By Nanci Dixon
Do not do this! Absolutely do not squeeze a 40-foot motorhome into a tent site. In all fairness (to me), the website didn’t say that Site 74 was a tent site or that b-i-g RVs were not allowed. It was the last 40-foot site at a state park with two days available. It did mention low branches, but how low could they be? Well, they were LOW and very close together.
Upon check-in, the ranger looked back and forth between the motorhome, that all of a sudden looked absolutely gargantuan, and the site number on her screen. She said, “You might not fit even if the site length is over 40 feet long. We will refund your money.”
At three in the afternoon, in pretty much the middle of nowhere in northern Minnesota close to the Canadian border, where would we find another campsite? I had just that morning watched my husband back up the motorhome at least two solid blocks down our deeply wooded cottage driveway.
How bad could it be? I said, “Oh, I will take the tow car and check it out.” This was the first mistake. I should have said, “My HUSBAND and I will take the tow car and check it out.”
After driving up the narrow uphill entrance, I found the correct loop. Hmmm. There was nothing bigger than a tent, popup or teardrop trailer in the loop. That in itself should have been a warning.
I diligently drove around the loop, noting that the tree trunks were far enough apart to get through. I forgot to look up to see where the branches actually were, though. Mistake number two.
I whipped our little Kia around a sharp corner surrounded by what looked like big old-growth trees with no problem. I didn’t consider that a big and long motorhome could actually wedge itself between those trees.
Finally, I happily returned to the motorhome where my husband was waiting. “No problem, Honey! It’s no worse than the cottage drive. You can drive this anywhere!”
Well, he can drive it anywhere. He was able to push the motorhome through the thick trees with the sound of the branches scraping against delicate fiberglass. He can even inch it forward and backward when wedged between trees at a tight turn.
Getting into the narrow site was a breeze after that. Calming down my husband was not quite a breeze. Leveling on wet mud was another issue. But the view is great: We’ve got forest in the front and forest behind and only a few people nearby, all in tents.
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Here’s another tip: if your unit is the same size as the site (example: 32’RV / 32′ site) don’t book it. Call the campground or RV Park office. Many locations have stated the maximum size without any wiggle room and booking that site could lead to a very uncomfortable/cramped stay
Trees are tough on paint.
Don’t be too hard on yourself Nanci.
Scouting with your toad is a smart habit to have, especially in wooded parks.
Looking up, down and for tail swing clearance is a veteran move that I think all of us occasionally miscalculate.
This spring we were at a freshly opened forest service campground. Many trees had grown into the roadway. Fortunately we got in without damage and some dead branch adjustment. The way out was worse, but the campground manager did the tree trimming the next day.
Thing change, plants grow!
Glad I’m not the only one who’s made a bone-headed move or two, overhead clearance is easy to forget! One thing I’d recommend is keeping a Stanley 35′ “FatMax” tape measure in your truck or coach. Good for checking width and length, but also stiff enough to measure overhead clearance without drooping. The only down side is that you still need to remember to use it, can’t help you there Nanci! LOL
We recently had to squeeze into a site that should have been ample for us. We spoke to the park office and they said they had bought the place last year and “probably should measure the sites”. Yeah. We once reserved a BLM site at Ken’s Lake near Moab, UT, 2 years ago. It would have been fine—except for the large boulder in the center of the space. When we went to the BLM office, they were “surprised” that there was a rock there (with weeds growing around it). The website plainly stated the length, but it’s really only suitable for car/tent camping. We’ve learned the best solution is to see the site for ourselves beforehand, if possible.
I’m sure the tenters liked having a giant diesel rig in there
I understand the need to check out the access to a campsite and the actual campsite to be sure we fit. What amazes me is so many parks say a maximum 32′ (as an example). Then when we get to the park, I see that there are numerous campsites that I could easily access and park a 50′ to 60′ rig. If you have a big rig, it’s another reason to check out the site beforehand.
It’s interesting to me I think tiny molded fiberglass and teardrop rvs shoud be able to fit in a tent site-so should tents Back in 2007 I took a month’s LOA We rented a van bought a tent bigger than my first apartment-12 x 12-& drove my grandkids north with the spring-S FL- Niagara Falls& back-while their parents moved from S FL- VA In the Erie KOA campground our tent proved to be larger than the campsite! Luckily they had a Kamping Kabin available & applied the fees toward the rental No longer felt like cooking so grandkids & I went out for pizza Has anyone else found they had a tent bigger than the tent site?
Thank you, Nanci! Poor DH! Glad that you both recovered from this little … “experience.” Thankfully, DW has never put me in this sort of position, but we also travel less than you do. Have a great week and safe travels!