What does turnout mean?

[gracewriter]

Hi,

We are on the road on our 2nd trip. I'm looking at an app for rest areas. Some say turnouts and some don't.

We've got a 29' TT. What's the difference?

Thanks!

[Senior Chief]

Turn-outs are simply places to pull off the road, with no services other than maybe trash cans.

[1ciderdog]

In Oregon turn outs are for you to pull over (but not stop) and allow faster traffic to safely pass. Kind of like a very short passing lane. I suspect it is a phrase that changes from state to state.
Safe travels
Bob

[deandec]

Rest Area: Stop eat lunch, use the facilities, walk the dog.

Turn Out: Pull over and let vehicles stacked up behind you pass your rig, while moving slowly.

Usually turnouts are to allow faster vehicles to pass slow moving vehicles where there is no passing lane.

Some turn outs are big enough to park multiple rigs, but if not, do not park there because you will block the next oncoming turnout candidate.

[Senior Chief]

Originally Posted by 1ciderdog

In Oregon turn outs are for you to pull over (but not stop) and allow faster traffic to safely pass. Kind of like a very short passing lane. I suspect it is a phrase that changes from state to state.
Safe travels
Bob

True 'nuff. In many places in the Midwest (think- FLAT; no mountains to slow traffic, hence no slow-vehicle turnouts), turnouts are places primarily for truckers to get off the highway and put on chains or grab a snooze.

[RJay]

Turnouts are used extensively on the Alcan Highway to Alaska. There, they were created during highway construction so large vehicles could park out of the way of other construction vehicles. The don't usually have facilities and as others have said, they vary in size and come in very handy.

[CLIFFTALL]

Originally Posted by RJay

Turnouts are used extensively on the Alcan Highway to Alaska. There, they were created during highway construction so large vehicles could park out of the way of other construction vehicles. The don't usually have facilities and as others have said, they vary in size and come in very handy.

In 04 ( in Alaska ) and maybe still, it was a violation to have 5 vehicles behind you( I think it applied if you weren't making the speed limit ) .The pull offs are there to avoid this as well as the other uses previosly discussed here.

[Hikerdogs]

Originally Posted by Senior Chief

True 'nuff. In many places in the Midwest (think- FLAT; no mountains to slow traffic, hence no slow-vehicle turnouts), turnouts are places primarily for truckers to get off the highway and put on chains or grab a snooze.

Obviously you've never driven off the interstates in Oregon. Turnouts there are used by the slow moving tourists (those driving less than 85 mph on 2 lane roads) to get out of the way of the log trucks screaming down the mountain. The first time I saw one many years ago I assumed it was where the slower trucks would turn out and let the car traffic pass. By the time I got to the next one doing 70 mph on a 2 lane road I had 5 log trucks behind me blowing their horns. Needless to say I got out of the way as quick as possible. In all the time I've spent there I've never seen a truck pull off to let a car by. The cars usually can't even keep up let alone try to pass.

[gracewriter]

Thanks a million!!!

I didn't expect soooo many responses so quickly! You are a great bunch of people!

I couldn't get Internet for a few hours, otherwise I would have thanked you all sooner.

Best,
Jude

[Senior Chief]

Originally Posted by Hikerdogs

Obviously you've never driven off the interstates in Oregon. Turnouts there are used by the slow moving tourists (those driving less than 85 mph on 2 lane roads) to get out of the way of the log trucks screaming down the mountain. .

No offense, hon but I lived for 30 years in the Pacific NorthWest, and I know EXACTLY what a slow vehicle turn-out is.

I kinda doubt that they would be listed in an Iphone app for rest areas.

In my post, I said- IN THE MIDWEST- (no mountains or elevations, hence no slow vehicle turn-outs, but plenty of passing lanes.)

It would make sense to list the sorts of truckers turn-outs used here; they are long, wide and meant for large vehicles to pull off and stop for a period of time.

Allison

[gracewriter]

The iPhone app I used was "All stays Rest". It shows rest areas and turnouts.

[1ciderdog]

Hikerdogs
Now a days, at least where I live in South West Oregon, it's almost a rare to see a log truck - unlike years ago when they dominated the roads.
Safe Travels
Bob

[Francesca]

My experience of Washington State highway turnouts is that they're solely for pulling into while faster vehicles pass.
Some are actually posted as "parking forbidden" so they stay open for that purpose.