From: John De Armond Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.rv-travel Subject: Re: Any other stores (besides Walmart) that lets you stay free ? Date: Mon, 09 May 2005 19:23:27 -0400 Message-ID: <b6rv715bkc2vier2encnvv60i14kgoahc1@4ax.com> On Mon, 9 May 2005 17:15:40 -0500, DaveInLakeVilla@webtv.net (Dave in Lake Villa) wrote: >Any others that you know of ?? Thanks. My experience with a small nondescript but nice looking Class C with no slides, jacks or toads is that you can pretty much park anywhere except some large malls where the guards tend to run you off. Almost any stand-alone box store is OK. Home Depot, Lowes, K-mart, etc. I keep an eye out for parked trailers, particularly those unhooked from the tractors. Then just blend in. I also try to follow the rule "late in, early out". In no earlier than about 10pm. Out before 9am. This works on the theory that if no one at the property sees you then they can't object. When you pull to a stop in your rig and don't do anything indicate that you're going to be there awhile, no one knows what you're doing. You may be shopping. You may be just resting or getting a snack. Or you may have parked there and a friend picked you up for dinner. Ignoring the assholes who hate to see anyone else have fun and the greedy campground operators, let's review what causes people to not want RVs parking. Slobs. Eyesores. Pure and simple. And damage to the lot, of course. If you pull in, take up a bunch of parking places, jack your jacks into the pavement, run your slides out, maybe pull out the barbie then yeah, you might be invited to leave. If not, then you might be the reason you find "no overnight parking" signs up the next time you stop by. I try to apply the golden rule. I put myself in the property owner's shoes and try to think what would make him unhappy. By avoiding doing those things I've never once had a problem with overnight parking. One other thought. Try to pick your parking place as far away from the main path as possible so that you won't make it any harder for the late night lot cleaning service to do its job. I have a friend who owns a large janitorial service. He's commented more than once that he really hates the motorhomes at wallyworld because they park at random angles which precludes using the vacuum truck. He has to send along guys with leaf blowers to blow the debris from under the RVs (and semi trucks too.) This is a guy who's out in his MH every weekend taking his kid to BMX competitions so he's not anti-RV. Think what the impact would be if he or someone like him complained to the store or worse, raised his price on account of the large vehicles parked there. Not good. I try to pay attention when I park to where the vacuum truck might want to go. Most of these trucks have a side air jet so that as it drives by a single vehicle it can blow the debris out and suck them up on the next pass. John From: John De Armond Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.rv-travel Subject: Re: Any other stores (besides Walmart) that lets you stay free ? Date: Tue, 10 May 2005 01:08:55 -0400 Message-ID: <63a0815plvoi2qdo5ep6rm8o2qhjl3o5c1@4ax.com> If there is a jail attached, a police department is one of the worst places to stay. Not only are there trustees roaming about, but the inmates' scuzbag relatives and friends congregate around the place. Most of those look like it's only random chance that they're not inside too. I've spent a bit of time in and around Justice Centers as a hired expert. I've learned from experience and from advice from my client lawyers not to leave ANYTHING in my car, not even in the trunk. The one time I forgot to check the locks I had a GPS unit snatched from under my seat. I wasn't in the justice center more than 45 minutes. Someone else said: >We will not stay in a rest area (unless in a caravan} as they are >loaded with bad elements that see us as a money tree to harvest. This one amazes me. I'm at a loss as to how someone would actually "harvest" anything from my rig with me in it. What? They just gonna walk up and crowbar the door? Yeah, right. I've done rest areas all over the country east of the Rockys and I've never seen anything that made me even remotely apprehensive. I AM glad that this attitude is common, though. Leaves more room for me in crowded rest areas :-) John On Mon, 9 May 2005 21:04:50 -0500, HandsOfftheRV@webtv.net (RVing Is Alot Of Fun) wrote: >I like the idea of asking the Police Dept. if you can stay on thier lot >; maximum safety . |