Truck Length constraints?

[Happyjax]

So if anyone is wondering when I will stop asking so many darn questions my answer is.....
Don't hold your breath

Now I have learned that the newer trucks have a pretty decent turning radius no matter what their length but I have been seeing restrictions on truck lengths on certain trails and some Ferries.

Has anyone found this to be a problem in their travels?

Do you ignore length restricted trail warnings and go all ahead full or do you turn around and find another way?

Have you been turned away at any ferry or do they just add a hefty surcharge for your large steed?

I would think driving in small towns and parking might be a bit tougher but there is only a couple feet difference between the 6 1/2 vs 8ft or crew cab vs crew max so I am thinking that may not be so much to negotiate.

I will likely get a crew cab and not the crew max but can't decide if the 8 foot bed is a good move. It gives me more living space but does it make the rest of my travels harder?

Thanks for all your help you truck camping gurus

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Jackie I've had surcharges for both over height and over length with an 11 foot hard side camper on an extended cab full size F250. The break point is often at 22'. For maneuvering, shorter is obviously better, but a full size extended cab can go a lot of places. For one person an extended cab, short bed truck would be ideal... An 8 foot bed, still very capable.

It's going to be a judgement call on your part, depending on how tight of places you're willing to go.

 

[pikabike]

Ignoring length restrictions on trails is asking for trouble and possibly damage to the vehicle and the surroundings.

One of those is yours to damage if you so choose.

The ferry limitations definitely can result in surcharges for both length and height, as the above poster noted. We have had to pay the surcharge just for having sea kayaks on the roof.

 

[Foy]

Length restrictions vs length recommendations, and general "long wheelbase" considerations.

If a truck has EVER been manufactured with a worse turning radius than my beloved '02 F350 SRW Crew Cab longbed 4WD, woe be upon its owner. It's very difficult to park in any crowded urban/suburban spaces, parallel parking is fine so long as there are two spaces open--three being preferred, and the typical larger parking lot MO is to proceed to the far end of the lot, find a pull through pair of spaces, pull through in order to drive straight out, and just leave the butt end encroaching on the space behind you. IIRC, the tape measure has her at 20 or 21' bumper to bumper,w/out mods on either end.

As to trails, I routinely ignore long wheelbase and "no trailers" recommendations. Don't recall ever seeing a restriction. If I were to see a Forest Service or BLM restriction against such, I'd obey it. But as to recommendations, I feel as though I'm as solid on the wheel as anybody so I go for it. Had a great chat with some ATV riders atop Comet Mountain, MT a few years back, when the conversation started with "How the #*&!! did you get that pig up here?". I also met some wide-eyed smaller truck operators at the main switchback atop "The Hogback" at the 30 milepost on Rock Creek Rd. I needed every inch of width to get around the switchback with my 19' trailer, so sent the wife ahead to stop any oncoming traffic around the blind curve. Backing mine down the way I came was a greatly unfavored option.

It's all about the trade-offs, isn't it? I knew I could not have a tight trail rig and have a truck which could seat 5 and tow + 10,000 lbs. The former was optional, the latter a requirement, so long and heavy is how I roll.

Foy

 

[rotti]

According to my GM dealer friend by far the most popular and best resale combo is the crew cab standard bed (6 1/2'). As far as everyday use a crew cab long box wouldn't even fit on my driveway let alone my garage. I knew I had to have a crew and I'm happy I went with the standard bed and a Hawk....it even fits in the garage after "some" modifications.

The only time I really notice length is on switchback shelf roads:

 

[ntsqd]

I find it an interesting gentrification comment that a 6' bed is now a "std. bed" when originally 8' beds were known as "standard beds" and 6' beds were the much less common "short bed" that was only available in 1/2t configuration.

I had to park our 3" lifted '91 Suburban in the much less secure "Oversized Parking" while over-nighting in down town Las Vegas one trip. It clearly wasn't going to fit under the beams of their parking structure (& I completely fail to understand why our traveling companions insisted on staying there).

