Boondocking ettiquette

bmet2000 wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

mamasmax wrote:
but I haven't seen the inside of my trailer with the slides in yet so I don't know if it's even necessary to slide it out. Whats acceptable?

I recommend to everybody that they check out the useability of an RV with the slides in before purchase.
bumpy

Exactly. We made the dealer go get a battery so we could see what it was like with the slides in. Couldn't access the bathroom from inside (but it had a separate door). But we could get to the fridge and open both doors.
When we stay in a parking lot, we get next to something like the others have said and put the slide out where it is not in the way.

For Boondocking, this is all sage advice.

One should realize their goals with purchasing a RV. Not having access to the important parts of your RV, with the Slides retracted, will limit you. These will include where you park, cold and winter camping, to name a few. Just like not having A/C, and visiting Phoenix in the summer time, will limit you in the choices ones make.

Also, for boondocking, my recommendation is to try to find your camp, for the night, before dark. Dry Camping, will not be as much as an issue.

As for your new dilemma, become a discerning Dry Camper and choose locations that will allow you to park safely, and with a slide out. If not, move on to another location.

Enjoy your new RV!

b

I would rather find a spot to spend the night where you can put out the slides. Same thing for lunch.

I look for a church, unless it is Saturday, when it can get really crowded. Then I try to find a school. Home Depot also can work, unless there is a local ordinance, then usually there will be a no parking overnight sign or something.

Good luck, and have fun with your new RV!

Fred.

We put the slide out when we stop for lunch. Eating is possible with the slide in, but tight and cumbersome. I also can just barely get to the bathroom with it in (suck it in and squeeze through).

Never had a problem with another vehicle trying to fit in the next spot. but we have not spent the night in a truck stop or parking lot.

that is one thing I really like about my TT. and that is I can get around every thing in side with the slides in. most of the time when we travel we just pull in and we might have to crawl over each other but we can still sleep just fine with the slides in. of course it would be nice to be able to have all the slides out but some times it is just not practical.

Bumpyroad wrote:

mamasmax wrote:
but I haven't seen the inside of my trailer with the slides in yet so I don't know if it's even necessary to slide it out. Whats acceptable?

I recommend to everybody that they check out the useability of an RV with the slides in before purchase.
bumpy

Exactly. We made the dealer go get a battery so we could see what it was like with the slides in. Couldn't access the bathroom from inside (but it had a separate door). But we could get to the fridge and open both doors.
When we stay in a parking lot, we get next to something like the others have said and put the slide out where it is not in the way.

I have spent the night at the Klamath Falls Walmart. Just park the sideout on the perimeter and you should be alright.

We occasionally stop at Cracker Barrels when on the road. Arrive after they close, have breakfast and roll early in the AM. Used to do it more often when we were vacation traveling and had a schedule to meet.

We are too long for most of the RV slots, so we park along the back of the lot with the left side to the curb so we can open the bedroom slide. Our unit is perfectly usable with all the slides in, a consideration when we bought it, but a bit more comfortable with the bedroom slide out.

mamasmax wrote:
but I haven't seen the inside of my trailer with the slides in yet so I don't know if it's even necessary to slide it out. Whats acceptable?

I recommend to everybody that they check out the useability of an RV with the slides in before purchase.
bumpy

Having spent a night or two in truck stops, you can usually find a parking place where the side of the truck with the slide, can be parked next to the curb or edge of the parking area so that slide is overhanging a non-parking area (shrubbery or grass?) so that it's not hanging over into someone else's space. Usually the truck stops don't start filling up until after midnight so you should be able to find a spot like that and the edges are usually quieter.

Bill

We have done both depending on the layout of the rest stop or truck stop. If I can find a perimeter spot or end spot where the slide outs on one side open onto a non-driving lane or a grassy/dirt area we extend the slideouts.

I carry clip on flashing LED lights (Bicycle type) and clip those on the edge of the slideout at eye level. Hopefully this keeps someone from walking into the slideout in the dark.

If the there's no room to safely deploy the slideouts then we sleep with them in.