I am considering upgrading from our 2000 Jayco 24' bunk house (26' total length) to a 2014 Jayco 29' rear living with slides (33' total length). I am a little worried about getting the 29' trailer through campsites and into sites. I have never had a problem with the current 24' BH. How big of a difference is it? Is it something I should be concerend about? Many of my friends who also own trailers say they wouldn't go that big because we will have issues getting in and out of campgrounds/sites. We camp in many of the National Parks out West (Yosemite, Zion, Bryce, Great Basin, Yellowstone, Glacier, Crater Lake and many more to come). We have a 3/4 ton Silverado Diesel so the TV is not an issue. Thanks.Dave

Did exactly the same thing 2 years ago 26 ft to a 33no issues at all, it is actually easier to back up,towing is not an issue,However we dont typically do the National Parks so I cant comment on thatCheers

Can't comment on NP's either. I have moved up from 24' to 26' to 30' and to 34'. Didn't notice much difference in getting into State Park sites.

Sounds like a nice upgrade. As for towing I doubt you will even notice the extra length.As for camping, National Parks simply aren't made for longer trailers. Yosemite, I know for sure, will be tough to get a site for a 33' trailer in the park -- especially the valley floor. That said, there is always a CG, maybe not your usual and in the case of a NP it may be outside the gate, but there is always a CG.

Our first camper was a 27BH we camped at Grand Canyon, no problem. WE upgraded to a 29 BH (31.5 total) and went to Yellowstone (fishing bridge and grant) and Tetons at Gros ventre. No problem. At one of the Wyoming State Parks (Sinks Canyon), it was a little tight, but we made it. All in all, I wouldn't worry too much about it. We are hardly are the longest campers out there! Just go for it!

It may be tighter in some of the older state and federal campgrounds, reserving the larger sites in advance would help avoid being stuck trying to fit into smaller sites. Luckily, we have always managed to acquire a site for our 32' rig in the state and federal parks we've ever been in, although at times squeezing into sites designated for shorter units. Enjoy the extra space in your new rig!!!

Going from 26' to 33' total length | Good Sam Community

20 Replies

69_Avion
Explorer
Aug 21, 2013
The real issue is what the OP wants to do with it. I have a 34' Avion that rarely gets used anymore. I can put it anywhere anyone can back a trailer of it's size. The reason it doesn't get used is not because we don't like it but it is too big to get way back where we like to go. It is too low to the ground with too long of an overhang. There are trailers that have more ground clearance but most of them would be too tall to clear the low trees. The larger the trailer, the more stuff you will bring. This is the voice of over 35 years of RV experience. I have learned to keep things simple and easy. If a person "needs" the space, by all means buy a large RV. Thinking g that the large RV is the utopia if you like getting back into remote areas then you may be disappointed.
pbohart
Explorer
Aug 21, 2013
pbohart wrote:
You wont have any problems at National Park Campgrounds. Just got back from Yellowstone and although we stayed in Gardiner at an RV park, I drove through every campground there and I could have found spots in any of them.

Backing up is easier.

Towing is not an issue...although - you will need to train yourself to swing wide.

I did check out a couple of Forrest Service campgrounds. A couple times the road curved through boulders that I would not have been able to get through...but...wouldnt have been able to get through with my 29 footer either.

I went from a 29 to a 35 footer.
mosseater
Explorer II
Aug 21, 2013
There are ways to tactfully beg forgiveness rather than ask permission. I'm not advocating becoming a pain in the neck everywhere you go, but the truth as far as I can tell is, many sites in parks are de-rated for effect. IOW, your (my) 34' rig will fit in many spaces ostensibly for smaller trailers, just a question of you showing up and putting it there. There may be National Parks where they come out with tape measures and send you on your way, but I haven't seen one yet. Granted, I don't have the miles some of these folks do, but from our trip out west, there was no place where our trailer even raised an eyebrow. If the limit says 30', it's likely they meant the box, not overall length (wink, wink). What's a few feet amongst friends?

Seriously, a lot of it depends on you and your tact and skill. I don't see an issue. I'm sure others would disagree, but if it fits...it fits. Obviously then, it becomes important to know for certain when it won't. Life is short, enjoy it often.
pbohart
Explorer
Aug 20, 2013
You wont have any problems at National Park Campgrounds. Just got back from yellowstone and although we stayed in Gardiner at an RV park, I drove through every campground there and I could have found spots in any of them.

Backing up is easier.

Towing is not an issue...although - you will need to train yourself to swing wide.

I did check out a couple of Forrest Service campgrounds. A couple times the road curved through boulders that I would not have been able to get through...but...wouldnt have been able to get through with my 29 footer either.

I went from a 29 to a 35 footer.
wmoses
Explorer
Aug 20, 2013
ddrueckh wrote:
Thank you for all of the replies. I think we will just go for it. We always make reservations ahead of our trips, so I think that there shouldn't be any issues.

There you go! You have to love the floorplan and simply have to stay at places that will fit the RV.

When you think of it, given the fact that we are dragging our house around, we have to sooner or later relinquish (at least to some extent) the fact that we are no longer "camping" in the proper sense of the word. Use a tent and you can camp anywhere - surely none of us want to revert to that.
Doug33
Explorer
Aug 20, 2013
I recently went from 24' to 28' (32' overall) and noticed a little bit of difference, especially swinging a little wider. The biggest issue I had was in a private CG that had really short site. While I was eventually able to get the TT into the site, I had to disconnect while the TV was still in the road, blocking some traffic. So I look to CGs with bigger sites. Our NJ state parks are not usually an issue since their sites are oversized. I have never been to a NP so I can't comment on that.
ddrueckh
Explorer
Aug 20, 2013
Thank you for all of the replies. I think we will just go for it. We always make reservations ahead of our trips, so I think that there shouldn't be any issues.
I_am_still_wayn
Explorer
Aug 20, 2013
ddrueckh wrote:
I am considering upgrading from our 2000 Jayco 24' bunk house (26' total length) to a 2014 Jayco 29' rear living with slides (33' total length). I am a little worried about getting the 29' trailer through campsites and into sites. I have never had a problem with the current 24' BH. How big of a difference is it?7 feet Is it something I should be concerend about? Only if the difference intimidates you. Tail swing could be a concern. The mechanics of backing will be the same and that will be very little different. Many of my friends who also own trailers say they wouldn't go that big because we will have issues getting in and out of campgrounds/sites. We camp in many of the National Parks out West (Yosemite, Zion, Bryce, Great Basin, Yellowstone, Glacier, Crater Lake and many more to come). Many sites, especially in State and National Parks, are too small for that bigger trailer. We have a 3/4 ton Silverado Diesel so the TV is not an issue. Thanks.

Dave
Opie431
Explorer
Aug 20, 2013
Friends went from 24 to 35. Loved it, it was heaven on earth. We poor deprived people stayed with our 26. A year later they changed to something shorter. They could not get into any of the campgrounds they liked. Their parents like RV parks and are now the happy owners of their treasure.
Where do you like to camp and what kind of camping do you like?
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Aug 20, 2013
Obviously there will be sites it no longer fits and narrow roads and obstacles will make it more challenging but once you are set up you will love the extra space and the new floorplan.