Overnighting on the open road...Yeah or Nah?

[MojaveJoe]

Need some advice from all you experienced RVers.



I am contemplating buying a 31' Hitchhiker and a Ram 3500 CTD to tow it. (ugrading from a tent trailer and Toyota )



One of the things I was looking forward to doing with my first real trailer, was driving cross country til I was tired, then pulling over at a wide spot in the road and going to sleep in a real bed, not the back of my pickup.



So yesterday I asked my friend with a similar rig, if he ever does this. The look I got back from him was unanticipated, and was interpreted to mean: "Are you joking? Or are you just looking for trouble!". He then went on to say, "Well, maybe at a Walmart, but I stay at a Coast To Coast campground for somewhere between $6-11 per night. You should seriously consider joining. "



Being a wanabee real RVer, I find it discouraging to think I would be foolish or asking for trouble, just pulling over on the shoulder when I got tired and going back in my trailer, locking myself in and sleeping til sun up in a nice comfortable bed.



So what am I missing here. Are America's highways really so dangerous for RVers that overnighting on the open road instead of in a private campground is too often a dicey proposition?



All experiences and RV wisdom appreciated.



Thanx for your advice

 

[Whitmore]

OH NO here we go with the camping in Wollyworld parking lot again :{ :{ :{



Seriously if you plan your trips well and figger the milage and the time it takes to get there than there is no reason you cant get to a RV park within a resonable time but if you are looking at making all the time count and drive till late than Wolly world welcomes you, just dont be building a campfire and driving stakes for horseshoes.



cheers, Kevin

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

There are plenty of cheap/free places to spend the night in an RV while traveling - and once you've been at it for a while, you get more experienced in locating them - I belive there is even a website with listings for those spots.



THAT being said, *I* would sure not wanna spend any time simply pulled off the side of the road, unless the spot had a number of other RVers doing the same thing - yeah, there ARE too many crazies running around loose and looking for trouble!

 

[Whitmore]

Joe this thread will give you all the info you need.

 

[wcjp]

I've pulled over for a few hours of shuteye at Rest Stops. Always done in my Jeep. Never along the road. Remember what happened to Micheal Jordan's dad?

 

[Deezul1]

It only takes one car load of drunk fools with trouble on their puny minds to ruin your life to say nothing of some drunk hitting you as he weaves all over the road. Almost anywhere is better than along side the road.

 

[DPelletier]

we've stayed in rest areas a few times. Only when we are just pulling over for 4-6 hours of sleep. If we have more time we usually look for an RV park. The rest areas were well lit, and usually had 4 - 12 18 wheelers and 3-4 RV's doing the same thing. I felt reasonably safe doing this. I wouldn't stay in a deserted or near deserted rest area though.

Dave

 

[greendragon]

R.V.stopping

With a little planning a small RV park can be found almost any where. WalMart or something like that might be next for a few hours. Church parking lots, shopping centers maybe. Local laws can control the overnight parking. I understand Santa Barbara just passed laws to stopping parking of RV's for over 2 hours. I would not pull off the side of the road. too many things can go wrong, too close to moving traffic, and you could look like a vehcile that needs assistance. People might be stopping to help or help them selfs have fun RV'ing.

 

[klenger]

Overnighting on the open road... Yeah or Nah?

I would at least pull off to the side or you may get hit.

 

[Turbo Horseman]

Up here, I've pulled over in rest areas and roadside turnouts for the night. Just depends where you are as to how safe an idea it is.



If your tired during the day, pull off at a rest area and rest for awhile. If it is getting near the end of the day and time for beddy-by, then there is nothing like a safe place to sleep.

 

[IdaH.O.Train]

mojavejoe,



I'm sure as long as you were somewhat selective as to where you chose to be down for the night, you would be fine. I would pick places where you weren't the only one there and then just be cautious. There are nutjobs out there everywhere, regardless of where you stay.



I don't know how you feel about firearms, but that usually brings a little piece of mind.

 

[pwr2tow]

Here's a little story about my late father.



My father would drive until he felt like stopping, he would then find a small town along the road pull over by someones house (in town or country) and ask if they minded if he spent the rest of the day or night or what ever was on the agenda at the time. Some times we were told to move on and sometimes we had the best times of our trip visiting with the people or haveing dinner with them or lunch or later joining them a the local watering hole. For some reason people feel comfortable when you show them enough respect to do the simpliest thing as ask.



Ron

 

[speedracer]

I would definitely not pull over on the shoulder of a highway to sleep, it would be too dangerous being that close to traffic. I'm generally not too excited about parking at on/off ramps either. However, I've never had trouble parking in rest areas or truck stops for sleep(of course, using a bit of common sense as to quality of surroundings).

 

[Midnite]

There is no single answer to this question!



It's just like anything else in the world--you have to use common sense and make a judgement based on whatever the situation calls for.



Up here in Alaska I pull off the road wherever looks good to sleep for the night. Does this mean I would do the same thing in the middle of downtown Los Angeles? Not a chance in hell!



Mike

 

[Vic]

We've pulled some 150,000 actual towing miles in the past ten years. During that time we've overnighted in many truck stops, some rest stops and a few casino parking lots, and never had any trouble. However, that's been largely in the west and in rural areas. Get a truck stop directory made for RVers to find truck stops friendly to RVers and the Trailer Life Campground Directory which includes a table of state rules to find out which states permit overnight stops in rest stops.



We don't carry a firearm, but we do have two dogs. One is a big German Sheperd that looks pretty serious at times. That may be a factor in our success record.



Good luck.

 

[Bug Out]

We always do...

When the wife and I are on the road, if we know that theres not enough time vs. miles to settle down and hook up at a RV park, we alwasy just park at either a truck stop, or rest area.



We have never had a problem yet.



On the flip side, i would not park somewhere without others parked, RV's big rigs etc.



As norcalHO P. O. said, a firearm does help for peace of mind and it is MY HOME when I am on the road.

 

[Underdog]

Truck stops are just that. Truck stops,not RV stops. I would

guess that most truck drivers resent RV 's taking up valuable

parking space at truck stops.

As for safety,a lot of truck drivers get robbed while walking

between their truck and the restaurant.

Then there are the prostitutes, banging on doors all night,

trying to make some money.

Also,if you can sleep with diesels and refrigeration units

running all night,you have to be pretty tired.

 

[Bug Out]

Clarification on first post

I do not park IN the truck stops, as I know truck space is at a premium.



I usually park around the truck stops, or in dirt lots nearby.



I am aware of the Lot lizards ( Prostitutes) and ALWAYS take a firearm with me just in case one of those maggot crooks decides to make me a victim.



Having been a police officer for 12 years (retired now) I am aware of the danger while being on the road. I "always" take a firearm with me. .

 

[Fireman]

Joe,



Welcome to the TDR!



Aint it COOL!



Fireman

 

[Servis]

Whatever you decide to do in stopping any place over night. Place the largest dog water dish outside you trailer door. No one will bother you. I have used this method several times and no one

has troubled my RV or my family.