Maintenance & Restoration

dylanear · 10-03-2011, 02:03 PM

Just curious, can I just pull over the where all the big rigs are parked at a large truck stop and spend the night? Do I have to check in with the truck stop? Pay a fee? Buy a tank of gas? Limited to less than a full night's sleep? Varies at different stops?

Seems like a good way to save a few bucks when all you need is a place to sleep without being bothered for 8 or 10 hours.

kirkman · 10-03-2011, 03:27 PM

I try to stay out of the way of the truckers. I do go ask and usually buy some thing.
Don't forget wallmart! Most of them let you spend the night in the parking lot as long as you check in with the night manager.

Darwin Maring · 10-03-2011, 03:42 PM

I always hear trucks running so that could hinder a nights sleep.

Orcus79 · 10-03-2011, 03:42 PM

I think if you ask and park out of the way of the main lot you might be able to, the truckers have priority remember though.

Darwin Maring · 10-03-2011, 03:43 PM

This summer I saw a Motel that catered to big trucks and they had electricity receptacles so the trucks could plug in however I think the truckers actually stayed in the motel.

cpaharley2008 · 10-03-2011, 06:06 PM

A lot of Passport America's parks can be had for 50% off or maybe $12-$20. I'd rather stay there and be in a quiet spot. But if not convenient, Wallyworld would be more quiet than a truck stop or Welcome Center.

rgrugg · 10-03-2011, 06:19 PM

Most Flying J truckstops have separate fuel/water/dump/propane areas for RV along with a separate RV parking area for overnights.

Laura June · 10-03-2011, 06:28 PM

We have spent many nights in rest area's along the interstates, the only problem is the truck noise. Sometimes you can find a place away from the big trucks. This doesn't cost anything. We have also used parking lots like Cabela's and Bass Pro.

jen b · 10-03-2011, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgrugg

Most Flying J truckstops have separate fuel/water/dump/propane areas for RV along with a separate RV parking area for overnights.

I've stayed at a couple of these too - sometimes the smaller ones don't have the separate RV area, so in those cases I ask whomever's at the cashier desk where they prefer me to park. They don't mind folks staying all night. I'll fill my gas tank there and grab some tea/coffee on the way out, usually.

Oh, and I've never run into a fee.

Jim Hovind · 10-03-2011, 09:05 PM

Some cities have ordinances against camping inside of city limits no mater what Walmart tell you.

Adrian W · 10-04-2011, 12:09 PM

Never have used a Truck Stop to Overnight, but have often used Wal-Marts. I have never asked to stay (Figured they are Busy Enough without Being Bothered By Me); Normally if not always there are other RVs parked so I join them. If the city has ordinances agains overnighting, Wal-Mart will have a sign saying no overnighting. I look for signs, have seen a few. If no others are overnighting, might be good to ask.

This site will say if they do not allow overnighting....also has phone numbers you could call to be sure.
Walmart Locations - Wal-Mart Parking Guide

At Cody, WY Wal-Mart 2009

At Trinidad, CO Wal-Mart

This has many places which may allow overnighting: Overnight RV Parking - A Helping Guide

This is a good site to find campgrounds, free or cheap: Free Campgrounds for RVs

At Wheatland, WY city park, has camping; found on above site.

Free campsites: USA | Free Campsites

Simular: Bob's Cheap or Free CG's US - Google Maps

Boondocking: Boondocking sites – Free places to park for the night | Has Been There

HikeSticks · 10-04-2011, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dylanear

Just curious, can I just pull over the where all the big rigs are parked at a large truck stop and spend the night? Do I have to check in with the truck stop? Pay a fee? Buy a tank of gas? Limited to less than a full night's sleep? Varies at different stops?

Seems like a good way to save a few bucks when all you need is a place to sleep without being bothered for 8 or 10 hours.

I have stayed at a few truck stops during my travels along the east coast between New Brunswick and Florida. As others have mentioned, the reefer noises can be very loud (as well as all the trucks coming and going) and unless you can park well away from the trucks you probably won't get much sleep. It is important to ask permission. Not only is it polite but the service desk will advise you where they want you to park. This will usually be a spot as far from the trucks as possible; they don't want you in the way of the big rigs and you want to be away from the noise...win/win. On the positive side, truck stops are usually right beside the interstate and easy to get into and out of. In a pinch they can be a godsend. If you are traveling a long distance and find yourself getting too tired the noise may not bother you and would be better than driving too tired.
Good luck.
Barrie

