How long is too long?

As you may notice in my first post we are looking at moving up to a fifth wheel and think the WC Extralite 312BHX has the perfect floor plan and features (100 gal grey, private bath, dedicated pantry, quad bunk, super slide + all the cool stuff like black tank flush). But it is also 33.5' long. Our current trailer is a Wanderer 182DT hybrid (3 foldout bunks) which is about 24' long including the tongue. In years past we have camped in some pretty tight places and I never paid much attention to the "what if we had a longer trailer" scenarios.

Knowing that we won't fit in all the places we did before has anyone else moved up like we are planning on doing and if so how much has it impacted your camping choices/experience from a fit perspective?

to the forum
That is a 9' 6" longer. You are going from a bumper pull to a 5th wheel. 5th wheels tow better than a bumper pull. you just have to be aware with the longer trailer scenarios.
What is the type and size truck are you goiing to use to tow with.

I have problems with my 31TS in some campgrounds. Not only is length a problem but slides on both sides also create a problem. Sometimes it's just inches clearance on each side and no room to park the TV. I'm sure there are plenty of places that will handle your length, but the question remains, will they be occupied when you need them?

Frank wrote: to the forum
That is a 9' 6" longer. You are going from a bumper pull to a 5th wheel. 5th wheels tow better than a bumper pull. you just have to be aware with the longer trailer scenarios.
What is the type and size truck are you goiing to use to tow with.

Currently we have a 3/4 ton Suburban 4x4 with the Vortec 5.7L - Obviously we'll need to move into a truck. Either a diesel or V10 Ford 4x4 crew (1999-2003) - I know either of these can handle anything we may come up with. We use our TV as a 3rd vehicle so accumulated miles are low - 10K over the last 5 years I think on this Suburban. I'd like a diesel but the added upfront cost versus the better mileage won't even out for many years (or miles) so I am open to the best deal I can find.

I went from a 26' TT to a 30' 5th wheel. It will definitely take some getting used to. And you will likely have to plan your campsites a little better. But it's not as bad as you might think. I try to find pull-thru's wherever possible, but have had some interesting times in back-in's (Lake Livingston State Park has some narrow back-in's). Also, the first time you look out that rear view window and see all that trailer back there, it's a little daunting. But you get used to it. Good luck.

When we started looking at 5th wheels, we looked at some 27 footers by Wildcat and Laredo.... they had living room slides, but no bedroom slide. We didn't want to go over 27 feet. We just couldn't decide, then we thought we could go up to 30 feet. We went to an RV show, and saw the Wildcat 29rlbs. We loved it, and had to think about it. We went to the dealer a few days later. They had the one we looked at, and another. We liked the colors of the show model and bought it. We're glad we didn't go higher than 30 feet. We've had to park the truck across the front or back of the site a few times because it just wouldn't fit lengthwise with the Cat. If we had thought about just pulling in and not unhooking, we couldn't have done it. It's just the two of us, and we have plenty of room in the 29rlbs. For people with children, I'd recommend a longer unit with a bunkhouse. Even though ours will sleep 4, it's very crowded. You probably wouldn't have a problem finding a site big enough, especially if you do some research ahead of time.

Tater

We moved up to a 34. 5 foot 5'er from the 29RLBS and really have not had any problems with campsites. Although, when I call a CG, I always say we are 36 feet long to get a longer site.

I usually stretch the truth a bit and say we are 32. When going to a National Park, I say 29, since our model is 29rlbs. We are actually 29.7.

Tater

[quote= thefamilyman]
Currently we have a 3/4 ton Suburban 4x4 with the Vortec 5.7L - Obviously we'll need to move into a truck. Either a diesel or V10 Ford 4x4 crew (1999-2003) - I know either of these can handle anything we may come up with. We use our TV as a 3rd vehicle so accumulated miles are low - 10K over the last 5 years I think on this Suburban. I'd like a diesel but the added upfront cost versus the better mileage won't even out for many years (or miles) so I am open to the best deal I can find.[/quote]

If you deside to go with a Diesel. The 1999-2002 7.3 would be a good choice. I have a 2004 6.0 and at 59,000 miles I had to replace the EGR Cooler and Oil Cooler. Don't get me wrong I still like my truck now I have had the upgraded repairs done on it.
But make and models is to ones own choice.
Be sure to get a Truck that with match up to what ever 5th wheel you purchase. (Power & Weight Class)

Scruffy and Tater wrote:I usually stretch the truth a bit and say we are 32. When going to a National Park, I say 29, since our model is 29rlbs. We are actually 29.7.

Tater

Interesting you are only 29.7. My 30RLBS is actually 34 feet long from front to the rear. We have certain places we longer go to any more. 50 plus feet of rolling stock is a long train going down the road.

My first camper ever 2011 34flr and I have never towed anything before. I picked it up on a thursday and went to my first trip Friday. I had it for a year and I am finally getting used to it, so far I only had one issue getting into a CG. Mine spec's out at 34.5 feet and I have a bike rack on the back which holds 4 bikes (about 3 more feet). Just remember wider turns, not to mention they say a fifth wheel is so much easier to tow. For the first 8 months I would only stay at CG with pull throughs, and now I can back this thing up!!

Like most here RV'ing has been a progression over the years...

Tent .... Pop up.... TT.... another TT.....an upsidedown TT....

Now our wildcat.

We like very secluded wooded campgrounds, I still miss tenting and our old popup at times...so one of our favorite campgrounds in Tamworth NH has been a challenge to get into some of the river sites as our rigs have gotten larger.

For instance we went last weekend and had to ask for site 29 that is directly across from one of the exit roads allowing us to back in from a mostly straight position. the camproad and trees are so tight... that and a few other sites would be the only ones possible...so if you have a favorite few CG's size could matter.

One other thing to remember... givin the fact that some of your rig will be in your bed makes you more compact. just because your new FW is 9 feet longer you will not see all of that behind you.

our last rig was a suburban and tt and was as long as just about any PU so you are used to that long tow rig...

when you do get your FW tow rig be sure to read up on sliders or fixed hitches that may be a consideration if you shoe horn your self into wooded sites...

Oh BTW....I have no idea where in the world you are located but before we bought our used WC we looked at this one...

http://www.reynoldsrv.com/database/2008-forest-river-wildcat-32qbbs-new-fifth-wheel-nh-i9231

Its a new 2008...this dealer is closing and they were trying to give it away to us when we were looking...I was really looking for the toy hauler so thats the only reason I did not buy it...

I cant understand why it has never sold...there is no damage that I could see.

just thought I would throw it out there not sure if your in New England

Thanks for all the great input! I have started looking up site lengths at our favorite places (the few we go to every year) and have been surprised by how long some actually are.

BTW - we're out in Northern CA, east of San Francisco

neighbor. U stuck in the middle and your traffic jams are legends.