Community Forums

Murf2u · 11-12-2016, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr4Film

I am 71+ long so I always use the truck parking areas.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

Isn't that considerably longer than the legal limit?

I thought the limit for a non-commercial combination in Florida is 65' overall length?

Dr4Film · 11-12-2016, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murf2u

Isn't that considerably longer than the legal limit?

I thought the limit for a non-commercial combination in Florida is 65' overall length?

Yup....correct!

Been traveling like that since May 2010 almost 50,000 miles, three trips to Alaska and back, been as far south as Key West FL, upstate NY, across the country 3 times, etc.

Not saying that everyone should do the same but it has worked for me.

Drive safe, maintain FULL control of your rig, drive defensively and stay out of trouble.

Many rigs on the road that are a LOT longer than I am.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

Possum · 11-12-2016, 08:45 AM

Richard a few years ago I viewed a tow vehicle (looked like a purchased ford van cut off behind the passenger seats and with fifyh wheel plate) a large fiver, a flat deck trailer with ATVs and a boat on trailer following all that. We were on the stretch of I-90 between Presho and Murdo SD at that time coming home. He looked like he was over 100 feet. I wonder how he got away with that.
Dennis

Pigman1 · 11-12-2016, 08:57 AM

Interstates and some federal highways have different rules than those that apply to state roads and your local housing developments. They also have different registrations and licensing requirements. If you can keep your licenses, permits, rules and requirements straight, you can do it all perfectly legal. Or you can ignore the rules and hope you don't get caught.

dix39 · 11-12-2016, 10:44 AM

Oregon RR, We have used rest areas and truck stops almost exclusively traveling from OR to WV and many other places along the way since the late '70s. If you need to get someplace in the least amount of time they are very convenient, IMHO. We generally stop around dark, sometimes later, and leave the next morning after breakfast and a short walk. Some rest areas are very nice, some aren't. Some have dump and fill facilities, generally the welcome centers when going from one state to another, some don't. We have never been asked to leave and only once in a rest area, and once at a Flying J, did I feel the need to "lock and load". Nothing materialized either time, and I was thankful.

I try to avoid rest areas that are near larger cities.

Earlier we used a TC, then a TC with toad (about 45-50'), and now a MH and toad that is only slightly longer than the TC and toad.

That has been our experience using rest areas.

Hope this helps.

Steve

wa8yxm · 11-12-2016, 05:52 PM

Some states (Most in fact) encourage this.. Some .. Have special rest areas for Truckers to pull off for hours but don't want you in the regular ones, I do not know how they feel about RVers.

There is often an option.. For example some years ago I was headed sough on I-75 in KY long about oh, MM 77 as I recall.. The CB went off telling me about not one but TWO fatal accidents along about MM 73.. Well Exit 76 was ahead, I was in the right lane, Wal*mart to the left, Truck Stop to the right.. I had a nice meal, a good night's sleep and continued on in the AM.. The poor guy behind me was likely smilling as I hit my Turn signal.. but FROWNING a few seconds later as he passed the last exit before a several HOURS traffic jam.

Superslif · 11-12-2016, 08:21 PM

On our trip to Alaska and back from Ohio a little pre-planning showed off Google Maps all the rest areas on our route from OH to MT. had a max of 12 to 25 parking spaces for RV's and semi's. Would be a crap-shout if there was even a spot available with truckers resting to make appointments in the morning. So I marked 3 WalMarts and Cabela's and one casino to get from OH to Calgary Canada. Used some of the same ones on the way back.

I was surprised at how limited the parting was at the rest areas along I-90 and I-80 in the Midwest. Ohio Turnpikes do have larger sized parking at their rest areas.

Boon-docking at WalMart's and Cabela's have much less vehicle noise.

Murf2u · 11-13-2016, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pigman1

Interstates and some federal highways have different rules than those that apply to state roads and your local housing developments. They also have different registrations and licensing requirements. If you can keep your licenses, permits, rules and requirements straight, you can do it all perfectly legal. Or you can ignore the rules and hope you don't get caught.

I believe you will find that those 'different rules' set by the ICC apply to commercial vehicles, and only to interstates and a few miles off them on select roads.

