Mine is 102" wide. Wouldn't have it any other way. Actually a wide body is a requirement for us.

Thanks folks. I'm mainly concerned about narrow road construction zones and such. I know some states east of the MS have width restrictions. I don't guess these are enforced though?

Chip

102 inches is the legal width on almost all roads.  Most tractor trailers are 102 wide.  You should not have any issues.

The extra 6 inches doesn't make any difference on the road…you'll still have roads that you aren't comfortable on. So if you like the extra interior room it gives you then go for it. Getting into campsites it also makes no real difference…there are some places that have length limits but in 2 years we've never been anyplace we couldn't get our wide body rig into.

 

Terry and Jo, following the faulty directions of Mapquest I have unintentionally taken some scary, one-lane roads. Many of the places I like to camp in my Aliner are down winding, mountainous roads (usually in the Appalachian and Smokey mountains) which are very narrow in many places where only one vehicle can pass at a time. I don't plan on taking my home-on-wheels to these places, however, as the risk of damaging something or having an accident on these rough dirt roads is pretty high, with blind turns, low hanging limbs, trees and vegetation that encroach the sides of the road, and even edge wash-outs and drop-offs that could be disastrous if one gets over a little too far to allow a car to pass on the inside of the mountain.

I'm mainly interested in traveling down narrow two lane highways, paved secondary roads, through towns and yes narrow road construction zones. I visited Palo Duro and Caprock Canyons last year. It was rainy and some spots impassable due to the high water over the road, but there was no road construction at that time. I can imagine that backing a 35 ft, wide TT for long distances (around turns, uphill, etc.) out of a tight spot would be challenging to say the least.

I guess the best rule of thumb is slow and easy does it when approaching road construction zones. If traffic backs up, one could pull over occasionally to let it by. I plan on traveling mostly at low traffic times (at night and early morning) as much as possible, to reduce stopping and braking and to facilitate lower speed towing to imcrease my fuel mileage, stretching my meager fuel budget of around $300-$350/mo. I plan on taking a couple small, high MPG motorbikes with me when FTing (again to stretch my around town fuel budget). Maybe I could use one of these to scout out questionable roads leading to a desired boondockig area before committing my rig down an unsafe or impassable road I might soon regret. I'll name my little bikes Recon 1 and Recon 2.

Chip

SnowGypsy wrote:

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 .........................they often regretted getting the wider unit.

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 Myself I can't see how there would be that much difference going from 96" to 102"

You aren't going to notice 6" in width running down the road. The real noticeable difference would be going through a narrow doorway in a shop.  My building that I store my coach in had a 10' wide door and it was real close dealing with that. I since upgraded to a 12' wide..............................Way nicer.

Terry and Jo wrote:

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Don't discount the experiences of others.

Terry

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 Didn't mean to belittle someone..........I guess it just doesn't bother me.

I have my Class 1A and experienced, so I don't feel overwhelmed like some.

Bernie

Chip,

I don't think I'd let the roads dictate the kind of RV I would purchase. We've been all over this country on some pretty small roads and our rig is 102" wide by 60' long with toad. You slow down on the smaller roads. Purchase the rig you like and you will learn to handle it.

We like to stay off interstates as much as possible which puts us on to secondary roads and even though the roads are narrower the slower pace makes it a more enjoyable drive, IMHO..

I've run a 24' trailer, 102" wide on the worse roads in the country.. never a problem.. never a accident..

Ever run those constructions zones in PA few years back ? Everyone running 60mph + side by side.. tight.. We used to go to Rausch Creek off road park, alot..

The mountain roads in Vermont / NH.. Some NY are no joke either.. twisted swirly roads.. Check out the ski areas near Stowe mt.. fun..

No worries.. it's all good.. 102" I always thought was the standard.. Anything smaller is the exception..

I agree with Glenn, I'm always more concerned about height than width.

I would think that "what is too wide?" is highly subjective.  Each person, in their expereience, will find out what is "too wide". How? My gut tells me if you get white knuckles too often while driving these large vehicles because they feel too close to objects on either side, then that is by definition "too wide".  Respect that feeling, but don't let it rule you and don't get arrogant either. Too much confidence has been the cause of many accidents. Practice and experience will go a long way to mitigating the white knuckle feeling as you become accustomed to it.  

