40 ft compared to 45 ft

[n4hwl]

I have a 40 foot motorhome now. I am comfortable driving it. We do visit lots of state and federal campgrounds now. We often have to take special precautions and planning to be sure that this will fit.

Driving is not my concern.
I would like to talk to those that have gone from a 36 or 40 ft motorhome up to a 45 foot one. Compare please. Driving, parking handling? Increased, if any, difficulty in finding accommodation when traveling. I tend to want to stay with the length I have now but there sure are some tempting 45 footers out there. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Ken

[Kayteg1]

Well.. talking about some experiences about being too big.
When on vacations in Baja, California with our 40' conversion, I saw a road to "San Francisco del la???"
I just could not pass that gravel road. So we drove about 5 miles on gravel road with beautiful cactus desert around till we come to small hill with sharp turn.
I tried to make multi-point turn, but loose gravel start giving up and my front wheels started to sink.
That was the point I gave up on going forward, but there was not a spot for U-turn neither.
I ended up going 1 mile on reverse. Rear camera help, but it did not have long range, so I put my wife in rear bedroom as additional eyes.
Coach made it fine, but wife was not happy after few minutes on the bed above hot engine.
(we have AC in front living only)

[Executive45]

It's easier to drive a 45' on hwys like Kayteg1 posted if you close your eyes once in awhile.....:B.....Dennis

The thing with a 45' is you'll know pretty quickly whether or not you should be on that hwy. Since we don't use the Interstates that often, I do look at my routes pretty closely. If in doubt, I'll spend a few minutes with Google maps the night before. With it you can take a virtual tour of the road you're thinking about taking. So far, I've not been disappointed...Probably the worst section of road I've experienced was US60 between Montgomery and Anstad, West Virginia..When you start seeing 15mph curves, you shouldn't be there. We dropped down onto WV61 and took the Interstate to our destination....Dennis

[Ivylog]

When it costs $0.50/mile for diesel I plan my trips by the shortest route and about the only one I might not use again now that its only $0.30/mile is Hwy 6 between Tillamook, OR and Timber, OR. 47 miles instead of 90... $21 difference at the time and probably no savings on the time it took. Here again I do not see any difference if it was in a 40' or 45'.

[bluwtr49]

HWY 20 from Bend, OR to Lebanon can be a lot of fun and trucks are length restricted but not MH's Turns are tight enough that tree branches can be an issue. Mantra...slow and easy.

[Ivylog]

Sorry, but 240 miles or that??? I'd take that, OK maybe slowly if meeting another big rig. I do not see any difference in a 40' or a 45' on it and what is the route # of it?

[Mr_Mark1]

Wow Kayteg1, I would definitely want to be in your lane and not hugging the rough rocky side.

Good pic.
MM.

[Kayteg1]

Took me a while to find it as old album I used here got deleted.
This is one of the main highways in Colorado, that I drove 40' on.
Ask rangers before entering and the answer was
"You'll be OK. There are no curbs on this highway, but that is a good thing becouse you'd shave them with your overhangs"
Sure there was alternative highway. Add 240 miles.
Anybody for 45' challenge?

[msmith1199]

Trap wrote:
While I know there are a few roads out there that may restrict us on being over 40', I have to say from our experience we have not run into a campground that we could have gotten into if we we're only 40' instead of almost 45'. Not saying there aren't any, just we haven't had a problem so far.
Have come across older campgrounds where even a 40' was to big.

I'm sure having a 45' does make for a few concessions on use. But so far we have not seen enough negatives to offset the positives for us.

I would not disagree with that. When I bought my 35 footer I stuck to that length on purpose because I wanted to be able to fit into more places. I could have bought a 38 footer that was almost the exact same price as my 35 footer, but stuck with the smaller unit. Having had it now for 10 years, I can think of only one place where I stayed where I was already too long but they let me in, that I would not have been able to stay in had I got the 38 footer. Now if it was a difference between a 35 and 40 footer there would have been a lot more places I would have been locked out of and way more places if it were a 45 footer. But if you can fit with a 40 footer, for the most part you can probably also fit a 45 footer.

[Busskipper]

n4hwl wrote:
I have a 40 foot motorhome now. I am comfortable driving it. We do visit lots of state and federal campgrounds now. We often have to take special precautions and planning to be sure that this will fit.

Driving is not my concern.

I would like to talk to those that have gone from a 36 or 40 ft motorhome up to a 45 foot one.

50 years ago I started with a 49' Packard - then .... up to my 43 TS - also drive a Few 45 Prevos so I am willing to talk or discuss your questions.

Compare please. Driving, parking handling?

Driving after about 15 minutes it drives the same as the smaller vehicle.

Parking - if you know how to use your mirrors it is the same as the smaller coach.

Handling - the tag axle will make up for all the issues you can dream about - just plain NICE.

Increased, if any, difficulty in finding accommodation when traveling.

For me I have never had an issue - but that said I love Wal*Mart - so if there is an issue ............ As for parks - I tend to travel in the off season away from the crowds so honestly I have NEVER HAD A ISSUE in any location - yes I've been to a lot of Locations.

I tend to want to stay with the length I have now but there sure are some tempting 45 footers out there. you are so right - part of the reason we went with a 43 was to have the opportunity to move up one more time - problem is we LOVE the coach we have - so unless it goes up in smoke we are pretty sure it's the last one.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Suggestions - Try one out - while camping grab a bottle of Wine and just knock on the door - we have found that this will often lead to another drink or two and a lot of great stories.

Think about it - 40' is pretty big - so another 10% will hardly be noticed.

Ken

I generally stay out of these BS sessions but when I read through page two I really did not see anyone that was answering the question posed. If I can be of any help just sent me a PM.

What ever you decide - just enjoy it ,

[Trap]

While I know there are a few roads out there that may restrict us on being over 40', I have to say from our experience we have not run into a campground that we could have gotten into if we we're only 40' instead of almost 45'. Not saying there aren't any, just we haven't had a problem so far.
Have come across older campgrounds where even a 40' was to big.

I'm sure having a 45' does make for a few concessions on use. But so far we have not seen enough negatives to offset the positives for us.

[msmith1199]

Ivylog wrote:
I did not know that Greyhound did not service those Northeast states with their 45' buses.:S

Greyhound operates those busses mostly on the Interstate which is legal per Federal Law. Per Federal law they also have to be granted access to and from their depots to the Interstate. When they are running on local roads or state highways they have to comply with state law and local laws on vehicle length restrictions.

[msmith1199]

I've driven the PHS in my 35 foot DP multiple times with my toad and did not have that same experience Mr. Mark. As long as you're going South there are all kinds of turnouts. I would not drive on it during a summer weekend only because of all the traffic, but otherwise it's a great drive. I often go spend one night in Monterey and then spend the next day driving down the PHS to the Pismo area. We'll spend a night there and then come home the next day on 101. It's nice little three day trip on a spring or fall weekend.

[Mr_Mark1]

Also, we all have to keep in mind that once you are 'off the beaten path' that bridge weights may come into the equation. We are at 55,500 lbs. (27.75 tons).... so, that's where the toad comes in handy once we stop to tour the area.

I've driven the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) in a 31 ft. Class C rental and in my personal car. It was awful in the RV.... tight turns, watching every inch of the road. Cars start stacking up behind you and then you're looking for a turn-out (how is that enjoyable?). Just makes sense to enjoy it in a normal size car.

MM.

[DSDP_Don]

"msmith1199".....I think your point about the length on certain roads was a good point. I think you also brought up the fact that you could be limiting the size of your toad by going 45'. I thought they were both good points and fit into the discussion.