24 feet versus 26' dilemma, have to decide fast

[mountaintravele]

Hello! I'm a complete newbie to RVs.
I'm buying a motorhome to travel the country for a year or two.
I have no pets.
(I had extensively traveled America and camped all over for 20 years without an RV and I love tent camping)

I found that my favorite places (in National Forests and parks) allow 24 feet max motorhome max.
Sometimes even the road to the place has this length limit
(windy mountain roads).
Upon viewing 24' units I feel tehre's too little space to fulltime in for 1-2 years. I guess I feel the fatigue from my extensive tent camping and all the tiny houses I stayed in, as I've been a full time traveler for quite a while
26' seems like a very good compromise size-wise (ideally I'd want a 31 but this won't get me into placdes)
Gas mileage on those seems to be the same, prices too.
The problem is the size limits.

Do you think I can get away with 26' in 24' spaces?
I see some indications people had been doing it but not sure if it's for real.

[mountaintravele]

Gjac wrote:
Every RV is a compromise. If you don't plan on a tow car, and just spend one or two nights at a camp spot then move on, I would stay with the 24 ft C. You will probably spend more time outside camping than inside except when you are driving it, and a smaller unit is easier to drive and park. I would look at some of the transit-based Class C's and compare the ride to a Ford or Chevy Chassis. If inside space is still an issue you can always get a 24 ft with a full wall slide.

I might spend 14 days at a site if I like it, my goal isn't to drive around all the time (especially with the current price of fuel).
Yes, I want to set up a tent a lot and sleep in it too.

There's very little choice of units in my price range on the market. I have a couple of units I can make an offer on, just need to decide on length.

I came up with the idea of gutting the sofa and any seats if I get 24' one. I can put them in storage and later reistall them when it's time to sell the RV. I only use my camping cot and camping chair recliner in the house, don't want anything else, so RV furniture is of no use for me. If I gut some furniture I can free space. My recliner folds, might even fold the camping cot for the day if I need to freeing space.

[mountaintravele]

klutchdust wrote:
When you say you want to go to the same places you went to in your car that raised my eyebrows a bit. My 30ft. had a fair overhang in the back and it dragged pretty easy going into certain roads and areas. If you have no experience driving a larger vehicle it can get interesting real quick. I have found no issues with parking, their limits are so one vehicle doesn't take two spots, like some do at truck stops which annoys the truckers.
I suggest renting what size you are interested in and try it out for a weekend or so.

I see. That's important for me to know about 30ft overhand,
some 26' also have noticeably more overhang.
Toyota Camry is not a 4wd, to put it mildly, and has low clearance -
yet I was able to go miles and miles on all kinds of very uneven bumpy gravel and dirt roads, without damaging the bottom (one time I did reseal of oil pan, though, cost me a fortune at a dealership)
I'm not in a position to do RV renting now.
I'm buying a motorhome next week and heading back out West on it after inspections and fixing up anything that needs to be.
What you say seems to point out that it'd be safer to get a 24' one.

I have bad eyes.
Also, my eyeglasses' plastic frames limit my field of vision. No one to help parking. I get very tired on long drives, become no good at parking from fatique. Had adventures with my Camry's bumper meeting pine trees and boulders, definitely and a 20' campsite can be hard to back even a Camry into when you're tired. Can't imagine what happens with long vehicle. Shorter RV is definitely safer bet in terms of not hitting things and not scraping.

[mountaintravele]

pianotuna wrote:

mountaintraveler wrote:


Do you think I can get away with 26' in 24' spaces?
I see some indications people had been doing it but not sure if it's for real.

Hi I'd go with the 26 foot and 176 inch wheel base. No slide needed.

The thing is the unit is going to have a slide anyway as pretty much anything used on the market within my price range has a slide. Inventory is small, as smaller units are super popular these days.
I'd rather have a slide than length issue I guess...

[Grit_dog]

If you get a C, get a Ford or Chevy chassis unless money is of no object or you must have a diesel.
And buy used.

[pianotuna]

mountaintraveler wrote:


Do you think I can get away with 26' in 24' spaces?
I see some indications people had been doing it but not sure if it's for real.

Hi I'd go with the 26 foot and 176 inch wheel base. No slide needed.

[klutchdust]

When you say you want to go to the same places you went to in your car that raised my eyebrows a bit. My 30ft. had a fair overhang in the back and it dragged pretty easy going into certain roads and areas. If you have no experience driving a larger vehicle it can get interesting real quick. I have found no issues with parking, their limits are so one vehicle doesn't take two spots, like some do at truck stops which annoys the truckers.
I suggest renting what size you are interested in and try it out for a weekend or so.