Kevin K · 10-04-2011, 02:23 PM

theresa p · 10-04-2011, 03:47 PM

hi...we have stayed overnight in flying j's, walmarts and a couple of welcome centers. we find flying j's to be very rv-friendly. sure, it can be noisy. but their set-up separates truckers from rv'ers and that does help. we were woken at a walmart once by their guy who zips around and sweeps the parking lot---more correctly, we were woken by the noise of the unit he was driving, not by him. otherwise, we've never had a problem. i personally like the flying j's the best. i find i sleep better because i know it is "legal" to overnight there and we've never been the only ones there. safety in numbers. i know that is is weird to say i've slept better there, because it can be quite noisy with the truckers coming and going...but honestly, i don't hear them. i find that at walmart, i am constantly on edge, frequently checking out the window. and i agree with barrie----being that close to the interstates makes it incredibly convenient for travellers to catch some shut-eye.

but, in answer to your other question--is there a limit to the length of time one can stay? well, officially it is supposed to be overnight. to that, i interpret that as a single night. however, we ran into a group of campers in st. augustine, florida, who were actually kind of ugly when they returned to "their" site at around 5 and found all the spaces full (with travellers). i overheard them complaining about being without a space. .....seems they were "living" there for the winter!!!! they left each morning, spent the day at a local state park or somewhere else--returning to the truck stop each evening. now, this is taking the generosity of the flying j waaayyyy too far!!! the thing is, for most bigger rigs, they do all look so similar that, in reality, it would be difficult to differentiate one rig from another from afar. however, the fact that small fiberglass trailers DO stand out as different does hinder anyone thinking of doing that!

honda03842 · 10-04-2011, 04:09 PM

Day's End Directory is a unit for Escapees that provides almost 600 pages of free or virtually free places to camp in North America.

You have to be an Escapee to subscribe to this list. I believe the charge for the list is $5 per year. The number of free places to camp is overwhelming in this directory. Each of the pages contains about 10 free camping locations, all listed by state or province in alphabetical order.

If you go to the following web site you can see a sample page in the directory.

http://www.daysenddirectory.com/index.php?page=5

Safe Travels

P.S. I am a member of the directory and Escapees

dylanear · 10-04-2011, 07:14 PM

Fantastic info people! Just what I was looking for and more.

I don't think a idling big rig compared to the noise of my last GF snoring, I'm used to ear plugs. Them pulling in and out might wake me. I was a bit worried about the local ordinances that seems to be cutting down on WalMart camping.
I just know there's going to be nights while trying to make miles when I just want to crash for the night, get up and get going. Paying for a KOA to do that, especially if it takes me out of my way doesn't seem like a great idea. And I'm pretty excited about the idea of being able to do this without paying for a hotel, pitching a tent, searching for a suitable recreational campground, etc.

Ruth C. · 10-05-2011, 05:04 AM

The other day we were driving down the freeway past a WalMart when I saw a big, fancy motorhome parked on the outskirts of the parking lot with a HUGE grill set up and lawn chairs nearby... Talk about taking the business's generosity too far! I just hope people like that don't ruin it for everybody else.

Laura June · 10-05-2011, 07:38 AM

You would think that if they could afford all those luxuries they could afford to go to some big fancy rv resort.

dylanear · 10-05-2011, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laura June

You would think that if they could afford all those luxuries they could afford to go to some big fancy rv resort.

I'm always a little mystified by the level of amenities and just sheer volume of space some RVs provide. Combine that with the uninspiring places those big rigs often get put and I wonder why they didn't just stay at home in the driveway! Perhaps they had their McMansion they overextended to buy foreclosed on and they have to live in their giant second home. Each unto his own I suppose, but doesn't stop me from shaking my head a little.

honda03842 · 10-05-2011, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dylanear

I'm always a little mystified by the level of amenities and just sheer volume of space some RVs provide. Combine that with the uninspiring places those big rigs often get put and I wonder why they didn't just stay at home in the driveway! Perhaps they had their McMansion they overextended to buy foreclosed on and they have to live in their giant second home. Each unto his own I suppose, but doesn't stop me from shaking my head a little.

Big rigs owners are not very different than small rig owners in that most do little more than drive to FL or AZ to spend the winter with a few weekend trips added in each year.

We traveled in a 32 foot Bounder for 6 or 7 years and had a delightful time completing two loops of the USA, a trip to Alaska and a trip to Newfoundland, actually we went to all the states but one and all the provinces of Canada in our Bounder. With sad hearts we just sold our Bounder, it is now 14 years old and we've move on to small trailers about 4 years ago.

Most people who do any kind of long term RVing seem to be good people whether they own a Scamp 13 or a Bounder 40. I remember many of those large owners going out of there way to help us adapt to RVing when we retired, the Bounder was our first rig ever and of course our first RVing experience.

Like all situations there are a minority of people who take advantage but I find it rarer among RVers than most groups. The Escapees published an etiquette for those who take advantage of Walmarts' and other's generosity.

If Motorhome owners happen to be McMansion owners fine, America is a country where people can work smart and hard and as a result become rich. The ability to become rich is part of the magic of America that we should honor. As well Motorhomes and Fifth wheels and the trucks to tow them are products still manufactured here.

It is always important to look at the whole and not to be discouraged by the few.

Safe and happy travels

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