Went out looking today at some THs and my wife asks a question that I've not thought of yet. So I understand that if we purchase a 35'ish TH a longer camp site would be needed than our current 24' hybrid typically took, but do you really need 10' more to lower the ramp to get your toys out? So would I need to look for 40' + sites?

It would depend on whether you're putting your toys in and out at the campsite and the layout of the site. If you need to lower the ramp then you may need more room. At some campsites you couldn't lower your rear door because of the way the site is situated. There is no hard and fast rule. Also don't forget that the 10 additional feet will only allow you to open the door, then you'll need the room to roll out the toys, which could add even more space. Best thing to do is talk to the hosts in advance and let them know what you have. We often have unloaded our bikes before parking the toyhauler.

Last Summer we were camping at an Indiana State Park, and someone had a Raptor Toy Hauler that REALLY caught my attention. They were kind enough to let me look inside, ask all kinds of questions, and they proudly showed their unit off to me. I then REALLY noticed the back ramp was NOT open, and they were actually backed into the campsite. I simply asked why didn't have their ramp open and they said, if they opened it, it would hit the tree behind the campsite. I think that was the first time I ever thought of the distance BEHIND a toy hauler needed at a camp site.I asked them, how often does this happen, that they get a campsite where they cannot open the ramp and use it for a porch, a ramp, or just for the open view. They said, "too much!"I simply never thought of that!

If you don't need your tow vehicle, pull into the site nose first and run the utilities under the TH. This allows you to open the ramp up for entertainment or store your toys in the evening.

Not really, I think only once that I can remember.

I usaually unload the toys (bikes) before backing in.... When I leave I pull out and then load them back up. When I'm at the campsite I park them under the front.

Is a longer camp site needed for back ramp | Good Sam Community

azdryheat
Explorer
Apr 12, 2014
Even if we didn't have toys we'd be hard pressed to go back to a regular 5th wheel due to the openness of the TH.
viper48
Explorer
Apr 10, 2014
Most of the time we get pull through sites which are great for loading and unloading the golf cart. When I cant get a pull through I will unload and then back in to the site. If we don't take the toy it really does not matter but that is very seldom that we do not take it.
ksss
Explorer
Apr 09, 2014
Out here there is a lot of older BLM and FS campgrounds, and State Parks. Most of these especially the BLM and FS campgrounds are smaller at least here. They also like to park large boulders at the end of the gravel or asphalt parking pad. Like others we plan accordingly, but these camp sites certainly were not built with a toyhauler in mind and certainly not 40' toyhaulers.
nole_trainer
Explorer
Apr 09, 2014
This is all great advise, I'm still leaning towards the TH. We are just so used to all the Florida State Parks with smaller spots. Just need to expand our camping choices......
trail-explorer
Explorer
Apr 08, 2014
Oaklevel wrote:
We generally unload & do not open the ramp again until we reload but a lot of campgrounds have pull through sites that work well :)

I usually got a pull through site, so the ramp thing only was in issues a few times when I didn't have a pull through.

In many cases when it was a back in site, the park staff disapprove of moving a wheeled vehicle anywhere outside of the barriers surrounding the "parking area" for the RV, which meant if I backed in to a site, and the ramp was able to be opened beyond the curbing or logs that surrounded the park area, they park staff would get bent out of shape if they saw me wheel my bike out and through the camp site.
Y-Guy
Moderator
Apr 08, 2014
It depends... In some State sites they forbid you from unloading onto or parking on anything but pavement. Other dispersed sites it doesn't matter. As other said we often unloaded before we backed in, but if you're blocking the road you won't make to many friends. Most sites will have some sort of unloading area if that is the case.
mrkoje
Explorer
Apr 08, 2014
I guess it depends on the site. I've been at quite a few sites where there was more than enough clearance but because of the shape of the terrain (hills) I couldn't drop the ramp because of the angle.

It's not something I really worry about at all. If I get a spot and I can back in and then unload great. If I have to stop halfways in the site and open the ramp then no problem. It only takes 5-10min to unstrap the gear and roll it out.
azdryheat
Explorer
Apr 08, 2014
Our trailer is 41' long and the ramp adds 8' to the length. We have only used the patio for a party deck, so far, but haven't had any issues with the length of the sites. I would also recommend you lay down a tape and get the actual measured length of the proposed trailer as the brochure length dimension is never correct.
Oaklevel
Explorer
Apr 06, 2014
We generally unload & do not open the ramp again until we reload but a lot of campgrounds have pull through sites that work well :)
jbee
Explorer
Apr 05, 2014
If it is a tight spot, we usually unload on the road before backing the rig in. Same goes for loading it back up, just do it once we pull out of the spot.