I frequently notice the turning radius of our ClubCab standard (8') bed CTD, but it is merely a minor inconvenience and not a major hindrance.

 

[Squatch]

I find it an interesting gentrification comment that a 6' bed is now a "std. bed" when originally 8' beds were known as "standard beds" and 6' beds were the much less common "short bed" that was only available in 1/2t configuration.

I guess our age is showing. But that was my instant thought as well.

HJ unless you really plan to haul passengers regularly I'd skip the crew cab. Go for an extended cab 8' long bed.

You are looking to carry a bit of gear. You have also stated this camper will be a live in as opposed to a weekender. I think you would be better served by having the longer camper and storage in the camper as opposed to the back seat. An extended cab has a good bit of storage. Just not quite as nice as a crew cab for rear seating. Though most extended cabs work fine for short trips in the back seat. My last extended cab the seats folded up and out of the way well. Not so much with the seats in the current crew cab. They take up a lot of space no matter how the are folded. Less stuff stored in the cab is less stuff in sight for thieves and less stuff to fly about in the event of an oops situation.

A bigger camper would also provide more space when "stealth" campering.

 

[Happyjax]

Squatch,

Ford has a crew cab and a crew max which is essentially extended and crew with newer names.
I am looking at the smaller of the extended cab no matter which truck I buy just for the reason you stated. I don't need all that extra room in the truck and would like to have it in the camper.

Still not sure I want an 8 footer. Gotta just drive things and figure it out. I can put a 7 foot camper in a 6 3/4 bed....lol not 6 1/2 anymore, and I would only lose a foot over an 8 foot camper. Not driving a 10 foot camper on an 8 foot bed, don't think the COG can really be very good in that situation.....

I don't know that I will find too many places where the longer truck will be an issue but there some out there and driving around small towns could get interesting fast with a monster truck...lol

 

[longhorn1]

Happyjax, We have a 2013 F-250 longbed (8') crewcab and a 2014 FWC Grandby. I'm approximately 22' in length and just under 25' with the RackAttack and cargo carrier on. I wondered out load to my wife if we would have been better off with the 6-1/2' bed and a Hawk. Here quick response was "I wouldn't have wanted a smaller camper". That was the end of the discussion. I remember the Rock Creek switch back that Foy mentioned very well, and I must say it was rather nerve racking. I didn't have my wife get out but when you can't see over the hood and you are having her keep a watch on how close you are getting to the cliff side, and you are praying that your driver side wheels doesn't get to close to the edge. The other shelf roads we traveled were a walk in the park.

Been on one ferry across Lake Champlain from New York to Vermont and didn't get hit with any extra fee. I could have lived with the Hawk, but I do like the extra room. We usually keep the bed pulled out, so with the Grandby front dinette, we can still sit comfortably.

You will need to figure out what type of camping and trail driving you might like to do. Get the truck and the camper and go have fun. My suggestion is to not sweat the small stuff and don't overthink yourself. Good luck. jd

 

[Happyjax]

Hey Overthinking is one of my assets! Also great at making mountains out of anthills. I don't need no stinking mole to do it

 

[smlobx]

Our '16 F-350 CC LWB with the Hallmark Everest (8.5') is just under 22 feet long. So far, all length restrictions I've dealt with were 22 feet so we are OK.
In regards to Foy's comments about the large turning radius while very true the newer Fords with the coil front suspension has a significantly better turning radius (better being a relative term!!).

Like what was said above my wife wanted the comfort of a larger rig. Another benefit to the 8' bed is that you get a significantly larger fuel tank and that's always a good thing!

 

[Happyjax]

Ya know I get so confused with all of the various terms they use for the larger cabs. Extra cab, super cab, crew cab, crew max, etc.... arggh!

So after looking it up it seems that the Crew Cab on the Ford is the big cab. I forget who uses Crew Max but it isn't Ford at the time.

That means smlobx you have the longest Ford you can get? 8 foot bed and biggest cab. That's a lot of truck

When they measure the truck length I would guess they add any oversized bumpers or hitch gates?

