We've never actually stayed at a Wal Mart, but we have stopped at them for a breather. I'm sorry to hear that you got a scare there. I hope you had a good time on the rest of the trip!
2006 Hornet 28BHDS-Bunk House, Dual Slides
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 HD
5.7L Hemi, Factory Towing Package
Reese Brake Controller, WD Hitch and Sway Bar
Well we use Wally docking and truck stops while traveling and haven't had any bad experiences so far. WM is the preferred locations so as to avoid the trucking noises. We also travel with a large dog that may have something to do with it. In the evening, also before bed time (after the store closes)I walk the dog around the parking area. Should anyone intent on harming us, get the dog, rest assured they wont be in any shape to harm us (nuff said).We got the RV in the Fall of 2005 and haven't been in a campground with it yet. A 7000 mile trip is planned for next year and no camp ground stays are planned for that trip either. We've had no reason to fear for our safety so far, I suppose it's possible in the future and something we'll have to deal with then.
A foggy morning before leaving Woodstock ON
Vanguard VXL2000
2000 Ford V10 Triton, E350 Super Duty
Just for me,the Mrs and the mutt
If I had to guess, it is not so much the parking lot at Wally world, but the location of the wally world. Some stores are located in areas where I probably wouldn't go to shop after dark, and some like ours, I wouldn't feel unsafe at all.
I'm sorry you had such a bad experience, but that type of stuff has happend in campgrounds to, i've experienced it first hand. Scared the daylights out of us.
Quote: I would advise against staying at rest stops along I-5 in CA. First of all, I don't think it's permitted. Secondly, even in daytime, these are favorite spots for panhandlers and worse.
Ditto, in parts of OR on I-5. Lots of panhandlers between Salem and Portland. I hate stopping at most of them. Wilsonville is really bad for panhandlers. I would so not spend the night at the Santiam rest stop south of Salem. They have had some serious problems at the rest stop even during the day. I only stop if I really, really have to go and know I won't make it to Albany.
mockturtle wrote: I would advise against staying at rest stops along I-5 in CA. First of all, I don't think it's permitted. Secondly, even in daytime, these are favorite spots for panhandlers and worse.
We have stayed a number of times at I-5 rest stops with out any problems. The caltrans web site says you can stay 8 hours. The only California rest stops that I have ever seen posted no over night parking are two on 101 in Mendocino County.
Gordon
2001 GMC Sierra 2500HD L/B E/C D/A 4x4
2003 Eagle Cap 950 Loaded
mockturtle wrote: I would advise against staying at rest stops along I-5 in CA. First of all, I don't think it's permitted. Secondly, even in daytime, these are favorite spots for panhandlers and worse.
We have stayed a number of times at I-5 rest stops with out any problems. The caltrans web site says you can stay 8 hours. The only California rest stops that I have ever seen posted no over night parking are two on 101 in Mendocino County.
I stand corrected on the legality---you can stay up to eight hours. However, we have been harassed by aggressive panhandlers on more than one occasion at very nice CA I-5 rest stops during the day. Also, by groups of fellows who wash your windshield without permission and then demand that you pay for it (we never did, however). I'm glad to hear your experiences are good--maybe things have improved in the past couple of years. It would be convenient to be able to overnight at a rest stop now and then. Thank you for setting the record straight.
Husband: Derek
Dog: Bucky
RV: 2000 Aerolite 19RB TT
TV: 1996 Chevrolet Blazer 6 cyl. 4WD
This car used to be our toad, now is our TV!
Paul Clancy wrote: We decided to overnight at walmart in abbotsford bc (called ahead for permission) en route to our holiday in Washington state . We were parked beside a semi and one other motorhome in the lot-that's it. This surprised me as it was a summer weekend with an airshow in town, thought for sure there would be more rigs. At 1 am had a muscle bound drunk knock on the door for money. Said he was a deaf trucker needing gas money, right. I said I wasn't opening the door so he proceeded to hassle the woman (alone I think)in the mh. I called 911 and the "deaf" trucker overheard this and took off. Police came about 10 min later and cruised the lot a couple times after that but the thug was gone. This shook up the family pretty bad. I had planned to overnight stay at walmarts/rest stops going to disney via I5 next year but now am thinking thats a bad idea. I gotta say I was shocked by this whole incident, where it happened, when etc. I may stay at walmart again but only if there are lots of other RV overnighters to improve the odds.
