Walmart overnight parking

[noreen&sal]

Originally Posted by tinman54

I like this plan the best, there endless places to park out where no one would bother you as long as you don't look like you are staking a claim.

On the other Hand. We camped in a Chevrolet dealer ship lot once, most expensive night we ever had:
full tank of gas.........................$85.00
people with ideas..................... $00.00
tow truck for truck and camper...$145.00
camping at dealer lot with bright
lights and view of nice new cars...$00.00
breakfast at Perkins 4 hr.s later...$28.00
new fuel pump and u-joints.........$830.00
Total.......................................$1088. 00

[Definitely cheaper to stay at the cemetery! People sleep better there to!]

And they are real quiet. Sal.

[robwok]

Other benefits? I would think that anyone would like the attraction of a beautifully restored vintage airstream sitting in their parking lot. I remember pulling into a lot to look at restored Model T, and then after we got out and walked around, we decided just to go into the store since we were already there.

I wonder if the overhead lights from a Walmart parking lot would be enough to help charge the solar cells on a AS rooftop.

[masseyfarm]

It depends on the location. I have digital gauges and noticed on a late shopping trip the solar was reading almost 12V under the lamps at Canadian Tire. That would not be strong enough to charge or maintain charge if you were consuming power. But it shows that there is potential for some limited energy gain.
Maybe the tempered glass on the solar should really be a FRESNEL LENS to magnify the light source.

Dave

Originally Posted by robwok

Other benefits? I would think that anyone would like the attraction of a beautifully restored vintage airstream sitting in their parking lot. I remember pulling into a lot to look at restored Model T, and then after we got out and walked around, we decided just to go into the store since we were already there.

Originally Posted by robwok

I wonder if the overhead lights from a Walmart parking lot would be enough to help charge the solar cells on a AS rooftop.

[robwok]

I was just thinking since they don't offer hookups, it might be a way to extend things just a little bit. Sometimes you just need to make it until the next day.

[masseyfarm]

I don't think the charge from overhead lamps could ever be depended on to keep a battery anywhere near full charge. Most large panels are polycrystalline and less efficient in low light.


No harm in leaving the solar circuit on, as the controller will only allow connection, if the battery falls below the solar charge.
Dave
"Monocrystalline Panels

• Of the three basic solar panel types--monocrystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous--monocrystalline is the most efficient in collecting solar energy and therefore somewhat more effective in regions with low sunlight. As the name suggests, they are made from a single large silicon crystal cut from an ingot. Polycrystalline panels use many small crystals to form the collection surface, while amorphous, or thin film, solar panels consist of silicon particles applied to the surface of large plates. Monocrystalline panels, while more efficient, are only slightly so. They are also the most expensive of the three types."
  
  

[DaveFL]

Originally Posted by robwok

I was just thinking since they don't offer hookups, it might be a way to extend things just a little bit. Sometimes you just need to make it until the next day.

With all day driving, it would be easier to add a charge line if there isn't one already hooked to the trailer battery. Anybody with a full battery should be able to boondock overnight, if not, time to add another battery.

[au_ee]

Originally Posted by robwok

I was just thinking since they don't offer hookups, it might be a way to extend things just a little bit. Sometimes you just need to make it until the next day.

If you need to stay more than an evening maybe you should find someplace else to camp.

[xrvr]

Abusing Walmart by staying more than one night can put an end to their charity. They do not have to let us stay. zz

[A W Warn]

check out this weblink

No Overnight Parking at Walmart | Walmart Atlas

[eubank]

I'm not sure that anybody was really suggesting staying more than a night. (The title of the thread is Walmart Overnight Parking.) Robwok was just wondering if the parking lot lights at WM would help to extend batteries via solar a smidgen.

Lynn

[au_ee]

Originally Posted by eubank

I'm not sure that anybody was really suggesting staying more than a night. (The title of the thread is Walmart Overnight Parking.) Robwok was just wondering if the parking lot lights at WM would help to extend batteries via solar a smidgen.

Lynn

If I misread then I certainly apologize.

[xrvr]

You're cool, no problems. zz

[robwok]

yes, it was really that I heard that if you have a furnace, not a catalytic, the furnace fan may have to run all night, and for some, that may drain the batteries too much, and you'd wake up to dead batteries, or those that went too far. It was pretty much just that scenario I was thinking of.

