Truck stops

2oldman wrote:

pnichols wrote:
..where their rest stops have those long angular parking lanes painted on the asphalt clearly meant for "long vehicles" - I guess some of you are maintaining the position that RVs that don't need all of that long length shouldn't overnight in those long parking spots just in case a big rig that really needs most of that length should want it sometime during the night instead? Hmmm.

Well, yeah..I would suggest pulling forward to allow another short object to share the space. That would be considerate.

The operative word here is rest area not [COLOR=]Truck Stop The RV'er has far more spaces to park than the trucker. Want him in the KOA? Then the KOA would be a truck stop not an RV park. If your in an RV find an alternative parking and leave truck stops for commercial trucks that need the spaces. That truck could have a family also.

pnichols wrote:
..where their rest stops have those long angular parking lanes painted on the asphalt clearly meant for "long vehicles" - I guess some of you are maintaining the position that RVs that don't need all of that long length shouldn't overnight in those long parking spots just in case a big rig that really needs most of that length should want it sometime during the night instead? Hmmm.

Well, yeah..I would suggest pulling forward to allow another short object to share the space. That would be considerate.

So, to filter the point further - in those rare states where it is legal to overnight in one of their highway rest stops - and where their rest stops have those long angular parking lanes painted on the asphalt clearly meant for "long vehicles" - I guess some of you are maintaining the position that RVs that don't need all of that long length shouldn't overnight in those long parking spots just in case a big rig that really needs most of that length should want it sometime during the night instead? Hmmm. ....

P.S. I for one think the Nation uses long haul big rig trucking way too much anyway. Railroad transportaion should be revisited and used much more ... and even expanded by reopening long abandoned routes or - here's a new concept - laying new track routes if needed to eliminate as much long haul big rig trucking as possible. Take a look at the cost per pound to haul freight via railroad car and then compare it to the costs of using other ways of transporting freight. I believe that carrying freight over the oceans in big ships is the only way to beat railroad car costs for transporting freight. (I could be wrong, though.)

I see both sides of this. Truckers need to have their 75+ feet of space to legally park and rest. Other people need to rest.

I stay out of that debate. Occasionally, I have "rented" a former co-worker's class "B" for long trips ("rented", as I did some minor repairs, chassis maintenance, even replaced some appliances for permission to use it.) I am single, and still deciding between a class "B", or a truck/TC combo. Because I like travelling small, I will pass truck stops by, leaving them to the people who need long parking places. Same with the Cracker Barrel RV parking. If I can find a 20-24 foot spot somewhere quiet that I can back the rig into, I'm golden.

Park by size. If you need the extra length or space, take it- that is why they are there.

An RV'er with his family along has every bit as much importance to be rested on the road as a truck driver- no matter what regulations may or may not apply.

Personally, I believe the more important issue is for RV'ers to be cognizant of the "order" of things, recognizing and respecting the flow in and out of the areas. Leaving lots of room for entering and exiting drivers, not parking on corners, etc.

Those who claim 'exclusive access' to given parking areas or facilities are not giving the same level of consideration they are expecting from others.

If you need to rest, rest. If you need to park, park. As for truck stops' benefit? It's far more likely for a family of 4 or more to be more financially beneficial than one driver in a truck.

Don't get me wrong. I have family and friends who drive truck and understand that point of view quite well. Truckers I know value their family above all else- that's WHY they are away from their families for extended periods to provide for them.

Professional drivers ABSOLUTELY understand the importance of family and will often bend over backwards to watch out for yours, too. Including being safe and rested on the roads.

Be safe out there and share the roads! :)

fulltimedaniel wrote:

pnichols wrote:
I'm the one who posted the photo of our 24 foot Itasca sandwiched in that some of you are bashing:

- The truck slots were empty around us when we arrived there late in the evening.

- I can't recall for sure, but knowing ourselves as considerate and polite folks ... we probably had asked inside the store where to park for an overnight.

- We've even overnighted at Walmarts and I recall being told by the store to park out back in their big rig delivery truck spots.

- I took the picture in the morning before we left ... notice that the truck slot on the far right never did get used.

- We've overnighted plenty of times at truck stops that never did fill during the night, including a Port of Entry lot for big rigs which stayed nearly empty all night.

- We've overnighted in parking lots that WERE NOT intended for big rigs and had them pull in around us to sleep overnight ... the most recent time while overnighting in a Cabellas lot when a big rig pulled in beside us just as one of their outside rear duals blew out ... we thought it was a bullet that had been fired into our rig because it actually vibrated from it and I jumped out to see what had happened.

