Anyone here Fulltiming or Planning to in a MH longer than 40 foot?
Ckerr said
08:38 AM Sep 15, 2010
I know Gene is.. .45 foot I believe. We're just curious... Wondering what your expereinces have been with parks. Where you generally travel etc..
As we're looking for our DP we're finding everything we can really see living in is 42 - 45 foot.
We realize that a lot of state parks will be out of the question for us. But then again they also generally have 30 amp hook ups so that puts them out of the running most of the year for us anyway...
GENECOP said
09:50 AM Sep 15, 2010
We recently got back from Lewis Lake State Park in the Adirondacks, while the park was generally small, there where a number of sites that we where able to fit into, we had a great time, no problem...Also, 30 amp should not be a deal breaker, we have a seasonal site with only 30 amps, we are careful not to overload the circuit, and run the generator if we need more power. G
Roz said
07:32 AM Sep 16, 2010
There seem to be two really power hogs on motorhomes - HVAC and a washer/dryer.
Our 40' Itasca Horizon DP has a great power management system. Since we opted not to have a W/D, we can operate everything on 30 amp, although it is setup for 50 amp.
The basement HVAC only draws 17 amps leaving a sufficent excess to power everything else. We have used either 30 or 50 amp hookups in all kinds of weather while using the convection/microwave oven. Without the W/D, we just do not have to seek 50 amp service.
Therefore power requirements truly depend on how your rig is equipped and wired. When we moved up from a 36' DP to this 40' we gained a lot. We do not see a need for us to have more length. We have found few places that can not accomodate us.
bjoyce said
09:41 AM Sep 16, 2010
My in-laws have a 42' DP and they have to lie and say it is 40' a lot to be allowed in. Since they mostly go to the same places each year they have learned which places have room for them to camp, but the first couple years they traveled with it they had some issues. They do not have trouble running on 30AMP and do boondock.
What is it about 42 to 45' DPs that makes them the only ones you can see living in? From my perspective I wonder if you have some "must haves" that are really "would really likes".
Ckerr said
12:34 PM Sep 17, 2010
Gene, did you guys just show up or had you checked out the park to make sure that you would fit?
Good point about the "must haves" vs. "would really like to haves" Bill. We're making lists and thinking that through.
Floor space is important to us. We have a rather large dog who tends to be underfoot. And a decent shower with room for a seat as Johnny has RA and needs that to be comfortable and safe.
We're also both still working. It's likely that I will still be doing some consulting which means I need a professional wardrobe that will travel with us. That also means some files and lots of computer equipment and a somewhat dedicated place to work. Johnny does some short term assignments which means hard hats, workboots etc.
We also love to golf, so we need room for that equipment. And I love to cook which means a good kitchen set up. I also want to take my sewing machine with. Important for my creative well-being. And Johnny's fishing equipment. Oh, and then there's the motorcycle and that gear... helmets, riding jackets, boots etc.
And neither of us like clutter, so that means space to put things where they belong and not stacked around.
We could come to the conclusion that there's really no way for us to actually live comfortably in a MH. Or we can add a few feet and be a little limited on where we park it. Right now extra feet seem to be the better choice for us. Of course I could be wrong on that front, so we decided to ask the question to get the perspective of those who really know!
Boondocking is not something we really envision doing a lot of. Maybe a few days at a Nascar race or overnight on the road, but that's really about it. A generator is a requirement for us and we figured that would take care of the 30 amp issue.
-- Edited by Ckerr on Friday 17th of September 2010 12:34:47 PM
Bill and Linda said
03:05 PM Sep 17, 2010
Ckerr wrote:
I know Gene is.. .45 foot I believe. We're just curious... Wondering what your expereinces have been with parks. Where you generally travel etc..
We realize that a lot of state parks will be out of the question for us. But then again they also generally have 30 amp hook ups so that puts them out of the running most of the year for us anyway...
Gene’s comment on 30 amps is a good one IMO.Whether you have a 40-45 MH or a 39’ fiver as we do, in “most cases” the 30 / 50 amp problem is about the same.We find that we can “make it” on 30 amps without too much trouble at all except when it is really hot and you need that second AC unit.Then it’s the generator for a bit to get the heat under control before switching back to 30 amp shore power.
