How much clearance do you recommend when parking?

[RVM5]

Our family is convinced that our 21 foot (24 foot with rear slide out extended) travel trailer will fit in their driveway. We are getting a few more measurements, but at the moment it looks like we might only have 20 inches total clearance for the width, perhaps up to 32 inches total. We will be backing in from a large street but not with a driveway directly across. We were thinking we would be better off staying at an RV park due to concerns of not fitting, especially with the potential difficulties in maneuvering. Thoughts?

[RVM5]

They have a pad in the back to park one car. The other cars (theirs and/or ours) will have to be parked on the street. The suburban is 18.5'.

They said they would be fine parking one car on the street.

[Mocoondo]

An inch is as good as a mile.

As long as you want to be there and you are confident in your ability to place your RV in the designated spot without striking anything, I'd say go for it.

[DutchmenSport]

Just a question? If you park the camper in that space, is there room for the Suburban to park also? What about other vehicles parking.

We once owned a Suburban and towed an 18 ft TT, that actually measured 21 feet. The Suburban was 21 feet also. Your rig: 24 plus 21 equals 45 feet? Driveway long enough for that without intruding over the sidewalk?

[tatest]

It is a self-confidence issue. I don't have that much clearance going into my present storage space, but I like to have a lot more room going into a spot I haven't been in before.

First TT we had, had to back up 20 feet of driveway with 6" or less clearance on the right (blind) side, then through a gate with 3" each side. Managed to do it, each time we came home. Took a few stops, pull-forwards, restarts. Sounds like there is plenty of room for the trailer, just need to decide whether you are personally up to doing this.

[pasusan]

.

[RVM5]

I'm honestly surprised how confident everyone is. Here is a schematic with updated measurements. I think we'll be ok as it looks like we'll have 20 inches of clearance on the side near the house and 4' 2" on the neighbor side (8 foot wide camper). The street is 51' wide. We will be pulling with a suburban.

We would definitely have more family down time staying at an RV park, but there would also be inconveniences like splitting or pulling everyone away if someone needs a nap or wants to sleep in. We would have water and electric but no sewer.

Our extended family's motivation is that their 3 grandkids will be in the camper during the holidays.

[pigman1]

Just depends on how good you are maneuvering your rig. I know I wouldn't have a problem, but others might have never put a rig anywhere that wasn't a 1 acre pull through. By the way I once watched a trucker back a double (2 trailer boxes) into a spot with doubles on each side of him. One shot and he was in. When he went inside I had to go down each side by sidestepping. Less than a foot on each side all the way back. WHAT A MAN!!!

[skipnchar]

If you have 20"to spare it should still allow you too open the door. That's about the only absolute limit so beyond that it's your convenience that matters and only you can make that decision.
Good luck / skip

[Campfire_Time]

The only concern I would have with this is knowing what obstacles there are. Is it just a driveway with grass on either side? If so, this is IMHO a "no-brainer". It'll be just like backing into a campsite with a narrow pad. Or is this a driveway with building walls or other obstacles on one or both sides? The later would probably make me look at alternatives.

[KD4UPL]

Sounds like plenty of room to me. How good are you at backing up? I have no idea. I've parked my camper in my BIL's driveway several times for multiple nights. No problems.

[Chuck_thehammer]

something else to look into.

in my small town... camper, RV, Motorhome.
can only park in driveway for 48 hours.

[crickeydog]

Been there and done that...once. That was enough. Go to an RV CG. Trust me on this one. You'll be glad you did.

Happy camping!!! See y'all down the road!!!:)

[Old-Biscuit]

Do they have electric, water and place to dump tanks?

RV parks do!

[Trackrig]

If you do back in, you might consider the time if day when you do it for two reasons. When will there be the least traffic that you'll be blocking so that you don't get distracted or in a hurry? And second, consider where the sun is. You don't want it directly behind you in your mirrors.

Bill

[dalenoel]

I store my TT next to the S&B home but city restrictions require 3 foot clearance on the house side for fire gap and access around in case of emergencies. Backing it into the space should not be a problem once you get used to the situation but other matters may be more important.