Does your rig
actually fit?
Listed site length rarely means what you think it means. Put your real numbers in and see the margin on length, width and the clearance that matters most.
Why listed length lies
A campground measuring 40 feet is usually measuring the gravel or concrete pad, not the space you need to occupy it. On a back-in site you can often park the tow vehicle beside the trailer or in front of it, so the pad only has to swallow the trailer. On a pull-through you are frequently staying hitched, which means the pad has to take the whole connected length plus a little slack for the hitch itself.
Brochure length is the second problem. Manufacturers quote box length, while the number that matters on the pad includes the A-frame and propane tanks on a travel trailer, or the spare tire and ladder on a motorhome. This tool adds a small allowance for that automatically, which is why the "length you need" figure comes out higher than what you typed.
Height is the one that hurts
Length problems produce an awkward afternoon. Height problems produce a repair bill. Measure your actual height with a tape from the ground to the highest point, usually the air conditioner shroud, and write it somewhere you can see from the driver's seat. Then leave real margin: road resurfacing raises the surface under a bridge, and campground tree branches sag when they are wet.
Width and slides
Site width decides whether your slides clear the neighbouring rig, the hookup pedestal or a tree. A slide typically extends two to three feet, and door-side slides are the ones that eat your patio space. If a park lists narrow sites and you run multiple slides, ask which side the pedestal is on before you book.
The site size guide covers how to ask a park the right question, and the road trip planning guide deals with routing a tall rig.
