FT and Boondocking - what RV length?

We do it all the time in a 40ft.

What kind of RV ?

Many different definitions of boondocking. What is your idea of it? Where do you want to go?

I'm seriously considering the Grand Design Momentum 376TH. I have a Harley Sportster to bring with me and a 2005 Ram 3500 Dually as the tow vehicle.

My overall plan is to visit as many National Parks, Forests, and Monuments as I can get to, stopping to see friend and family along the way. I'd like to get off the major roads as much as possible and be able to get out of ear shot of the roads. I have the motorcycle for exploration and the truck for errands.

No one with 40 ft. can go everywhere, have something you can take off the back and drive the rest. You will not be able to park that far back or hard to get to parks. Anyone can take a 43 ft. down a road that is easy. Many of the places we go with a 30ft. class B +rig. puts us at the parking limit, I see no one larger ever there.I still say over and over 90 per cent never leave a four lane rd, some take a good two lane, most don't do that. If they do, where are they when I'm there, hiding behind a tree. Yet there is many places I can't go because I don't have 4x4 or high off the ground. I have tore my skids off three times in three years.I put steal wheels under the rear and broke off 3 out of four of them now. And I'm 30 ft., 40 ft. and over are for the interstate group, and then they drive a toat from there. Some will say that they drove a 43 ft. 50 miles on a dirt road, yes but it is bumpy, but not real sharp turns or big deep dips.

Tons of threads on here about national parks and restrictions vary but 30 feet is a common limit to stay in the parks. There is also the issue of simply more sort spots tan 40' spots. 40 is fine to stay outside parks.

12 years ago I bought a used 36' DP because of posts on here answering the same question... like the post above. Did not take long to learn this is BS, especially out West. One of my favorite USFS CG in the Tetons list 28' MAX, but there are two sites out of 10 that have plenty of room for my rig and the car. Cost a lot of money to trade up to the current rig. I now advise to buy more RV than you think you need...ONE TIME!

We are in the middle of a two month trip out West without reservations and staying mainly in USFS CG inside the parks that do not take reservations. We travel and resupply on the weekends and set up a base camp Sunday or Monday. Even the CGs that take reservations usually have a few sites that are first come so show up early.

This past Labor Day we showed up at South Lake Tahoe without reservations... not Friday (I'm not that dumb)... Monday and got a site at the city park without any problems as many had to go home... not retired. I have yet to even call ahead, if they have a phone, to confirm a site, BUT we are very self-contained so not a big deal if we have to WalMart it one night.

Yes, there are lots of threads on here on this subject and those posting "go small" usually have a popup.

2 of us full time in a 34' Class A with 2 slides with no problem. Wouldn't even consider a larger rig. We can maneuver and get into campgrounds others can't. I have met women traveling in small class C's or B plus with no problem. Depends on you. Weigh the pros and cons.

Pyrate, as a semi-retired consulting geologist I’m pretty much doing what you plan to do, using my 33’ Class A Holiday Rambler as a base camp and a Dodge Caravan and 250cc dirt bike for exploration. If I had to do it all over again I’d probably get a shorter RV, possibly a Class C, no longer than 30’ with lots of ground clearance. Early on I had such a problem with tail-dragging over any kind of a dip I finally installed rear suspension air-bags in my RV to raise it higher, that’s the main reason I’m suggesting nothing over 30’, that long rear-end overhang can be a royal PITA for boondocking!


My RV before I installed the rear air bags. Just look at how long that rear end extends past the rear wheels!


My intrepid 27mpg Dodge Caravan exploration vehicle on a 2 month 12,000 mile Western Canada/Alaska road trip. Using my Caravan for this trip, rather than my RV, saved me about $3,000 in fuel costs!

Early on in my adventures I visited Yosemite. No way could I get a campground in the park. However, I found a beautiful and half-full National Forest CG to stay in for about $5/night just outside the park. When I visited the Grand Canyon North Rim recently I just pulled into the nearby National Forest and camped for free. It was nice looking out my window in the morning at a small flock of turkeys just outside!

Steve

PS what size RV to get is very subjective and depends largely on how much space you feel you need and what and where you plan to go with your RV. If you're going to do a lot of one lane gravel roads, then a small 4WD RV with lots of ground clearance. Since I just use my RV (home-on-wheels) as a base camp I can get away with having a huge ponderous interstate cruiser RV to travel from one area to another, knowing that I can explore all over in my Caravan or dirt bike once I land.