Cracker Barrel and Pilot/Flying J questions

drhuggybear wrote:

Lokin4deer wrote:
Sorry to drag up an old thread BUT :B I am doing some research on a upcoming trip and I will need to sleep for several hours somewhere. How safe does everyone feel staying at any of the overnight places? Walmart, Flying J, rest stop, Cracker Barrel etc. I will be in a travel trailer. Thanks all!!

This is what concerns me about overnighting somewhere like a WalMart, etc.

By the posts here I am assuming it is fine but what are peoples thoughts?

How safe: I will answer that.. I have had three places, One Wal*Mart, one Flying-J (now a Pilot) and one "other truck stop" where I did not feel safe/comfortable... So I used the #1 Safety tool for RVers.

I turned the ignition key in a clockwise direction and held it till the engine started, Moved the transmission selector to DRIVE and parked... Somewhere else.

On the "Other truck stop" the parking spot was a licensed campground a quarter mile away... NOW, here is the rub.

How much does "Free parking" cost? Well, the Campground set me back 20 bucks for the night.. Plus the cost of 2 meals prepared "At home" (Perhaps 10 bucks total) This as opposed to dinner and breakfast for two in the truck stop diner 35-40 bucks.

Plus I did not need to run the genny (Burning a few gallons of precious fuel) at all.

In short, Free, is actually kind of expensive. I figure Wally docking costs me around 12 - 15 a night even if I do not eat out, Crackerbarrel, and other places (other than the J) even more expesive.. And the reason the for that is Wall*mart and the J, the stuff I buy is stuff (Food, Fuel, Cleaning supplies) I need anyway.

Lokin4deer wrote:
Sorry to drag up an old thread BUT :B I am doing some research on a upcoming trip and I will need to sleep for several hours somewhere. How safe does everyone feel staying at any of the overnight places? Walmart, Flying J, rest stop, Cracker Barrel etc. I will be in a travel trailer. Thanks all!!

This is what concerns me about overnighting somewhere like a WalMart, etc.

By the posts here I am assuming it is fine but what are peoples thoughts?

Here's another one to add to the list, Sams Club.

It's in the WalMart family.

The bonus here are the free snacks. You can make several rounds through the food areas during the day and it's like a 7 course meal. You can avoid getting recognized if you time your rounds during peak hours and have the kids change clothes a few times a day.

When it comes to buying things you do or do not need.

Well, when I'm on the road I need to eat, and after a hard day driving, or before one, I really do not feel much like cooking so dinner and breakfast at a Cracker Barrel is ... Nice, plus they are not the most expensive dinner in town.

If I'm parking at a Flying J.. Well after a hard day driving the Motor home NEEDS to eat too (So do I) dinner in the associated diner is optional. But dinner for the coach (Fuel) is mandatory.

Wal-Mart.. Once again I'm going to need stuff for dinner, and lunch, and breakfast, and.... I mean we all go shopping often.

So I only buy things I need.

Sorry to drag up an old thread BUT :B I am doing some research on a upcoming trip and I will need to sleep for several hours somewhere. How safe does everyone feel staying at any of the overnight places? Walmart, Flying J, rest stop, Cracker Barrel etc. I will be in a travel trailer. Thanks all!!

wny_pat wrote:
RVers’ Good Neighbor Policy
"There is an accepted etiquette known by RVers, for overnight stays such as a stop at a Walmart and other businesses. Here are the highlights of this RV industry/RV clubs-sanctioned Code of Conduct:

1. Stay one night only!
2. Obtain permission from a qualified individual.
3. Obey posted regulations.
4. No awnings, chairs, or barbecue grills outside your RV.
5. Do not use hydraulic jacks on soft surfaces (including asphalt).
6. Always leave an area cleaner than you found it.
7. Purchase gas, food, or supplies as a form of thank you, when feasible.
8. Be safe! Always be aware of your surroundings and leave if you feel unsafe.

If your plans include touring the area, staying for more than one night, or necessitate conduct not within the code, please relocate to a local campground. It’s the right thing to do!

Most of the complaints lodged regarding RV parking on business parking lots have to do with aesthetics and perceived abuse of the privilege. There are a variety of competing interests that were balanced to arrive at this industry-sanctioned code of conduct. As you can see, the Code of Conduct is nothing more than an RVers’ “Good Neighbor” policy.

Not following the code has serious consequences and is detrimental to the rights of all RVers. Already, some municipalities have passed ordinances to prohibit parking on private business property overnight."

Worth the Bump....these are great guidlines...

Oh, am a retired over the road driver, I have spent many overnights in truckstops. In my honest opinion, truckstops and rest areas are the last places I would want to park overnight at. I have seen every form of illegal activity taking place in theses places. Was in a truck stop where you did not dare walk out the door to go to your truck because some "flipped out" trucker was using the parking lot as a demolition derby track. Have seen drug deals going down, and lot lizards (hookers) knocking on doors of trucks while their pimps were keeping watch. And always somebody with a scam going on. And if you ever end up parked between two refrigerated trailers with their reefer units running, you will not sleep! Feel much safer in a Walmart parking lot!!!

Roy&Lynne wrote:
I have never done this and probably never will, but I seem to remember that some towns do not allow overnighting in parking lots so there is that issue. We have found that if you go to smaller towns and ask at the police station they will willingly tell you where you can park, and will even know you are there and come check on you.

Put another way - and not just small towns, but local ordinances against overnight parking trump Walmart or others policies. I would imaginge this does not apply to truck stops like flying J.

RVers’ Good Neighbor Policy
"There is an accepted etiquette known by RVers, for overnight stays such as a stop at a Walmart and other businesses. Here are the highlights of this RV industry/RV clubs-sanctioned Code of Conduct:

1. Stay one night only!
2. Obtain permission from a qualified individual.
3. Obey posted regulations.
4. No awnings, chairs, or barbecue grills outside your RV.
5. Do not use hydraulic jacks on soft surfaces (including asphalt).
6. Always leave an area cleaner than you found it.
7. Purchase gas, food, or supplies as a form of thank you, when feasible.
8. Be safe! Always be aware of your surroundings and leave if you feel unsafe.

If your plans include touring the area, staying for more than one night, or necessitate conduct not within the code, please relocate to a local campground. It’s the right thing to do!

Most of the complaints lodged regarding RV parking on business parking lots have to do with aesthetics and perceived abuse of the privilege. There are a variety of competing interests that were balanced to arrive at this industry-sanctioned code of conduct. As you can see, the Code of Conduct is nothing more than an RVers’ “Good Neighbor” policy.

Not following the code has serious consequences and is detrimental to the rights of all RVers. Already, some municipalities have passed ordinances to prohibit parking on private business property overnight."

jaycocamprs wrote:

HappyKayakers wrote:
Don't be 'the ugly RVer'. I pulled into a Flying J in St. Augustine a few weeks ago for diesel and saw a PU/5er combo taking up 2 RV spots, all 4 slides out and generator running. As other posters have said, it's not camping. It's just getting some rest without driving 30 miles off the highway to find a campground.

We pulled into Cracker Barrel one morning just before they opened to find a Class C taking 3 of the RV spots. The coach was in 2nd the toad in 3rd and the slides were blocking the 1st. What was bad was they could have put the slide over the island, parked the toad in any car spot, and only used 1 RV parking place.:S

Guess you can not fix stupid, or the me only RV'r.