Wait, you wrote, " I called 911 and the " Deaf " trucker overheard this and took off ". Whata story.
One Beautiful Wife
Two Great Dogs
2007 Fleetwood Revolution 40 LE Someday Has Come.... COMMON SENSE, NEVER LEAVE HOME W/O IT !
Not wanting to change the direction of the thread, and I do think this is a relevent question concerning the safety in a parking lot.
Having experienced this rather uncomfortable and potentially dangerous situation, would you have felt better with some sort of fire arm in the RV with you? Being from Canada and knowing the handgun laws there, how did you feel about the law when you first heard this banging and knocking on your door at 1 AM?
Far be it from to get into a pro/con discussion on fire arms, the testosterone comes out too fast and in too great quantities when folks start discussing what they 'carry' and the attributes of magnum vs +P and ++P ammunition. So please guys, let's not get into the 'which gun is best' or the 'my security is the 20 (or 40 or 80 pound) - fill in the blank - dog that I travel with' discussion that usually ends a discussion.
There's plenty of room for YOU at WalMart - you, the truck reefers, the drifters, the homeless, Broken Down Campers, and the few who used it as the offer was intended.
And I thought it was just those Big Fancy Diesel Motorhomes. From all prior posts on this type subject I have been disallusioned
I am currently "roaring" across continental Europe in our Ultima GTR, while the wife is camped in a very good Caravan Club site on the south coast of the UK. She was being hassled by a fellow camper who kept asking to come in and take a peek inside the coach . Of course she said "no", but then the other night he tried to kiss her on the neck while she was outside putting away patio furniture. She informed the office, but fortunately, the police came that night and arrested the guy for a domestic dispute with his girlfriend at the campground. He was bothering other campers as well. There are nuts everywhere.
Dian, Robert & Precious - Presently RV'ing in Europe!
2000 45' Featherlite Vogue 5000, tag, slide, Detroit Series 60
2006 19' Towcorp enclosed trailer w/60" tongue
2004 13' Ultima GTR (9.9 seconds standing quarter mile)
Here is my Walmart vent. Long,For what it is worth. July 2008
Left Canada for Hillsboro Ohio, It is east of Cincinnati,crossed border at Sarnia Ontario in the morning on a Wed. with my 36 foot DP and Grand Cherokee toad,Plan to go to walmart in Hillsboro, Ohio to stock up with food and drinks, always cross the border with no foad, then on to the Helicopter flyin ,It is held every year at Dodsonville just outside Hillsboro. Due to rough roads,Michigan, bad weather,rain etc did not get into Hillsboro Walmart until about 7 P.M. Did the shopping and as it was getting late I decided to stay at the Walmart as I still had to stop and fill my water tank, all camping for the next 3 days is in a bean field with no services,that is great as I can go that long no problem.
Now the trouble starts,a couple of people in there cars start to burn rubber in the parking lot next to my coach,I have no steps out and i have no slides,we are watching the TV when this starts,after several runs they leave,then in comes a tractor trailer who pulls up in front of me and drops his trailer,he leaves in a very wild kind of way with just the tractor,next another semi pulls in drives real close puts on the air brakes and stays a few hours,motor running,had a real nice night. Sweeper starts at 4 AM, I get up do my thing and as Shirley is getting ready I go outside. The trailer is still sitting in front,I have enough room to drive pas tit. Then I notice all the holes about a foot square in the black top in the parking lot,seems the landing gear has put holes all over the area I am parked in,some have been filled with new black top some left.
Looks like I had parked in the area that all the trucks use for their own,It still was Walmart lot.
I just can not understand the reason behind what had happened,I go into there town every night when I visit there for a change from the bean field, spend money in their stores buy fuel etc. yet they gave me the impression that they are better off if I would leave.
Next year maybe I will.
After 30 years rolling around in the dirt and mud drilling water wells,I thought I had seen it all,Last thing I hope they did not think they intimidated me,I do not need any help to take care of myself, just never look for trouble.
Rant over.
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And I thought it was just those Big Fancy Diesel Motorhomes. From all prior posts on this type subject I have been disallusioned 
