Towing a 26' trailer, how hard is that?

[marcv]

Hi,

Currently I have a small trailer 19', A-Liner type. Because the trailer is small it is very easy to stop at any place to eat when we are traveling. We just use two parking spots (one in front of the other). We normally stop at McDonalds, supermarket, restaurant,etc.
Some times I park across many parking spots but this is not always available and a 26' will take much more space.

Now, how do you do that with a 26' trailer? How/where do you park your car+trailer to eat or buy something when you go or come back from camping?

I know, it is a very strange question....

Thanks,
Marc

[LindaH]

You will not be able to stop as many places as you did before. It will take some searching to find parking large enough for trailer and TV. Sometimes we can find parking lots big enough where we can park across several single spots. Sometimes we can't find any place large enough to park our 32' fifth wheel & TV, so we just head on down the road to find another place.

[GOLDWINGER2]

I bring my own food.
J

[NLOVNIT]

Not a strange question at all. We've all been at that point at some time or another in our lives. BTW, .


No matter if you've got a TT & truck/5-r & truck or MH & toad, you'll find yourself parking in the outskirts of shopping center parking lots & walking to the store or restaurant of choice. Just park yourself enough away from the main parking areas so you don't block the other customers & allow yourself enough room for an easy exit. Cracker Barrel's/Flying J's usually have RV parking spots, assuming some moron with a car hasn't parked there. If traveling the interstates, look for places with "truck parking" signs - this usually means there's space & room to maneuver.

Parking spaces are not difficult to find, you just have to account for your longer length.

Lori-

[Nick-B]

When I had TTs they were 29' and 31' and pulled them with a Suburban at 18', so I was pushing 50' total and yes I had to be careful where I pulled into and where I could stop but I never felt all that inconvenienced with them. When I would have felt inconvenienced was if I had a small trailer - not when travelling but when set up and using the trailer, that extra space is worth the occasional parking issues.

To each their own, but my thoughts are if you have to pull a trailer, then pull a T R A I L E R .

[marcv]

Wow, thanks for all the information.

I'm aware that things will change after we move up to a bigger size. I just want to get some experience from the experts (all of you ) on how to deal with some of the things that, right now, I call 'inconveniences' of having a larger trailer.

I'm sure the "inconveniences" will change later to "inconveniences" of having a small trailer. Well, I already have a list of them in hand... otherwise I will not be trying to move to a bigger one

[TXiceman]

I addition to limiting eating establishments, you need to watch the service stations. Most of the newer ones are not RV friendly.

Ken

[Frank P. Martin]

I used to do the same thing when I had a pop-up- park tandem in two spaces.

Yeah, it's a bigger trailer. You just have to park a little more strategically (and with a little more forethought) than you did with the nineteen footer. Being that you already have experience in this department, I think it's just going to be a matter of adjustment to the new size than anything else.

One thing I do if I park across a number of parking places is to park in as much of a "U" as possible in the spaces. This does two things:

One- reduces the number of spaces you "eat up".
Two- Helps prevent you from being blocked in should some "idiot" park in the first open slot in front of your TV and/or behind your trailer. I also park the front of the TV just over the line of the next parking slot to give you a little extra room to maneuver. It doesn't hurt to do this with the rear or the trailer too.

The easy rule of thumb is: Whenever possible, park where the cars aren't. I've parked in other businesses that were closed (or their lots were empty) and then walked over to the business I want to patronize. I've never had anyone complain.

[TXiceman]

Yep. I under stand LONG, the trailer is 35' long, plus 21' of truck and about a foot of hitch......equals 57', nose to tail. That takes up a few parking spaces.

ken

[alageezer]

I personally don't see a big deal going from 19 to 26 feet. We're only talking 7 feet, two good steps, one more parking spot if you're going sideways, probably still fit in most inline spaces.

[IC2]

Not a big deal. We went from a 19' to a 29' now a 34' 5er. You just very quickly learn that there are a few places you can't get to any longer without using a bit more shoe sole leather. Our 19 footer - that thing would fit almost anywhere the truck would go. The 29 footer - well a bit more turning radius and a few more feet of space. Now the 5er - that's a different story. While the overall length behind the truck isn't much more then the 29, there is now the 12'6" height and a lot more weight plus dips and turns to worry about as it might hit the bed. Your longer trailer might also have a tendency, if low, to do some "agricultural" work by dragging the rear skids. My fix was the Dexter Axle over/under mod which raised the back just enough (~5").

The added length will more then compensate for a wee bit of inconvenience. Enjoy