5th wheel and TT dimensions

[WRStrong]

Just curious - my 5er is designated as a 28DB which I assume means 28 ft bunk house model. When I put a tape measure to it, the overall length is about 34 ft. On my old travel trailer the length is advertised as 22 ft. When you put a tape measure to that one it is 22 ft from the very tip of the bumper to the very tip of the coupler.



Does anyone out there know what the convention is for determining "advertised" length? Do the numbers mean anything?



thanks

 

[JThiessen]

As far as I've been able to figure, the number in the floorplan may designate the length from the bumper to the fwd storage compartments... ... . on most 5'ers. However, I have yet to actually prove this! Mine is a 253D (Jayco), and it doesnt match up with anything - the overall length is 27'5. Bumper to the cargo is 24'. I guess its all just arbitrary... . !

 

[GerryDrake]

Our Jayco, model 3310, is 34'8" as shown in the brochures.



The 3310 is ONLY a model number. Some manufacturers do relate the length to the model number, but by no means all... particularly not Jayco. .



Often when a manufacturer names a model something like 27RKDS, it will be 27" long with a Rear Kitchen and 2 (Dual) Slides, but there is NO consistency. Go by the brochure for a rough idea, but go by the tape measure to be sure.

 

[clem]

Some trailers the 28ft is the body not the hitch it is up to the MFG. then there are the ones that list a trailer as a 38ft and if you put a tap on it it comes out 39. 6 ft It all comes out trailers 5th Wh or TT no harm done just your mind. Hope this is as clear as mud,but it is true. Clem

 

[HBarlow]

A fellow TDR member who has owned several of them told me when I was considering a 5er that the manufacturer's length figure is usually measured from kingpin to rear bumper. I suspect it varies according to the goals of the manufacturer's marketing department.



If the inexperienced RV shopper looks at several brands and forms the impression that brand A's unit has "a lot more space inside" than brand B and they are "both the same length" it probably sells a few more units for one of them.



Fudging on the length measurement probably also helps the salesman convince some prospective buyers that it will be okay to pull it with his underpowered and underrated pickup. We've all heard of the RV owner who says the salesman told him his Chevy 1500 with "powerful 5. 3 liter engine" will pull any trailer he wants.



Harvey

 

[RustyJC]

Here's one for you - our previous Jayco Designer XL 3610RLTS was the same overall length (37' and change) as the 3710RLTS. The difference between the two models was the floor plan.



For overall length, either go to the brochures or measure it yourself. The model numbers unfortunately mean very little.



Rusty