Forum Discussion

prodeville's avatar
prodeville
Explorer
Mar 11, 2016

What's Too long

I'm selling my house and want to upgrade from my truck camper to a fifth wheel. I plan to live in it for a while until I decide where I'm moving to and if I want another stick house. Meanwhile I will do some traveling but I'm limited because I still work. I'm very interested in DRV fifth wheels, however I'm a little concerned about the length. I've heard that there are a lot of RV parks that have restrictions on length. Since I have had a truck camper all these years, this was never a problem. The fiver I'm looking at is 40'. Will I have a problem? I'm not one to want to stay at resort parks. I like a variety. I already know State and National parks are out. Could someone give me some insight?
  • bbaker2001's avatar
    bbaker2001
    Explorer
    Mar 11, 2016
    congrats
    I have seen many 40'. you will be long, so I would expect you will need to make reservations when traveling.
    since you had a camper please practice a little before hitting road.
    we are in northern Ca, and have read here we might need a special license for the weight of truck, and 5th wheel
    where are you from
  • TucsonJim's avatar
    TucsonJim
    Explorer II
    Mar 11, 2016
    My FW is 36 feet. In the last two years, I've stayed at 63 RV campgrounds and there wasn't one that didn't have at least four more feet available. You may have to do some creative parking with your truck, but it's almost always doable.


    Jim
  • Travelon's avatar
    Travelon
    Explorer
    Mar 11, 2016
    As TucsonJim said "...it's almost always doable." Our's is 37', just plan ahead.

    Travelon
  • FLY_4_FUN's avatar
    FLY_4_FUN
    Explorer
    Mar 11, 2016
    You really need to look at the places you want to stay at the most, and see if they have restrictions. As we went up in length from pop up to TT to 5er our options get less and less in many of our favorite places. It doesn't mean we cant get sites...just that we may need to reserve to ensure a site that suits our needs vs showing up first come first served. A truck camper is about the most flexible unit and a 40 ft fifth wheel will mean some sites are just not usable. If that's the length you want, then you will adapt and find places you fit.

    Daryll
  • e-light's avatar
    e-light
    Explorer
    Mar 11, 2016
    Mine is a 33' model I guess but its more like 38' from to back, if not 40'. As long as you plan ahead you should be fine. Sometimes, especially with state and national parks that are in demand I've had trouble finding sites that will work, when there aren't many sites left to choose from (seems the odd sites are typically the last ones to go). In those cases I just find a private park nearby and call and let them know what I have. Never had any trouble going where we wanted to go as long as I plan ahead.
  • Dick_B's avatar
    Dick_B
    Explorer
    Mar 11, 2016
    How many people do you have to accommodate in the 40 footer?
  • BB_TX's avatar
    BB_TX
    Nomad
    Mar 11, 2016
    Private RV parks, rarely a problem. National, state, COE, park service, etc could be. Some can accommodate that length, some will have length restrictions below that.
  • eHoefler's avatar
    eHoefler
    Explorer II
    Mar 11, 2016
    There hasn't been a park that I wanted to stay in that I couldn't. We have a 40' fifth wheel, a 24' truck, 57' going down the road, and 64' nose to tail with no room to walk between.
  • valhalla360's avatar
    valhalla360
    Navigator
    Mar 11, 2016
    Newer commercial parks...generally not an issue.

    Older parks or govt owned parks...sometimes it's not an option.

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