Moved the following to this new topic:

Hi Howard,  We want to buy a class A, and we are torn between getting a 35' or a 40'.  Do you think there will be a big difference in the campgrounds we can fit into?  We like the same natural beauty and privacy that you and Linda have usually selected.  Thanks.

Matt

Moved the following reply to this new topic:


We moved from a 35' to a 40' motorhome a few years ago. The places we can stay are about the same, the length restrictions are similar. Below about 33' seems to open up the camping locations and going over about 42' seems to restrict them much further.

__________________
Bill Joyce, 2004 Dutch Star DP towing a Honda CRV, Journal at http://www.sacnoth.com

I'm glad bjoyce chimed in on this one.  I would have said that you shouldn't see much difference at all in the 35' to 40' range, so I'm glad that he confirmed it. 

I would also agree with his statements that you will be more restricted over 40' and things open up considerably the closer you get to 30' and below.  But if you have been following us very long, you see we have had some beautiful campsites with our 39' tip-to-tip fifth wheel.  We have not had near the difficulty in finding such sites as we thought we would.

For us there are usually more issues with where to park the tow vehicle or toad than the RV itself.  We love those 60' to 100' sites that give us plenty of room for both. 

Sometimes we have to park our pick-up sideways or in the grass (if allowed).  We have not yet had to park in overflow parking and walk to the truck, but I'm sure we will have to deal with that at some point. 

If it were me, and length is the only consideration, I'd get the 40 footer for full-timing or extended travel.   

OK, really dumb question here. How do you find out what the supposed size restrictions are when looking for a campground? I keep hearing about restrictions in national parks, etc., but haven't seen any data. We do NOT want to be restricted to commercial RV parks... we would rather avoid them if at all possible, because we want to get away from all that.

Thanks,
Tim Fansler

Here Here, I'll add to that dumb question - also other restrictions such as age limits, pet restrictions ie number of animals - size/pounds etc. I've found that in Florida you don't find this stuff out until you actually get to the park.

-- Edited by bago40 at 18:38, 2007-03-29

If there are size restrictions or any others of note, they'll be listed in the directories, or on the website if they have one. Length restrictions seem to be centered in older federal and state CG's. We've never had a problem at almost 39 feet with our bike rack on the back, in any of the 70+ CG's we've been in so far. As Howard mentioned, parking the truck sometimes is an issue. Fred

I am wondering the same thing...we want to stay far from commercial campgrounds as often as possible as well as go "off grid" and boondock out west. It seems to me I have seen posts around about not being able to take the bigger rigs out on blm land? Is that right? There is some notion and warnings about size out there on the forums but then good people like Howard have these BIG fivers and get them in where they need to! We are in a 29ft bunk house now (my husband uses it as his office and we visit him...this is the reason we are getting out of the rat race...he lives in another city from us during the week and lives in our rv!) Anyway, it would be too small for the four of us for any length of time so we are definitley thinking of a 35-40' with as many slides as i can get We have a F250 diesel but I dont think we can go any longer in a fiver without buying another truck so we are just thinking of going ahead and getting a class a. Any and all opinions welcome! Paula in Fl

Here comes another dumb question, which is really only rephrasing the first one. If you want to be able to get into as many national parks, COE, state parks, etc. as you can as opposed to commercial camp grounds, how big can you safely go when you buy your rig? Has anyone run into any rules of thumb on any of the message boards? All I have seen so far is the generic warning that you might run into some problems in some of these parks if your rig is too big, but I haven't found anything yet that says how big is too big.

We're still a couple years away from going fulltime and haven't purchased a rig yet. What limits should we impose on ourselves as to total size when we're getting ready to choose a rig, while getting as much space as we safely can?

Thanks,
Tim Fansler

-- Edited by fansler at 09:05, 2007-03-30

Getting into as many camping spots as possible is where the 33 feet or less comes from. There has been a couple long discussions of this on the Escapees forum and those with 32-33' RVs found they could camp about anywhere and they just squeezed in some of those places. There are people full-timing very happily with 28' fifth-wheels and they can camp about anywhere.

Often you find federal campgrounds have limits based not on site size but road access limitations.  We have driven down the middle of the state road leading to a beautiful NF campground with ample size spaces to keep from clipping the many overhead trees.  The campground said rig size was limited to 29 ft but there were many 35ft+ rigs in the area.  Obviously these people had alread scouted out the destination or they were extremely adventurous.  Same with some with winding roads and hairpins that force you into both lanes to get to a beautiful destination.  So we call the Ranger district and ask questions.  Most of the time we get the information we need and find some great sites.

Just a warning though, when the information combines altitude with winding roads and primitive campgrounds your risk factor is going up and much to our dismay that opportunity to turn around is greatly diminished.

Even with our 32ft 5th wheel we sometimes unhitch and scout out 29ft sites in the pickup before we venture on the road.  Especially in the western states where many think that you can go anywhere you don't need to fly in a four wheel drive.  It just ain't so.

But IMO, pick your rig based on the size that meets other more important requirements and use your toad when you just can't go there.

Larry and Jacki

bago40 wrote:

---

Here Here, I'll add to that dumb question - also other restrictions such as age limits, pet restrictions ie number of animals - size/pounds etc. I've found that in Florida you don't find this stuff out until you actually get to the park.

-- Edited by bago40 at 18:38, 2007-03-29

---

How prevelant is the age restrictions and what is there general cut off. I do understand that often times older people would prefer not to have lots of young (loud) children around. So what types of age restrictions have people run into?

Something new I had not considered being an issue.

Leslie

I think when talking about age - they are talking about age of the rig, not age of the occupants.

The restrictions I have seen a lot are 55+ parks, RVs under 10 years old and pets under 40lbs.
All 55+ parks can handle younger people but do not want kids. You migth need to deal with the real manager or central office because some workcampers take the 55+ literally. By law they are actually supposed to have at least 3% (I think) and up to 10% under 55 years of age. This is mostly a retirement community/snowbird designation and it saves them paying property taxes for schools. You find it in southern California, Arizona, Texas and Florida. Thank Del Webb for doing all the legal work to define 55+.

The RV under 10 years rules are a reaction to junkers. If you have a really nice older RV, like a fixed up GMC (which are all over 10 years old) the manager can approve you. These rules are normally at expensive places, but the only campground in Springville, UT (Orem/Provo area) has this rule and it is nothing fancy.

The pets under 40lbs comes from at least one insurance company that is prevalent in Florida but I have heard of it in some other places.  I haven't seen it often but the Escapees Co-op in Wauchula, Florida has that insurance. KOA's do not allow "agressive breeds" of dogs.

-- Edited by bjoyce at 18:24, 2008-01-14

-- Edited by bjoyce at 18:24, 2008-01-14

Thanks for the input. I am a wee bit younger then 55 so I will keep an eye out for restrictions in those states. I do not have kids and have no intention of having any so I may be ok at most sites.

We've stayed in some of the 55+ age restriction parks and the noise level prior to 9PM was unbearable. Lots of shouting (Marge where's my hearing aid? Where'd I leave my glasses ?, Have you seen the remote?), loud TVs, banging and clanking of walkers....etc After 9PM everyone goes to bed and it gets real quiet. Just Kidding......

Hey Bear - thanks for the laugh of the day!

Bear, so that was you next door to me and my wife! I wish I had known that. Still can't find my hearing aide! Dang it Speedy