|
|
07-01-2011, 11:29 PM
|
#421
|
65th Anniversary CLIPPER
1996 36' Clipper Bus
Tub City
, British Columbia
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 3,309
|
No-no
Saw this "abuse" in Rapid City on the 18th 19th June.
Jacks down, antenna up, toad unhooked, and motorhome not attended, in the Walmart lot.
When we pulled in for supplies about 7:30AM the toad was there. We went to Crazy Horse and came back late in the evening and the unit was still there with no lights on.
We appreciate the convenience of the Walmarts when we are on the move, but this appears to be pushing the margin of hospitality.
Dave
|
|
|
07-02-2011, 05:07 AM
|
#422
|
Rivet Master
1973 27' Overlander
Loganville
, Georgia
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,741
|
When we would head north for a visit we would leave on a Friday after work. When we got 4 hours up the road the exhausting week would hit us and we would have to pull over. We would go to a Wal-Mart. I always got permission to spend the night and we would crash in a spot for Trucks and RV's. After a couple of years we discovered a State Park five minutes away that only charges $20.00 for one night. Electric, Water and nice showers. We decided $20.00 was worth it. The park closes at night and they put the gate down. The ranger told us the gate was not locked and we could lift it to get in. They would get our money in the morning.
Wal-Marts are great when you get tired of driving and need a place to crash for set period of time. As long as you ask permission and you don't plan on abusing the stay. Driving makes me tired and I have to stop and do power naps. Wal-Marts have always been a good place for us. Better being rested then crashing your truck and trailer.
Brian
__________________
Brian & Adrienne
|
|
|
07-02-2011, 06:22 AM
|
#423
|
Rivet Master
2011 34' Classic
Westchester Cty.NY
, / Miami FL
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,122
|
an update for the wal-mart in florida city south of miami, florida ........
no more overnight parking at that location. the 'residents' moved over to an empty lot next door but are now gone from there too.
__________________
Ricky
2012 F150 Super Crew 5-1/2' bed Ecoboost 4x4 3.73 elec. lock diff. Propride hitch
give life. kidney & pancreas transplant 9/9/06
Ingrid-my unofficial '"World's Oldest Streamer" 1909-2008 R.I.P.
|
|
|
07-30-2011, 10:46 AM
|
#424
|
3 Rivet Member
1976 31' Sovereign
Bothell
, Washington
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 176
|
the videos on YouTube of people "snooping" around the walmart parking lot, talking about the "campers" is enough to keep me out of the walmart parking lot. Not to mention that i'm not a walmart shopper on a normal day. The last thing i need is some guy with a video camra making a video for his 15 minutes of fame, waking me up at 2 am.
__________________
Did you want fries with that?
|
|
|
09-07-2011, 04:20 PM
|
#425
|
Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
1984 31' Airstream310
Ajo
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 7,649
|
|
|
|
03-11-2012, 01:31 PM
|
#426
|
4 Rivet Member
2002 22' International
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 271
|
Walmart Campers in Florida?
We are planning a trip to Florida. I checked this site: No Overnight Parking at Walmart | Walmart Atlas , and was surprised at the large number of prohibitions in Florida. Anyone know the rationale here. Is it just too many tourists, beach areas, or what? I hope there are signs posted so I won't make a mistake and try to get a little sleep in the wrong place.
|
|
|
03-11-2012, 01:43 PM
|
#427
|
Rivet Master
1989 34.5' Airstream 345
Saint Petersburg
, Florida
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,702
|
I know the new (less than 1yr open) Walmart within a few blocks of my home in St Pete, FL, does not allow overnight parking. The St Pete city ordinance is what stops overnight parking, that and the fact that this brand-new Walmart is NOT a super center and doesn't have any extra parking spaces. To be honest, this Walmart has made access to the parking lot almost totally inaccessible to a RV.
I feel certain this ordinance has nothing to do with local campgrounds, since there aren't any campgrounds.
Good luck, maybe being a WBCCI member would be better, since it seems most Airstream campgrounds are very inexpensive.
|
|
|
03-11-2012, 01:49 PM
|
#428
|
Rivet Master
2007 Interstate
Normal
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 18,086
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by TankerIP
We are planning a trip to Florida. I checked this site: No Overnight Parking at Walmart | Walmart Atlas , and was surprised at the large number of prohibitions in Florida. Anyone know the rationale here. Is it just too many tourists, beach areas, or what? I hope there are signs posted so I won't make a mistake and try to get a little sleep in the wrong place.
|
I feel pretty sure it has to do with usage of campgrounds/income for those vendors vs free parking at WalMart, but I could be wrong.
Maggie
__________________
🏡 🚐 Cherish and appreciate those you love. This moment could be your last.🌹🐚
|
|
|
03-11-2012, 01:50 PM
|
#429
|
1 Rivet Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10
|
Many a happy wal mart night...
