Backing TT vs 5er in State Parks

[Vic99]

I will be moving up from a pup and am concerned about backing a longer rig into State park campsites here in Wisconsin. The sites are wooded and can handle plenty of trailer length but the narrow campground roads limit the swing clearance. My best guess from all the posts I've read is that I should probably stay under 30' for a TT, but could go a little longer if a 5er. But how much longer? Would a 32' 5er require any more or less swing room than a 29-30'TT? I'm not concerned about my backing skills, but rather the amount of physical space required. Pickup is a 2500 6.5 box. Anyone have first hand experience? Thanks in advance.

Vic

[rhagfo]

aruba5er wrote:
I avoid state parks because they have a rule that there must be a tree, large bush or sign directly across from the camping space you wish to back into. The roads are narrow and the parking space 90 degrees to the road rather than angled. I;ve spent too much time trying to get parked without taking out a fender or scratching the paint to bother anymore. I don't have that trouble in most other states. Heck, the last time in Gulf Shore Al I think you could have parked a 53 ft semi in any spot. Our state has not kept up with the modern demands of the generation using the parks today. They were built for tenting and 16 ft travel trailers.
I have a 29 ft fiver and Trailer saver hitch and no slider and can get almost 90 degrees. I really think it's time to develop turning axles on the trailer.

Well I enjoy the Challenge!!!!

[Joe_Way]

avvidclif1 wrote:

aruba5er wrote:
I really think it's time to develop turning axles on the trailer.

...Probably be a herd of divorce lawyers following that rig around.

Good thing I wasn't drinking coffee when I read this...rofl.

[dapperdan]

stetwood wrote:

Vic99 wrote:
I will be moving up from a pup and am concerned about backing a longer rig into State park campsites here in Wisconsin. a 32' Anyone have first hand experience? Thanks in advance.

Vic

Many of Wis parks will be ok. Blue Mounds might be an exception. We stopped with a 31 ft 5th pulled with a cc long box dually. Ranger said we would not fit anywhere. Did find one, but it was on a corner allowing us to use the road as part of the entry. I have parked in tight spots but Blue Mounds is definitively designed for shorter 5vers or trailers.

I wonder why the ranger said you wouldn't fit, we did and we have a 38' fifth wheel! Stayed there two summers ago for the second time, the first time was right after we bought our first fifth wheel and that one was 38' as well. I will admit you have to be pretty "picky" when it comes to choosing a site at Blue Mound.

Dan

[Padlin]

I went from a 20' TT to a 20' FW, the rig is 5' shorter overall when hooked up, 35' vs 40'. In our case it was/is a combo of the different pivot point and going from a single to dual axle that I had to get used to. I tend to need more room for the front of the truck (8' bed, ext cab) to swing around when backing into state park sites. But that may be more a function of the length of the truck as opposed to the length or type of trailer.

[Jetstreamer]

We pull a 32' fiver with a crew cab dually and we spend the entire camping season in Wisconsin state parks. My opinion is that you have to be very selective where you go and do as much research online about the park where you intend to camp. You will be very surprised at how many campsites will be a nightmare to back into. Through experience we have our short list of sites at each of our favorite campgrounds that I am comfortable backing into. And it's a very limited list for sure.

The biggest factor seems to be how wide the access road is and if there are any obstructions on the opposite side of road to make the swing with your truck.

I haven't bent anything yet but that's because I've been insanely selective on choosing campsites wisely and always having a spotter with a cellphone or Walkie talkie.

Even after several years of camping with my rig its still looks pretty big pulling into a Wisconsin park. There's always lots of low hanging tree branches, tight corners and road signs to navigate around.

There are a few exceptions of course one being Harrington beach state park which is brand new not too many years ago and is laid out with big rigs in mind.

There have been a few parks that we always had on our radar to camp at and if we were camping somewhere close to them we would take the time to drive over and do a recon drive through. Two parks come to mind that luckily we did the drive thru and quickly determined we would never fit into any of the sites.