I meant for the photo to be a comical tongue-in-cheek situation we had encountered in our wanderings.

I am sure you are nice and well meaning folks and I don't beleive anyone here is bashing you. I think that posters are trying to show you the other side of the coin and the importance of not taking up truck parking.

No matter what time you arrive at a truck stop this doesnt really matter as truckers hours can end at midnight or 2 am as easily as at 9PM. Just because a space is free when you arrive doesnt mean it wont be needed.

I think those of us who have experience in this are trying to share with you and others that RV's just don't belong in Truck Stops to overnight.

Remember that if a Trucker overdrives his allotted hours of Service for any reason even if it's because he didnt have a place to park and has a violation this is a FEDERAL violation that stays on his record for 36 months. It carries the same weight as a moving violation against the drivers safety record.

That is not trucker parking. It is parking for anyone, truckers are no more entitled to it than anyone else. If the establishment cared they would identify it as such.

pnichols wrote:
I'm the one who posted the photo of our 24 foot Itasca sandwiched in that some of you are bashing:

- The truck slots were empty around us when we arrived there late in the evening.

- I can't recall for sure, but knowing ourselves as considerate and polite folks ... we probably had asked inside the store where to park for an overnight.

- We've even overnighted at Walmarts and I recall being told by the store to park out back in their big rig delivery truck spots.

- I took the picture in the morning before we left ... notice that the truck slot on the far right never did get used.

- We've overnighted plenty of times at truck stops that never did fill during the night, including a Port of Entry lot for big rigs which stayed nearly empty all night.

- We've overnighted in parking lots that WERE NOT intended for big rigs and had them pull in around us to sleep overnight ... the most recent time while overnighting in a Cabellas lot when a big rig pulled in beside us just as one of their outside rear duals blew out ... we thought it was a bullet that had been fired into our rig because it actually vibrated from it and I jumped out to see what had happened.

I meant for the photo to be a comical tongue-in-cheek situation we had encountered in our wanderings.

I am sure you are nice and well meaning folks and I don't beleive anyone here is bashing you. I think that posters are trying to show you the other side of the coin and the importance of not taking up truck parking.

No matter what time you arrive at a truck stop this doesnt really matter as truckers hours can end at midnight or 2 am as easily as at 9PM. Just because a space is free when you arrive doesnt mean it wont be needed.

I think those of us who have experience in this are trying to share with you and others that RV's just don't belong in Truck Stops to overnight.

Remember that if a Trucker overdrives his allotted hours of Service for any reason even if it's because he didnt have a place to park and has a violation this is a FEDERAL violation that stays on his record for 36 months. It carries the same weight as a moving violation against the drivers safety record.

Terryallan wrote:
Sorry couldn't help it. Tried not too. But did anyway.:B

Tried not to.

Edd505 wrote:

2oldman wrote:

Edd505 wrote:
There is a reason they call it a truck stop and not n RV Park.

Be a b itch if a big rig tried backing in there at 2am and didn't see the 'little guy.'

Trucker will help travelers. I had on see me limping a M/C down the shoulder on MT Shasta. I had a slow leak in the front tire & he told me there was a rest area just ahead and he had air. (The on board compress for air breaks) He filled my tire and I was on my way ahead so if he saw me again he knew what I needed.

/Operator

Most drivers don't take air "breaks". But do use air brakes.

Sorry couldn't help it. Tried not too. But did anyway.:B

Also. All the big trucks have air compressors. But few have a air chuck to fill tires.

I'm the one who posted the photo of our 24 foot Itasca sandwiched in that some of you are bashing:

- The truck slots were empty around us when we arrived there late in the evening.

- I can't recall for sure, but knowing ourselves as considerate and polite folks ... we probably had asked inside the store where to park for an overnight.

- We've even overnighted at Walmarts and I recall being told by the store to park out back in their big rig delivery truck spots.

- I took the picture in the morning before we left ... notice that the truck slot on the far right never did get used.

- We've overnighted plenty of times at truck stops that never did fill during the night, including a Port of Entry lot for big rigs which stayed nearly empty all night.

- We've overnighted in parking lots that WERE NOT intended for big rigs and had them pull in around us to sleep overnight ... the most recent time while overnighting in a Cabellas lot when a big rig pulled in beside us just as one of their outside rear duals blew out ... we thought it was a bullet that had been fired into our rig because it actually vibrated from it and I jumped out to see what had happened.

I meant for the photo to be a comical tongue-in-cheek situation we had encountered in our wanderings.