[bobndot]

Your camping style is like ours. We usually can’t depend on neighbors to help us. It goes beyond the size of the rv. Once you fit into a campsite you need everything to function properly in order to not have to leave.

Your first rv ? As you know, Rv’s are much more complex than a tent . Especially boon-docking remotely. Rv help is few and far between today. You need to learn the very basic mechanics and how to override things in order to make them function while you are in remote settings. Carrying a few extra parts may be the answer for you to keep yourself on a site rather than leaving to try to get help , which might take considerable time.

Spares: You need to have a ‘water pump’ , ‘ pex tool with some extra clamps’ , a universal ‘ Dinosaur Fan50 control board’ and an ‘LP regulator’. You need to have these in order to have flowing gas and water and appliances that function. The control board operates the fridge, WH and furnace. I have replaced all using quality made Dinosaur boards and never had another issue.


I would go 24’ and make it work. If you choose a slide model, make sure you can use the floorplan completely when the slide is ‘in’. Just in case the slide motor fails or the slide binds in its frame and you unable to hand-crank it back in. Smaller , lighter slides of 400 lbs can sometimes be pushed back in. Larger full wall slides 1000 lbs need a team of linemen.

The ‘pivoting’ into tight spaces might be the key to getting in. See which brand, GM / Ford E series / Ford Transit / MB , offers a better turning radius.

A shorter wheelbase rv seems like it would navigate over humps and rocks that might otherwise get hung-up on the undercarriage of a longer WB rv. The middle of a coach could become hung-up on the ground . That will also depend on your coaches ground clearance, which could be increased by using spacers if necessary. A spring shop could do that.

Notice the rear overhand distance of the rig you decide on. The distance from the rear axle to rear bumper. This is where rvs can get hung up while trying to back into an incline. The rear sometimes digs in to the dirt on an incline.

We use our 24’ non slide rv for a month at a time with no issues. If you can do a month then you can do a year. We have a corner queen bed and a full queen in the cabover which is all storage space now.
Closet space, fridge size and LP tank size should be considered. Learn how to downsize everything you need. It can be done .

Doing laundry more often, replenishing food and propane might have to be done more often than a larger rv. Just some things to consider beyond the extra 2 feet or whatever length you are considering.

Consider a spare tire and appropriate jacking. Many rvs do not have spare tires. If you need to add one, you could use a hitch mounted tire carrier off the rear hitch.
Carry 2x10 blocks for leveling under the tires. Absorption fridges need to be somewhat level to keep the gas flowing to operate. 12v compressor fridges will work fine off level.

[Gjac]

Every RV is a compromise. If you don't plan on a tow car, and just spend one or two nights at a camp spot then move on, I would stay with the 24 ft C. You will probably spend more time outside camping than inside except when you are driving it, and a smaller unit is easier to drive and park. I would look at some of the transit-based Class C's and compare the ride to a Ford or Chevy Chassis. If inside space is still an issue you can always get a 24 ft with a full wall slide.

[Grit_dog]

Single cab 4x4 dually with a BFTC FTW.

[Bumpyroad]

Ivylog wrote:
Thanks for the good chuckle! Yes, with my 45’ it’s harder to find sites, but not impossible. We mainly dry camp in public CGs during the summer without advanced reservations… been doing it this way for 20 years. Buy a 30’ and don’t worry about the extra length, it WILL NOT be a problem.

I used to consider 30 ft to be a b@stard length. too long to be short, too short to be long. maybe that makes it be a perfect length?

bumpy

[toedtoes]

As you are particular about the campgrounds where you will stay, I suggest going with the 24ft and buy a popup gazebo that you can put up for extra living space.

Here in Northern California, the foothills and desert areas you can usually fit a 26ft in a 24ft foot space as there are rarely trees, etc preventing you from backing in further. During the winter, these are often nice places to stay as there is no snow and few campers.

In the Sierras, you will have a much harder time trying to fit a 26ft in a 24ft space. the campgrounds that fit your description the best don't fit larger than 20ft and are first come first serve. The next closest (my usual category) will have boulders and/or trees directly behind the parking pad so you cannot back further into the site to fit. Some of the 24ft sites will barely fit a 24ft rig - the front end will be within a foot of the road. And most of my favorite campgrounds in the Sierras don't have any longer sites, the rest at most have 3 or 4 sites for over 24ft and those go very fast.

