30' + Crew Cab TV ... Need "Big Rig Access"?

[AIRHEDS]

Hello all ... Happy New Year! We've been away from the forum for a bit. I've been looking at campground reviews and trying to figure out if "big rig access" is needed for our set-up. Specifically, I'm looking at "RV Park Reviews" which reserves the term for 40' ... not sure if 40' means TV plus TT length, or TT length. Also, any thoughts on good ways to find nice campgrounds?

Thanks and Happy New Year!
- Rich

[lewster]

Originally Posted by AIRHEDS

Hello all ... Happy New Year! We've been away from the forum for a bit. I've been looking at campground reviews and trying to figure out if "big rig access" is needed for our set-up. Specifically, I'm looking at "RV Park Reviews" which reserves the term for 40' ... not sure if 40' means TV plus TT length, or TT length. Also, any thoughts on good ways to find nice campgrounds?

Thanks and Happy New Year!
- Rich

From my full-timing days in a 40' diesel pusher........the term 'big rig' usually meant a 40' motor home PLUS the toad, or vehicle that you were pulling behind the MoHo.

I was dragging a full size Chevy van during those 5 years (65'+ total length) and when I went into an RV park, I was sure that they could accommodate the full length of the rig, not only in the size of the spaces but the width of the roadways and especially the radius of their 'streets'.

Of course, there are NOT always forthright in what they tell you, as I found out in several of these parks. Some even required me to detach the van in order to access the area of my parking space or to negotiate the road curves.......especially the corners protected with large rocks (who WERE they thinking ?).

Be careful out there and be sure to read the various reviews that are available on-line.

[kb0zke]

That's the one downside I see to our switch to an Airstream. With our MH and Jeep, we usually unhook at the fuel stop and Jo Ann leads the way to the campground since we usually have back-in sites. That way she can scout a bit while I wait for her report. When we get our Airstream we'll have an F250/350 crew cab and a 34' Airstream behind it. I suppose if there were a question AND a large enough space at the entrance we could drop the trailer, go check it out, then come back, hook up, and land.

We usually call ahead anyway and tell the campground what we have. ONE TIME the campground actually went out and measured the site they had in mind for us (we fit easily).

To answer your first question, I think "big rig" generally refers to 40' and larger motor homes. Our Foretravel is 40' long, but has no slides and is about 10' tall. Foretravel's IH-45 is 45' long, has four slides, and is about 13' tall. Our coach has a GVWR of 30,000 pounds while the IH-45 is well over 50,000 pounds. THAT'S a big rig!