Where do you measure from for TT length??

[Vladivar]

So this question is mostly to do with booking a site where they ask for the length of your rig and impose limitations on what sites may be available based on that measurement.

But further to that, what is the “norm” when stating the length of your rig?

Is actual length from tip of hitch to back of rear bumper
Is it length of body from front cap to rear cap
Is it from tip of hitch to rear wall (ignoring bumper/bike racks etc)
Or is there some strange in-between measurement like propane tanks to rear bumper lol

What are the thoughts?

[bikendan]

Ball to bumper.

[007matman]

Cap to rear (excluding bumper). Never been an issue doing it that way

[bob213]

That clears that up..
I measure the same as bikendan

[Cabinfever97]

Ball to back bumper would be legit for a site. That being said, if you are aware of conditions where you are going you can adjust as needed. For us we camp a lot a NY,PA, & OH state campgrounds. I have found there is usually plenty of room from the wheel stop back to hang the camper over. Most sites measure from wheel stop to end of site. If a place we have not been I will look at pics to see what is at the site. If the site has a unit length max at 32 feet and looks to be plenty of room I will list our Hemisphere as 32 feet (actual length 34'4'') for the reservation. MUST be very careful doing this. Don't under list your length by too much and try to squeeze in somewhere you shouldn't be. For private CGs I have found the listed max length is usually what it says. At times even their max length seems a bit long.

[007matman]

The problem is that some parks will exclude you from camping there based off that length. 6" over and you're banned basically. However, call them and they pretty much will all say it's not a prob being a few inches (or feet) over as long as you're ok with creative parking.

[D W]

Keep in mind that you have to plan room for your TV or toad if you have a MH. Most parks will not allow you to park on the grass or jut out into the main thoroughfare.

[babock]

Tip to tail....bumper to ball. However, if I was 25' 6" and the site was 25' max, I would say 25'.

[Lloydg]

I just use the length that the manufacturer lists on their spec sheet.

[CurtPutnam]

Back of rear bumper or spare tire to tip of hitch cup. Fudge if you want but the long measure is safest.

[JimMorrell]

Contrary to some, the "historical" measurement of a trailer's length is Ball to Bumper, and that is what I have used for 45 years of camping. More recently, some manufacturers have started using the "box" length.I advise using the ball to bumper length if dry camping in a state or national campground, Otherwise, you might find yourself in a hard to get out of place. In my case, the Ball to Bumper is 32', while the box is 28'. 4 feet is a lot of distance in some spaces.

[walaby]

Originally Posted by Lloydg

I just use the length that the manufacturer lists on their spec sheet.

That's what I do


Mike

[Tundra 2014]

Ball to bumper. Especially if you are camping in older national parks, do not understate your true length. EX-Yellowstone , Grand Teton, Glacier. i Many of their sites are very tight. Even the roads are tight. You can see the trailer rubs on trees.

[KEN9XL]

I use my manufacturer spec sheets.
Travel Trailer body = 30 ft / hitch = 4' 4" (total hitch to bumper = 34' 4")

Unless I am questioned in detail by a campground due to restrictions or tight spaces, I always state my Travel Trailer as 30 feet in length.

To date I have never had an issue at any campground.

Good Luck
Safe Travels

[mdstudey]

I have asked in some places about how tight there sites are. While we are only 27 ball to bumper, we have a Dodge quad cab with a full 8 foot bed. We have had issue at some Forest Service sites because the truck is too big and we stick out onto the road.

[grease monkey]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Ball to bumper.

I USUALLY ASK WHAT MEASUREMENT THEY WANT//FROM WHERE TO WHERE. I HAVE A 5TH WHEEL AND THE LENGHT IS FROM FRONT CAP TO THE REAR BUMPER. THEY DON'T ASK WITH TRUCK HOOK UP OR NOT. DON't KNOW WHY,BUT HAVE HAD TO PARK IN OPEN AREA IN FRONT OF TRAILER AND HAVE BEEN PARK THAT WHEN YOU PARKED YOU HAD TO UNHOOK TRAILER, PERIOD.

[TowPro]

Ball to bumper on travel trailer. Front to back on 5er.
On that note, a 30' 5er has 4 more feet of living space because a camper has about s 4' hitch.

[HangDiver]

Depends on whose asking...

[EdnKat]

About the same as measuring your foot for shoes. Do you include the toes in the measuring, or not? So then if you wear a size 11, toes included, you may be able to get in a 7 or 8, without the toes. ??? Lengths are measured, from tip to tip, stem to stern.

[herkyfe]

Official length is tip to tip of the frame. If no bumper, official length then goes to rear most portion of the box.