[au_ee]

Originally Posted by robwok

yes, it was really that I heard that if you have a furnace, not a catalytic, the furnace fan may have to run all night, and for some, that may drain the batteries too much, and you'd wake up to dead batteries, or those that went too far. It was pretty much just that scenario I was thinking of.

We must be one of the few that don't run the furnace at night. Comforters work great! Of course, you know who gets up to turn the furnace on in the morning!!!

[Road Geezer]

For anyone traveling in California, many of the state parks here have a "en route" option. You'll see it somewhere on the park's website or on a sign at the entrance. Simply put, it allows dry camping in the park's day use or overflow parking lot when the rest of the sites are occupied. You still pay and you must leave by 9:00 AM the next morning, but you have access to the restrooms, dump station, etc. It's a good option when there's nothing else around.

[teagues]

I thought this was pretty cool -- a campground we stopped at last weekend advertises a special "Frugal Rate" for travelers who normally stay overnight in Wal-Mart parking lots. $15, one night only, 30 amp electric, no water or sewer (available for an extra fee).

Parkers Crossroads RV Park, I-40 exit 108 in Tennessee about halfway between Memphis and Nashville.

[moosetags]

Great information! We would love to see more campgrounds offer this. We would be glad to see campgrounds make sites like this with easy in/out, no unhooking, and payment after hours (or during) by credit card, like downtown parking lots or auto car washes. I would be glad to pay $15 for electric as opposed to lugging out Amos and Leon (the Honda 2000's).

[bukib]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Billieg
Well I'll start of the new day. I'm not stopping at Wallyworld again. Ever!

They were just plain rude. I stopped and parked next to all the palm trees lined up next to the garden area because it gave me some shade. I did run over a few other plants but what the heck, Wallyworld can afford it. After putting out the slides, awning and jacks I made a drink and got out my lawn chairs. I then noticed a power cord attached to the fountain so I got out my 3 way and hooked up my coach and turned on the air. Ah, life is good. I then saw a picnic table that looked good so I pulled it over and set it up. I figured it would be a good place to hold my grill. The wife brought out some hot dogs and I started grilling. Darn things burst open spilling grease everywhere and the smoke was unbearable so I grabbed the hose laying there and put it all out and made another drink. I didn't think the blacktop would burn.

The next thing you know some snotty nose kid with a Walmart tag comes by and asks "what are ya doin?" I tell him I'm camping what the heck does it look like I'm doing? He gives me a dirty look and leaves. I had to make a double to calm my nerves.

Since the food was ruined The DW called in the store to see if they would bring out some fried chicken to us. Nope, no way! What? Here we are their guests and they won't even bring out food? I gave them a piece of my mind and made another drink.

The next thing you know some "manager type" comes out and says we have to pay for the picnic table with all the grease on it and we have to leave! Well let me tell you I told him so shove it and I'm not leaving until I talk to his manager or the owner of the store. The nerve of some people, I had to make another drink

Awhile later some guy shows up in what looks like PJ's and tells me to leave. No employee card, no suit no nothing saying HE was the manager. I tell him "I was born at night but not tonight". Buzz off and I made another drink after waving my 357 at him.

I then put on some rock and roll on my outside speakers to ease the pain and made another drink but a bunch of stuck up RV people came by and complained. Seems they like to go to sleep at 11pm so I guess they can wake me up at 10am with all their loud noise and nonsense.

The next thing I know the cops arrive and arrest me! Now I know my rights and so I tell them Sam Walton invited me! They don't seem to care... They probably don't even know who Sam is...

The cops also made a BIG deal out of me dumping my tanks in the grate next to my MH. I told them that those grates are for drainage and believe me my tanks needed draining. (idiots)

I've never met more inconsiderate, rude and un-agreeable people in all my life. So that's it for Wallyworld for me. From now on I'm going to camp somewhere else!

[Gene]

I can't imagine why they complained. Seems like you would fit in at Walmart. Maybe if you had filled up an inflatable pool with that hose they had some reason to complain, but it seems like you were reasonable.

Gene

[OB Bambi]

Hey, Cousin Eddie Johnson...I hadn't heard from you in a while, although I think I spotted you here: Funny Pictures at WalMart

Randy Bowman