A good current / voltage monitor will help with this 30 amp load issue such that you can monitor current – amps - (and voltage) and not only keep from tripping breakers in the campground, but allow you to actually use all the power that’s available by showing you just how much is left in that 30 amp plug.
All this said; I suggest you make sure the the fridge and water heater especially can run on gas thus reducing significantly your AC current (amp) requirements. In some larger coaches they are putting only house type 120 volt only fridges.That presents a problem IMO if you plan to travel as you indicate.(FWIW - You would be surprised how many amps that fridge takes.We run ours on LP many times when we’re on 30 amps to save power for other things.)
Safe travels
Bill
bjoyce said
04:28 PM Sep 17, 2010
Two of you have said you run the generator on 30AMPs when needed. Many campgrounds have "no generator usage" in their rules so you can't always run the generator.
I agree about electric only fridges. Reasons they are doing this is they are cheaper fridges, they are normally larger than the maximum RV one of 14cuft, the freezer will make ice cream hard while the RV type won't, and with all the fridge fires many are scared of RV fridges. We had a cooling unit failure but stayed with a propane/electric RV fridge since we do boondock and often run off a household extension cord while driveway camping.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Friday 17th of September 2010 04:28:40 PM
Steak Eater said
05:05 PM Sep 17, 2010
-- Edited by Steak Eater on Friday 15th of October 2010 04:24:11 PM
bjoyce said
06:37 PM Sep 17, 2010
RV fridges run about 15 to 25 degrees, enough to freeze but not freeze hard. The main complaints are about ice cream, not meat. This is the nature of absorption refrigerators. We have a small Norcold (Engel) compressor fridge in the basement that runs on 12volt DC and 120volt AC, it cools to -5 to +5 and ice cream is solid.
Ckerr said
10:22 PM Sep 17, 2010
Good point about the fridge. Need to think about that one. We really like the residential fridge from a capacity standpoint -- Johnny likes to have a couple of gallons of milk on hand... But haven't really researched the electric only aspect. Need to think that one through.
AND it's important to be good neighbors when using a generator, regardless of whether it's against the rules or not. I think we'll plan on saving the 30amp parks for cooler times of the year!
Bill, was just thinking about what you said about your in-laws having to say their 42 footer was only 40 foot to get into some parks. I'm thinking that there is no way the 45 footer will "pass" for 40.
Luvglass said
10:42 PM Sep 17, 2010
"Bill, was just thinking about what you said about your in-laws having to say their 42 footer was only 40 foot to get into some parks. I'm thinking that there is no way the 45 footer will "pass" for 40."
The reason it works is that no one ever comes out of the office and looks at your rig. You can say whatever length you want.
Ckerr said
04:32 PM Sep 18, 2010
Luvglass wrote:
"Bill, was just thinking about what you said about your in-laws having to say their 42 footer was only 40 foot to get into some parks. I'm thinking that there is no way the 45 footer will "pass" for 40."
The reason it works is that no one ever comes out of the office and looks at your rig. You can say whatever length you want.
Good point Fred. Well, except for that occassional overhelpful guide who takes you to the site and then tries to direct you in to the parkng place
NorCal Dan said
05:29 PM Sep 18, 2010
Length becomes important when a site can not handle a rig. All the parks I have worked at that impose restrictions do so for good reason. Besides the fact that it will be obvious the rig is too long, it can also create a safety issue for everyone if the oversize rig is protruding out into the road (or you park your toad in front of your rig). And in some instances the neighbors on either side will be extremely crowded. Some parks limit sites based on both length and/or width.
If the park is not "big rig friendly", chances are the interior roads may not be wide enough to maneuver the rig through the park safely.
In the end everybody loses. The oversize rig will be upset with the park and not enjoy their stay. The neighbors will be upset with the park for putting a giant rig in the site next to them. And the park will lose patrons, both those that actually were impacted by the oversize rig, and the bad word-of-mouth that those campers will share with other campers.
If the park cannot handle big rigs then find another place to stay.
I am one of those "overhelpful guide" people. Good Sam parks use escorts to get higher ratings from Good Sam. We are there to help you back into your site (without hitting anything), and I will help you get setup if asked. I also provide answers to questions about the park, the local area, and can even give a fishing report. Some of the larger parks can be a nightmare to figure out if you haven't been there before and having an escort, at the end of the day when I am tired from driving all day, is a good thing...