In the case of an RV, one that can't leave the interstate system wouldn't be very useful.

smlranger · 11-13-2016, 06:06 AM

Now that we are retired we generally limit our travel days to 300 miles and get off the road well before dark. We mix RV parks with WalMart, Sams, Lowes, Cabelas. Never done an overnight in a rest area. Did a truck stop once, a Flying J, and it was just too noisy.

I use the RVParky phone app which can show you RV parks, campgrounds, truck stops, WalMart, Cabelas, rest stops, and pretty much anything along your route you might like.

palehorse89 · 11-13-2016, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superslif

On our trip to Alaska and back from Ohio a little pre-planning showed off Google Maps all the rest areas on our route from OH to MT. had a max of 12 to 25 parking spaces for RV's and semi's. Would be a crap-shout if there was even a spot available with truckers resting to make appointments in the morning. So I marked 3 WalMarts and Cabela's and one casino to get from OH to Calgary Canada. Used some of the same ones on the way back.

I was surprised at how limited the parting was at the rest areas along I-90 and I-80 in the Midwest. Ohio Turnpikes do have larger sized parking at their rest areas.

Boon-docking at WalMart's and Cabela's have much less vehicle noise.

X2 Jim! Cabela's is putting RV specific RV pull throughs with water(Not for fresh tank due to they do not test it) and dumps stations.........
Great stop over and a great store to stretch out your legs in, and have a sub for dinner......

dix39 · 11-13-2016, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palehorse89

X2 Jim! Cabela's is putting RV specific RV pull throughs with water(Not for fresh tank due to they do not test it) and dumps stations.........
Great stop over and a great store to stretch out your legs in, and have a sub for dinner......

We stayed at the one near the WY border In NE on I-80 one night years ago. We were shopping there and it was late. As I recall, waking up the next morning was very pleasant, with a pond nearby and geese calling.

For anyone who hasn't been to one of their stores and likes the outdoors, I would say you are missing something. They have wonderful displays inside.

Good to know they are becoming more RV friendly. There are a number of them easy to get to from the interstate. I only hope it isn't destroyed by the few who don't appreciate it.

Thanks for the information.

Steve

smlranger · 11-13-2016, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dix39

We stayed at the one near the WY border In NE on I-80 one night years ago. We were shopping there and it was late. As I recall, waking up the next morning was very pleasant, with a pond nearby and geese calling.

For anyone who hasn't been to one of their stores and likes the outdoors, I would say you are missing something. They have wonderful displays inside.

Good to know they are becoming more RV friendly. There are a number of them easy to get to from the interstate. I only hope it isn't destroyed by the few who don't appreciate it.

Thanks for the information.

Steve

We've stayed overnight at Cabelas in Wheeling, WV, Mitchell, SD, Salt Lake City and Michigan. All had dump stations, dog kennels and two had corrals for horses. One of the Cabelas in NE (their headquarter store) has a full hook up RV park.

I think Cabelas may change over time since they were bought by Bass Pro. I don't recall seeing a Bass Pro store with a welcoming area for RV's but there may be some.

dix39 · 11-13-2016, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smlranger

We've stayed overnight at Cabelas in Wheeling, WV, Mitchell, SD, Salt Lake City and Michigan. All had dump stations, dog kennels and two had corrals for horses. One of the Cabelas in NE (their headquarter store) has a full hook up RV park.

I think Cabelas may change over time since they were bought by Bass Pro. I don't recall seeing a Bass Pro store with a welcoming area for RV's but there may be some.

Thanks for that info also. We go by the Cabelas in Wheeling, and through SLC on I-80 nearly every year. We also run I-90 through SD when we go to the aviation event at Oshkosh, WI.

Where is the SLC Cabelas located? There is a good possibility that I've been just driving right on by without noticing it.

Thanks again.

Steve

smlranger · 11-14-2016, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dix39

Thanks for that info also. We go by the Cabelas in Wheeling, and through SLC on I-80 nearly every year. We also run I-90 through SD when we go to the aviation event at Oshkosh, WI.

Where is the SLC Cabelas located? There is a good possibility that I've been just driving right on by without noticing it.

Thanks again.

Steve

It is on I-15 south of Salt Lake. We stopped there on the way to Bryce Canyon a few years ago.