Forum Discussion

Lucyc858's avatar
Lucyc858
Explorer
Oct 27, 2020

Rv length

When private RV park says RVs up to 45 feet, are they referring to the trailer or the truck and trailer combined.
  • Call and ask. No standard answer. Sometimes that is for MHs while TV and TTs can be longer since the are...hinged.
  • I think most are RV length, I have seen some parks with "super sites" that will take a big class A w/toad.
  • The trailer is the RV, and the length of the trailer is the length they refer to. (If you have a motorhome, the motorhome is the RV, and any towed vehicle isn't.)

    If your combined rig is longer than 45', there's a pretty good chance you'll have to disconnect the truck from the trailer and park it next to the trailer. That's not a big deal usually.
  • Length is the measurement from the front of the rig to the back of the rig. Not what the manufacturer says.

    If you have a tray on the back bumper of a 5er or TT, measure to the outside of that tray. 5ers it is to the front of the rig, not the hitch point.

    Having said that, if you are close, check with them and explain.

    Length has a completely different meaning in National Parks, federal parks and state parks. Some places such as Yosemite, a length restriction might be because of the turns in the road to get to the site, or obstruction on either side of the site which limit your ability to turn the tow vehicle to get the rig into the site. Frequently you will see lengths quoted as longer motorhomes allowed than trailers, for that reason.
  • Thanks for the ideas. I always call, but most places are not answering phones.I wish the RV books would list the length of the sites. We have been able to get in some shorter sites as we can frequently back up until the tires are at the end of the pad if there is open space behind. It is more difficult this year as reservations are required, and there is not always a person to help. Stay healthy!
  • If they say 45ft that's the RV length. Some will say 100ft pull through, or whatever the length of the pull through is.
  • length of the RV. The truck can be removed. All MH are RV's. All RV's are not MH.
  • JoeH's avatar
    JoeH
    Explorer III
    Lucyc858 wrote:
    Thanks for the ideas. I always call, but most places are not answering phones.I wish the RV books would list the length of the sites. We have been able to get in some shorter sites as we can frequently back up until the tires are at the end of the pad if there is open space behind. It is more difficult this year as reservations are required, and there is not always a person to help. Stay healthy!

    In general, it the length of the RV... i.e the trailer ,motorhome or ?? Not including the tow vehicle, or in the case of motorhome, the toad.
    If you are uncertain and the park doesn't answer, use google earth to view the park. Google earth has a measuring tool ( it looks like a ruler on the tool bar) that you can use to measure sites, roadways, etc. That's what I use when I plan to visit a new to me park.
  • Seon's avatar
    Seon
    Explorer II
    CA NF campground listed several sites at 40' but to compare sites, one maybe shorter than the other. I was lucky that my 30' TT and TV fitted without unhooking in a 40' space but right next was also listed at 40' but way shorter. To be safe, just got to personally check.
  • Some parks/campgrounds will list both pad and full site dimensions, for the most part if only a single figure is listed it indicates the size of the RV without tow vehicle or towed behind (toad) vehicle. I always use google maps, reviews, and any available photos of park in question, this has saved us quite a bit of misery from shortcomings not mentioned on their website and/or brochure.

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