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Summit151 · 03-20-2018, 06:18 PM

Hello so I can’t decide what length of trailer I should go with. I will post links to both campers. One camper is 32ft and the other is 28’ 3”. It is just myself and my girlfriend and a dog. But there might be the odd time where there is another adult camping with us. I also do a lot of back road camping where I have had my fifth wheel bottom out. So I am wondering if the longer one would be that much more prone to dragging bottom ? I would like the shorter one for the ease of towing proposes but the longer trailer offers a lot more space inside. My tow vehicle is a 2012 3500 gmc 6.0L. Curious how the longer one would pull? I’m also curious to what most campsites allow for length? Please let me know your thoughts!

Thanks

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kenandterry · 03-20-2018, 06:29 PM

We have a 35’ motorhome and a 15’ toad.

Never had a problem fitting in a campground yet. The overhang of many RV’s isn’t always determined by the total length.....it’s where the axle is, and how much unit they build after that point. Your shorter trailer might hit bottom before the longer one based on how much real estate hangs out the back.

What’s more important.....ease of towing (if you travel a lot), or living space when camping?

Freqz · 03-20-2018, 06:41 PM

My trailer is 28'8". Why? Because Mrs Freqz can get her Forrester in the garage with it parked back there. It's more than enough for me solo (working) and adequate for the kinds of trips when my wife and two boys get to come along.

It'd be a little tight if it were any longer and parking at home >> parking at a storage facility.

keymastr · 03-20-2018, 08:28 PM

Many state and national parks limit trailers to 26' but people have figured out how to fool the on-line registry allowing bigger rigs. Just do your homework because if you can't fit it will mean you can't stay. And maneuvering in some older campgrounds may be tight.

Private campgrounds usually have less restrictions on length but sometimes on age of camper if over 10 years.

Summit151 · 03-20-2018, 08:33 PM

Thanks for the input so far. I really don’t spend a whole lot of time in the camper just mainly sleeping but the longer trailer
Has a dinette slide out which would be a nice feature if you get 2 adults in the camper together

twogypsies · 03-20-2018, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keymastr

Many state and national parks limit trailers to 26'

We definitely have not found that 26' limit. We've been in many national forest campground, state parks, Corp of Engineer parks, county, city and national parks including Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, Rocky Mtn. Zion, Grand Canyon, Arches, Bryce and others with our 40' motorhome towing the Jeep.

PopBeavers · 03-20-2018, 11:36 PM

The shortest max length I could find for California State Parks is 15 feet. That surprised me.

For California State Park length limits see:

Maximum Trailer and RV Lengths

Other states have different restrictions.

Sometimes the length limit is because the access road has a lot of tight turns with trees adjacent to the road.

ktn1966 · 03-21-2018, 09:24 AM

Very qualified to answer this.

I had Nash 23D around 28 foot with my cargo carrier. It had been a wonderful hunting, fishing and traveling with buddies trailer. Fit everywhere I wanted to go. Fit me and my dog wonderfully.

My darling, another dog and I took a trip to Alaska this past summer we came back to Oregon and bought an ORV 280RKS at around 34 feet. I have to be a little more selective now on campsites and spots. It gets a lot tighter going around corners and a little more careful going through towns. It does pull easier with a longer trailer and better weight distribution, there is more tank space and it has more room inside. I love this trailer a whole lot more. More room, plenty of seating, large kitchen plus even more room. It can fit with overhang in a 30 foot spot but remember you still have to park the truck. Had to pay extra space parking once for truck.

I full heartedly suggest going with the bigger it really pays off on rainy days. I would look more at the ORV and Northwoods. I have had no problems with bottoming out due to the height. Your truck should pull like a charm, I tow my trailer with a 3/4 ton and it does well, but would have loved the diesel more than the gas engine.

**Spdracr39** · 03-24-2018, 07:40 AM

Floor plan is more important than length. As far as towing and backing there will be very little difference in those two. When picking a campsite don't fudge the length you need because on a TT the stabilizer jacks are on the very back and need a solid surface to do their job. Motorhomes and fifth wheels can overhang the site a considerable amount more because their jacks are much closer to the axles.

**Spdracr39** · 03-24-2018, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twogypsies

We definitely have not found that 26' limit. We've been in many national forest campground, state parks, Corp of Engineer parks, county, city and national parks including Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, Rocky Mtn. Zion, Grand Canyon, Arches, Bryce and others with our 40' motorhome towing the Jeep.

I have seen 35' a lot but never 26' . My fifth wheel is actually 38' but I can fit in a 35' site pretty easy. Parking the tow vehicle is sometimes a challenge though.

UTTransplant · 03-24-2018, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdracr39

I have seen 35' a lot but never 26' . My fifth wheel is actually 38' but I can fit in a 35' site pretty easy. Parking the tow vehicle is sometimes a challenge though.

There definitely are FS, BLM, and NPS sites with limits much less than 35’. One of our favorite places south of Bozeman, MT limits to 30’, and they mean it! We barely fit with our trailer which is just shy of 30’ to hitch to bumper. Some of the popular places in the Wasatch Mountains east of SLC and the Uintah Mountains north of SLC have limits that really restrict them to tear drops, truck campers, and Class Bs. Yellowstone has a number of NPS campgrounds with a 30’ limit. This isn’t to discourage anyone from camping in a bigger unit, but be aware and check before you make plans. One of our big adjustments in moving from the travel trailer to a much bigger motorhome is the limitation in campgrounds. All of the ones with limits have alternatives though.

wingnut60 · 03-24-2018, 05:05 PM

If you are worried about dragging the bumper/tail, just have a good welder make you a couple of skid bars so you drag them and not the jacks/bumper. Or a pair of stout wheels, again mounted by a good welder.
As to the length and getting into sites--you will find a lot of help on the websites of the FS on length, but that won't tell you about the tree/rock they put in the way of backing in.
You will have the TT for a while, get what makes you feel comfortable inside, then worry about where to take it.

Dutch Star Don · 03-24-2018, 09:56 PM

"Summit151".....MOST people don't regret buying longer than shorter. Extra space is always nicer. It sounds like your big concern is dragging while traversing more remote spots. One thing you should look at is the actual overhang of the two trailers before you make a decision. It's quite possible that the longer trailer could have the axles set farther back and has less overhang.

rarebear.nm · 03-24-2018, 10:30 PM

Another consideration is the clearance. Are the springs underslung or overslung on the axles. That can make 5 - 6 inches difference in clearance and may mean dragging the rear or not. Do follow Wingnuts recommendations for drag bars or wheels.