I do like the idea of the longer camper since I will be out for long periods. An 8 1/2 foot Alaskan is looking pretty good to me but I could also make it with a 7 footer if I had to. Decisions decisions......

Thanks for all the input my camping gurus!

 

[Stalking Light]

Even 'small' trucks can be long; my quad cab Taco with Eagle, ARB front bumper and Aluminess rear bumper is just at 22'.

 

[Happyjax]

Oh look "Quad cab" yet another term....lol

Those extra bumpers add up! The "small" trucks have gotten bigger in their old age, as have I I think the new Tacos are only 5" skinnier than the "full" size trucks.... Not much in the scheme of things.....

 

[allanb]

We went for the super cab and 8" bed. Wanted at least an 8" camper, so got the versatility of the 8" bed. (don't use the truck with the camper off by and large). And as we will be living out of the truck/camper for up to 3 months at a time, went with the biggest double cab for storage.
Have to say, after coming from a van for the last 18 years, that long hood does sure get in the way, of view. Like going down into a dip or wash.
I believe going to the sun road in glacier is 21". I was right at that before adding the tool box on back and motorcycle carrier on the front. Now I am (running out to measure ) at yikes 26'

 

[Foy]

So after looking it up it seems that the Crew Cab on the Ford is the big cab. I forget who uses Crew Max but it isn't Ford at the time.

That means smlobx you have the longest Ford you can get? 8 foot bed and biggest cab. That's a lot of truck.


Thanks for all the input my camping gurus!

Same body and dimensions between Longhorn1's F250 and my F350 and, it appears, smlobx's new-fangled F350. They're all 3 full Crew Cabs (full size back seat) with an 8' bed. Pretty much a Ford Expedition cabin from the windshield to the rear of the back seat and an 8' bed behind the back seat. I forgot that mine measures out at a shade over 21', too, and may be the 22' mentioned by JD. I am surprised to learn from allanb, above, that GTTSR in Glacier has a 21' limit--I didn't know that!

The ultra long wheelbase does provide a surprisingly decent ride for a stiffly-sprung truck. It's all my wife can do to stay awake on the Interstate!

Foy

 

[Happyjax]

Well the 2017 super cab and the 8 ft box is 21.25 feet. The crew cab and 8ft box is just over 22 ft. 6 3/4 box on supercab just under 20 ft.
If I want a Hitchgate or something like that I will be breaking the law when I go to Tuweep which has a 22ft limit..... Hope none of the rangers carries a tape measure

 

[smlobx]

........That means smlobx you have the longest Ford you can get? 8 foot bed and biggest cab. That's a lot of truck

When they measure the truck length I would guess they add any oversized bumpers or hitch gates?

I do like the idea of the longer camper since I will be out for long periods. An 8 1/2 foot Alaskan is looking pretty good to me but I could also make it with a 7 footer if I had to. Decisions decisions......

Thanks for all the input my camping gurus!

Yes, I do have the biggest pick up Ford makes...unless you look at the 2017's as they are a few inches longer and taller still!!!

An interesting point that I noticed with my 8.5' Hallmark is that the camper just barely extends past the bed but it is a few inches shorter than the bumper so it does not affect our overall length. It may be the same with other brands as well.

 

[iowahiker]

Standard non-urban parking spaces range from 16' to 19' long. Rest stops along interstates are a guessing game, long or short, when you reach the split for trucks and cars. Staying under 20' long gives us a 99% chance at parking anywhere we go. 22' long reduces our chances to 90% for parking at our destinations. Getting more truck than you need comes at a price. Getting the truck you need makes the most sense. How many narrow singe track roads will you be on with a tree or wash out blocking the way and inspiring you to find a spot to turnaround? Longer trucks are great for long distances and long duration trips since they have a nice ride and lots of storage. If you are inspired to go on the unknown road, go shorter. If you are inspired to traverse the continent, go longer.

 

[Happyjax]

I did see that you get 12 more gallons fuel tank with the crew cab. That's a big deal in some areas.... has to be considered