Ckerr said
10:07 PM Sep 18, 2010
Dan, didn't mean to offend about the escorts. We DO appreciate the guidance to the site. It's just we have a system/process for communicating and it works pretty good for getting backed into the site. For whatever reason, Johnny is more comfortable when I'm helping than someone he just met. Maybe because I know what he's looking for too.
And I agree about sticking with big rig friendly parks. Sometimes parks that say "big rig friendly" make me wonder what they consider "big rig." With our 40 foot 5th wheel I tend to call and ask lots of questions to determine whether we REALLY fit.
NorCal Dan said
10:23 AM Sep 19, 2010
I wasn't offended at all...just sharing why we do what we do. I have had a few couples who prefer I not help back them in and I'm okay with that...but I would say 99% of the couples call me the marriage saver :)
FWIW, we have yet to stay at any private park that restricted big rigs. Always best to call ahead to make sure the place you plan to stay is big rig friendly.
Ckerr said
10:42 AM Sep 19, 2010
Maybe help with parking the MH would've saved my last marriage... Hmmm, probably not... But remembering those experiences does remind me how people would appreciate the neutral 3rd party helping get the rig settled!
stagecoach-driver said
10:03 PM Sep 19, 2010
I have a standard question for anyone who escrots us to the site and says that they have guide us into the site is " Thank you, but my wife will direct me into the site. and if they say that they must help us park I the Are you personally going to accept any and all respondiablty if I do any damage to my rig or the site" most will just leave or go sit on their cart a couple sites away.
-- Edited by stagecoach-driver on Sunday 19th of September 2010 10:04:52 PM
Racerguy said
06:26 PM Sep 20, 2010
Just be careful,some state parks have people taking reservations who have no idea just how big a 39 foot 5th wheel is.Tygart Lake State Park in West Virginia is a prime example.They accepted our reservation for a week saying they had plenty of room.As we were going in the interior roads should have been a clue as I had to be very careful in some spots on the way in to the campground.Long story short I have our 5th wheel STUFFED into a spot no bigger than a 30 footer should be in! They could not rent the site next to ours because I stuck out into the road so far nobody could get past. The camp host and most of the other campers all agree they should have never said they could accomodate me.Will be moving into a different town close by(visiting family) at great expense as there is no refund here and I have to pay at the other park.I will be sending the director of state parks a letter nicely explaining they should really put a length restriction on this park.It's a beautiful park but not for a trailer our size. Lesson here..reserve for one night only then if you are comfortable you can extend.I'm stuck paying paying for a site I can't use.
-- Edited by Racerguy on Monday 20th of September 2010 06:26:55 PM
Ckerr said
06:34 PM Sep 20, 2010
Good advice George. That's what we generally do now unless the campground's website has great pics and we're positive it will work out.
In general if we're going to be someplace for a longer stay and aren't familiar with the park/area we only make a reservation for a couple of days and then check out our options when we arrive to make sure it's where we want to stay.
As we're looking for our DP we're finding everything we can really see living in is 42 - 45 foot.
We realize that a lot of state parks will be out of the question for us. But then again they also generally have 30 amp hook ups so that puts them out of the running most of the year for us anyway...
Our 40' Itasca Horizon DP has a great power management system. Since we opted not to have a W/D, we can operate everything on 30 amp, although it is setup for 50 amp.
The basement HVAC only draws 17 amps leaving a sufficent excess to power everything else. We have used either 30 or 50 amp hookups in all kinds of weather while using the convection/microwave oven. Without the W/D, we just do not have to seek 50 amp service.
Therefore power requirements truly depend on how your rig is equipped and wired. When we moved up from a 36' DP to this 40' we gained a lot. We do not see a need for us to have more length. We have found few places that can not accomodate us.
Good point about the "must haves" vs. "would really like to haves" Bill. We're making lists and thinking that through.
Floor space is important to us. We have a rather large dog who tends to be underfoot. And a decent shower with room for a seat as Johnny has RA and needs that to be comfortable and safe.
