Length, wheelbase, state RV parks.

[imjustdave]

Hello everyone.

Wife and I currently own a Jayco 5th 30.5 BHS to be exact. measure out to 32 feet. Anyways the kid has moved out and the lightening storm of last year has mad it impossible for the dogs to sleep in the bunk house so as great as our BHS is the 4 bunks are literally storage now.

So we have been looking for another 5th wheel.

Our friends have a brand new Montana 4 slide rear bunk house measure out at 38 feet. "they have kids still" and tow with a older Ford.

Anyways we like to camp in state parks, specifically WA as that is where we live. The sites have "trees" vegetation, privacy ETC which really makes nice and fun to camp at VS private camping places which seem more like a parking lot with row after row of asphalt pads.

So as nice as our friends new Montana is, it is impossible for him to park the beast. Yes I have to wiggle mine around some but his seems like he needs a foot ball field of space to park. The site for him last weekend was literally the biggest in the park, and had a pull thru site in front that he had to use in order for him to get it in the site.

He drives a 12 car hauler for work, and I used to drive over the road so we are both used to big rigs.

Is the 6 foot of difference really that much?
We haven't measured the wheelbase.
Do Fords really have that bad of a turning radius? I think it is a 99 Ford SRW F350 4 door, 4x4? I have a 06 dodge DRW, 4 door 4x4.

I would like a nice "amenities" trailer but I'm a little gun shy right now that I will buy something too big to fit in the parks we prefer to visit. Seems like nice option also = longer.
Looked at a Grand Design last week seemed like nicely built, Jayco is another line I would be interested in.

So is the 6 feet really that much? when trying to park?
Are the trucks playing a role here?
Ideas?
Trailer ideas?

[MewshawManor]

We have an even smaller Jayco 27.5 BHS 5'er and we wonder if upgrading to a newer model 30.5 would make it difficult. We love our little 27.5. Fits anywhere in any state park. Better than many bumper pulls we've seen squeezed into an older Texas SP site.

[robwhite61]

I have a 2001 F350 4 door, DRW 4X4. As the old song says: "Give me forty acres and I'll turn this rig around". The 2 wheel drive version is supposed to have a better turn radius, but I can't say for sure since I've never driven one.

[korbe]

I come to a conclusion on these topics: The more things you want inside the rig, the fewer the options of where you can stay outside the rig.

[Fiverwheel]

The truck does make a world of difference. My 02 3/4 ton diesel had a terrible turning radius whereas my 34' Monaco turns very well in much tighter places.

[bstow]

imjustdave wrote:
Hello everyone.

Wife and I currently own a Jayco 5th 30.5 BHS to be exact. measure out to 32 feet. Anyways the kid has moved out and the lightening storm of last year has mad it impossible for the dogs to sleep in the bunk house so as great as our BHS is the 4 bunks are literally storage now.

So we have been looking for another 5th wheel.

Our friends have a brand new Montana 4 slide rear bunk house measure out at 38 feet. "they have kids still" and tow with a older Ford.

Anyways we like to camp in state parks, specifically WA as that is where we live. The sites have "trees" vegetation, privacy ETC which really makes nice and fun to camp at VS private camping places which seem more like a parking lot with row after row of asphalt pads.

So as nice as our friends new Montana is, it is impossible for him to park the beast. Yes I have to wiggle mine around some but his seems like he needs a foot ball field of space to park. The site for him last weekend was literally the biggest in the park, and had a pull thru site in front that he had to use in order for him to get it in the site.

He drives a 12 car hauler for work, and I used to drive over the road so we are both used to big rigs.

Is the 6 foot of difference really that much?
We haven't measured the wheelbase.
Do Fords really have that bad of a turning radius? I think it is a 99 Ford SRW F350 4 door, 4x4? I have a 06 dodge DRW, 4 door 4x4.

I would like a nice "amenities" trailer but I'm a little gun shy right now that I will buy something too big to fit in the parks we prefer to visit. Seems like nice option also = longer.
Looked at a Grand Design last week seemed like nicely built, Jayco is another line I would be interested in.

So is the 6 feet really that much? when trying to park?
Are the trucks playing a role here?
Ideas?
Trailer ideas?

Seems like you answered your own question.

Read what you wrote about how difficult a time your friend has with his big one.

[NWKomfort350]

I think the turning radius of truck involved also makes a difference. I have an 02 F350 SRW, and I would guess a school bus has a better turning radius than my Ford. It is terrible. You could do a quick google to compare your turning radius to your friends Ford.

[kknowlton]

Can't help you with specific trailers since we are not into 5ers, but yes, 6 more feet wlll make a difference. We spent almost 20 years camping in SPs (IL/WI primarily) with a popup and then a 22'HTT which opened to 26' with beds extended, and even the HTT sized us out of our favorite Wisconsin SP CG. For the last 6 years we've been towing a 34' (measured end to end) TT and have ended up for the most part in those not-so-lovely asphalt parking lots you mentioned. I have really missed the more natural surroundings, relaxing in our campsite & just enjoying nature. So this spring we have traded down to a 25' TT. Still bigger than some campsites will allow, but we again have more choices of SP/NF/NP CGs, which we are really looking forward to!

One thing to remember - upsizing is much easier than downsizing! Therefore I think I'd recommend any new rig you get be no bigger than your current one, and possibly smaller if the floorplan works for you.

[naturist]

"So is the 6 feet really that much? when trying to park?"

Um, all you need is 1 inch clearance wherever you decide to go. But that 1 inch is absolutely critical. It is the difference between going there and not going there. And yes, 6 feet is even more critical, like 62 times as critical.

There is a simple truth at work here in that every site in every campground has its limitation on how long your rig can be and still fit both in the site and getting into and out of the site. Whatever length that is, anything shorter, life is good, anything longer, and unhappiness follows. If you have a 17 foot Casita, you'll fit in anything, anywhere. If you have a 55 footer, very few sites will suit. You pays your money and you takes your pick.

And yes, I have been in campgrounds where my 21 foot TT was not suited for some sites. And I've been unable to stay in one or two and had to move on for that reason. I also know of campgrounds where I WAS able to stay ONLY because I had ONLY a 21 footer.

I think you will find that state and national park campgrounds tend to have smaller sites that private campgrounds, mostly because state and national parks facilities are older, designed when rigs were typically smaller.