Huge pickup trucks in the UK?

[JamieGoodwood]

Another dumb newbie question, sorry..

The US 5th Wheel we're looking at buying is 38ft and will obviously need a big US pickup to tow it. We've looked at a few.. Ford F250, Chevy 2500, etc, and they look massive!
So, how do those of you with these huge US pickups get on with the day to day driving around the small roads of the UK, when not hitched? Any problems?

 

[pappajohn]

They only look big and intimidating.
In reality, they are no bigger than a long wheelbase transit van.

 

[Snowbird]

I had a couple of Dodge Rams and a few Chevy pickups over the years, all used as daily drivers with no problems. The only real problem is with the duelys as the rear wheel arches are much wider than the front.

 

[DiggerJon]

I had a Ford F350 crew cab in California and they have some pretty narrow roads around there. I did over 15000 miles in it, some of which were towing a 5th wheel and the only problems I ever had manoeuvring it was in parking lots. It had a turning circle of a supertanker!

 

[two]

I'm not sure how you'd get on supermarket-shopping. OK, you could carry a month's shop at a time but how would you open the doors when parked-up, unless you can step over the adjacent vehicles?

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[scotjimland]

Ford F250 width, excluding mirrors.. regular cab 80" , LWB and crew cab 96" ,
with standard mirrors 105.9"


https://www.ford.com/trucks/super-duty/models/f250-xl/

Roads not a problem.. parking most certainly will be tricky .. same problem that many A class motorhomes have .

 

[pappajohn]

Ford F250 width, excluding mirrors.. regular cab 80" , LWB and crew cab 96" ,
with standard mirrors 105.9"


https://www.ford.com/trucks/super-duty/models/f250-xl/

Roads not a problem.. parking most certainly will be tricky .. same problem that many A class motorhomes have .

Carpark/supermarket bays yes.. On street not a problem.
Even supermarkets won't be a problem unless you're too lazy to walk a bit.
The further from the doors, the more empty bays.

 

[scotjimland]

On street not a problem.

I guess that depends on what street your on..

but it won't fit a standard street car parking bay .. or indeed any supermarket bay, and on many they are controlled by Parking Eye.. over the line, or over 3 hours you get a parking charge dropped though your letter box.

the recommended standard Parking bay size is 2.4 metres (7.9 ft) wide by 4.8 metres (16 ft) long.

 

[gus-lopez]

I'm not sure how you'd get on supermarket-shopping. OK, you could carry a month's shop at a time but how would you open the doors when parked-up, unless you can step over the adjacent vehicles?

no different to an eu vehicle . Bays are far to small.

Even supermarkets won't be a problem unless you're too lazy to walk a bit.
The further from the doors, the more

don't come down here then as finding a space involves driving round and round and round .… .............. ..

I guess that depends on what street your on..

but it won't fit a standard street car parking bay .. or indeed any supermarket bay, and on many they are controlled by Parking Eye.. over the line, or over 3 hours you get a parking charge dropped though your letter box.

the recommended standard Parking bay size is 2.4 metres (7.9 ft) wide by 4.8 metres (16 ft) long.

. My mpv was 5,1m long. Bays are no longer big enough except for the scum that are charging/fining . fortunately it doesn't bother me

 

[sdc77]

Saw one of those big Ford's in a multi story car park... it must have just cleared the height restriction but it caused complete mayhem trying to negotiate it's way round.

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[pappajohn]

I guess that depends on what street your on..

but it won't fit a standard street car parking bay .. or indeed any supermarket bay, and on many they are controlled by Parking Eye.. over the line, or over 3 hours you get a parking charge dropped though your letter box.

the recommended standard Parking bay size is 2.4 metres (7.9 ft) wide by 4.8 metres (16 ft) long.

Length is Not a problem here Jim.... The council haven't caught on yet to individual on-street bays.
Ours are endless and nothing to stop you parking a 40ft artic or even a LWB transit and 26ft caravan as long as you stick a parking ticket on it if in a meter zone or a disc in a disc zone.
Local supermarkets aren't bothered how many spaces you take as long as you don't overstay.

 

[pappajohn]

In the fourth Quarter of 2017 there were 114 Dodge Ram 1500s on UK roads..... They had to park somewhere while out and about.

 

[injebreck99]

I’ve always fancied a classic American pickup truck, every time we go to the US or Canada, we see shedloads of them I’d love to bring back with me.
Maybe if we do sell our Motorhome after we return from this trip.!

 

[Snowbird]

I’ve always fancied a classic American pickup truck, every time we go to the US or Canada, we see shedloads of them I’d love to bring back with me.
Maybe if we do sell our Motorhome after we return from this trip.!

There are also shedloads of the things in the UK. Sheds being the operative word for ratlook or patina. Having owned many of these so called "classic" American vehicles over the years, I have finally come to my senses and left them where they belong, in the States .

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

When had my SRT10 Ram it took four parking bays.
When I got it home I had to make the garage door wider!

When Mrs CC went to the Florida for the new year a few years back I spotted this beast
Try parking this in the UK.

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[injebreck99]

There are also shedloads of the things in the UK. Sheds being the operative word for ratlook or patina. Having owned many of these so called "classic" American vehicles over the years, I have finally come to my senses and left them where they belong, in the States .

Come to your senses, says he who buys fifth wheelers on a whim!

 

[Snowbird]

Come to your senses, says he who buys fifth wheelers on a whim!

Haha, I think you misunderstood me. I meant the so called "classics". Years ago it used to be called patina, now they call it ratlook. I call it rust.

 

[injebreck99]

I hate the word “patina”, as you say, it’s usually a cover word for crappy, rusty or just plain knackered.

 

[scotjimland]

Try parking this in the UK.

exactly.. .. and a picture's worth a thousand words..

 

[scotjimland]

I hate the word “patina”, as you say, it’s usually a cover word for crappy, rusty or just plain knackered.

belongs in the same dictionary as: distressed, shabby chic.. et all.

as used to describe crap on ebay to sell to the gullible

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[Arrius]

Try parking this in the UK.

It is beautiful, I'd dig up a garage for it np.

I love massive pickup trucks. If I were living in the US, I'd have 5-6 of them lined up in front of my house

 

[EuroTrotters]

I drive a SWB Sprinter every day. It looks huge, but I drive it with ease. It slots into most car parking spaces with ease (even if you then cannot open the doors (or get dirty looks off car drivers (who choose to park next to me))).

But!. When I get in my Wife's little Audi, I struggle to park it!.

Not sure how I would go on with a big US Pick-up!

But I have seen Europeans towing 5th Wheelers with MWB Sprinter Pick-up/Flat bed double cabs.

Trevor.

 

[EuroTrotters]

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