But you know what? Everybody's comfort level is different and I've already walked by sites with a bigger rig than mine and wondered how the heck they ever managed to back that thing in there....

[Rangerman40]

A fifth wheel anything (camper, semi trailer) is easier to reverse than a bumper pull..... It's just different, but once you understand the mechanics behind it, it's gravy.

[rhagfo]

Well I don't find backing or 32' 5er at all hard, different, but not hard.

[avvidclif1]

aruba5er wrote:
I really think it's time to develop turning axles on the trailer.

I am drawing a mental picture of a small add-on to the rear of the 5er with a seat and a steering wheel for the DW to steer the 5er while backing. Probably be a herd of divorce lawyers following that rig around.

[stetwood]

Vic99 wrote:
I will be moving up from a pup and am concerned about backing a longer rig into State park campsites here in Wisconsin. a 32' Anyone have first hand experience? Thanks in advance.

Vic

Many of Wis parks will be ok. Blue Mounds might be an exception. We stopped with a 31 ft 5th pulled with a cc long box dually. Ranger said we would not fit anywhere. Did find one, but it was on a corner allowing us to use the road as part of the entry. I have parked in tight spots but Blue Mounds is definitively designed for shorter 5vers or trailers.

[Vic99]

This was all helpful. Thank You.

Vic

[aruba5er]

I avoid state parks because they have a rule that there must be a tree, large bush or sign directly across from the camping space you wish to back into. The roads are narrow and the parking space 90 degrees to the road rather than angled. I;ve spent too much time trying to get parked without taking out a fender or scratching the paint to bother anymore. I don't have that trouble in most other states. Heck, the last time in Gulf Shore Al I think you could have parked a 53 ft semi in any spot. Our state has not kept up with the modern demands of the generation using the parks today. They were built for tenting and 16 ft travel trailers.
I have a 29 ft fiver and Trailer saver hitch and no slider and can get almost 90 degrees. I really think it's time to develop turning axles on the trailer.

[byrdr1]

All good advise here.
A TT wil respond quicker and will travel backwards easier than a 5er. I have been popup, TT and now a 5er.
The PU was easy like utility trailer. the TT was a learning curve, but once I had it, it was easy to back about anywhere as long as you had room on the front side of truck.
BUT the 5er well lets says that almost 5 years later we still have a curve to learn.
MY best advise is practice practice with either in a school parking lot with some traffic cones on the weekends.
BUT I can get the 5er about anywhere i want but I have to say out loud.. SLOW and EASY.. I have to keep repeteing this statement o remind myself SLOW and EASY. small corrections move the 5er a lot. I back into my parking spot at home from the blind side as they say. SO I have mailbox at the road and a ditch on both sides and then I thread the needle to get it into a 14' wide parking spot. Sometimes I have to pull out and go around the block and try it again.. These are times i am tired from driving home from a trip and I get in a hurry, I forget the SLOW and EASY phrase and I get upset and try again. I will be honest I thought I would never get it. BUT each trip it seems to get easier but i still go SLOW and EASY backing it.. Last trip out I had to back into a camping spot as their drive thru's were filled up. I was worried the whole ride to the campground, then on the money first try.
BUT again Slow and Easy backing...
best of luck,
JMHO,
randy

[avvidclif1]

Crodad wrote:
The short answer is that a TT is easier to backup than a 5ver.

Since the TT is on the bumper the reaction time is quicker.

Not once you figure out how to back a 5er. The bumper pull reacts faster but I can put a 5er in places you could not begin to put a BP. I can go abt 70-80 deg with my rig and no slider.

The big plus to a 5er is the way it pulls, no tail wagging the dog.

[Bowti]

Vic, I would think if you stayed close to a 32 ft 5R you most likely won't have a problem, even with the older parks. Most 5R's now have floor plans which offer 3 or more slides so the length is not as important as it once was regarding living area. Call some of your favorite parks and talk to the manager about large rigs and see what they have to say, after all they would know best what problems they have experienced with them.
Also, I have a slider and have never found the need to use it, even in tight hard to get in spots.