Hello All ! Occasional lurker here; first time posting. Enjoy the site, thank you.
We are long time, original FWC owners (almost 20 yrs) currently driving a full size ext cab with an extra long box, putting the OAL atleast as long as a CC/LB.
Haven't really had a problem with the length although currently we mostly do long distance cruising (it's well suited per an earlier post). Never encountered a road with length restriction (knew about Glacier but have never been). Yes, coastal ferries here charge extra over 20' length. For us that's say $13 added to $102. Never seen anyone turned away anywhere for length - but might have to wait for the next sailing, yes.
Small towns I've actually found to be better than cities for driving and parking. Lot's of light trucks in the country (the west) it seems and I guess there may be more room for roads and parking because real estate is cheaper. Mind you an old, pre auto, small "down town" on the east coast would likely be altogether different. I have no experience in that regard. I do know that I dislike driving our rig in the city. Diesel and the size make it the wrong vehicle for me.
What this truck has given us over the our previous, shorter RC/LB is the ability to carry more "stuff" - this dovetails with the "minamilist" thread. Some of that "stuff" is recovery gear - sometimes overlooked when calculating space requirements. To us a hauling a camper demands payload and capacity. Length just comes with it. So far it's been a good trade off. Besides, I do like a bumper past the camper ..
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Of course length does limit where we drive off highway. But when assessing the prospects of exploring a narrow side road the "fear" of a difficult turn around - because of length - is usually acompanied by the fear of pin stripping or getting stuck. Any one of that triumvirite can trigger a pass, but happily, not always ...
Hope that is of some help.
oh, I almost forgot, the price of admission
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