Why The 6'8" Width?

[Ray N]

I've been wondering, why are most of the fiberglass eggs six foot eight inches wide? I know the EggCamper is 7'4" wide, and it seems much more spacious inside because of it, but is there some sort of legal advantage for the more narrow size? Or is it just to make as small a camper as possible?

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by Ray N

I've been wondering, why are most of the fiberglass eggs six foot eight inches wide?

Is there some sort of legal advantage for the more narrow size?

80" wide is the cutoff before you have to meet more Federal Regulations.

[honda03842]

I don't know what's legal but motorhomes are 8'6" or 102" wide. There fore I also suspect it's nothing to do with the law.

The reason to me is that they tried to make a minimal trailer with some level of all the creature comforts that was not too heavy, could be towed by a reasonable vehicle and met the needs of two or a young family of four.

6'8" is 80" wide; 7'4" is 86" wide, this resulys in about 8-10% reduction in mpg. If you take into account the additional height of the Eggcamper I suspect it amounts to a 20% reduction in mpg. In addition though it may not weigh more than a Casita 17, the increased frontal area is more of an issue for the tow vehicle than weight.

Frontal Area, drag and lastly material costs.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by honda03842

I don't know what's legal but motorhomes are 8'6" or 102" wide. There fore I also suspect it's nothing to do with the law.

The reason to me is that they tried to make a minimal trailer with some level of all the creature comforts that was not too heavy, could be towed by a reasonable vehicle and met the needs of two or a young family of four.

6'8" is 80" wide; 7'4" is 86" wide, this resulys in about 8-10% reduction in mpg. If you take into account the additional height of the Eggcamper I suspect it amounts to a 20% reduction in mpg. In addition though it may not weigh more than a Casita 17, the increased frontal area is more of an issue for the tow vehicle than weight.

Frontal Area, drag and lastly material costs.

Actually ; it does have DOT implications. I can't recall what they all are but clearance lights front and rear and ID lights and maybe conspicuity tape are some. plus rear visibility requirements come into play as well.
There may be some manufacturing requirements as well.

[Donna D.]

All I know is my Scamp is the same width as my tug... a Ford F-150 and because of that I don't need extra mirrors so I can see behind me ... and I like THAT!

[Ray N]

About how much worse gas mileage would a typical camper of eight feet wide and ten feet high calculate out to?

The DOT requirements couldn't be much since almost all campers are at least eight feet wide. Does anyone here know the details of what these restrictions, if they actually exist, consist of?

[Ray N]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

All I know is my Scamp is the same width as my tug... a Ford F-150 and because of that I don't need extra mirrors so I can see behind me ... and I like THAT!

That would be nice. Even though the outside mirrors on my Tundra measure just an inch short of eight feet from outside edge to outside edge, I still need an extension to see what's behind my camper.

[Greg H]

102" is the DOT limit for anything on the road without an oversize permit

[Mike Magee]

I always figured it was just because Boler happened to decide on that size, and Boler then was copied by subsequent mfrs.

[Cabs in ohio]

We can see behind our scamp 16' with our TV-GMC sierra 1500--it is the only camper I have enjoyed pulling because of that! It works great for us.

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by Frederick L. Simson

80" wide is the cutoff before you have to meet more Federal Regulations.

80" is the max width before wide-vehicle identification lights (the three-light group in the middle) and width clearance lights are needed

My Fiber Stream is 80" wide near the floor and 78" wide near the roof, and has reflectors, but no lights up near the roof. The 2 Tail lights plus the 4 Side-markers make a total of 6 light bulbs in the Running/Marker light circuit. If it were wider it would need at least 11, and possibly 14 more light bulbs/fixtures in that circuit.

[Roger C H]

NB: 6' 8'' = 80" (72+8)

Point of information: 7'4" = 88" (84+4)

RCW 46.37.090: Additional equipment required on certain vehicles.

(2) Trailers and semitrailers eighty inches or more in over-all width:

(a) On the front, two clearance lamps, one at each side;

(b) On the rear, two clearance lamps, one at each side, and after January 1, 1964, three identification lamps meeting the specifications of subdivision (6) [(7)] of this section;

(c) On each side, two side marker lamps, one at or near the front and one at or near the rear;

(d) On each side, two reflectors, one at or near the front and one at or near the rear: PROVIDED, That a mobile home as defined by RCW 46.04.302 need not be equipped with two side marker lamps or two side reflectors as required by subsection (2) (c) and (d) of this section while operated under the terms of a special permit authorized by RCW 46.44.090.

Our Trillium is 6'6" (78") wide so as to fall under the 80" requirements.

[Tom Trostel]

Our 1980 Bigfoot is 8' (96") wide and has 11 clearance lights and 4 reflectors plus 2 tail lights. Upper front has 2 amber lights. Sides have upper lights and lower reflectors (amber front and red rear). Rear has 5 upper red lights and lower tail lights. All are now LEDs.

[Alf S.]

Hi: All...Our 5.0 is 6'8" wide and no special mirrors required...I like that!!! We have top& bottom side markers on the four corners. Red behind the axle and amber in front of it. So far I've had to change 1 bulb due to the A/C moisture running down the trailer and into the lens. The bases are well sealed to the fiberglass so I'm not going to change 'em out to LED's yet!!!
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie