Length "fudge factor"

mkriedel78 wrote:
I'm looking for input from experienced RVers on how much "fudge factor" there is concerning RV lengths and campsite spots.

For example, suppose a state park site has a length limit of 30', but I show up with a 31.5' trailer, do you think I'd be in trouble? It seems to me that there are probably 18 inches of wiggle room, but I was wondering what others' experiences have been?

Thanks,
Matt

Old_Biscuit said They are NOT going to whip out a tape measure and check........Well they may not whip out a tape measure but at Carpinteria St Pk in Carpinteria CA if your over the line you will be told to leave

Thanks everyone!

unless they charge by the foot, I usually add a foot or so on so I don't get stuck into too small a site.
bumpy

Depends on campsite from our experiences. Some places say max is for example 30 foot and when you get there you can back up your rv over hang (distance from rear bumper to tires) a lot and have no problem. Other places might have a tree or pole or some other obstacle that you can't back up much. Other places might say max length of 30 foot and that might be their smallest rv site in the park and most of their campsites can hold much longer. So the "fudge factor" depends on how made the "fudge".
If your making reservations for a vacation I would check out by a phone call to confirm. If your just dropping in too spend the night or so during off season, just change to a different site or park. Another way that might be of help is to look at the campsite with google maps in their "earth" mode. And maybe see a bunch of Rv's your size, so you know you will fit. Then there is always the exceptions, We like this one campground that has really large sites and Hardley used. Reason is the road going into camp ground has a sign just of main cutoff that says max length of 25 feet and no trailers. But when you get to the park their is a lot of room.

My 42' sometimes becomes a 40' and I've never been measured. Just because it says 30' max does not mean there are not any sites bigger... the majority are only big enough for 30'. One of my favorite USFS CG says 28' max but there is one site that both the MH and the car fit on easily. I do not worry about the posted length unless I'm showing up Friday. Arrive Monday and there are plenty of site big enough.

No magic rule-of-thumb. Every place is different. I have seen 26' sites that would hold my 37' fiver by having room for my tail to overhang. Then I have seen sites at Yosemite and Fort Wilderness that say they allow 37' and found them near impossible for my fiver and long bed truck to maneuver into.

Agree w/ Old-Biscuit. I wouldn't worry about 1' or so wiggle room. That's usually just fine. We're a 40-foot RV, but our size is actually 41.8' measured end-to-end and we regularly stay in 40-foot sites all over the place.

Lengths vary a lot by campground. In some of the older parks (esp. public parks) the access roads are more trouble than the campsite itself. So you can run into problems with trees, tight turns and such. Not usually an issue unless you're really trying to "squeeze". We've put our RV into 35-foot sites in some places....it can be done, just depends on the park.

They are NOT going to whip out a tape measure and check........

Only problem might be that isn't room for tow or toad vehicle to be parked on site....so you might have to park them somewhere else......far, far away from your site.

MIGHT.......

I've stuffed my 34' FW into many smaller sites.
Length is less of problem than width........slide outs :B