Community Forums

melvonnar · 05-17-2009, 08:22 AM

I have a question? and the answer seems to be that the campground owners would rather lose the $10.00 than try to accomidate the overnighters; shutting down Wallmart for overnight stays is not the answer for these owners; they don;t seem to realize that those that will stay at walmart will NOT pay their inflated fees.for a short overnight stay. they simply go down the road to a truck stop or a rest area.

melvonnar · 05-17-2009, 12:13 PM

Not only that, but when the cities ban parking at walmart, they lose; also; I can't speak for everyone, but when I come on this situation, I not onlly not stay at these campgrounds in this town, but I make it a point to not buy anything in these towns gas, groceries everything; the whole town looses.

mrblanche · 05-17-2009, 08:36 PM

Folks, welcome to the wonderful world of large vehicle parking. We truckers have been fighting this fight for the last 15 years, at least. Truck stops have been working hard to get states to close rest areas in order to force truckers into the truck stops, which would be great, if they had any parking at 2 a.m. But they don't. Many states currently have trucks parking at 120% or more of capacity, and they're still closing rest areas or forcing truckers out of rest areas after only two hours of sleep.

Keep all that in mind when you think about this issue.

chasfm11 · 05-18-2009, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrblanche

We truckers have been fighting this fight for the last 15 years, at least. Truck stops have been working hard to get states to close rest areas in order to force truckers into the truck stops, which would be great, if they had any parking at 2 a.m. But they don't. Many states currently have trucks parking at 120% or more of capacity, and they're still closing rest areas or forcing truckers out of rest areas after only two hours of sleep.

Thanks for the additional information. I've often wondered about this situation in regards to trucks. I understand the Federal mandate for sleep periods to try to keep tired drivers off the roads. Still, there has to be someplace for them to go and we find precious few places to pull off ourselves, never mind for a long enough period to get sufficient sleep. We often cannot get into rest areas because all of the larger spots are taken by trucks and I suspect that some of the enforcement is coming because of complaints due to that situation. I do understand that there has to be some balance in the situation. I'm sure that there are those who would live out of a rest stop if permitted to do so.

IMHO, the problem with such situations is that the government tends to deal with them simplistically. The representatives get complaints from CG owners and they write legislation without doing any research and trying to understand the matter. That is why many of our laws end up creating more unintended consequences than solutions to problems.

melvonnar · 05-18-2009, 07:34 AM

mrblanche
I love trucks; If I had to do it over I would be a truck driver; It's to late for me now; I'm nearly eighty; but motorhomes are the next best thing, when I travel cross country (which is a lot) I stay overnight at the flying J truck stops; the sound of them ideling trucks lul me right to sleep.
Flying J has parking up frount for RV's so they don't take up truck spaces. works out great we need more flying J's; out west Loves is another good truck stop; there is large ones I haven't listed.

mrblanche · 05-19-2009, 11:15 AM

I'm not a fan of Flying J, but they certainly have a place in the market. I understand why RVers are fond of them; they actually get better treatment than the truckers! Just as an example, the truckers have to pay a surcharge on their fuel if they use a credit card, whereas the RV users pay the cash price and get a discount in addition.

Anyone buying diesel at Flying J should be aware that they are one of the worst offenders in the "hot fuel" debate and investigations.

Still, they do have an RV dump handy to the fuel islands, and they do have propane conveniently available. I would imagine that there are not enough RV fuelers to make it feasible for a chain to set up "just RV" fuel centers across the country.

But back to the original point, I can't park my tractor in front of my house, even for long enough to just load up to leave for a trip, without getting a visit from the police, and I can't park a truck anywhere in town that isn't on private property and behind a gate. The same is true of RVs; you can't park them in your driveway, no matter how long the driveway is, unless it's behind a fence.

California is a big offender in this battle, too, but they've been smart enough not to go after RVs.

Oh, and Robert H, I know of truckers in their 80's; my wife, who is now an instructor at a truck driving school, has them come through occasionally.

melvonnar · 05-19-2009, 02:04 PM

mrbanlche
In my hundreds of thousands of miles in my motorhomes; I have never had a problem on the road with a trucker ( I just get out of the way and letem go) only once did I meet a rouge trucker; once out west on a very crooked back road this nit wit wanted to pass, kept blowing his horn there was no burm to pull off to let him pass, finally he passed on a curve, I saw him comming, as soon as he got along side of me I knew what he was going to do and I locked up my brakes; he would have broadsided me if I hadn't locked them up, he nearly lost it before he got straightened out.
I figured one day he will get his just rewards.

Bob (WA0MQE) · 10-14-2009, 10:03 AM

I too just saw this about the Parking Ban in Maine. I accidentally found it on Microsoft Streets & Trips Blog. They have a link to input comments: Campground Owners Push to Ban Free Overnight RV Parking at Commercial Lots - Windows Live
Not sure how many cares, but it's just another place to make your comments about it. Maybe if enough do comment they'll forward the comments to Maine.

Always-RVing · 10-14-2009, 11:40 AM

There is a primary reason why states do not like RV parking at all... They have at present, no means to tax you for it. No bed tax, No property tax, No parking tax, etc...

That's what they are really after. RV'ers escape all of the above plus a lot more.

Until recently (last two years), the number of RV'ers were growing rapidly, maybe exponentially. State and Federal legislators were taking it seriously that they don't have a huge tax revenue coming from that base and going into their coffers.

Homeownership is losing its kindness and generosity. You can lose it all on a house (many have to prove it). I like the freedom (choice) of living in an RV. The Pro's list is too long for RV living. The Con's list is short.

I'm surprised many more are not catching on and shedding the house thing. There is some cultural mid-set that says: You MUST own a home.. My response is: I do and it is on wheels. And if I don't like the neighbors or grow tired of the area, whatever... I don't have to pay a realtor tens of thousands, no closing cost, no inspection worries, No after liabilities, etc ...

Freedom Freedom Freedom...

chasfm11 · 10-14-2009, 12:35 PM

Bob, I think your website might be out of date. It appears that it was generated months ago, when this was a hot topic and before the legislation was defeated.

Batman, the beauty of both this country and the RVing experience is that we can all partake of it as we see fit. I understand and appreciate your comments but like RVing itself, it isn't for everyone. Under the right circumstances, I could understand full timing. But we haven't reached those "right circumstances" yet. Perhaps in a couple of more years, if current trends continue.....

bdaball · 10-14-2009, 04:03 PM

From a Mainer;

It was defeated and I bet she is sorry she ever brough it up. She was drowned in feed back from many people within the state. Many were business owners.

tboss619 · 11-16-2009, 03:34 PM

Maine was on my list of things to see,,,but no more,,,

bdaball · 11-16-2009, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdaball

From a Mainer;

It was defeated and I bet she is sorry she ever brough it up. She was drowned in feed back from many people within the state. Many were business owners.

It was defeated moths ago. Feel free to come on up. Right now there are no black flies and no tourists. Ski season has not really started yet.