Forum Discussion

Explorer

Aug 20, 2016

Parking Class B's

Hi... I am new here.... I have been looking at this board for years... trying to decide what I wanted to buy and now... i have finally decided that what would serve me best is a class b. I have come a long way from when I first started and thinking I wanted a travel trailer. NOW.... after all the thinking and research I have done.... I can see that B is what I need.

I have lots of questions but first I want to ask you B owners.... if you have a B thats about 20 ft or so.... how do you handle the parking situation when you are in a small town with 2 lane roads going thru it.... or somewhere with parking problems.

If you want to park and go into a cafe or a store and they have no lot.... or the lot has low hanging trees or is TOO tight for your vehicle.... what do you do ?

DO you keep going as far as you can to park and then walk back? or ride a bike back?
I won't be towing anything so.... all I can think to do is keep a bicycle on board..... or walk back from wherever I park.

I figure this is a dumb question because there really is no answer except to park where you can put it. lol but I thought I would ask anyway.

In my travels over the years.... I have found LOADS of places I love that I had problems even getting my standard pick up truck into. lol.... let alone a 20ft van.

anyway..... I have not yet decided what I want to buy.... but the standard van won't be enough space for me. I want between 10 and 12 ft of interior living space..... so I'll be looking at something longer..... but a vehicle not more than 20ft or so bumper to bumper.

OK well..... thanks for your input.... I have lots more questions and I do appreciate your help in making my decisions.

Ruby

Class B

24 Replies

Sebtown
Explorer
Aug 20, 2016
My B is on the 158" Sprinter chassis and is 22' 8" including the rear hung spare tire. We have traveled around the west and have always found a place to park, even in downtown Seattle. However many times I have just fit, I would not suggest anything larger. In many places we've parked, even a 24' van would have been a no go.
NoVa_RT
Explorer
Aug 20, 2016
I try to avoid difficult parking situations, and park away from other vehicles when possible on surface lots. In unfamiliar areas, the satellite view on the map function gives me an idea what my options might be. There is usually somethings that works, even if more walking is required. The only things I ever passed on were a couple of busy restaurants with small, packed parking lots during peak times. For something like that, I'd now go early and try to get an easy-in, easy-out space.
obgraham
Explorer
Aug 20, 2016
I've yet to find a place where I can't park somewhere in my 23 foot B while I go into a shop or a restaurant.
Tiger4x4RV
Nomad
Aug 20, 2016
Measure your truck. Maybe you are worrying too much about the size issue for parking. I just checked and a new regular-cab regular-box Chevy pickup is 17 feet long.

My Class C is 20 feet long and 7 feet 3 inches wide. It fits into one parking space. That said, I still make a practice of parking to defend my vehicle and to make getting out of that parking space as easy and as safe as possible. I never park in those diagonal storefront sites that you often see in small towns. I'll park in a parallel site around the corner and walk to where I want to go. In large store parking lots, I park far from anyone, far from the store door, and preferably in a way so that I can drive out forward.

Avoid low-hanging trees, both in parking lots and on roads. Fixing roof stuff (vent caps, etc.) can get tedious and possibly expensive. Don't ask me how I know this.

Good luck in your search for a small B. It seems like these days many are 24 feet long. That is too long for me.