Walmart is great as far as I'm concerned. Yes there are some walmarts that do not allow overnight parking but as mentioned they are close to some tourist attraction and thus been abused. If you dont see any other rv's in the lot by 8 pm really look for no overnight sign's as it is a tip off that it might be a no parking lot...or go in and ask.
Park with the door to your trailer or MH facing the walmart door as the overhead cameras can help keep you safe. Also I just read that women traveling alone should put a big pair of muddy boots by the door to keep the impression you have a big guy with you.
I do not lower my jacks except for maybe the hitch jack to make the trailer a bit more level for the fridge and I make sure not to damage the pavement. Some walmarts have a mcdonalds inside and I hit the McMuffins hard before starting out...
In my hundreds of walmart nights I only had one time where some guys were looking in the back of my pickup at night...I opened the window and yelled "If I open this trailer door I'm shooting every one I see"!! That thined them out pretty quick.
|
|
|
03-11-2012, 01:55 PM
|
#430
|
Rivet Master
2012 25' FB Eddie Bauer
Vintage Kin Owner
Virginia Beach
, Virginia
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,801
|
A friend recently gave me an Ipod recording of a rattlesnake rattling. Now if I can just get a car/Airstream alarm that will set off that sound when anyone touches either!
Paula
__________________
Today is a gift, that's why they call it the present.
|
|
|
03-11-2012, 02:55 PM
|
#431
|
Rivet Master
1966 17' Caravel
Bethel Park near Pittsburgh
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 541
|
Yahoo Group
There is a Walmart RV Group on Yahoo
walmartrving : WalMart RVing
Ace in PA
|
|
|
03-12-2012, 08:18 AM
|
#432
|
Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari FB SE
1972 23' Safari
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,356
|
My first try at a WalMart was in Destin. It was about 11 at night and the State Park was full. We were almost asleep when a knock on the trailer and a voice outside said "You have to Move". (us and about 4 other trailers) Evidently local city restrictions prevent the use of parking lots for overnight camping. They don't want WalMart to take away revenue from the paid camping lots. We got back in the car and drove another 100 miles to another WalMart and spent the night there. Destin lost our money from breakfast, gas and some shopping and I probably won't come back. WalMart has to go with the ordinances we know. But someone else got my money the next day.
|
|
|
03-12-2012, 09:40 AM
|
#433
|
Rivet Master
Vintage Kin Owner
Lin
, Ne
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,430
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by RichHog
My first try at a WalMart was in Destin. It was about 11 at night and the State Park was full. We were almost asleep when a knock on the trailer and a voice outside said "You have to Move". (us and about 4 other trailers) Evidently local city restrictions prevent the use of parking lots for overnight camping. They don't want WalMart to take away revenue from the paid camping lots. We got back in the car and drove another 100 miles to another WalMart and spent the night there. Destin lost our money from breakfast, gas and some shopping and I probably won't come back. WalMart has to go with the ordinances we know. But someone else got my money the next day.
|
If it was a walmart employee warning you he probley saved you from a citation.
|
|
|
03-12-2012, 05:12 PM
|
#434
|
Rivet Master
1996 34' Limited
1976 31' Sovereign
1983 31' Excella
Greeneville
, Tennessee
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 529
|
You are seeing more and more of walmart and other stores adopting this because of local campgrounds complaining of loss of income, the stores are not zoned for camping, too many campers in the lots, people not cleaning up after themselves and leaving trash in the lot, damage to the parking lot surface, and a lawsuit against a walmart because of trailer damage from someone backing into it (didnt know about that last one until the other day when the general manager for our area and I was talking)
This is just some of the reasons, most of it always comes back to money issues.
Sarge
__________________
Sarge USAF
WBCCI- none
Good Sam Life Mem
NRA, DAV, PGR, DRA
|
|
|
03-12-2012, 06:50 PM
|
#435
|
Moderator
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
2005 25' Safari
Santa Rosa Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,159
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by RichHog
My first try at a WalMart was in Destin. It was about 11 at night and the State Park was full. We were almost asleep when a knock on the trailer and a voice outside said "You have to Move". (us and about 4 other trailers) Evidently local city restrictions prevent the use of parking lots for overnight camping. They don't want WalMart to take away revenue from the paid camping lots. We got back in the car and drove another 100 miles to another WalMart and spent the night there. Destin lost our money from breakfast, gas and some shopping and I probably won't come back. WalMart has to go with the ordinances we know. But someone else got my money the next day.
|
It's not Wal-Mart. Destin has a city ordinance that prohibits camping at the Wal-Mart there. About ten miles east on US 98 is another Wal-Mart in Santa Rosa Beach. It is in another county that does not have such an ordinance.
