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12-19-2012, 07:33 PM
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#43
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Crystal Lake, IL
Posts: 17
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With all due respect, I have 5 children. They are all very "anxious" to get down to see Grandma and Grandpa. Some day when the children have moved on..........I will be taking things much slower. Additionally, I am an over the road truck driver with many years of experience. I know when to shut er down!!
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Jack and Molly, JOrdan, MIchael, DAnielle, BRianna. Jomidabr -2001 Itasca Suncruiser 35U
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12-19-2012, 08:22 PM
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#44
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: MN
Posts: 292
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Shellmound campground is a great stop just west of Chattanooga. We stay there on our way to FL from MN.
It is close to the freeway and easy to navigate in the dark.
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Spinner & Gang
2000 MADP ISC350 2003 Jeep Liberty toad
"Working towards the next vacation!"
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12-19-2012, 08:23 PM
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#45
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Nor'easters Club Appalachian Campers Ford Super Duty Owner Coastal Campers
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,463
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jomidabr
With all due respect, I have 5 children. They are all very "anxious" to get down to see Grandma and Grandpa. Some day when the children have moved on..........I will be taking things much slower. Additionally, I am an over the road truck driver with many years of experience. I know when to shut er down!!
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When we travel, we want to "get where we're going to", like yours, our kids are "anxious" to get to where we're going. We usually drive until the kids fall asleep, then stay overnight at something quick like rest areas, Wal*Marts, Lowes/HD, Flying J's and other truck stops, etc, pulling out when the sun rises. The kids only can handle a night or two of this, so we try to time it to get to our destination by then.
We'll put out our BR slide when stopping overnight if we can but not our LR slide. In rest areas both slides stay closed.
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Stewart, Brenda and kids
2008 Newmar Canyon Star 3410, now at a new home
2006 Roadtrek Versatile 210
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12-19-2012, 08:51 PM
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#46
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Senior Member
Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Yuma County, AZ
Posts: 10,868
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I have recently changed my overnight parking strategy. Like Bowser, I feel it is almost criminal to pay to park for 8-10 hours, plus all the work that goes into hooking up.
I now search Google maps for a small rural town, under 1,000 people is best. Then I look for a large church or a city park, or large vacant lot -- someplace where there is enough curbside parking to pull up to without blocking a driveway or being too close to someone's home.
Lastly, once I've found a likely spot, I go to the street view and do a 360 look see at the neighborhood. This will tell me if the terrain is flat, if there are burglar bars on the houses and if it's someplace with low hanging tree limbs.
This has given me great, peaceful sleep for usually only 5-10 miles extra mileage and NO charges to my credit card. It beats all other overnight boondocking hands down and I have never been approached by anyone. If I had slides I would be OK with opening those on the curbside.
A second choice is a church parking lot, but I would ask permision if there was anyone around -- not likely.
When I was in the Phoenix area and not wanting to drive out of town, I found a new shopping center where the buildings were built, but not yet all leased. Nice, new flat parking lot, no cars, but the vacuum truck woke us at 2 am.
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Barb (RVM18) with Morkies Lily & Bebe RIP Sena FMCA#F466348
"Homer" ‘11 Shasta Cynara, pulling "Ranger" '97 Ford Ranger toad
The Journey is Our Destination. Full-timer May 2011 - July 2021
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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12-19-2012, 11:35 PM
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#47
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 7,469
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CampDaven
I travel only about 300 a day, and then relax in a campground and have a nice dinner and visit with other campers. Its just a few bucks, aye?
I would feel a bit silly doing the same in a parking lot at 3pm. I also feel a bit vulnerable in a parking lot all night, so would not sleep worth a darn.
What is the attraction for you folks?
Just askin....
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When my intention is to get there quick, 500 to 700 mile days. I like the rest areas. No need to get off the interstate to find the Walmart or CG. Pull in, go to bed, get up, shower and back on the road quickly.
If I am not in a hurry then 300 mile days afford me the luxury of a CG, slides out, etc...
Just depends on the purpose of my trip
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US Navy Vet, Liberty Tree Member of Oath Keepers, NRA & VFW Life Member, Alaska EMT.
2009 Safari Cheetah 40 SKQ
2009 Winnebago Chalet 231CR
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12-20-2012, 01:06 AM
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#48
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 713
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2,600 mile days in a row is a lot of driving. Unless it is a must be done slow down and enjoy the trip, not only the destination. A real must is to learn the rules of safety in a rest area. Try to stay in the rig especially after dark, don't answer the door unless you are positive about who is there. If you need to walk the dog be aware of the suroundings and stay in a lighted area and try to buddy up.
Nuf Sed !
Don
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12-20-2012, 06:20 AM
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#49
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Fulltime, USA
Posts: 16,706
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Grimesy
2,600 mile days in a row is a lot of driving. Unless it is a must be done slow down and enjoy the trip, not only the destination. A real must is to learn the rules of safety in a rest area. Try to stay in the rig especially after dark, don't answer the door unless you are positive about who is there. If you need to walk the dog be aware of the suroundings and stay in a lighted area and try to buddy up.
Nuf Sed !
Don
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Been there done that on being in a hurry. Now, the journey is our destination.