That being said, you may never get used to it, perhaps then this is not right for you. Each has their own comfort zone.  My first trip out in a 32' class C had me somewhat tense the first day, less so the second and fairly comfortable by the third.  But that is just me, your mileage may vary as they say. Will driving a dually with a 35-40 foot long and even wider trailer than the class C cause some anxiety? Probably at first(all new and different than driving a small car)... but that is something I will deal with.  

Adrenalin is good for you, it aids in fighting your fear. Practice in empty parking lots, develope your comfort zone, know your limits, know the limits of the equipment and the nervous feeling of "too wide" will hopefully subside. 

JMHO FWIW

Brian

Taking a class  driving with such a rig would be a good idea too 

-- Edited by biggaRView on Friday 18th of July 2014 11:10:06 AM

-- Edited by biggaRView on Friday 18th of July 2014 11:56:59 AM

Yes I can remember when my wife would always freak-out................."Why are you in the other lane"?
Driving in the Peterbilt or the Coach, she is looking through the windshield from her passenger seat. She's looking towards the drivers side corner and appears that 1/2 the unit is in the other lane.

Junkman I had a 32TK3 Mobile Suites, two axles. Now have the Teton 39' 3" three axles and I have less trouble backing it. The shorter two axle unit I would have to pull up more due to being unable to straighten up unit. The longer 3 axles are smoother, less pulling up to straighten. Believe you will be good and happy with your unit. I question your tow vehicle, but you will have to be the judge of that. Hard to convince someone when they have already shelled out the bucks. The the OP, in 8 years of rv full timing we have never had an issue with width, and both our units were/are wide body.

It will be as heavy as a New Horizon. Please don't get upset. Didn't intend that. Save that till you get it and it loaded. I argued the same thing and now getting a HDT.

It has plenty of power. The Teton has great brakes. I look like an ant pulling a mountain. Also at max on pin, bed sides too high, Teton already 13' 3" so raising it out of question. Hauler bed will put over max pin and overload spring is arched downward loaded now. Air bags will raise truck so that won't work. HDT solution. With it pin no problem. no bed sides. If brakes fail on camper hdt will stop it. Your 43" Lexington will be heavier than my Teton. There is no difference in rear max weight on our trucks. I believe you will have as bad or worse issues than me. All 5th wheel campers carry roughly 20% pin weight loaded. You will be way over 20,000 likely 22k. Pin weight will be your problem and if camper brakes fail you are in trouble. I feel very small towing mine. Hope it works for you. I will never again tow any heavy 3 axle trailer with a light duty truck.

Glenn West wrote:

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It has plenty of power. The Teton has great brakes. I look like an ant pulling a mountain. Also at max on pin, bed sides too high, Teton already 13' 3" so raising it out of question. Hauler bed will put over max pin and overload spring is arched downward loaded now. Air bags will raise truck so that won't work. HDT solution. With it pin no problem. no bed sides. If brakes fail on camper hdt will stop it. Your 43" Lexington will be heavier than my Teton. There is no difference in rear max weight on our trucks. I believe you will have as bad or worse issues than me. All 5th wheel campers carry roughly 20% pin weight loaded. You will be way over 20,000 likely 22k. Pin weight will be your problem and if camper brakes fail you are in trouble. I feel very small towing mine. Hope it works for you. I will never again tow any heavy 3 axle trailer with a light duty truck.

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 You seemed happy here...with the 2012 chevy

"update. Truck pulled Teton well. I came down TX-36 and some fairly steep grades. With turbo brake engaged it would actually loose speed going down grades. Plenty of power. Beat me up rather good too. Will need a air ride hitch for sure. Did put the XPS Rib tires on. Raised Teton some which helped with leveling. Still a little nose high and rear axle tires about 7 degrees higher than others. 124 degrees vs 117 on rest. Don't believe this is problem. Am I right? Stops better than DRV did. Actually stops very fast. Love those 8,000# brakes and 3 axles. Got 8 mpg "

 "Our Teton is slightly over 20,000#. We tow it with a 2012 Duramax 3500 dually and it does great. I am under gm's max towing but am close to max on rear axle. It does so well on hills that it will loose speed coming down them. Plenty of power. I would never try to talk you out of a hdt. That would be the best tow vehicle you could get. The new version of 350/3500's are greatly improved over previous units. With a hdt you just about have to commute in a Smart Car. You can haul a longer vehicle but that would be a long... truck"

 

Your right.. you sound like me...Except your still positive AFTER towing a while...