[Grit_dog]

If the length “limit” you’re targeting is due to actual physical access limitations rather than mainstream public campground “rules” then I would think a Class C would be VERY limiting due to the long rear overhang poor departure angle and lowish ground clearance.
In other words I could hypothetically take your Corolla more places than a 25’ long Moho. Realistically as well.
Everything RV related is a compromise.
If you don’t like the lack of space in a 24’ then you may not like a TC but I don’t see either being limiting for one person to full time and explore in.
However if exploring is the priority like it appears, then a dually pickup with a 10’ ish single or double slide out camper on it will check the “exploring” box much better. Greater ground clearance, much better departure angle if you get the right camper, lots of extra storage if you get a crew cab and the ability to live in the camper for an extended period off the truck and have a passenger vehicle for getting out without folding up camp anytime you want or need to go somewhere.

[MDKMDK]

mountaintraveler wrote:

MDKMDK wrote:
I'm curious which places have a 24' length limit? If these are off road, back country NFS or BLM sites with narrow, winding, unpaved roads in/out, the length limit is probably to keep you from getting stuck, or damaging your vehicle or the flora.
Cruise America made up a list of more mainstream NPS park limits... it looks close (except Big Bend NP which will handle longer RVs).
***Link Removed***

Generally speaking, a 26 footer won't find many places that can't handle it.

Wheeler Peak in Big Basin NP, both road and campground, 24'.
There're a lot more, where it's 19-20' or so limits in many campgrounds but I'm pretty sure 24' can go in because I've seen smallish class C there.
I'm not into mainstream parks in general, mostly go to remote locations in National Forests where the truck camper would be best, but for variety of reasons I can't chose a truck camper now.
I avoid National parks, too overrun, Big Bend is the only one I still like.

Also, if a place has a bigger parking spur - it's usually the one that's going to be already taken/hard to get, so I often camped where it wasn't too easy to park my 16' Toyota Camry, even. Best campsites got small spurs or clearings. (I'm not into camping out in the open shade-less flat areas and around other rigs)
Where I camp I mostly only ever see vans/class B or truck campers, occasionally/rarely a compact-looking class C. I can't tell the length by looking at them, though.
The question is if I can get away with 26' in those places.
Some more remote camps have no official limit, but rangers warned me that taking a motorhome was going to be risky thing, and said it better be "small" - said at your own risk, but couldn't tell me how many feet max.

I'd be upset if I couldn't get into a favorite or nice spot because of length and ended up somewhere crowded/noisy/smokey instead of a quiet private spot. I have asthma and have to look for isolated spots away from campfires.
It's easier in the desert but where there're woods the clearings are often small

In that case, I guess you'll have to compromise with something, whether it's accepting a shorter length rv, or finding places a 26 footer will fit, that you can stay at with your health issues. RVing is almost always some sort of a compromise. Good luck.

[time2roll]

mountaintraveler wrote:
Do you think I can get away with 26' in 24' spaces?

Mostly yes. My 26' trailer has fit in a 18 to 24' spot plenty of times. Never seen a tape measure come out.

[mountaintravele]

MDKMDK wrote:
I'm curious which places have a 24' length limit? If these are off road, back country NFS or BLM sites with narrow, winding, unpaved roads in/out, the length limit is probably to keep you from getting stuck, or damaging your vehicle or the flora.
Cruise America made up a list of more mainstream NPS park limits... it looks close (except Big Bend NP which will handle longer RVs).
***Link Removed***

Generally speaking, a 26 footer won't find many places that can't handle it.

Wheeler Peak in Big Basin NP, both road and campground, 24'.
There're a lot more, where it's 19-20' or so limits in many campgrounds but I'm pretty sure 24' can go in because I've seen smallish class C there.
I'm not into mainstream parks in general, mostly go to remote locations in National Forests where the truck camper would be best, but for variety of reasons I can't chose a truck camper now.
I avoid National parks, too overrun, Big Bend is the only one I still like.

Also, if a place has a bigger parking spur - it's usually the one that's going to be already taken/hard to get, so I often camped where it wasn't too easy to park my 16' Toyota Camry, even. Best campsites got small spurs or clearings. (I'm not into camping out in the open shade-less flat areas and around other rigs)
Where I camp I mostly only ever see vans/class B or truck campers, occasionally/rarely a compact-looking class C. I can't tell the length by looking at them, though.
The question is if I can get away with 26' in those places.
Some more remote camps have no official limit, but rangers warned me that taking a motorhome was going to be risky thing, and said it better be "small" - said at your own risk, but couldn't tell me how many feet max.

I'd be upset if I couldn't get into a favorite or nice spot because of length and ended up somewhere crowded/noisy/smokey instead of a quiet private spot. I have asthma and have to look for isolated spots away from campfires.
It's easier in the desert but where there're woods the clearings are often small