How long is too long? (Over 40 feet - legal?)

Howdy!

I would say if your happy with the 5er you like at 43' go big from the start. We started fulltiming with a 37' 5er then added a Idaho Tote to it to carry a Yamaha Rhino and now a Smart Car. Our trailer lenght is 45' and 65' overall. We adaped to the lenght. You may have to research the campgrounds and RV parks you want to go to ahead of times but we did that anyway. Look for big rig parks and it helps to us google earth map to get a look at the area also.

"Happy Trails"
Chiefneon

Seems that I read on the overall length of trailer and it may apply to state highways when it's OK on interstate highways. Also, legal on state highways if required to reach a specific destination. Example would be semi rigs not allowed on certain streets, but if delivering to an address with no other means to get there, it would be legal. So, if heading home or to a campground, you are legal. There may be certain exceptions to this, but in generalI believe it is correct.

Pretty hard to keep a smart carrying 610 under 25',as far as being a bit over length, a lot of the HTD's are and have been for a while without issue......so far.

Thanks for the feedback. We will be purchasing something along the lines of a Volvo 610 with Smart car deck, so we would probably be over 65' with a 43' coach considering the hitch on the Class 8 tractor would actually be behind the axle - almost at the very tail of the truck. I'm guessing a truck length of about 25' and assuming an actual total length of a 43' coach is actually 45'. Take off no more than 2 feet of overhang and you have 25+45-2=68' (illegal in some states).

I guess we need to figure out our truck length as I want to stay at 65' or under . I would hate to get that one cop that wants to play hardball and be over with just a truck and 5er. That tow could get expensive. (I know. Most of you will say you've never gotten busted for over length, but I want to stay safe).

Spacecraft out of Concordia, MO builds a 53" fifth wheel. That said our HH 363 37' & 16,000 is all that I want to pull & park. It has 5 slides & 390+ sq ft just under the 400 sq ft. We like our rig & will keep it but have gotten a shorter rig if we were to do it over. Our rig is nice DW has 6' counter space, our old rig had about 18" the bath room is nice & big. On the flats fuel mileage is ok but when we hit hills it goes south big time. So If you are going to go south winter or north in summer & set a lot it would be great but if you are going to be running a round a lot I would go shorter.

red

In the semi you have one set of rules while on the interstate (federal) and a 2nd set of rules off the interstate (state). Just like overall length some states limit width to 96" vs the 102" which some builders are now using. Normally a state will give a couple of miles to and from the interstate for pickup and delivery, fuel, etc. With a 43' 102" trailer you maybe exposed to some of that even though RV and commercial have different rules.

If I tended to sit in a park and not move around I might opt for the additional living space and move via the interstate. If I wanted to be mobile, run the US roads, I'd stay compact to stay within these limits for peace of mind and avoid issues.

You mileage may vary. :)

We are in the market for a similar size rig. Your biggest concern will be pulling it. That trailer will weigh 25k so you will need a mdt. For length your only real concern will be the laws in your state for registering it. Here in CA it was illegal until Jan 1; now they will register up to 45' as long as the king pin to rear axle is <40'. As mentioned choice of parks gets curtailed but also choice of roads. There are a number of secondary roads that prohibit trailers longer than 30' king pin to axle out west.

If you get a short wheelbase mdt manueverability will not be an issue. Good luck that is a very very nice fifth wheel.

Total length (truck & trailer hooked together) will get you in trouble not the trailer length ,for a RV (non commercial) most states are 65'.
Commercial allows a lot more, do not confuse the two.

Yes, size matters. It cannot help but matter. 43', more like 45'LOA is huge. It will be fine if it is going somewhere for the season & staying put then migrating somewhere else to sit for months but as a traveling 5er, moving every few days, it will be a major pain.

Possible parks available will be severly limited, especially the state parks & national parks. Big is big. There is no way around it. The private parks will always find a way to cram something that size in & that is fine if being right next to your neighbour suits you.

We chose a maximum length with state parks & National Parks in mind. For the most part, over 120,000 miles, so far so good. Forget CA SPs. Yellowstone is a problem too. Tried last week for a dry camping site there. The few larger sites gone. Got Fishing Bridge FHUs CG. Yuck!

All the comforts of home can be found without going over 36'LOA.

43 feet too long ?
Yes, it would be for me.
Not so much for the legal reasons, because I don't know what the laws are. But I've never seen a "too long trailer" pulled over at a state line, or anywhere else. I just don't think it happens.

However, I have seen roads that prohibit RVs because of width, or height, or just prohibit them altogether. So neither a 43 footer, or my 30 footer would be allowed on those roads, limiting our choice of routes.

So to answer your question you would have to determine just how much you are willing to limit your options.
If you only drive on major highways, and camp at large (usually new)campgrounds, a 43 footer might suit you perfectly.

On the other hand, if you want to camp in any campground, anywhere, you might have to drop down to a 20 footer.

Somewhere between those two lengths is a size camper that will take you to the places you are most likely to visit.

My 30 ft. 5th wheel, plus truck, has never failed to negotiate the roads to ,or within a campground of my choice.
Well, there was one National park out west that had a low, narrow tunnel, but there was plenty of warning beforehand.

But I have been in two campsites that were too narrow. One near Seattle where I had to park the truck alongside the trailer, and one in Utah where I could not even put out the awning.

PS. Many of the people I camp with are talking about, or already downsizing. talking about it