Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

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Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

August 02, 2019, 07:49:01 pm

Since my husband's stroke I'm now the driver, but there is no way I can backup our 30' 5th wheel and crew cab F250, so we are looking at getting a used Lazy Daze. I love the 26 foot, but I've found what (I hope) is a good deal on a 30' island.

Would the extra footage be significantly more difficult to back up, park or drive? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Re: Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

Reply #1 – August 02, 2019, 09:26:56 pm

Quote from: Miss Kate - August 02, 2019, 07:49:01 pm

Since my husband's stroke I'm now the driver, but there is no way I can backup our 30' 5th wheel and crew cab F250, so we are looking at getting a used Lazy Daze. I love the 26 foot, but I've found what (I hope) is a good deal on a 30' island.

Would the extra footage be significantly more difficult to back up, park or drive? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Significantly? No. A little bit? Yes. IMHO, 3' doesn't make much of a difference. The 30' will swing a little wider when turning. That's the major difference.

Chris

Re: Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

Reply #2 – August 02, 2019, 10:59:20 pm

Welcome to the LDO Forum Miss Kate. I completely agree with Chris. As importantly, there’s women on this Forum who solo in a 30’ or who primarily drive the Rig. My wife does a good amount of our driving especially on longer days as do many of the wives on this Forum. We help each whether driver or navigator.

Backing up requires the most attention. Solo drivers get out and survey the area. Usually Margee will get out and watch/guide me while backing up. A backup camera is immensely helpful.

A valuable rule of thumb is to try not to pull into a place that you can’t drive forward. For example, gas stations, commercial parking lots, dead end streets, etc. The key word is try. (Funny how I can clearly remember every time I’ve driven into a place that became a challenge to our marriage to get out!!)

When I’m tired or otherwise lose attention, I’ll forget I’m driving 27’ plus a vehicle in tow. Our Rig is a very nice driving RV so I have to remind myself I’m much longer than driving a truck or car.

The 30’ LD has a long overhang as compared to a 27’, which means it’s more susceptible to dragging on steep drive ways or inclines.

So it’s very doable. We’d like to wish you the best as you make the transition to a Lazy Daze Owner.

Re: Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

Reply #3 – August 02, 2019, 11:24:01 pm

Thanks Ed. One of the things I most like about the LD is how low it is to the ground compared to our 5th wheel. I had not considered how this might effect going up an incline. There is so much to learn. I am grateful that this forum exists, and that you folks are so willing to share and support us newbie!

Re: Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

Reply #4 – August 02, 2019, 11:50:01 pm

"...there is no way I can backup our 30' 5th wheel..."

Well, let's see, 30' Fiver + F250 = at least 50' overall. Now compare that to the 30' LD and you are 20 feet shorter. I'd say that is a significant difference!

You can ask LazyBones2 how difficult it was to do a 'U' turn in the middle of Hwy 395 in downtown Lee Vining with a CRV in tow behind.

Re: Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

Reply #5 – August 03, 2019, 12:14:34 am

Quote from: Lazy Bones - August 02, 2019, 11:50:01 pm

"...there is no way I can backup our 30' 5th wheel..."

Well, let's see, 30' Fiver + F250 = at least 50' overall. Now compare that to the 30' LD and you are 20 feet shorter. I'd say that is a significant difference!

Yup... and I swear that 5th wheel hitch backs up like a wet noodle...I never could understand how my husband could back that monster into those tight California Beach (Bola Chica in Huntington Beach) parking lot style camp sites. Thanks for the encouragement.

Re: Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

Reply #6 – August 03, 2019, 12:38:58 am

I am sorry to hear of your husband's medical issues.
I have a 31 IB and have found it only a little more 'interesting' than a 27' UHaul.   The tail swing is a little wider but not that much.

One issue with 30' is that the rig starts heavy. Your carrying capacity is limited.   My GVWR is 14,500 and normal trip weight will be a little over 14,000. That is water tank filled 25%.   On a 27 ft rig you have more leeway. What year is the 30 footer you are looking at, and what is the GVWR?

