Community Forums

goatleg · 08-11-2017, 09:16 AM

The wife and I are looking at upgrading our coach. Anybody with a 42' + rig have any issues getting in and out of campgrounds around the country?
Thanks in advance for the assistance!

okcnewbie · 08-11-2017, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goatleg

..... Anybody with a 42' + rig have any issues getting in and out of campgrounds around the country?

I'm looking to upgrade in a couple of years. From what I have read it is "slightly" more difficult to find sites that accommodate the big rigs. This is going to get worse as more and more people buy MH's. The trouble is worth it to many people.

trimacon · 08-11-2017, 09:48 AM

There is certainly a shortage of sites that fit that length so it does take some advance planning. It does make me wonder sometimes how nice it would be to downsize to a B+.

We did have one reserved spot this last trip that took a couple extra attempts to get in and out without rubbing tree limbs. 45' is wonderful just takes a little time and attention when maneuvering in some campgrounds.

Busskipper · 08-11-2017, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goatleg

The wife and I are looking at upgrading our coach. Anybody with a 42' + rig have any issues getting in and out of campgrounds around the country?
Thanks in advance for the assistance!

Think about it a little - You have a Generator and storage tanks so if you need to wait a day or two to get the FHU you want, No Problem.

As it is a little crowded in Season, we tend to try to travel Out Of Season - just easier and More Fun.

Best trip we ever had was during Indian Summer in Yellowstone, late October , early November, just a few Hundred people/campers in the whole park, and the Elk far Outnumbers the People. We have pictures of the Bus in the Parking lot with the Tetons in the background not another soul for miles.

So IMHO go for it you will not be sorry,

JMHO,

Busskipper · 08-11-2017, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goatleg

The wife and I are looking at upgrading our coach. Anybody with a 42' + rig have any issues getting in and out of campgrounds around the country?
Thanks in advance for the assistance!

Think about it a little - You have a Generator and storage tanks so if you need to wait a day or two to get the FHU you want, No Problem.

As it is a little crowded in Season, we tend to try to travel Out Of Season - just easier and More Fun.

Best trip we ever had was during Indian Summer in Yellowstone, late October , early November, just a few Hundred people/campers in the whole park, and the Elk far Outnumbers the People. We have pictures of the Bus in the Parking lot with the Tetons in the background not another soul for miles.

http://i63.tinypic.com/mto7dc.jpg

So IMHO go for it you will not be sorry,

JMHO,

Crasher · 08-11-2017, 10:37 AM

Our coach is 43' long and our son's is just under 46'. We both pull 26' trailers. He is 78' long and we are 75'. Traveling from WI to SW Utah and then to AZ and back to WI, we have had no trouble finding a place to stay. In mid morning we call ahead to where we plan to be and book a spot. Sometimes we have to call three parks to find room for both of us. I have never had to unhook, but my son has on one of his trips. I don't give it a second thought if we are towing the Avalanche instead of the trailer. These trips are in the late spring and early fall and not the busiest season. But, planning ahead in the busy season, I doubt that the length would make much difference. Just buy what you want and hit the road.

QMThomas · 08-11-2017, 01:09 PM

We have a 45 foot Monaco Sig and pull a 22 foot trailer. We are just finishing a two week trip. Most of the parks had pull throughs long enough to park. Only one park that we had to unhook the trailer, but coach fit with no issues. Before this coach we pulled 41 foot fifthwheel. No worries. If there is a length restriction, we just go the next place.

Quote:

Originally Posted by goatleg

The wife and I are looking at upgrading our coach. Anybody with a 42' + rig have any issues getting in and out of campgrounds around the country?
Thanks in advance for the assistance!

Mr_D · 08-11-2017, 04:02 PM

Got a 40' (actually measured 41+') in 2002. Never had much problem finding spots, still not much with the 45' quad slide unit. I think there is one State campground we stayed at with the 40' unit that might not accept the 45'. I've had the 45' in spots that the desk people said were only for 40' and under. But they finally admitted the driver made a lot of difference!

relaxn · 08-11-2017, 04:07 PM

Ours is 43' and we haven't had any trouble at all. There are of course parks that can't accommodate larger RV's but we know that and just look to the ones that do. Pull through is nice but most of the time we end up backing in. Still not a problem...just take your time and enjoy the times when your wife says, "I didn't think there was any way you could back that in there"

alpha99 · 08-11-2017, 04:51 PM

The bigger the rig, the harder it is to find spots to park it. Especially this summer -- never seen campgrounds so packed. We are seriously considering downsizing from 42 to the sub-35' range for this reason!

**CountryFit** · 08-11-2017, 05:21 PM

if you have a 45', let's trade

. i know i would be fine to find parks.

Stealth01 · 08-11-2017, 06:23 PM

We wouldn't trade our 45' DP! We enjoy the space and comfort it provides. Owning a 45' DP does create a need for planning. We returned today from a 50 day, 3,750 mile trip. 75% of the parks we visited were booked, 100% full (especially in Colorado). You don't try to travel, in the peak season, without reservations in a 45' DP! The other thing you will quickly learn is the term "Big Rig Friendly" is in the eye of the beholder!! We stayed at a park in Colorado. The entrance was so tight I stopped short of the office due to the hard left into a hard right turn to proceed past the office. While checking in I was told by the office staff that I could take a 90 degree left towards my assigned site or I could drive the perimeter road to enter the site area... I looked at the map and said "no, I'll take the immediate left and maneuver into my site." The next morning, another Essex tried to exit via the perimeter road... He drove his rig into the rocks that guarded the "impossible big rig turn" on to the road! You will quickly learn that you walk the entrance and exit paths before driving them with a Big Rig!! And Oh, by the way, I drove the "exit road" past the office and avoided the turns...

Traps90 · 08-11-2017, 06:37 PM

So far we have not had any problems, but we do tend to plan ahead a bit in busy season due to our size.

Larrikin · 08-12-2017, 07:32 AM

7 seasons on the road now and never a problem finding a campground we would want to stay at where we could not get in with a 43 ft . Lots of COE and State or national parks will post 40 ft "limits" but with planning you can work around those. Do not "short" yourself for one possible stay inside Yellowstone, Grizzly is right outside the gate and you are not Stacked on top of fellow campers.