It will also give suggestions as to whether you should take a big rig there. We used it all the time.

http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/list/nflist.htm
goducks10
Explorer
Feb 28, 2016
I have a 28' 5th wheel and the biggest issue is narrow roads with branches sticking out. I can get down them but then my 5th wheel is pin stripped.
TUCQUALA
Explorer
Feb 28, 2016
This link has a lot of good info on NF campgrounds, not about dispersed camping. Also, it isn't perfect like most stuff out there!!! As mentioned, Google Earth is a great site for snooping!!

http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/list/nflist.htm

Another good source of info is the Moon camping guides. They have lots of books for western camping stuff.

We almost exclusively stay in forests and non-campground areas, and so far have not had any real nasty occurrences with our past 27ft trailer and now with our 34ft trailer. But we do more checking before heading into the woods now!!
Acei
Explorer
Feb 28, 2016
Got it, so it varies throughout. :) I guess I'll have to do some homework to find out in each cases.

Thanks guys!
dave54
Nomad
Feb 28, 2016
Campgrounds designed in the 1950s were built for station wagons and wall tents. There are still a few of them around. Many have been upgraded and remodeled to handle modern RVs. Some are limited by topography, soils, land ownership, or other reasons and cannot be remodeled.

The FS and NPS are trying to accomodate current demands. Limited funds, environmental considerations, local zoning, et al hamper the agencies.
LenSatic
Explorer
Feb 28, 2016
Acei wrote:
Are BLM/NFS campgrounds typically too small for a 30ft rig to be backed in even if you make it there?

Well, boondocking means "no campground" so you find a spot where you will fit.

Both FS and BLM have campgrounds, but they are all different. I've seen FS campgrounds where you could park a 747 and BLM campgrounds that challenge even our little trailer. You just have to do your homework. ;)

LS
Acei
Explorer
Feb 28, 2016
Are BLM/NFS campgrounds typically too small for a 30ft rig to be backed in even if you make it there?