Welcome to what some call the FOLD (Fraternal Order of LazeDaze)
Joel

Re: Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

Reply #7 – August 03, 2019, 01:30:42 am

Hi, Miss Kate--

Sometime in the first year of owning her, having gained some confidence, I got a little lax with GOAL (Get Out And Look)--mistakenly thinking the backup camera gave me all the info I needed (among other things, a vicious mailbox took a bite out of the fake spare tire cover); she required some cosmetic surgery, but I find I am now a better driver in my 30' TB than in my farm pickup or minivan, perhaps because I'm more aware of her length/overhang/swing/etc. Though I've not driven a shorter LD, I've found my 30' TB very comfortable to drive, & since it's generally just me & the 4-Legged Alarm, I've not had a problem with weight.

Sorry to hear of the heath challenges, but good luck with your search for your just-right LD, & welcome to the FOLD.

Lynne

Re: Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

Reply #8 – August 03, 2019, 10:02:11 am

Quote from: joel wiley - August 03, 2019, 12:38:58 am

What year is the 30 footer you are looking at, and what is the GVWR?

Thanks Joel. It is a 1998 with 71K miles. The present owner says he's towed a Honda Civic across the country, so I assumed it could easily tow my Jeep Wrangler or Subaru. Maybe not Something else for me to look into first.

Any ideas?

Re: Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

Reply #9 – August 03, 2019, 10:28:36 am

Hi Miss Kate and Welcome. The previous posters have covered the bases pretty well. I would only add two things.

The shorter LD is likely to be a bit easier to turn, especially around gas pumps. When we travel, we always try to use truck stops that, in general, provide more room to move. Further, some older campgrounds may not handle the larger rig as well as the shorter LD.

Second is the weight issue. The shorter LD has a greater cargo carrying capacity compared to the longer version as noted by others. So, think about how you will use the rig most of the time. Will your trips be shorter, thus requiring less stuff to carry (food, clothes, and other stuff)? Or, are you considering some long distance trips, or extended times away from home base that might necessitate the need to carry more? Thinking about the weight issue this way might help you decide which length is best for your needs.

Good luck with your decision and safe travels.

Bob

Re: Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

Reply #10 – August 03, 2019, 10:36:20 am

I pulled a fifth wheel for nearly a decade with a long bed, four door F350 4X4. 53 feet long total. Although backing up was easy, u-turns could be a challenge without adequate room or somewhere to back into, and the thing that I liked the least was that I couldn't just pull over wherever I saw something interesting. The rig was longer than most pull outs, especially if any one else was already pulled over. We missed a lot of interesting stream fishing opportunities in Alaska and B.C. because of this. We did pull the fiver into rougher areas than the Lazy Daze will tolerate, as it had lots of ground clearance.

The Lazy Daze is simple to drive, backs up like a pick up truck, and is comfortable for camping. It isn't as spacious as the fifth wheel, but we don't miss all of the space. U turns are a breeze. You will appreciate the build quality when things don't fall off or fail on trips. My wife refused to drive the fifth wheel and says the Lazy Daze is easy.

Our 27 foot MB was kind of like Goldilocks solution with the three bears. The 24 foot is too small for us and the 31 foot is too big. It doesn't have enough OCCC (Occupant and cargo carrying capacity) to carry all of our crap and 400lb of trailer tongue weight. The long overhang behind the rear axle must be considered when exiting gas stations because the stern will swing the opposite direction that you turn and can come into contact with gas pumps, barriers, etc. The 27 is just right for us. It tows the Jeep or the motorcycle trailer with ease. When you pull into a camping site in the rain, you don't have to get out of the truck and enter the trailer; you just turn off the engine and climb back into the coach, still dry. My wife likes being able to get up and get something to eat or use the potty while I am driving as opposed to pulling the fiver over so that she could get what she wanted.