Most have never had a problem in rest stops, but have heard enough negatives. Dont wanna be the "one".
Be safe out there folks!
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12-20-2012, 07:25 AM
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#50
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Posts: 1,188
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flaggship1
This is only one source of info and I don't know what is legal in any given place - but do know it varies. A Google will show 5 or 6 states at top of list where it is not legal -
This summary is one persons opinion I suppose - although there may be some facts in it too.
Rest Stops
Again safe and happy travels to all.
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Thanks for posting the link. Looks like lots of good information there. We have not done any boondocking to date, but planning a 4,000 mile round trip out west this summer. On the few long mileage days some of the "free" options look very tempting.
__________________
Tom and Barb
'07 Winnebago Voyage 35L
Workhorse W22 chassis FMCA 219315
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12-20-2012, 02:14 PM
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#51
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Posts: 1,195
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We use rest areas all the time since we are also in the 'not enough time to enjoy the journey' phase. I do keep pepper spray handy for my peace of mind but I've never remotely felt like I needed to use it.
I don't put jacks down or anything, but am adding air levelling to our coach so we can get closer to level without being "obvious" about it.
Steve
__________________
The Green Machine -- 2000 Mountain High Coachworks Summit (Spartan chassis / Cummins ISC)
...and F-Troop: Fearghus, Fiona, and Frankie (Cairn Terriers)
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12-20-2012, 05:12 PM
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#52
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
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Some random comments....
ON staying in rest areas.. Many states allow it, Some do not (Signs will normally say "No overnight") In some cases it may be local laws (Someone commented on city laws in regard to Wal-mart, also County and State by the way).
The problem with overnighting in a rest area......
I have heard of cases where the professional drivers (truckers) displayed some "Displeasure" at the RV taking up a truck slot.. By doing things like flattening tires and such.
I have never seen this, And I'd like to think that the truckers in this workd are "Bigger" than that kind of childish behavior but... Well, I have read about that kind of thing.. Myself, I try to find a Wal-Mart or other large store lot.
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Home is where I park it!
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12-21-2012, 01:45 AM
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#53
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Senior Member
Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Yuma County, AZ
Posts: 10,868
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My biggest problem with rest areas, truck stops and Walmart is noise. Trucks run all night and the last one I tried to sleep next to would run at one volume/pitch until I was almost asleep and then change. I only slept about 30 minutes that night. Never again!
__________________
Barb (RVM18) with Morkies Lily & Bebe RIP Sena FMCA#F466348
"Homer" ‘11 Shasta Cynara, pulling "Ranger" '97 Ford Ranger toad
The Journey is Our Destination. Full-timer May 2011 - July 2021
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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12-21-2012, 08:13 AM
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#54
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Rainbow Riding
Posts: 18,574
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Quote:
Originally Posted by okmunky
My biggest problem with rest areas, truck stops and Walmart is noise. Trucks run all night and the last one I tried to sleep next to would run at one volume/pitch until I was almost asleep and then change. I only slept about 30 minutes that night. Never again!
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Hey Barb. Merry Christmas to you and Sena. Hope all is well. You captured my initial sentiment concerning the OPs question - getting a Good Nights Sleep. Since they were going to drive two 600 miles days I was more concerned about that than the legality of it all. We're lucky to be able to stretch out the time and the journey most of the time. But when I have to hurry I can usually grab a great nap in a nice rest area and move on down the road aways and get into a more restful place. This was a nice nap spot somewhere off 40 in NM.
Start early - catch a nap end early when it's necessary. Otherwise as luck and planning would have it - we just end early.
All the best for the holidays to all here and hope Snata brings you and Sena everything on your lists.
Steve and Annie
__________________
Steve & Annie (RVM2)
2008 Fleetwood Bounder 38F ~ 325 ISB Turbo ~ Freightliner XC 2014 CR-V ~ Invisibrake / Sterling All Terrain
Sioux Falls, SD (FullTime Since Nov 5th 2014)
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12-21-2012, 08:44 AM
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#55
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,193
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Quote:
I have heard of cases where the professional drivers (truckers) displayed some "Displeasure" at the RV taking up a truck slot.. By doing things like flattening tires and such.
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We had breakfast at a major truck stop this summer, and happened to sit near a large table reserved for truckers. There was a lot of laughter and snide remarks among those there about the truck that had "accidentally" run into a bedroom slide in a rest area in the middle of the night. The group thought it hilarious when the couple inside came running out in their night clothes. There was a lot of talk about trying to park as close to rvs as possible and be as noisy as possible when rvs park in "their" spaces. They laughed about scaring rvers walking dogs across the lots by swerving close.
I have no idea whether any of this talk was testosterone laden group bravado or true stories but it was not pleasant to listen to. We have had several not pleasant experiences (not with truckers) in rest areas and public parking lots just stopping for lunch and do not overnight there. Maybe it is just jealousy - we play while they are working.
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12-21-2012, 08:47 AM
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#56
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 684
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When in need of a rest stop,,, I always stop at Cracker Barrel
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LONG LONESOME HIGHWAY
Going down that long lonesome highway,Bound for the mountains and the plains
Michael Parks / Then Came Bronson - 1969
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