What is a big rig?

[ehlenrg]

We have a Grey Wolf 28DBH which is about 31.5 feet hitch to bumper. Our tow vehicle is a F150. I generally pick campgrounds that are coded for big rigs. While researching campgrounds for a trip to the Black Hills, Yellowstone and Glacier parks this June I've noticed that by limiting myself to "big rig" campgrounds I'm also limiting my choices of campgrounds especially around Glacier. So my bottom line question is: Are 32' travel trailers considered big rigs?

[avoidcrowds]

rbpru, I just want to reiterate - the restriction on length in Glacier NP is only for the road up to Logan Pass, beyond Rising Sun campground. You can get to all campgrounds before the length restriction. Rising Sun campground is where the length restrictions begin. No problem getting to the campground.

[rbpru]

We are currently parked at Red Rock Canyon State Park outside of Oklahoma City. They suggest 40 ft and under.

A great place to camp. Really winding roads to the campsites.

[hohenwald48]

I've always thought of a "big rig" friendly campground as being one that could handle a 40'-45' motorhome. Usually towing some kind of "toad". While a 50' long TT/TV combo might sound like a "big rig" you have to remember the motorhome doesn't bend in the middle so it needs a little more maneuvering room.

[wrenchbender]

Because of your LOA you are a big rig.When I was in the Business over 25ft was a big rig.Looking at big rig campgrounds is smart.Many CG will state that they take big rigs,but they may only have a very limited amount of big rig sites.

[PenMan]

rbpru wrote:
I would hazard a guess that anything over 25 to 28 ft would be difficult in some of the older parks out west. Our 25 ft TT had no problems.

At Glacier National Park even the road use was limited to a total TT and TV length of about 25ft.

That would really be tough. My truck is 22 ft. long by itself. My rig is 59 ft bumper to bumper. I do research on campgrounds before going to them.

[dodge_guy]

My trailer is 35 feet, truck and trailer are 55feet. I've yet to find a campground I couldn't get into. Yes I've been in some tight campgrounds but nothing that has worried me.

Oh, and you're not considering a "big rig". So just find a place you like and go.

[Dennis_M_M]

Our fiver is 37' and we are 62' when hooked up. I never bother with looking for specific "Big Rig" parks. I call ahead and ask if they have room for a 37' fiver. Have never run into a site I could not put the fiver into (the Volvo has a much greater wheel cut than most pick-ups). Occasionally I have had to park the Volvo away from our site.

[WyoTraveler]

gbopp wrote:
I don't know of a definition for 'Big Rig', but it's used often.

You can buy a Big Rig Directory.

And some RV Parks advertise as being Big Rig Friendly.

Certainly nothing under 26k pounds would be considered a big rig.

[Chuck_thehammer]

avoid any TERM.. big rig.. compact... Super Size... Mega-Large.

go by real numbers. avoid confusion .

my trailer is a 29FKCS.... I post 30 unless none available for that size.. and its 28... Never seen anyone come out with a tape measure.

If I can park it in the space... it FITS.


last year.. Tappen Lake Ohio.. the rear 4 feet of the trailer was 5 feet above the creek water. so I had to empty the rear storage compartment before parking the trailer.

[LarryJM]

tatest wrote:
Not really. RV parks advertise as 'big rig friendly' to say they have sites that will accommodate RVs in the 40-45 foot range that are towing, for a 55-65 foot overall length, and they have a way for you to get through the campground to one of those sites. A 32 foot TT does not put you in that 'big rig' range, that's a fairly small towable RV by today's standards.

Be aware, however, that you will still come across public campgrounds that have sites to accommodate 30-35 foot, others 25-30 foot, yet others 20 foot and under. There may be some campgrounds that do not have sites over the 25-30 foot range, but for RV parks, that is unlikely.

I would agree with that definition of Big Rig. Never seen the definition of it written down anywhere.

Larry

[gbopp]

I don't know of a definition for 'Big Rig', but it's used often.

You can buy a Big Rig Directory.

And some RV Parks advertise as being Big Rig Friendly.

[WyoTraveler]

Doubt you will ever have to answer that question. Every RV park I have been to just wants to know my length to see if I will fit in an available space. Of course my DW breaks it down for them. Length of RV and length of toad i.e. or for example length of TT and length of PU. Although there may be room for the RV there may or may not be room for a toad or PU. If asking for an overnight pull through site DW includes total length connected.

[tatest]

Not really. RV parks advertise as 'big rig friendly' to say they have sites that will accommodate RVs in the 40-45 foot range that are towing, for a 55-65 foot overall length, and they have a way for you to get through the campground to one of those sites. A 32 foot TT does not put you in that 'big rig' range, that's a fairly small towable RV by today's standards.

Be aware, however, that you will still come across public campgrounds that have sites to accommodate 30-35 foot, others 25-30 foot, yet others 20 foot and under. There may be some campgrounds that do not have sites over the 25-30 foot range, but for RV parks, that is unlikely.

[avoidcrowds]

When in doubt, find the campground in GoogleEarth, and use the Measure tool. Depending on tree cover, most of the time you can find some of the parking spots, so you can measure them. I never rely solely on campground descriptions, as terms vary in meaning.

Glacier NP has the length restriction from Rising Sun campground up to Logan Pass. This is on the east side. There likely is the same restriction from some point on the west side, but there is more road from the west entrance to where the restriction would likely begin. We camped at Rising Sun campground, and there is room for some longer trailers in various sites, but not all sites. One loop has larger sites than the other. No reservations at Rising Sun, so you must be there before 10 a.m., normally, to get a site.

The St. Mary campground is just inside the east entrance, and has more long sites. They do take reservations, I believe, but we chose to stay at Rising Sun. Drove through St. Mary campground, and it was okay, but Rising Sun fit our tastes better.

Enjoy your trip!