Community Forums

Goofy1 · 08-31-2016, 06:31 PM

I've read and read and read but being new to this I can't seem to find the answer:

In a 40' DP where can't I go?

One of my great fears would be to travel miles down a road only to find that I've ended up in no-win situation. I know my GPS "shouldn't" lead me there but......

Thanks in advance for helping my (and my lovely's) worries aside!!

t55watson · 08-31-2016, 06:35 PM

I try to think of it this way. A semi can go there, so can I.
Only got in trouble 1 time. We had to unhook the tow and turn the rig around, hook the tow back on and away we go. No biggy.

slemnah · 08-31-2016, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goofy1

I've read and read and read but being new to this I can't seem to find the answer:

In a 40' DP where can't I go?

One of my great fears would be to travel miles down a road only to find that I've ended up in no-win situation. I know my GPS "shouldn't" lead me there but......

Thanks in advance for helping my (and my lovely's) worries aside!!

It depends on where you like to stay. If you are looking for state parks then you may be out of luck. If you stay in Rv parks you will have very little problem. I have a 42 ft and I have never been turned away from RV park.

jacwjames · 08-31-2016, 06:39 PM

I'm a retired mining engineer. I've been fortunate enough to travel to several countries to tour remote mine. In all of these mines the workers are bused into the camps on very rough, mountainous, and sometimes jungle like roads. If these buses can make it to these locations my belief is that a 40' DP can pretty much go anywhere in the continental USA.

texnet · 08-31-2016, 06:43 PM

Our GPS has only led us down one road that we should not have gone down. We got to the end of the road, unhooked our toad, backed up until I had a side road that I could back into, turned, hooked up the toad and continued down the road.

I am sure there are RV parks that can't handle a 42' MH, but so far no problem.

mhbell · 08-31-2016, 07:38 PM

Some state and National parks with a 34 ft limitation also some of the older RV parks. I only had to unhook our toad one time in California when I made a wrong turn. I backed up to a side street and managed to turn around. As far as the Highways and Freeways you should have no problems. Maybe some back country roads. We down sized a couple of years ago to a 31 ft coach. I don't know of anyplace we can't go.
Mel_B

twogypsies · 08-31-2016, 08:18 PM

We traveled constantly for 16 years of full-timing and fit in 95% of the places we really wanted to be with our 40' motorhome (except California state parks).

We also didn't use the state parks in the northeastern states. However, there were places in the same vicinity we could fit.

We drove secondary roads the majority of time, not interstates. We stayed in state parks, national parks, national forest campgrounds, Corp of Engineer parks, county and city parks. We also boondocked a lot on national forest land and BLM lands in the western states. We drove to Alaska for the whole summer and boondocked or used mainly public parks, including Denali Nat'l Park.

Yes, you'll have to do your research and can't just 'assume' you'll fit. We towed a Jeep which gave us lots of fun time siteseeing and 4-wheeling.

Goofy1 · 09-01-2016, 06:13 AM

Thanks everyone for your thoughts! As with any new venture I seem to have some questions and concerns. You guys are the best!!

Wilcut · 09-02-2016, 06:09 AM

"some questions and concerns", You will lots and lots!!
Good luck

znt1186 · 09-02-2016, 06:40 AM

Got caught by a low bridge clearance one time and had to disconnect and turn around. Now I really watch for low clearances and high ground clearance issues. Some gps have the feature that is supposed to keep you out of those situations, but I also double check on a trucker's atlas and online maps whenever possible. We also stay at various COE sites and normally don't have any problems with a 40 footer.

carl.swoyer · 09-02-2016, 06:43 AM

Mine is a 40 foot fifth wheel and the truck a 2005 Silverado Lt crew cab long bed. I go everywhere.

ernest917 · 09-02-2016, 12:39 PM

I use a truckers GPS.... I enter my rigs height, length and width and it keeps me off roads that are potential problems.... Love it..... Also shops for best diesel prices as well as CG's close by.....