Overnight stops

[Texas Diesel]

Originally posted by dalton4

I can't figure out for the life of me how anyone could become upset at your reply. Factor in how considerate and tactful you were in calling others panhandlers, cheap, tacky, begging for parking lot walfare, cheapskates and that all should get out of rving if they don't meet your standards. Sounds like you have a solid proven method for winning everyone over to your point of view. I'm sure you must have a patent pending.

Jerry

Be nice to Gary, he is writing a book on how to win friends and influence people ( sorry Gary but I couldnt resist )

 

[jgallentine]

Security?

I know this is a little off subject, but then the original subject died back on page one, but has anybody had any security issues parking at rest stops, Wal Marts or truck stops. I pull a car trailer and I don't have a 5er yet but I am about to be in the market for one. This trailer will have living quarters and we will go long distances for shows so overnight parking will become an issue. The thought of jumping in the trailer for the night in a Wally World parking lot or worse yet a rest area makes me nervous.



Thanks

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"Be nice to Gary, he is writing a book on how to win friends and influence people ( sorry Gary but I couldnt resist )"



Don't sweat it - it goes with the territory...







Quickest way to offend a prostitute, is to call her one... And if you feel someone is displaying poor taste and ethics, you WON'T make many friends by expressing your views, regardless of how on-target you might be...



I joined this group for the benefit of the technological and Dodge related stuff found here - and while I'd rather make friends than enemies, I discovered LONG ago on the internet, that if you DARE criticise the ethics of others, no matter how glaringly poor they may be or how you try to word your opinion, the wounded moans and whines get pretty overpowering.



Like another thread where I criticised the practice of installing stuff like power boxes on trucks, then when something related failed, quickly began dismantling the add-ons so they could fool the dealership into thinking the truck was unmodified - MAN, you should have SEEN the cries and wails of the wounded, and the personal abuse I received when I offered the opinion that it was lying and cheating to do that...



There too, many justified their poor ethics as "getting even" with bad dealers - and a ton of other flimsy rationalizations for what is actually poor honesty and morality - I was personally attacked THERE too for my opposition - but I survived...



Yeah - I'm not too bright when it comes to getting into ethics and morality based issues - but ya know, if SOMEBODY doesn't take a stand for what they feel is right - or oppose what they feel is wrong - others looking on begin to assume there must NOT be anything wrong with what they are doing, and jump in right along with what appears to be the majority view...



Yeah, I make no pretense of being always right with my views - but they ARE my views, and whether or not it makes friends, I'll express myself honestly as I know how as issues arise - until some administrator chooses to shut me down to appease the complainers.



The originator of THIS thread asked a question - I gave my personal opinion, and am getting beat up for it - that's OK, NO regrets - and I'll sleep just fine tonight! I realize the original question was related most specifically to infrequent short overnight stays - and I was pretty clear that MY response dealt primarly at abuse of that parking privelege by some who plan an ENTIRE cross-country ininerary around such free parking - or go a step farther, and stay a week or more parked on one as they do the tourist bit... I stand firm in my persnal belief that THAT is abusing a generous offer...



And ALSO for what it's worth, I don't hold a THING against those critical of me or my views - it's their privilege and right to honestly express themselves, just as it is mine...



Right about HERE, is where my Wyoming friend is cued to pop in with his well thought out and finely worded response...

 

[Blakers]

Gary... I posted the original question... .



"Where do you guys stop with your RVs when just staying the night and moving on in the morning? Not setting up camp.



I've heard Walmarts and Flying Js are good places. What about other truckstops, etc?"



I think it was quite alright for you to tell us that you stay in campgrounds or RV parks only.



But the question did not ask how you "felt" about staying or allowing others to stay at certain places. In other words, no opinion was sought and your bringing ethics and personal taste into this was not needed. It was pure bate to start controversy.



Blake

 

[JyRO]

Here here!

Blakers - Here, here! I agree. Your post asked a valid question. After Gary's post, everybody jumped into defense mode due to some of the comments he made.



Now if ya'll excuse me, I gotta go pull that EZ box out. I had a spark plug foul out & cause my turbo to blow up and slam through the transmission, as I was dropping the 5'er off and pulling out of the Walmart for a day-trip. I gotta take that EZ off so they'll cover all the damage under warranty.



- JyRO

 

[WyoJim]

Hey Gary - KJ6Q... . Go take a flying leap!!!

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Right on cue!

 

[NVR FNSH]

Very entertaining to say the least.....



I believe the rest stops along I-5 between Sacramento & LA specifically state NO OVERNIGHT CAMPING. Not sure what the definition of camping is but I wouldn't hesitate to climb into the trailer and grab a few hours sleep IF & ONLY IF continued driving would be unsafe. I carry a pistol and am not too concerned about my safety. It would be real obvious to even a casual observer if I was in my trailer - I can't get into the bedroom unless the slideout is extended. This means the landing gear & rear stabilizers have to go out.



