In our many years of full timing, we only made reservations in a few places. Mostly for longer stays in areas we had to be that had few options. Once I made reservations at a place recommended by my father that turned out to be no better than a low life trailer park. We actually ended up loosing a month's rent and buying a lot.
After that fiasco we did not make many reservations unless we knew the place. We start calling likely stops around noon, usually arriving around 3pm. That gives us time to set up, unwind and enjoy the evening.