BrianJen wrote: As I was driving North on I-25, through the town of Castle Rock at 10:00am this morning, I saw something that literally took my breath away. As one is able to see the Walmart parking lot from the interstate, I counted...hold your breath...14 RV's in the parking lot. Since I was going to a store right next to Walmart, I drove through the "mini city" that had taken root. I was wrong with my count of 14 RV's. There were actually 12 Class A's, 4 Class C's, and two 5th wheels. Almost every RV that had a slide, had it out. There was even one guy that had put out a 15x20 rug next to his rig! The two 5th wheels had no sign of the tow vehicles.
I now understand why some municipalities, and even some Walmarts, ban using the parking lots.
So, what business is it of yours if Wal*Mart allows it? They make a LOT of money from RV'ers and they know it. Now the ones with carpets out should take them up. Our bed is almost unusable if the slide is in. I find a spot along the side where my slides go over the grass so they're not in anybodys way, that way I can put all three of them out and none of them are in the way. Then we go in a buy what we need. We'll eve walk to a close by restaurant and eat or maybe go to StarBucks. That way the businesses close by also benefit.
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
I stayed at a Walmart one night...we were the only RV in their lot. I asked the Mgr. if it was OK, and proceeded to spend about $100 in their store. Only slept about 5 hours, and got up and left. I'm really glad that it was available!!
I guess the complaint, is when there are so many in the lot, that it looks as if Walmart has gotten into selling RVs I don't know what that number should be, but I think that it is completely wrong to make it look as if you are camping there!! Keep those pop-outs IN, don't put out furniture, don't put down the leveling jacks (and damage the pavement), or anything else that makes it look like you're doing more than just PARKING.
Walmart is a resting area, not a campgound! Catch a few hours sleep, but don't park so you can go see the local sights!!
JMHO
DH Bill / DW Claudia / DD Jenn / DS Chris The Paps! Sophie, Abby, Brandy, Kahlie and Annie
2000 Winnebago "Minnie" 31C, Ford V-10
Purchased April Fools Day, 2008 The Pets
As far as 5er's with out their TV attached: I might have been the guilty one you saw at Texas/Oklahoma Wal*Marts, 'cause I ask first, then drop the coach and take my TVto the Wal*Mart service bay to have the oil changed. See - sometimes what you see is really not what's happening, as if it is any of your business to start with.
F350 Diesel; Teton 5er;
Native Texan - Transplanted Tar Heel
Retired USMC
Semper Fi !
I've stayed over for a few hours at a Wal-Mart.
I've stayed over for a few hours at a Flying J.
Both places made me feel welcome, I asked permission and it was cheerfully granted. If I needed to open the slide (necessary to use the bathroom area) I made sure I was in a space where I wouldn't cause a traffic bottleneck. When I camp, I stay in state parks, national forests, or CoE facilities, or in military famcamps. All inexpensive places to stay, and where I prefer to get away instead of the so-called RV resorts that wouldn't let me in anyway. While my TV is fairly new, my fiver is over ten years old, and immediately identifies me solely by its age as someone who DOESN'T use American Express, because I don't have enough money to HAVE the card.
So if this makes me a cheap SOB in the eyes of the OP or others, my retort is to get a &&*(* life and stop worrying about what other people are doing. If the management has a problem with homesteaders, it's MANAGEMENT'S problem. No one appointed you the parking police.
Disgrace my arse. If you own a campground or RV resort and feel Wally World is cheating you out of the opportunity to charge me for everything from the number in my party to the size of my rig, too darn bad. For what some of these so called resorts charge a night, I can stay in a local motel with cable and a pool for the same money.
Richard L. Ray KI4PEQ Laura L. Ray Zoe Ray 2005 Ford F-250 "The Blue Beast" towing 1995 Jayco 277RB "Love Shack"
I don't know where this is (you only said Castle Rock), but I know that you can't stay in a rest area in NC for more than 2 hours. So, when you're heading north, on I-95, and get to the Wal-Mart in Emporia, VA, the parking lot is full. I can't figure out how NC can do this, when it's now MANDITORY that the truckers stop every 11(?) hours, and rest for 12(?). Especially on a Federal Hyway.
BrianJen wrote: As I was driving North on I-25, through the town of Castle Rock at 10:00am this morning, I saw something that literally took my breath away. As one is able to see the Walmart parking lot from the interstate, I counted...hold your breath...14 RV's in the parking lot. Since I was going to a store right next to Walmart, I drove through the "mini city" that had taken root. I was wrong with my count of 14 RV's. There were actually 12 Class A's, 4 Class C's, and two 5th wheels. Almost every RV that had a slide, had it out. There was even one guy that had put out a 15x20 rug next to his rig! The two 5th wheels had no sign of the tow vehicles.
I now understand why some municipalities, and even some Walmarts, ban using the parking lots.
08 Fleetwood Providence 40X
FL-XC
US Gear Braking system
Blue OX towing system
06 Saturn Vue AWD toad
Wife and best friend Martha Baby
SweetPea - 15 year old "Maine coon cat" still mean as ever
Beware of those who point their finger the LOUDEST !
I have stopped at a WalMart a couple of times, but only to overnight.
But to the comment about the slides being out, with my first fiver:
a) I had to open my living room slide to get to the fridge
b) I had to open the bedroom slide to get clean clothes out of the drawers.
Nothing to do with "Camping" whatsoever, simply ergonomics.
Keith J, Retired from GM Engineering
2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE 2WD/CC/SB/DA.
1999 Sunnybrook 27RKFS Fiver
Bilsteins, Line-X, Westin steps, Prodigy, Retrax, 16K Superglide, 5th-Airborne pin-box, Multi-vex mirrors.
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I don't know what that number should be, but I think that it is completely wrong to make it look as if you are camping there!! Keep those pop-outs IN, don't put out furniture, don't put down the leveling jacks (and damage the pavement), or anything else that makes it look like you're doing more than just PARKING.
