Forum Discussion

ddrueckh's avatar
ddrueckh
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013

Going from 26' to 33' total length

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
  • I think it’s a given that the bigger you are the less places you can fit. How much difference it makes is the million dollar question. A poster once looked at over 200 campgrounds near Yosemite and quantified the size RV’s that could get into them. At 25’ 71% would fit, at 30’ 65%, and at 35’ 42%. One certainly can’t take that as applicable everywhere, but it would seem to give at least an indication of the relationship of size to access. The poster was “wintersun” and you could do a search and read the post yourself.

    I’m sure you’ll find sites in the parks that you can fit if they’re not already taken by a smaller RV. I think your biggest problem would be national forest campgrounds, at least the ones that aren’t well developed for bigger rigs. Probably more often than not, it’s not that there isn’t a big enough site; it’s the narrow, heavily treed road in that you can’t maneuver. Quite a few years ago I ran across a fellow with a roughly 30’ TT that was blocking a road into the campground. He didn’t scout it out first and just drove down a dirt road to the cg. Then he found he couldn’t make the turn into the cg. He couldn’t go forward because the road rapidly worsened and his rig was too sluggish to maneuver back through the trees to turn around. So he wound up having to back up all the way out to the highway again.

    So whether you should be concerned is dependent on how much tolerance you have for increased difficulty finding sites and how much you want to get into national forest cg’s. At that length you can get into many state parks and many you won’t. Commercial cg’s will be no problem at all.
  • My honest opinion...I think you will be in pretty good shape going with the extra length at your favorite parks. Keep in mind with extra length you also gain some height.

    I am extra careful when taking left turns because your passenger rear swings out with the extra length. Again, with the height I watch for trees at state parks.
  • We went from a 26ft. to a 31ft. (35' overall). It did limit a few sites that we can get on but to us it was worth it because we love the floorplan. The biggest thing is not really the sites that we're limited to, but the fact that we have to park the TV next to, instead of in front, of the TT. Also hooking and unhooking sometimes has to be done with the TV in the road, but that is something we plan for and work around.
  • you won't have any trouble at all. It'll look intimidating at first, but when you actually tow it, you'll see it's no problem. I just went up to 35 feet overall when counting the tongue and bumper, and got around much easier than I thought I would in the beginning.
  • I have a 34' Avion that rarely gets used anymore. My shorter trailer gets all the use since it is easier to get in and out of remote places and it has a higher ground clearance.
  • 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!!!
  • 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!
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Did exactly the same thing 2 years ago 26 ft to a 33
    no 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 that

    Cheers