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Why no over 40-foot trailers?

raydf
Explorer
Explorer
Please pardon the basic question but I've noticed that even the most expensive travel trailers are almost never over 40 feet in length. Are there some regulations or laws that preclude manufacturers from exceeding 40 feet or is it just that the market doesn't require them?

Thanks!
Ray
Miami FL
2009 Fleetwood Pulse 24A
56 REPLIES 56

TxGearhead
Explorer II
Explorer II
Just for giggles...someone that has a self described long TT, could you measure the length from the ball to the front trailer axle??
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LifeInsideJack
Explorer
Explorer
Copperhead wrote:
Well, I pull a 53' long, 13' 6" tall van trailer behind my 240" wheel base class 8 semi truck quite a bit, and the last thing I would want to do is pull a 40' TT around on my fun time. Pulling something down the road is one thing. One could pull a 70' trailer down the road and it not be an issue. A monkey could do that. It is maneuvering a TT around camp areas and other tight situations where things can get messy. Even so-called "pull thru" spots are not that easy to park exceptionally long TT's at times. After over 5 million miles of commercial driving and putting trailers into places where it seems one couldn't park a VW Rabbit, I have learned many neat tricks on how to put a trailer somewhere. I just don't want to utilize that much skill when I am on my own time.


+1

It's bad enough just trying to get around automobiles while "on duty" the last thing I would want is to deal with that for fun. Additionally it may require an enhanced endorsement due to the weight and the type of vehicle needed to pull that thing.
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csjag1
Explorer
Explorer
TxGearhead wrote:
And here I was thinking about getting a Grand Design 315RLTS travel trailer that is 38ft long. I was wanting to lower that 3600# load on the truck and lower that 13'6" height of our 5th wheel. Y'all got me all skeered. So that TT is too long to pull down the road compared to a 36ft 5th wheel? I've had 2 cabovers, 1 motorhome, and am on our 2nd 5th wheel. Just never pulled a TT.


We have the Grand Design 315RLTS and pull it with a Chevy 2500 crew cab with the standard bed and the Duramax diesel. We use a 1400/14,000 Equalizer 4-point hitch to hook the trailer to the TV. This combination pulls great and handles really well despite the length.(best guess that overall length is 60-61 ft.) If you want the Grand Design, then get it and go have fun with it. We've made several 1100 mile trips with ours and never had any issues.

parcany
Explorer
Explorer
I pull a 35.6 foot travel trailer down the road. Total length is 57 feet long. It does not bother me in the least.

Copperhead
Explorer
Explorer
Well, I pull a 53' long, 13' 6" tall van trailer behind my 240" wheel base class 8 semi truck quite a bit, and the last thing I would want to do is pull a 40' TT around on my fun time. Pulling something down the road is one thing. One could pull a 70' trailer down the road and it not be an issue. A monkey could do that. It is maneuvering a TT around camp areas and other tight situations where things can get messy. Even so-called "pull thru" spots are not that easy to park exceptionally long TT's at times. After over 5 million miles of commercial driving and putting trailers into places where it seems one couldn't park a VW Rabbit, I have learned many neat tricks on how to put a trailer somewhere. I just don't want to utilize that much skill when I am on my own time.

TxGearhead
Explorer II
Explorer II
^^I'm with ya bud. Just sounds like some on here are about to tt their pants if they have to pull more than 24ft.
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colliehauler
Explorer III
Explorer III
parcany wrote:
Sent a e-mail to Jayco and Jeff called me today. Jeff told me that the Bungalow is considered a travel trailer by Jayco. That's why it is called a Jayco Jayflight Bungalow. Jeff did say that the Bungalow, even though it is considered a travel trailer should not be used like a normal travel trailer, it is not built for being hauled all over the place like a travel trailer is.
That was my point. They are ment to be hauled to a destination or seasonal site. A park model is more like a Mobil home usually having a pitched roof, conventional toilet and no holding tanks. Because of zoning some parks do not allow park models where they do allow destination or seasonal trailers.

tomman58
Explorer
Explorer
TxGearhead wrote:
And here I was thinking about getting a Grand Design 315RLTS travel trailer that is 38ft long. I was wanting to lower that 3600# load on the truck and lower that 13'6" height of our 5th wheel. Y'all got me all skeered. So that TT is too long to pull down the road compared to a 36ft 5th wheel? I've had 2 cabovers, 1 motorhome, and am on our 2nd 5th wheel. Just never pulled a TT.