Although we enjoyed our fiver, we will never go back. Have I mentioned that she loves the Lazy Daze?

Harold

Re: Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

Reply #11 – August 03, 2019, 10:42:42 am

Quote from: Miss Kate - August 03, 2019, 10:02:11 am

Quote from: joel wiley - August 03, 2019, 12:38:58 am

What year is the 30 footer you are looking at, and what is the GVWR?
Thanks Joel. It is a 1998 with 71K miles. The present owner says he's towed a Honda Civic across the country, so I assumed it could easily tow my Jeep Wrangler or Subaru. Maybe not Something else for me to look into first.

Any ideas?

I believe that the 1998 chassis and drive train only had a GVWR of 14,050 lbs so weight may be a concern. Do you know which engine it has? Which year and model is your Jeep Wrangler. Earlier years are light enough to be towed (with an aux braking system), more recent models, especially the 4 door models, tend to be a bit too heavy for the factory tow setup. Do you know if your Subaru is flat towable?

Art

Re: Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

Reply #12 – August 03, 2019, 07:16:14 pm

"The 30' LD has a long overhang as compared to a 27', which means it's more susceptible to dragging on steep drive ways or inclines."

True! Exactly 11' to be exact and the 1st time you drag those skids on a steep driveway it's going to get your attention. When I encounter such a situation I try to transit the area on an angle if it's possible... otherwise just grit your teeth until the noise stops, been there a couple times.

As to gas pumps, the advise I give LazyBones2 is "Don't crowd the pump island." When you pull away you'll have more space for the tail swing!

Re: Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

Reply #13 – August 03, 2019, 09:10:49 pm

Quote from: Lynne Broyles-Greenwood - August 03, 2019, 01:30:42 am

Hi, Miss Kate--

I've found my 30' TB very comfortable to drive,

That's great to hear Lynn. It gives me hope.

Re: Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

Reply #14 – August 03, 2019, 09:15:29 pm

Quote from: rm2011ldmb - August 03, 2019, 10:28:36 am

1. The shorter LD is likely to be a bit easier to turn, especially around gas pumps.
2. Further, some older campgrounds may not handle the larger rig as well as the shorter LD.
3.The shorter LD has a greater cargo carrying capacity compared to the longer version as noted by others.

Thanks Bob... all good points to consider. My head is spinning with so much to think about.

Re: Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

Reply #15 – August 04, 2019, 09:19:56 pm

Kate, don't worry the head spinning stops after a couple of years of use

. Likely less for you as you have some RV experience under your belt. But the group will help keep you headed in the wrong direction so you don't walk off a cliff with that spinning head.
Jane

Re: Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

Reply #16 – August 05, 2019, 03:28:12 pm

Quote from: Blueox25 - August 03, 2019, 10:36:20 am

Our 27 foot MB was kind of like Goldilocks solution with the three bears. The 24 foot is too small for us and the 31 foot is too big.

This ! Thanks for the insight Harold.

K

Re: Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

Reply #17 – August 05, 2019, 03:36:02 pm

Quote from: Older_Fossil - August 03, 2019, 10:42:42 am

Thanks Joel. It is a 1998 with 71K miles. The present owner says he's towed a Honda Civic across the country, so I assumed it could easily tow my Jeep Wrangler or Subaru. Maybe not Something else for me to look into first.

Any ideas?

Which year and model is your Jeep Wrangler. We have an '09, my husband checked, it seems this year is towable. Yea.

Art

Quote from: Older_Fossil - August 03, 2019, 10:42:42 am

Thanks Joel. It is a 1998 with 71K miles. The present owner says he's towed a Honda Civic across the country, so I assumed it could easily tow my Jeep Wrangler or Subaru. Maybe not Something else for me to look into first.

Any ideas?

I believe that the 1998 chassis and drive train only had a GVWR of 14,050 lbs so weight may be a concern. Do you know which engine it has? Which year and model is your Jeep Wrangler. Earlier years are light enough to be towed (with an aux braking system), more recent models, especially the 4 door models, tend to be a bit too heavy for the factory tow setup. Do you know if your Subaru is flat towable?