Brian
__________________
SuEllyn & Brian McCabe
WBCCI #3628 -- AIR #14872 -- TAC #FL-7
2015 FC 25' FB (Lucy) with ProPride
2020 Silverado 2500 (Vivian)
2023 Rivian R1T (Opal)
|
|
|
03-12-2012, 09:27 PM
|
#436
|
Rivet Master
1967 17' Caravel
Pocatello
, Idaho
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 944
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by isteer123
Walmart is great as far as I'm concerned. Yes there are some walmarts that do not allow overnight parking but as mentioned they are close to some tourist attraction and thus been abused. If you dont see any other rv's in the lot by 8 pm really look for no overnight sign's as it is a tip off that it might be a no parking lot...or go in and ask.
Park with the door to your trailer or MH facing the walmart door as the overhead cameras can help keep you safe. Also I just read that women traveling alone should put a big pair of muddy boots by the door to keep the impression you have a big guy with you.
I do not lower my jacks except for maybe the hitch jack to make the trailer a bit more level for the fridge and I make sure not to damage the pavement. Some walmarts have a mcdonalds inside and I hit the McMuffins hard before starting out...
In my hundreds of walmart nights I only had one time where some guys were looking in the back of my pickup at night...I opened the window and yelled "If I open this trailer door I'm shooting every one I see"!! That thined them out pretty quick.
|
We travel with our Doberman who expects his bedtime walk wherever he is. This serves two purposes: he doesn't get us up in the middle of the night to pee and everyone around knows we have a dog capable of doing his job. In case someone misses the prominent promenade, he has a really deep, serious-sounding bark if anyone is around the truck or trailer in the night. We shush him immediately so we don't disturb others, but the warning has been issued.
We like WM and truck stops when we need to make time; we ask permission, buy breakfast there, and pick up after our Dobie. Never had any trouble. However, we were asked to move on in the middle of the night when we stopped on a lonely back road in exhaustion outside of Jackson Hole, WY. So now we prefer WM or truckstops and permission. I HATE being asked to move when we are already asleep!
Vivian
|
|
|
03-12-2012, 09:27 PM
|
#437
|
Rivet Master
Airstream - Other
2016 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Bosque Farms
, New Mexico
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,030
|
Yeah, I read someplace that Destin gets so many campers that the parking lots become overwhelmed. Not my kind of place.
Lynn
__________________
ACI Big Red Number 21043
|
|
|
03-13-2012, 02:36 PM
|
#438
|
2 Rivet Member
2010 23' FB Flying Cloud
Smithville
, Texas
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 93
|
We've logged OVER 50,000 miles pulling our 2010 23FB. We average a bit more than half our nights dry camping. We have never been chased away from any place we parked. Wal-Mart is not high on our list. We'd prefer a lonely church parking lot, or any rural spot over town camping. When we do camp at a Wal-Mart we ask first. One, in Canada, had signs proclaiming "No RV Parking." We asked anyway because we saw a few campers obviously settled in for the night. We were told, "The local RV park owners raised hell and got the city council to put up the signs here and at other large lots. This is private property, and I assure you we will not ask you to move, or have you towed as the sign says." Very clearly the pressure is from RV parks. We hate RV parks and only use them when we have to dump. Best camping is anything National. Get your Geezer pass for half price camping and in places, Amistad Lake near Del Rio, TX the cost is $6.00.
BTW: Use common sense. Don't drop your trailer, roll out the awning, rug and lawn chairs and settle in for a week. Don't litter. It's "overnight" folks. A few can quickly ruin it for everyone.
__________________
Matt & Virginia Kline
2010 FC23FB
2016 F-350 6.7 Diesel (Overkill and loving it)
|
|
|
03-13-2012, 11:44 PM
|
#439
|
3 Rivet Member
2011 23' FB International
1975 Argosy 30
Santa Barbara
, California
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 155
|
What protocol do you use at church parking lots? Ask if you see someone around? Park late leave early?
|
|
|
03-14-2012, 05:16 AM
|
#440
|
Rivet Master
2007 Interstate
Normal
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 18,086
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by tvoneicken
What protocol do you use at church parking lots? Ask if you see someone around? Park late leave early?
|
Find a rural one, not on a Wednesday night or Sunday night.
If there is a parsonage nearby, we keep on going, assuming they would prefer not to look out onto us and our presence would not only be rude but violate our "be unobtrusive" rule.
There are lots of country churches, set back off the road. Easy to pull in and out without disturbing anyone.
River/ferry access roads and fishing pull-offs can be good, if you're small and don't take up too much space.
Seldom do we drive along a river and not spy at least a few places where we could stay for the night. However, seems always to be that when you are looking for a place to spend the night you really have to look.
Maggie
__________________
🏡 🚐 Cherish and appreciate those you love. This moment could be your last.🌹🐚
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|