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daveswenson · 08-09-2013, 03:28 PM

I really doubt that you would get pulled over and measured. If asked the width the correct answer is "96 inches officer".

panheaddale · 08-10-2013, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveswenson

I really doubt that you would get pulled over and measured. If asked the width the correct answer is "96 inches officer".

Most officers carry a tape measure in their car so you might as well be honest. Probably will never get messed with as long as you are on interstate or unless you are doing something else and get pulled over. Hope DOT never decides to pull you over.

kmaggard · 08-10-2013, 11:54 AM

FYI Dumas TX about 35 miles north of Amarillo has a city park that offers a free parking site with hookups. I think a 2 night limit but I am going to try it this fall just to say I have done it. A bit off the interstate but I love driving the back roads.

andreasduess · 08-10-2013, 12:03 PM

I find that especially in rural Canada, and I suspect this to be similar in the US, finding a place to stay overnight is often as simple as asking for it.

Supermarket parking lots, churches, community centres, parking lot of a car dealership, a farmer's unused dirtroad, back of a store, even a police station, the options are pretty endless. In our experience people are really interested and generally friendly.

Open up the trailer, get the kids out, let people see you're a decent person and nine times out of ten you have a place to stay.

daveswenson · 08-10-2013, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panheaddale

Most officers carry a tape measure in their car so you might as well be honest. Probably will never get messed with as long as you are on interstate or unless you are doing something else and get pulled over. Hope DOT never decides to pull you over.

And how does he measure the widest spot? Wrap the tape around the trailer, divide by pi take the square root and double it?

panheaddale · 08-10-2013, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveswenson

And how does he measure the widest spot? Wrap the tape around the trailer, divide by pi take the square root and double it?

Yes that would be the easiest way or he could simply measure the width of the tires from side to side and that would tell him it is wider than 96 inches

ROBERT CROSS · 08-11-2013, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam

Ohio toll road has designated camping spots at the rest stops. And for $10 you can get electric. They also have a dump station.

Ohio....best rest areas we've stayed at.

If we're on a destination trip, (in a hurry), we use them regularly. Have never had a problem.
POI...have an exit plan to make sure you don't get blocked in.

Bob

**moosetags** · 08-11-2013, 06:48 AM

We have camped in and driven through New Hampshire with our 101.5" Airstream on many occasions. I did not realize that we were violating sate law. I guess that no one that lives in any of the 96" maximum states mentioned can own a modern Airstream, 25' or larger. Can they even sell these trailers in any of those states? I guess that Colonial Airstream in New Jersey can only sell Airstreams 23' or smaller.

Brian

airdreamers · 08-11-2013, 07:56 AM

I hate to put a damper on things here re: parking, wherever! I can understand why some places are reluctant to give open permission to park at all. Case in point, in CT there is a casino set upon a hill over looking a river. They put in a parking area just for campers of all sizes and shape, FREE!! It was wonderful and still is but for an additional step in the process. You now have to call security and they will register you with identification registration etc, etc. WHY YOU SAY? Well it seems that one of our fellow camper owners decided to dump their tanks in the parking lot as they left, Cass A as I was told. We must all do our part to protect what we have otherwise oh well, all we will be able to say is,we used to be able to______________.

panheaddale · 08-11-2013, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moosetags

We have camped in and driven through New Hampshire with our 101.5" Airstream on many occasions. I did not realize that we were violating sate law. I guess that no one that lives in any of the 96" maximum states mentioned can own a modern Airstream, 25' or larger. Can they even sell these trailers in any of those states? I guess that Colonial Airstream in New Jersey can only sell Airstreams 23' or smaller.

Brian

It is not illegal to sell or to own a camper wider than 96" it is only illegal to tow them through those states.I tow campers for a living and more than likely you will never get messed with I was only trying to enlighten people of the rules for the highways of the states they are traveling through. Especially if you are on the interstates or any access roads.

graysailor · 08-11-2013, 10:20 AM

Having been a trucker for 40 years I sometimes was annoyed at seeing RVers in the rest areas. RVers usually have options as to where to park where truckers do not. Having said that I really don't see a problem with parking at a rest stop but I would not be so bold as to set up camp.

Webfoot · 08-11-2013, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmaggard

FYI Dumas TX about 35 miles north of Amarillo has a city park that offers a free parking site with hookups. I think a 2 night limit but I am going to try it this fall just to say I have done it. A bit off the interstate but I love driving the back roads.

On our trips from NE Texas to the Rockies over the last 35 years we have almost always stayed at the Dumas free campground. We would usually plan to stay there on the way back because there once was a restaurant just east of the campground and many years ago this was the first TexMex food we could find traveling back east. Also on our way west we would discover the things we had forgotten to pack by the time reached Dumas and we would shop there. The campground has always been clean and peaceful.
The only negative thing I can think of is the railroad track is not far away but I do not recall ever being disturbed by it at night.
Tom