As I said I've pulled a 40' TT for years and I really do not know it is back there. We have been in some bad winds and weather. I think my old Reese WDH with 1200' torsion bars works just fine . My truck is a 2500 DMAX. Good luck
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TxGearhead
Explorer II
Explorer II
And here I was thinking about getting a Grand Design 315RLTS travel trailer that is 38ft long. I was wanting to lower that 3600# load on the truck and lower that 13'6" height of our 5th wheel. Y'all got me all skeered. So that TT is too long to pull down the road compared to a 36ft 5th wheel? I've had 2 cabovers, 1 motorhome, and am on our 2nd 5th wheel. Just never pulled a TT.
2018 Ram 3500 CC LB DRW 4X4 Cummins Aisin Laramie Pearl White
2018 Landmark Oshkosh
2008 Bigfoot 25C9.4
2014 NauticStar 21 ShallowBay 150HP Yamaha
2016 GoDevil 18X44 35HP Surface Drive

Copperhead
Explorer
Explorer
Kind of like a park model type of thing it seems like.

parcany
Explorer
Explorer
Sent a e-mail to Jayco and Jeff called me today. Jeff told me that the Bungalow is considered a travel trailer by Jayco. That's why it is called a Jayco Jayflight Bungalow. Jeff did say that the Bungalow, even though it is considered a travel trailer should not be used like a normal travel trailer, it is not built for being hauled all over the place like a travel trailer is.

colliehauler
Explorer III
Explorer III
parcany wrote:
colliehauler wrote:
parcany wrote:
Just checked with Jayco websight and everything that I read about the Bungalow was that it is considered a Travel Trailer. Now Jayco did at one time make a destination trailer but no more.It is not considered a Park model cause it has black and grey tanks.
Jayco calls it a seasonal trailer instead of a destination trailer, same thing. Ceder Creek calls their Cottage model a destination trailer. When you call up their Web site read the top line. (( Jayco makes some of the finest travel and SEASONAL trailers)).
You are right it does say that but when you punch up Bungalow to look at the models they call it a Travel Trailer. a SEASONAL trailer can also be a pop-up. Cedar Creek can call their trailer anything they want to.
Not going to argue with you, Call Jayco and ask what the differences are.

parcany
Explorer
Explorer
colliehauler wrote:
parcany wrote:
Just checked with Jayco websight and everything that I read about the Bungalow was that it is considered a Travel Trailer. Now Jayco did at one time make a destination trailer but no more.It is not considered a Park model cause it has black and grey tanks.
Jayco calls it a seasonal trailer instead of a destination trailer, same thing. Ceder Creek calls their Cottage model a destination trailer. When you call up their Web site read the top line. (( Jayco makes some of the finest travel and SEASONAL trailers)).
You are right it does say that but when you punch up Bungalow to look at the models they call it a Travel Trailer. a SEASONAL trailer can also be a pop-up. Cedar Creek can call their trailer anything they want to.

colliehauler
Explorer III
Explorer III
parcany wrote:
Just checked with Jayco websight and everything that I read about the Bungalow was that it is considered a Travel Trailer. Now Jayco did at one time make a destination trailer but no more.It is not considered a Park model cause it has black and grey tanks.
Jayco calls it a seasonal trailer instead of a destination trailer, same thing. Ceder Creek calls their Cottage model a destination trailer. When you call up their Web site read the top line. (( Jayco makes some of the finest travel and SEASONAL trailers)).