Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > iRV2.com COMMUNITY FORUMS > iRV2.com General Discussion
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 11-17-2010, 07:16 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
travelgirl's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Northeast, MD
Posts: 173
RV Campground Length Question

My Husband and I bought a 40 footer we measured it and from bumber to bumber she measures 41 ft 9". over dinner tonight we were talking about other lenth coaches that are bigger then ares that we have seen. I understand the engine difference and the length according to size weight height etc. what I dont understand is what the difference between pulling into a campground with a 40 Footer or 43 footer or 45 Footer. My husband and i spoke with a dealership a long time ago before we bought one beacause we looked at a 42 footer that had a tag axle in it and when i explained to him all the turns we be making and where we be goign he said I do not want a tag axle for my coach because it creates too much drag and tag axles are only good if you on the straight aways... Can you please help me to understand. the sales rep also explained to me that if your pulling into a lot of campground you want single axles not tag also he said if your going to do a lot of dry camping you want to stay single axle... basically the way i took it is if you have a coach with a tag axle you want to be in big area. Also what the point of haveing a tag axle besides the weight carrying. I have seen 40 footer that have tag axles but we do not have a tag. please help us to underatnd
__________________
The Williams Family-Northeast, MD 21901
1999 Foretravel U320C-Gray, Black Mix W/ White
41 FT 9"-M11 450 H.P Cummins-1550 Ft Lbs of TQ
travelgirl is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 11-17-2010, 09:32 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
historyljc's Avatar
 
Tiffin Owners Club
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Pensacola, Florida
Posts: 5,173
Sounds like your salesman had a non-tag axle coach he was trying to sell. 42' & 43' coaches will fit almost anywhere a 40' coach will fit. As far a boondocking is concerned, the tag axle coach will usually give your a greater carrying capacity so that you can take more stuff with you to enjoy. Believe most salesmen like you believe most politicians.
__________________
Travel well, travel safe,
Jim
2006 Tiffin Phaeton - 2011 Cadillac SRX
historyljc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-18-2010, 08:34 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
GaryKD's Avatar
 
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Wellington, Florida
Posts: 13,599
Hi travelgirl,
As to pulling into a CG with a 40 to 45' coach can be nothing or a catastrophe. Some CGs do not have the road space for a coach over 40' to maneuver. Outdoor Resorts in Gatlinburg, TN and Shenanigan's in Branson, MO are two CG that are examples. Pull into either of these CGs with over 40' and you'll find your worst nightmare. In addition way too many CGs allow their trees and shrubs to become overgrown. This provides ample opportunity for damage to your coach and anything on the roof.

As to the salesman's drag comment, it is mostly a BS broad brush statement. The tag is there to help carry weight over long distances and highway speeds. When in a CG the tag can be lifted (automatic or manual) so drag (scuffing) is at a minimum. The secondary job of a tag is to provide additional stability when at highway speeds. From what I have read, a tag does both these jobs quite well.
__________________
Gary
2005 Newmar KSDP 3910 + GMC ENVOY XUV 37K lbs Moving Down The Road
The Avatar Is Many Times Around The USA
Nobody Knows Your Coach Like Somebody Who Owns One Just Like Yours
GaryKD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-18-2010, 08:40 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Vegasdan's Avatar
 
National RV Owners Club
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,875
We've stayed in quite a few campgrounds that you would have a problem getting a 40ft coach into. However, most that we have stayed in would have no problem. Get a good campground guide.
__________________
2001 National Tradewinds 7370 300 Cat
2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport
Officially fulltiming. The Journey Begins
Vegasdan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-18-2010, 09:10 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
travelgirl's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Northeast, MD
Posts: 173
Good Morning to all,

Thank you for the repiles. Our coach does not have a tag axle we are a single axle. It was just a conversation that my husband and I had the other night over dinner so I thought I would ask. I thank you for all that replided and gave input to.
__________________
The Williams Family-Northeast, MD 21901
1999 Foretravel U320C-Gray, Black Mix W/ White
41 FT 9"-M11 450 H.P Cummins-1550 Ft Lbs of TQ
travelgirl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2010, 04:43 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Bob (WA0MQE)'s Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: St. Cloud, FL
Posts: 1,528
Blog Entries: 1
You'll find just as many campgrounds that will support 40+ feet as ones that won't. In most cases when you find a campground close to a major highway/interstate, etc. you won't have a problem. If you like state and national parks, you'll have to look a little closer because some of these were built years ago when only pull trailers existed and the weren't very long. Likewise a lot of them are back-ins instead of pull-through's.
__________________
Bob 2006 Monaco Camelot 40PDQ
US Navy Carrier Battlegroup 1959/1965
Winters in Florida, Summers in Blue Ridge Mountains
Bob (WA0MQE) is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2010, 09:17 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Triker56's Avatar
 
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,031
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob (WA0MQE) View Post
You'll find just as many campgrounds that will support 40+ feet as ones that won't.
So is that 50% will & 50% won't.

Looks like those long RV's need to call ahead for a site.
Triker56 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2010, 09:26 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Vegasdan's Avatar
 
National RV Owners Club
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,875
Quote:
Originally Posted by Triker56 View Post
So is that 50% will & 50% won't.

Looks like those long RV's need to call ahead for a site.
Or get an up to date campground guide. These guides will show length of site.
__________________
2001 National Tradewinds 7370 300 Cat
2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport
Officially fulltiming. The Journey Begins
Vegasdan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2010, 10:10 AM   #9
Moderator Emeritus
 
RickO's Avatar


 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Litchfield Park, Arizona
Posts: 10,530
We RARELY have a problem at CGs fitting our 40DP with toad. We've found spaces large enough for us far more than 50% of the time. We rarely call ahead. We've had much more problem with the width of sites than with length. Having four slides takes up a lot of elbow room.

Like Dan says, a good CG guide helps a lot. RV Park Reivews will indicate if Big Rig access is available. As mentioned, if you want to stay in state or nation parks it's an entirely different story.

Rick
__________________
Rick, Nancy, Peanut & Lola our Westie Dogs & Bailey the Sheltie.

2007 Itasca Ellipse 40FD
RickO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2010, 06:34 PM   #10
Moderator Emeritus
 
Gary RVRoamer's Avatar


 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,563
We go pretty much anywhere with our 40 footer. Some sites can't accommodate us, but 90+% of campgrounds that have hook-ups have at lest some sites big enough. And yes, some have narrow or windy roads, but we manage ok on them too.

Wheel base (distance between the front and rear axles) is the critical factor on twisty roads. Tag axles don't really change that, though the "virtual" rear axle on a tag rig is a point halfway between the tag and the drive axle. I've owned a 36 foot tag and a 40 foot single, but the 40 footer is 24 feet between the axles while the 36 tag was only 18 feet. Needless to say, the shorter coach with tag got down those twisty roads much more easily than the single rear axle 40.

The purpose of a tag is solely to carry extra weight. A single axle is generally limited to 20,000 lbs max (some states do not allow any larger on a single axle).
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
Gary RVRoamer is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Maximum Motorhome Length Allowed in Yosemite dpeterso Camping Locations, Plans & Trip Reports 8 04-06-2010 07:21 PM
Difference between an RV Park and a Campground Baby Bear iRV2.com General Discussion 19 11-21-2009 10:29 AM
Trailer Length MT flyfisher Excel Owner's Forum 4 09-27-2007 01:22 PM
WiFi at the campground (easy question) zip Technology: Internet, TV, Satellite, Cell Phones, etc. 16 04-09-2007 06:08 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:15 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.