I ALWAYS have preferred campgrounds or boondocking. Staying in a parking lot is noisy, smelly and lit up like a shopping center so just not conducive to enjoying myself OR sleeping at night.
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR - 2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles) 2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
I was a trucker. In some areas, truckers have trouble finding places to park and get their required rest. Many states don't have enough truck parking in rest areas and in some states the police will not allow them to park on shoulders of on/off ramps. If you can see that space available at a truck stop is at a premium, I would let the professional driver have those spaces and make other arrangements. Trucks are also the first to get kicked out of retail parking lots.
Truck stops are for Trucks, however many Truck stops do have RV parking. Just be careful about putting our the slides.. Wally docking isn't for me, one night at Wally Docking never again.. The upper East coast is the worst for Truck parking, and I think most Florida Rest areas are ok.. We alway have reservations in RV parks and only would use Truck stops for a emergency travels. Happy Trails....
I'll always spring for the 20 bucks or so for a hot shower and an electric hookup.
If I had to stay in a Wallfart parking lot I would stay home. Not my place to be for anything.
I generally pick out a point of travel for the day and then look on line for the acceptable camp area. We have found several really interesting site with even good restaurants in the camp. Lots of fun meeting new folks or just jawing with the owners about the area.
2008 Silverado D/A,CC 4x4 ,3.73,IBC LTZ+
2012 Jayco 322 FKS
2 Trek bikes
Honda EU2000i
It must be time to go, the suns out and I've got a full tank of diesel! Lifes short enough without bitch'n about it!
this is what I thought too' don't want to take a spot a get a trucker angry
JeffreyLee wrote: I was a trucker. In some areas, truckers have trouble finding places to park and get their required rest. Many states don't have enough truck parking in rest areas and in some states the police will not allow them to park on shoulders of on/off ramps. If you can see that space available at a truck stop is at a premium, I would let the professional driver have those spaces and make other arrangements. Trucks are also the first to get kicked out of retail parking lots.
John&Joey wrote: For me, I would never feel safe at a truck stop, and would use them only as a last resort. Most Wal-marts have camera's and they are at the most 50 miles apart on the expressways (don't know about the west) so in less then an hour you can be off the road if you have too. The book "The Next Exit" will tell you where they are, and what is around them.
Casino's is our first pick, followed by Wal-mart, then it goes down hill real fast after that for us. The other overnight stops are either too noisy, or not secure enough for me. What looks good in the day time, sometimes can look a lot different at night when it's close to an expressway.
I'm with you John, don't really like truck stops, diesels running all night, air valves popping off, and exhaust fumes. I will stay at Wal-Marts, I always go in and ask, never been turned down. But the route I travel, I know where to stop, and I don't mind paying at a campground, they are mostly quiet and safe. I have stayed at Interstate rest areas, but a lot of times they are filled up with trucks. Last year on the way home, stayed at a nice rest area, the first one going North on I77 from the S.C. border, lots of room, no problem. Attendant was very helpful and kind.
We have stayed at a Flying J once or twice but when just traveling from Point A to Point B, we generally prefer Super Wal-Marts that are open 24 hours. This is particularly true in the center and eastern portions of the US. There are more boondocking options in the western US.
We will have dinner from the deli, then I'll make up our shopping list - take care of that after dinner and most mornings, get some donuts for the road.
We will Wallydock one night, maybe two in a row, followed by at least two nights in a campground when on our way to a destination.
Dave & Kathy
2007 Monaco Knight 40PDQ towing 2003 Odyssey
Fulltime since October 2007
Before you give someone a piece of your mind, make sure you can get by with what will be left.
Flying Js have seperate parking for RVs so you are not taking a space from a trucker and you are not among all the running diesels. We usually stopped at the Knoxville Flying J. It's well lit and we did not feel unsafe.
Jim and Cathy
GMC 2500HD, Ext. cab. 6.0L. V8 4WD
2005 Trail Bay 27DS
For those that stay in some of these places, do you put your slideout out? For me mine has to be out or I cant get to the rest room...I would be worried about someone getting to close and hitting it or is it not an issue?
TimOnTheRoad wrote: For those that stay in some of these places, do you put your slideout out? For me mine has to be out or I cant get to the rest room...I would be worried about someone getting to close and hitting it or is it not an issue?
I don't have your problem, but I never put out my slide. I saw a bonehead at my local Wal-Mart with his awning out and sitting under it in a chair, looking like he owned the place. If I were the manager I would have ran him out. People like that spoil it for the rest of us.
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