Why is only Walmart obligated to provide us with a free camping spot? Does Target offer you one, or Cracker Barrel, or Outback, or the local Chevy dealer, or the Baptist Church, or the Mobil station, or the strip mall by my dentists office? I spend a ton of money in those places --- certainly they owe me a place to camp, don't they?
Hans, KØHB & Colleen, KØCKB Master Chief Radioman, US Navy -
'04 Prairie Schooner 34FBR Platinum XL
'08 3500HD Silverado Big Dooley LTZ Go-power by Max & Allie
We don't travel much beyond the distance we can drive in a day, but if the need arose to pull over and sleep for the night I think I would find a big chain truck stop/ travel center; Love's, Flyin' J, etc. With all the noise from the big rigs, I could fire up my genny and watch a little tv and/or run the A/C.
68 Me & DW
93 DD
03 DD
06 F150 Screw 6.5' Bed, 4x4, 5.4, 3.73
04 Tahoe 23RB-GL Honda EU2000 Parallel Cables "I hope you like Guinness, Sir. I find it a refreshing substitute for...food." Col. Jack O'Neill, Stargate SG-1.
just to again clarify..(see previous @ 30% of time)
i spend 1-2 nights a week on average in WM...
however i also spend $600-$700 a month there even if i dont stay everynight...
that includes food and supplies..
i never put down my levelers or open my slides...
always park as far from store as possible..
police the area at no charge..
this weeks my birthday, they aught to send me a card...
mintaka, the reason (IMHO) is that a few bad apples have spoiled the barrel. I have seen Rv's at walmarts with slides out, jacks down, awning out, unhooked, stay multiple nights, etc, many times. It gives city residents(who complain to their representatives) reason to believe all RVers are free-loaders or rif-raf. Those elected representatives pass ordinances to satisfy their constituents; and the world turns___ with yet another law on the books.
Nascarcruzin wrote: We were allowed to stay at the Walmart in Kingman, AZ, signs prohibiting overnight stays, because of a city ordinance, were all over the parking lot. Even the police came by, no problem. We have been gone 3 weeks, spent less than 5 days in a cg.
Interesting !
We had a head-light problem, and pulled into the Walmart in Kingman last fall. Within 1/2 hour was told we could not stay overnight!
Went acroos the street to the Cracker Barrel (closed) but with in a hour police told us to move on. ????????
DeWayne & Judy
04 3810 Dutch Star
ISL 370
Frank's autoformer
01 Sahara Jeep-toad
F 374382
It is hard to kiss the lips at night, that has chewed your butt all day long!
Churches can work OK especially if the parking lot joins another brand of church parking lot. Just park kind of on the edge of each and each will assume you are with the other church.
We do the swim met thing and some times just park on the street since we are only 8 foot wide. 24 hour Walgreen/CVS/independent stores have worked for us. If it is private owned lot we do ask. Going in with 2 young children after dark and asking may help some with them standing there with wishful eyes as I ask.
I used to stop at "my brand" of church out there on the road, but it was too dicey if anyone was at the parsonage, so since then, have decided to do Wal*Marts most of the time overnight. I have a standing A-OK, for weekending or overnighting with a Pastor at one of my brand of church in Baton Rouge, LA. when down that way. Beautiful Live Oaks for shade, quiet upscale neighborhood near LSU, just like home, not some loud CG. However, I'm 70% Wal*Marts & Cracker Barrels already.
Joe we find in the smaller towns it is is fairly easy to find a spot by asking most businesses. It is not like MH's are in the habit of parking there.
One thing I think draws less attention if we just want to sleep is close the shades on the bedroom and use the bathroom door to close the hall and just go to bed. Putting up the curtains in the windsheild makes it pretty plain someone sleeping in the parking lot. Of course make sure the steps are up. if you are just getting some sleep there is not need to look like you are camping.
I also like to be headed out and able to be underway in 30 seconds should a need arise.
As your kids get older, they will know the drill so to speak on pulling-up stakes here and there. I'm just more of a sightseer during the day, and I'm not into just parking by a lake, and I don't toad, so, I just need a decent place to spend the nights. Much of my sightseeing and daily walking for exercise is done near antebellum historic sites and architectural building construction viewing from yesteryear, in many small river communities along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers in the Great Plains and western midwest and the Deep South in Dixie. So, Wal*Marts are just "there," when I look up. I just feel a lot safer when in the safety of a private WM parking lot, well lite, and security and or security cameras pointed all over the exteriors. I leave the key in the ignition, and let me tell you, when the diesel engine kicks off, it would alarm anyone messing with the rig.
Wal*Mart corporate policy is to allow resting in their lots. If you see No Overnight Parking signs then it's a city, county or pproperty owner that prohibits it. If posted I won't stay but will let the city know that they lost my business and I went somewhere else and why.
By definition it is impossible to "camp" in a parking lot.
Deen - Vancouver, WA
'02 Dutch Star 4090 (41+', triple slide)
435/1200 ISC Cummins/Banks PowerPak
'08 Honda Civic/dolly
'05 Honda Odyssey/dolly
NRA Benefactor Life Member
FMCA f47302s, Life Member: Good Sam, Newmar DP Owners Group
51st yr of RV'ing
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However, I'm 70% Wal*Marts & Cracker Barrels already.
