RV length/space reservation

runaway30

When making a reservation for a RV space and you are asked for RV Length is it correct to assume this is just the trailer length?  Not the trailer + tow vehicle.  

Sharon_is_SAM

Correct.  Just the TaB including the hitch.

ChanW

Heh! I always thought it didn't include the hitch! 

No wonder I had such a hard time squeezing into those postage stamp sites!

JeffroNC

An exception would be in some parks such as Yellowstone where you must count both vehicles.

VictoriaP

Different parks may have different rules. More than once I’ve seen sites looking for total length, not just trailer length. Read the fine print carefully before booking, and contact the campground to clarify if needed; a “max RV length 20 feet” may not accommodate both trailer and tow, but a “max trailer length 20 feet” will usually be just fine.

GatorEgg

As VictoriaP said, it depends on the park.  When I asked on phone what “equipment length” meant at one park clerk asked me how much room do I need to park everything I brought.  At another park which was full except for tents sites, clerk said “ your trailer looks like it will fit in one of our empty tent sites, it’s yours if you want it”.  Some parks even have minimum size requirements.  So research before you ask because they may not let you in.

Marceline

I have a clamshell and through experience I've learned to add about 10 feet to my stated length for room to cook at the back so that I don't get jammed into a Vanagon-size space. 

VictoriaP

Marceline said:

I have a clamshell and through experience I've learned to add about 10 feet to my stated length for room to cook at the back so that I don't get jammed into a Vanagon-size space. 

That’s a good point that I wouldn’t have thought about as a regular 320 owner. Thanks for bringing it up!

AirBoss

Tried to make a reservation at a park in NM. When asked length I said 19ft...she said, "Oh, you're to short." 

Without hesitation I asked, "Have we met?"

dragonsdofly

@AirBoss, been on the receiving end of size snobbery too. In 2016 we were turned away from a campground declaring a 25' and longer limit. We probably paid more than twice as much for our 2017 320 S than most of the rv's in that campground, but it was a case of "size does matter". Happily went on down the road. Wouldn't stay at a place that has an age or size limit. 'Nuf said.

Denny16

This is the opposite of most places, which have a max size limit, it limited spaces for larger RVs, while smaller units are welcomed.  One could always quote TaB+TV length... 
cheers

Marceline

Denny16 said:

This is the opposite of most places, which have a max size limit, it limited spaces for larger RVs, while smaller units are welcomed.  One could always quote TaB+TV length... 
cheers

I think that it's fairly common at the "resort" style parks for the big rigs. Not my cup of tea, anyways.

AirBoss

Indeed. It was a  private park (e g not Sam, K, etc) so they've certainly have the right to set their terms.

To Dragon's point went on down the road...about 1/2 the price and likely just as nice. All good...

ScottG

At least size standards are easy to understand. There's a campground I would like to visit that allows tents, pop-up/tent trailers, and truck back campers, but no RVs or "hard-sided" trailers. Arguments that my T@B is smaller than most pop-ups or truck backs (and even many tents) have been politely rebuffed. 

runaway30

That is interesting  Scott G I was just liking to make a reservation at a campground that allowed Motorhomes, class c, but not trailers.  Whenever I selected one of those a site was available, when I selected trailer not available.  The date did not make a difference.

VictoriaP

runaway30 said:

That is interesting  Scott G I was just liking to make a reservation at a campground that allowed Motorhomes, class c, but not trailers.  Whenever I selected one of those a site was available, when I selected trailer not available.  The date did not make a difference.

I think in some parks, the sites aren’t positioned to allow the back and forth needed to back a trailer into them. I know that’s the case with one park I looked at, the best sites on the perimeter are motorhome only and back-in, while the pull through sites with no view in the middle are where the trailers are allowed.

Denny16

I can back a TaB into most spaces like the perimeter space noted above. Just need a 10-15 feet wide approach drive/street, those coming off at 45-degree angel are even better.  This was the situation I had at a recent campground on the North Calif. coast.  Restricting these spaces for coaches is discriminatory in my book.  Our recent trip to Clear Lake, we had a Motor Coach space on the end with a lake view, and I was able to back into quite easily as the drive approach was 20 some odd feet wide.  

Here is the space we had:

cheers

runaway30

Did you go to the Foster Freeze across the street?

Denny16

Well, yes, but Foster Freeze is not quite across the street, the RV park is on the edge of Lucerne and Foster Freeze is four more miles further down the road.  But it is basically the same view across the Lake.  The RV park is on a former fishing boat repair facility lot on the Lake side, and has more normal RV Park spaces in the north side of the highway (opposite side from the Lake)
cheers