We're also both still working. It's likely that I will still be doing some consulting which means I need a professional wardrobe that will travel with us. That also means some files and lots of computer equipment and a somewhat dedicated place to work. Johnny does some short term assignments which means hard hats, workboots etc.
We also love to golf, so we need room for that equipment. And I love to cook which means a good kitchen set up. I also want to take my sewing machine with. Important for my creative well-being. And Johnny's fishing equipment. Oh, and then there's the motorcycle and that gear... helmets, riding jackets, boots etc.
And neither of us like clutter, so that means space to put things where they belong and not stacked around.
We could come to the conclusion that there's really no way for us to actually live comfortably in a MH. Or we can add a few feet and be a little limited on where we park it. Right now extra feet seem to be the better choice for us. Of course I could be wrong on that front, so we decided to ask the question to get the perspective of those who really know!
Boondocking is not something we really envision doing a lot of. Maybe a few days at a Nascar race or overnight on the road, but that's really about it. A generator is a requirement for us and we figured that would take care of the 30 amp issue.
-- Edited by Ckerr on Friday 17th of September 2010 12:34:47 PM
Gene’s comment on 30 amps is a good one IMO. Whether you have a 40-45 MH or a 39’ fiver as we do, in “most cases” the 30 / 50 amp problem is about the same. We find that we can “make it” on 30 amps without too much trouble at all except when it is really hot and you need that second AC unit. Then it’s the generator for a bit to get the heat under control before switching back to 30 amp shore power.
A good current / voltage monitor will help with this 30 amp load issue such that you can monitor current – amps - (and voltage) and not only keep from tripping breakers in the campground, but allow you to actually use all the power that’s available by showing you just how much is left in that 30 amp plug.
All this said; I suggest you make sure the the fridge and water heater especially can run on gas thus reducing significantly your AC current (amp) requirements. In some larger coaches they are putting only house type 120 volt only fridges. That presents a problem IMO if you plan to travel as you indicate. (FWIW - You would be surprised how many amps that fridge takes. We run ours on LP many times when we’re on 30 amps to save power for other things.)
Safe travels
Bill
I agree about electric only fridges. Reasons they are doing this is they are cheaper fridges, they are normally larger than the maximum RV one of 14cuft, the freezer will make ice cream hard while the RV type won't, and with all the fridge fires many are scared of RV fridges. We had a cooling unit failure but stayed with a propane/electric RV fridge since we do boondock and often run off a household extension cord while driveway camping.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Friday 17th of September 2010 04:28:40 PM
-- Edited by Steak Eater on Friday 15th of October 2010 04:24:11 PM
AND it's important to be good neighbors when using a generator, regardless of whether it's against the rules or not. I think we'll plan on saving the 30amp parks for cooler times of the year!
Bill, was just thinking about what you said about your in-laws having to say their 42 footer was only 40 foot to get into some parks. I'm thinking that there is no way the 45 footer will "pass" for 40.
The reason it works is that no one ever comes out of the office and looks at your rig. You can say whatever length you want.
Maybe help with parking the MH would've saved my last marriage... Hmmm, probably not... But remembering those experiences does remind me how people would appreciate the neutral 3rd party helping get the rig settled!
-- Edited by stagecoach-driver on Sunday 19th of September 2010 10:04:52 PM
have no idea just how big a 39 foot 5th wheel is.Tygart Lake State
Park in West Virginia is a prime example.They accepted our reservation
for a week saying they had plenty of room.As we were going in the
interior roads should have been a clue as I had to be very careful in
some spots on the way in to the campground.Long story short I have our
5th wheel STUFFED into a spot no bigger than a 30 footer should be
in! They could not rent the site next to ours because I stuck out into
the road so far nobody could get past. The camp host and most of the
other campers all agree they should have never said they could
accomodate me.Will be moving into a different town close by(visiting
family) at great expense as there is no refund here and I have to pay
at the other park.I will be sending the director of state parks a
letter nicely explaining they should really put a length restriction
on this park.It's a beautiful park but not for a trailer our size.
Lesson here..reserve for one night only then if you are comfortable
you can extend.I'm stuck paying paying for a site I can't use.
-- Edited by Racerguy on Monday 20th of September 2010 06:26:55 PM