Regarding WalMart: an overnight stay is perfectly legit if local zoning doesn't prevent it. Camping at WalMart is an entirely different issue and I have to agree with Gary on that one. I wouldn't park under an overpass but that's just me.



Now my pet peeve

If you can afford an RV you can damn well afford to park/store it somewhere other than the street in front of your house where everybody else has to look at it. I have a neighbor around the corner that seems to think the street is his personal storage spot for his 35ft motorhome. The thing hasn't moved in a year. I feel bad when I leave my trailer on the steet for a few days.....



Brian



Brian

 

[Blakers]

Regarding WalMart: an overnight stay is perfectly legit if local zoning doesn't prevent it. Camping at WalMart is an entirely different issue and I have to agree with Gary on that one. I wouldn't park under an overpass but that's just me.

Do the Walmarts that don't allow parking overnight post signs to that fact?



If I was going only in Pa I would definately carry my pistol too, but my license is not good in some of the states I am going through. But I'm sure a shotgun in the camper while camping is ok anywhere in the free United States.



Blake

 

[Joe G.]

I have a hard time understanding why it's anyone's business who camps and/or parks at WalMart except WalMart. It's their property. If they want it to look like a hippy commune that's their business, not ours. If it offends don't shop there.



I think I would get a bit upset if someone were to tell me that what I was doing on my property (as long as it's legal) is a problem to them. I have run people off for that kind of stuff.



Camping and/or parking long time on public (the tax payers') property is another story. That IS our business.

 

[merryman]

Joe G;

Last time I was through your neck of the "red" woods, I thought about you. Would have tried for a coffee meet, but as usual I wasn't sure we would be going that way till we hit Redding and had to decide whether to go I-5 or head for the coast--we had hit I-5 at Red Bluff after taking 36 from Susanville. I can't resist a new road.

Maybe next time I'll plan at least that far ahead and contact you.



Vaughn

 

[Jim Smith]

Originally posted by Blakers

Where do you guys stop with your RVs when just staying the night and moving on in the morning? Not setting up camp.



I've heard Walmarts and Flying Js are good places. What about other truckstops, etc?



Thanks,



Blake

Rest areas and truck stops ok in emergencies but not on a regular basis while traveling . We need a good nights rest when towing our rigs. Camping/RV'ing commraderie is one of the reasons we chose this lifestyle. Walmarts and others just don't cut it , lets not mess ourselves up in the local communities that we travel through. Thanks.

 

[cwsoules]

We have "camped" overnight several times at Camping World locations as we are passing through. We have never stopped at Walmart but might if we could not find a convienent RV Park.



Not all WalMarts allow overnight parking. The one in San Leandro, CA is one (I believe it is a local law. )

 

[baby.driver]

In California, if the cop says you're camping then you're camping.



Jay

 

[MidwestMotorman]

rest areas and security

I have found rest areas to be very good in the midwest, midwest to south central, and midwest to east central. A lot of state troopers patrol them along the midwest interstates. If I remember right, the poorest rest stops were the northeast coast area. Usually the cleanliness of the rest area speaks for its security. Some of the rest areas have paid security that patrols the bathroom and parking areas. I normally have a loaded car trailer behind my Dodge, so I normally park with the semis. I feel safe sleeping/napping in my cab. The truck is usually lit up and locked up while doing so. Always park in well lit areas if possible.



Parking at interchanges and off ramp commercial areas are good in the midwest. Again, lit areas are safer. Usually best where the big rigs park.

 

[MABurns]

Cracker Barrel is another good spot, plus you can have a good breakfast and a cup of coffee in the AM. Safest, probably the Flying J or other Travel Centers.

 

[pwr2tow]

Different strokes for different folks.



I was raised not to abuse any of our god given rights.



If wal-mart and god think its o. k. to park there over night then I guess I have no problem with it.



Ron

 

[WyoJim]

Now Gary has gone and done it. All these negative vibes on staying at Walmart overnight are causing a backlash.



Heard on the radio that the KOA in Rock Springs, WY is raising hell with the county and city about RV's staying overnight at the Rock Springs Walmart instead of the Rock Springs KOA. Don't know how it is going to turn out, but if you ever stopped at this particular KOA, You will see why even Gary would stay at Walmart. I have stayed overnight at this Walmart several times and have never seen more than 3 or 4 RV's in there.



And besides that the wide open spaces around Rock Springs and Green River provide so many free overnight opportunities that I'll never stay at this KOA. Its not rated very high!!!



http://www.rvparkreviews.com/Wyoming.html#Rock_Springs

 

[NVR FNSH]

Gary may have stepped on his %f;$ with his reply but he certainly isn't the one giving RV'ers a bad name. It's the people that Gary was referring to as the freeloaders abusing a PRIVILEGE extended by WalMart & others to the RVing community.



Brian

 

[MidwestMotorman]

dead horse

Enough of beating Gary's dead horse. This thread has enough spiteful replies. I like informative threads not melodramatic soap operas. I had enough negativity from the recent political ads. Nuff said.