Big rigs and campgrounds that fit em'

[Gary.Jones]

Others have summarized traveling in a 45' diesel pusher pretty well so I won't duplicate, beyond saying, that it is not a big problem. We tend to avoid state parks because they are smaller and usually they are carved into heavily "treed" areas which we don't like because the Winegard Trav-ler antenna probably won't work. That takes us out of some nice state and federal parks, but we have learned to live with that.

One issue that I will disagree with. Several have recommended the Big Rig Best Bets book which was probably our first book purchased when we bought the Anthem. However, we have found the book to be largely useless in our experience beyond simply a list of RV Parks that are labeled as big rig friendly (which you can glean from a little research on-line on your own). Most of the book beyond that list is that they measure each big site within the park and then list the ones(site numbers) that are XX number of feet long and the ones that are XX number of feet long. Now, we are still in the "traveling itinerant" stage..... we are still into seeing as much of the country as we can see..... we are not yet in the "lets-find-a-place-to-spend-2--months" stage of RVing, so we are rarely in one place for more than a week before we "move on", and in our experience, asking for a specific site within an RV park is sheer lunacy. We are happy to find any place where we can be anywhere for a week, that we don't quibble with can we get a specific site.... we are happy to get any site we fit in for the number of days we want. You will find that many parks are booked 6 months in advance EVERY Friday, Saturday, and Sunday...... You can easily find a place on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, but on Friday, the "weekenders" fire up the 5th wheels and come out of the woods like ants attacking the RV parks...... Our experience is that finding a week in the same place if you are itinerant travelers is becoming more and more difficult. When you add the "weekenders" to the RVs that are parked there for the season or full time, the weekends become real messes a lot of time (calling 4 or 5 parks before you land one that can accommodate you and has a site open). JMHO, but it was an eye opener for us. We just dont want to plan 6 months in advance.... takes away all the serendipity and spontaneity.

Gary

[MRUSA14]

X2.

[JohnBoyToo]

we've only had a problem twice and they were both local Corp of Engr. parks....

Someone mentioned a few sites above and asked about pics of sites...
here's a great idea for a site tool, but limited participation so far:
CampgroundGallery.com

[voltdoc]

John, 7 years ago we started with a 39' Fleetwood, then (as you know) a 43' tag now a 45' tag and we still get into all the same places.

As was said many times in the previous posts do your homework. We use RV Park Reviews, Campendium, RV Parky (Android), Park Advisor (Android), Allstays, Google Maps Satellite View and Google Maps Street View. Also be sure to check out the roads getting there and verify the actual campground location with the google tools, it is often way off especially for state parks.

Many State and Federal Parks are totally big rig friendly, but not necessarily for all sites and some not at all. Some of our favorite sites have been at State & Federal Parks. reserveamerica.com (majority of state parks) and recreation.gov (federal) will often list all the details you need and allow you to book a specific site, but sometimes it is best to call. For example Myrtle Beach SP lists a max of 40' but if you call they will tell you they have a few sites for bigger rigs. Check our blog reviews for places we've been and recommend.

Agree with Gary that Big Rigs book is limited, but sometimes its a good start to whittle down a long list of possibilities. Also that book is by no means anywhere near to being complete so don't consider it the last word.

[LittleVeze]

Thanks again to all. Appreciate the advice and suggestions!

[rbr]

Originally Posted by Gary.Jones

We just dont want to plan 6 months in advance.... takes away all the serendipity and spontaneity.

I certainly understand that, but "different strokes for different folks". When we're traveling away from our home park we want to stay in nice places and more times than not want a few weeks at each stop. We'll leave FL in early April and are completely booked until Oct. 4. We happily give up the spontaneity to have nice places when we want 'em and actually enjoy planning our trips long range.

Your Mileage will Vary...

[MRUSA14]

According to the Wall Street Journal, a record 430,000 new RVs were sold last year. How many new RV park spaces do you think were built last year? This trend is not our freind.

[THenman]

Originally Posted by MRUSA14

According to the Wall Street Journal, a record 430,000 new RVs were sold last year. How many new RV park spaces do you think were built last year? This trend is not our freind.

But you have to subtract the number retired to get net change.
Still leaves lots of spaces. (I hope!) Only real problem so far for us was extended time in FL in Jan/Feb and that is kind of a different problem than rest of year.


Tom

[brobox]

Gary, X3
To add to you excellent post, we have been on the road for a few year and the number of new RV sales lots that we have seen open across the country in the past few years is astronomical. Where are they all going to park?

[Steeljag]

With the quality of RVs, dealers need smaller lots, and much bigger service centers !