Call me crazy... |
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hogone
Senior Member Joined: 09 Apr 2013 Location: St. Louis Online Status: Offline Posts: 1049 |
Topic: Call me crazy... Posted: 02 Nov 2013 at 9:12am |
in using truck stops, are there designated areas for campers or does one just hang with the truckers? i have used rest areas a lot and have never heard of somebody getting kicked out. i would only imagine there are potential safety issues at any of these. curious on others thoughts and experiences. hogone
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Jon & Pam
2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
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Paige
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 23 Jul 2012 Location: Upstate NY Online Status: Offline Posts: 216 |
Posted: 02 Nov 2013 at 9:50am |
There are some all night rest areas with security,,they say. We avoid them as they just seem too out of the way for our sense of safety. As for Walmart, we avoid them too, due to the clientele...and not all Walmart's allow RV's now. We stayed at a truck stop, in between two huge rigs and other than the noise,,,we felt very safe. The Cracker Barrel restaurants usually have parking lots in the back with plenty of room and they are well lit. We have always felt safe there...and they have rest rooms when open and a great breakfast! We just make sure to call ahead to ask the manager if it is OK if we stay there,,,they have always said yes.
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Paige and Pete
2010 177 - RPug 2012 Rav (six cylinder) New York & Florida residents |
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062 |
Posted: 02 Nov 2013 at 11:03am |
We always call ahead to Wal-marts since there are a lot of jurisdictions that have made it illegal to stay there (otherwise it is company policy to allow it, going back to Walton's day). That saves a trip off the highway just to discover you can't stay. If we tried Cracker Barrel or Camping World I would do the same - any place except a truck stop. Truck stops by definition are always situated where it is allowed so we don't call, but we do check in with the person at the counter to see where they want us to park (while I'm filling up at the pump so they see we're patronizing them). Often they point to a corner of the regular parking lot to keep the long truck slots open. I've read that people do often get away with using rest stops, but since it is illegal just about everywhere I'd rather not get a wake-up at 2 am. Plus ticket. The reason we prefer truck stops now is we've had a few experiences at Wal-Marts. Kids doing burn-outs down the line of campers at 2 am, for one. The local idiots know there are campers there and they can be messed with - or worse. That isn't going to happen at a truck stop or they'll have 30 truckers beating their @ss. |
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Leo B
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 13 Jan 2012 Location: Lyndonville, VT Online Status: Offline Posts: 4517 |
Posted: 02 Nov 2013 at 12:48pm |
We have had great luck with Flying J truck stops. Have used them on our trips to Florida from Vermont. We start at the Flying J Northeast Maryland and have worked our way south, they have an app you cann get that gives you locations and distances, gas prices etc. They aslo have an RV rewards card where you get points toward all kinds of stuff.
Have always had great luck with thier staff people, most locations are very close to the interstate also
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Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
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francoisfrogpod
Senior Member Joined: 24 Feb 2013 Location: Missouri Online Status: Offline Posts: 109 |
Posted: 02 Nov 2013 at 8:18pm |
Paige, thanks for the heads up about the weather. We won't be leaving for several weeks so hopefully it will be cooler. Thanks everyone else for all the suggestions.
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Denny and Linda
2013 Pod 177 '08 Santa Fe |
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Paige
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 23 Jul 2012 Location: Upstate NY Online Status: Offline Posts: 216 |
Posted: 05 Nov 2013 at 6:21pm |
Well it is definitely cooler already. Good luck on your adventure!
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Paige and Pete
2010 177 - RPug 2012 Rav (six cylinder) New York & Florida residents |
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Seanl
Senior Member Joined: 19 Sep 2011 Location: Fredericton NB Online Status: Offline Posts: 633 |
Posted: 05 Nov 2013 at 10:14pm |
I spoke with a manager at a Craker Barrel this summer in Maine and she said it was company policy to allow people to overnight in their parking lots. It has become my new favorite Parking place. I have also overnighted at truck stops. The only thing I am carfull about is if it is busey I don't stay. Trucks are their bread and butter so you don't want to take a parking spot that a trucker would need.
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Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition
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mtbmitch
Groupie Joined: 15 Sep 2013 Location: Boise, idaho Online Status: Offline Posts: 91 |
Posted: 05 Nov 2013 at 10:18pm |
I would bring a tent to throw your gear bags into so you have more room.
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enjoy the fresh air
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062 |
Posted: 06 Nov 2013 at 8:00am |
As I mentioned earlier, they usually ask you to stay in a corner of their regular lot and not in one of the long truck slots. So you are right, but no reason to shy away. Just ask if you can stay in the unused corner, one of the advantages of us having relatively short rigs.
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Kokopod
Senior Member Joined: 26 Feb 2013 Location: Southwest WY Online Status: Offline Posts: 113 |
Posted: 06 Nov 2013 at 2:26pm |
On our 7 week trip we stayed in Cracker Barrels three times and once at a Walmart. We were very careful about Walmart locations and always asked first at both Walmart and Cracker Barrel. We would never choose a Walmart if we were the only ones there. Loved the Cracker Barrel experience. The management was always great and welcomed us with open arms - we made sure we spent money at both establishments. We always felt safe.
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2017 Jayco Melbourne 24k
2013 Premier 19FBPR Formerly-2013 R-pod 177HRE 2011 Dodge Durango Love a good road trip |
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