What happened? 

-- Edited by The Junkman on Friday 18th of July 2014 04:05:59 PM

True..Ok terry , we stopped...lol

Moderators will get us. It has happened. There is a lot of roads that a dually shouldn't even be on one of them. Dually's are 96". I have took my camper on these. River Road in Louisiana, following the Mississippi, is one of these. There is a nice RV campground on there that wife and I frequent when I work in New Orleans area. Cars get off the road when they meet us. It just the nature of the beast. Believe me you will be fine with a wide body and be glad you have it. God bless

We like Poche' Plantation rv. That's the one I was referring to

Glenn,

You are right.  At the moment I won't delete the posts, but we really do need to keep it on topic.  So, lets get it back to dimensions and not weight.

For anyone's information, it was not you that took it off-topic.  Someone else seems to be obsessed with weight.

Terry

The Junkman wrote:

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Not obsessed.. just setting it right.. I'm good. I know.. others seem confused. I wonder why that is? 

-- Edited by The Junkman on Saturday 19th of July 2014 12:56:41 PM

-- Edited by The Junkman on Saturday 19th of July 2014 12:57:54 PM

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I hope that when you actually get your 43-foot DRV that you are good on weights.  Until then and when you get the truck and trailer loaded, I really think you are only guessing.  You've certainly asked enough questions about your weights.

Terry

WOW..............I'm lost.
Is this about being too wide??

manycats wrote:

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Going back to the original topic. Since my DH and I are "double-wide trailer trash" and can't sell in this depressed market, we'll get a hauler and pull the side that has the kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom down the road. I'll drive ahead with the WIDE LOAD sign and we'll drop it wherever we find vacant land. All the comforts of home, my cats will be happy and we'll be the stars of the full-time RV community!!!

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Manycats, will you return to get your other half left behind or build a wall (or put up a giant blue tarp) over the half you take with you? I think it would be sweet for the DH to drive one half and the DW the other, meet up and assemble at the campground - as long as you didn't get caught by foul weather during the trip. That would be a sight to behold! I guess mating and weather sealing the two halfs every time you moved would be a major PITA though.

Chip

 

I agree with most here in that the height is usually the biggest concern. We left Minneapolis in early June to start our full timing lifestyle. Eventually we ended up in NW New York & tried the Lake Ontario Parkway. The entrance ramp said 'No trucks allowed'. Not a problem, I am now an RVer. After a few miles we came upon an exit ramp that had a sign for the oncoming overpass, 12'-2" . Our trailer is 12'-10". It was a stone arched bridge and I had missed the exit ramp but I thought there was clearance. I pulled over to the left lane at the bridge, stopped, got out to inspect, then drove underneath. I surmised the height was measured at the lowest part of he arch so we continued. Another overpass of the same design came up but that one was listed at 11'-8", that made me nervous, but continued unmolested. A mile or so later, another overpass at 11'-10". I got the rig off that road at that point. The road was a 4 lane concrete divided highway that was in the worst condition of any such road I have ever been on, heaves, cracks and missing concrete so I thought that was the reason for 'No trucks allowed' but now I know otherwise.

Possibly many on here may remember the old concrete highways that existed before the interstate system. Most I had been on, had a curb on the right that if you wandered to the right you immediately were sent to the left. Those roads I am sure were no more than 8'-9' wide lanes. Most well travelled roads today are paved with 12' lanes or more. An 8' wide or 8'-6" wide vehicle should have no trouble. Now the intimidation factor of a wide vehicle can be overwhelming to the driver though.

Drive careful, watch your surroundings and especially what is ahead.

Enjoy!