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Old 10-28-2016, 06:57 PM   #1
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Measuring 5th wheel length....

How do they measure 5th wheel camper length? I ordered a 28 ft flagstaff and just curious. THX
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Old 10-28-2016, 07:05 PM   #2
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Depends, Rockwood/ Flagstaff is pin to bumper. Some people sell indoor living space, a Columbus 384 is 38 ft inside and 43 outside.
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Old 10-28-2016, 08:06 PM   #3
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There is no industry standard to measuring RVs.
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Old 10-28-2016, 09:21 PM   #4
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Something that confused me the other day when I was looking at 5th wheels online was that one unit had a "pin box to bumper" measurement as well as a "total" measurement and the "total" was almost 2 feet longer than the "pin box to bumper" length.
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Old 10-28-2016, 09:40 PM   #5
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Old 10-29-2016, 12:39 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mikdor1 View Post
How do they measure 5th wheel camper length? I ordered a 28 ft flagstaff and just curious. THX
Excellent question!!! Would have been good to get the information before you ordered it, unlike me that took multiple salesmen's word for it.
Being a dumbass I assumed and was told many times by different dealers and salesmen that my Cardinal 3250 was indeed roughly 32.5'. Looking at it I suspected it was longer and roughly my 36' Country Coach's size.
Sure enough, I got it home and into my storage facility and it's pretty much the exact size as my old coach. So, I finally look online at the spec length and it was 34.92'. Ok, so much for listening to salesmen. Funny enough I actually took a tape to it a few weeks ago and it measured an overall 36'. I also just looked at an updated spec sheet online and they've updated the 3250 to 36'3" which roughly matches my measurement!

Luckily for me I don't have space limitations. If you or anyone else is limited, you need to take a 50' tape to the dealer and measure it yourself. It's hard to believe my 5er is actually 3'9" longer than multiple salesmen told me and over a foot longer than the spec sheet that I originally looked at.

Good luck with your new purchase,
Bill
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Old 10-29-2016, 12:42 PM   #7
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length

I've been measured twice now. Once at a RV Park and once for storage. So if you are looking for that number then the way they measure us was from a plumb line on the nose cone to the ground to a plumb line from the bumper to the ground, we took the spare tire off our bumper and mounted it under the RV. So if you have your spare mounted then the plumb line would be off the spare. As far as the industry is concerned I have never found a standard.
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Old 10-29-2016, 01:16 PM   #8
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Length of 5er

I have a Shasta Phoenix, 33CK.
When in awash, its 33 feet.
When on a ferry, its 38 feet.
When looking for a space in a campground, its 36 feet.

I don't know how its measured at the factory, bit my pin to rear of camper is 36'10". From nose of cap to spare on rear, its 38'9.
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Old 10-29-2016, 03:34 PM   #9
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Forget about the games that manufacturers play. If you want to use a ferry, you'll be charged for TOTAL length measured from extreme front to extreme back. Same for storage and law enforcement purposes.
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Old 10-29-2016, 07:11 PM   #10
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I bought a 3025 Blue Ridge .sales brochure said it was 35 ft old tt was 34 so no big deal.Got it home and imagine my suprise when I put it in my 40 ft shed and it was flush at each end. T is actually 38 ft.go figure. Mod number used to be the length ,no more.
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Old 10-30-2016, 07:43 AM   #11
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There is no industry standard although years ago the model number and the length seemed to be pretty close. Our current Silverback 29IK is 33' 8" long (+ or - an inch or two) from the front of the pin box to the back of the bumper. We took a tape and measured it ourselves before we purchased it. The salesman probably doesn't know and likely doesn't care except as far as it affects making the sale. Caveat emptor always.

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Old 10-30-2016, 11:01 AM   #12
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mikdor1. When you get your 5th wheel you should hook up to your truck & measure bumper to bumper (depending if you have something sticking out further than your bumper, in my case I have a spare tire). The reason is if you are taking a ferry boat, they will want to know the total length, end to end. They will measure you when you arrive but if you are making arrangements on line they will ask you the length.
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Old 10-31-2016, 06:54 AM   #13
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Interesting Question Indeed

I have a 46' Forest River Work and Play FW. Is it a cargo trailer or an RV? It's built by the RV company. It has everything any RV has, but has extra space in the rear to haul "things". I went to the DMV/OMV to register it and the computer would not let them register it as an RV because it was over 40'. I guess I could have told them it was a cargo trailer, but it's a RV. I read on multiple occasions where people read from where the floor starts to the end. This measurement was 38.5. I returned to the DMV/OMV with this measurement and all was good.

Now... if I have it listed as a cargo trailer and it looks like a RV, I'm sure highway patrol would have an issue. If highway patrol decides to pull a tape and know the computer system won't register an RV over 40', we will have to have that discussion then.

Anyone else have this issue? Not that I am going to change my registration in this state. We will be moving again in 2018 and I will deal with it there.
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Old 10-31-2016, 07:36 AM   #14
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our 2009 31.5 Sundance Bunkhouse is actually 34 feet long.
our 2017 22rr Greywolf Toyhauler is actually 28 feet 10 inches long

yet?
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Old 10-31-2016, 07:54 AM   #15
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In doing Much Research on "5Wh and TT" length I have heard/found that Owners will tell people their "Coaches/Rigs" are " Very Long Made Up Number" but when the Same person is Paying by the Foot for "Storage or Campsite" their "Coach/Rig" Shrinks in Size! Youroo!!
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Old 10-31-2016, 08:31 AM   #16
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As far as measurements for storage:
I paid $10 a foot to store the new Toyhauler last week until end of April 2017

28 feet 10 inches or 29 feet rounded up.
Unit is a 22RR...
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Old 10-31-2016, 08:56 AM   #17
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Originally Posted by bikendan View Post
There is no industry standard to measuring RVs.
Is there an industry standard for anything in the RV world?
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Old 10-31-2016, 09:15 AM   #18
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Is there an industry standard for anything in the RV world?
Yes,use Lots of #2 Robertson Fasteners! Youroo!!
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Old 10-31-2016, 09:17 AM   #19
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Old 10-31-2016, 09:51 AM   #20
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Mine is a 346RETS, but it's overall is right at 38'. I tell campgrounds it's 34.5 feet long and so far it's been no issue.
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