How do you estimate overall length?

The Government has hired people just for this purpose, they are strategically placed at the entrance of National Parks. These people have gone through a rigorous 3-day course of training in order to use the eyeball method. They can sometimes be identified by low slung jeans, baseball caps turned backwards, & ear piercings among just a few identifiers. Most will serve 2-years in this capacity, but those that do 6 years get full benefits & normally go on to be Lobbyists for large corporations, or teach Common Core math to the elderly.:B

If you are interested, applications are taken the day prior to November 4th every other year. Go online to www.iwantinonthis.gov

A lot of incompetent drivers over-estimate their skill level. Come to think of it, that's even most of us at least once in our lives.

Still, there is no excuse for taking a vehicle down a road that cannot accommodate that vehicle, especially after there's a sign saying so at the start.

In our town there is just such a road leading across the railroad tracks and up a hill, in the midst of which is another spur track that includes a curve and a grade change (aka hump) that is very sharp. Because of the hump and the curve, what can be driven in a car or pickup is quite impossible for an 18 wheeler. The center of the trailer scrapes and if the trailer is loaded, i.e. high center of gravity, it can roll over an embankment taking the tractor with it.

There are many gouge marks in the hump.

dahkota wrote:

This summer, up at Custer, we got trapped behind a fiver. He had decided he was going to take one of those wonderful roads that wind through the park. You know, the twisty turny mountain type roads built for nothing bigger than a pick-up. Yeah well, I'm sure the damage was up to 5 figures by the time he got out. Took him 45 minutes and another truck winching him sideways off the rocks, but he did get free...

Ah so you were there for the show? I saw the video on YouTube it was quite entertaining. Bet lots of folks called him lots of names.

Steve

It is my belief that most restrictions are consideration of the trailer length. I have never seen any park actually measure the length.

The restrictions are based on natural limits, i.e. curves, rocks, trees, etc. If you can get in with an oversize trailer no person is going to stop you. However the general realities of physical space just might.

Often, the length restriction is for the roads, not for the sites. Sometimes, the roads are very narrow, twisty, and/or have close trees or grades which would make it harder for a larger vehicle to navigate. Other times, the way the campsites are laid out (perpendicular rather than slanted) make it very difficult to back into a site with a larger vehicle.

We are currently in a site that is 80' long. Can accommodate anything, right? Well, half the site is flat, the other half is a moderate grade - no problem for most length vehicle combinations. But, further up on the campground road (the only road through the park) is a space in the road with a width of just over 8.5'. Just past that is a rising curve that will be near impossible for a A over 40' or a tt over 35' unless the driver is extremely skilled and/or patient. Also, anything over 13' tall will scrape branches.

Because there are so many lousy, impatient, unskilled drivers who get themselves into situations where they damage their vehicles, the road, the trees, the NPS limits sizes. This way, they don't have to listen to people rant and rave when they race through a campground bouncing from tree to tree, threatening to sue the government for the driver not knowing how to drive.

This summer, up at Custer, we got trapped behind a fiver. He had decided he was going to take one of those wonderful roads that wind through the park. You know, the twisty turny mountain type roads built for nothing bigger than a pick-up. Yeah well, I'm sure the damage was up to 5 figures by the time he got out. Took him 45 minutes and another truck winching him sideways off the rocks, but he did get free...

When you consider that most 5th wheels are 30+ ft, 40 ft isnt very long total.....My 5th wheel is 25ft, I am sure I would be over 40

Are you sure they are talking total, not just the RV?

I can't comment on National Parks but I do know New York State Parks only have a problem if you book a site then can't fit in it because you are clearly over length for the site. There are some sites listed at our closest park that are listed at 30' that my 35' 5er and 21' truck fit in easily. It's all done on the honor system in New York.

If they really care i have seen marks on the pavement where you check in,sneaky eh?