Art

Re: Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

Reply #18 – August 05, 2019, 03:59:25 pm

Update...

We made the 600+ mile round trip to check out & drive the 30 foot LD. We decided to pass on this LD.

I cannot tell you how very much we appreciate all the invaluable advice and information from everyone at LDO. We printed out Delta Mike & Barry Barnes' article: "Buying A Used LD" and Kenneth Fears's post : Getting Started - A Primer For The New RVer. We had 6 hours on our way there to read and discuss this info. We found many red flags that would never have been noticed with out this information. I did get a chance to drive the unit so I know I can.

Thanks again for all your kind words of encouragement and input. Our search continues. Will keep you posted.

K

Re: Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

Reply #19 – August 05, 2019, 04:47:06 pm

Time and cost of 600 mile round trip to drive, evaluate, and reject this particular unit was a good investment.
1. You found red flags - worth the trip costs
2. Hands-on experience on driving one that size - worth the trip cost.
3. Time spent on the road in discussions on potential purchase - priceless.
4. Extension of your knowledge base to be used on evaluating the next one - worth the trip costs.

You can't say you have nothing to show for your efforts.
Keep looking.
Good Luck
Joel

Re: Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

Reply #20 – August 05, 2019, 05:07:17 pm

First, good luck with your path to purchase. It took us 1.5 years to find our first LD, a rear bath. While we love the openness of the plan, making and unmaking the beds each night and morning got really tiring for us and after 2 years we decided to move to a 30 IB.

Several folks have covered the carrying capacity issue so I won’t go into that but I will tell you that we’ve now had the IB for 6 years and I would not give her up for any reason. We’ve stayed out as much as a month, tow a CRV, and love the comfort and spaciousness. We do travel light, keep our rig relatively empty, use our little CRV as a mini-garage, and try to stay within the CCC of the rig. Driving her is a breeze and the comfort/drivability ratio work fine for us.

Keep us all posted on your search. You will find this group invaluable, and welcoming.

Re: Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

Reply #21 – August 05, 2019, 07:14:18 pm

Quote from: Miss Kate - August 05, 2019, 03:59:25 pm

Update...

We made the 600+ mile round trip to check out & drive the 30 foot LD. We decided to pass on this LD.

I cannot tell you how very much we appreciate all the invaluable advice and information from everyone at LDO. We printed out Delta Mike & Barry Barnes' article: "Buying A Used LD" and Kenneth Fears's post : Getting Started - A Primer For The New RVer. We had 6 hours on our way there to read and discuss this info. We found many red flags that would never have been noticed with out this information. I did get a chance to drive the unit so I know I can.

Thanks again for all your kind words of encouragement and input. Our search continues. Will keep you posted.

K

Kate, thanks for the feedback that you found articles and comments on this forum helpful to you. We entertain a passel of knowledgeable members who love to share their tech knowledge and buying tips.

Chris

Re: Length impact, is it significantly more difficult to drive a 30' than a 26' ?

Reply #22 – August 06, 2019, 12:12:10 pm

Quote from: Jules - August 05, 2019, 05:07:17 pm

First, good luck with your path to purchase. It took us 1.5 years to find our first LD, a rear bath. While we love the openness of the plan, making and unmaking the beds each night and morning got really tiring for us and after 2 years we decided to move to a 30 IB.

We got our first LD, a 2006 RB on eBay, sight unseen. It was a dealer that we knew and trusted. Drove it for 5 years and loved it but needed a change. We also grew tired of making a bed, but loved the open space of the RB.

Settled on a new Sunseeker as an interim rig until we found what we wanted, a newer MB. Figured the Sunseeker would wear out and force us into ordering new from the factory. In less than 2 years, we found a used 2017 MB, only 30 miles from our home.

To the OP, be patient and good luck. Be sure to get the one that's right for you !

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