Regarding free over nights
First I have to say this forum is more helpful than most. I've gotten great guidance and really appreciate it. We are very interested in staying at Flying J and other RV friendly places. I think I...
Forum Discussion
Flying Js are truck stops, that's not to say they're friendly or unfriendly, they're places where truckers pull into to get fuel and their mandatory sleep hours. There is constantly trucks coming and going, backing up, re-positioning, maybe having tires changed or other work done on them and lots of refer trucks running (usually right next to you). We always try to pick a corner further out in the back to park, it's a little quieter. (Did that one time and then found out after we went to bed that the train tracks were 20' behind our bed.)
People on the forum have said that in some Flying Js there are specific spots for RVs. That could well be, I just haven't seen any of them yet and yes I stay in a truck stop a couple times a year..
In general, no, don't put your slides out unless you're parked next to a curb and can hang the over the curb where they're aren't going to get hit by a truck backing up in the dark. They're not expecting slide outs since none of the trucks have them and in the dark all they can usually see is the front of your MH. Sometimes if there's a large light post in the parking area we've been able to pull in next to the post and put the slide out. A truck can't back up there because of the post.
You're as safe there as you are anywhere else. No they don't worry about what time you leave because the trucks will be arriving and departing all night long.
Walmarts - we do the same as at the truck stops, park so the slides are over the curb and put them out where they can't be hit. In general there's more room in a WalMart than there is in a truck stop.
On Crackerbarrels - I'm assuming your MH is about 33' long and then you'll be towing something. We've tried to park in a CB twice and found the parking lots to be very cut up and small. I'd advise parking in the street first and then walking in to see if there's room. And remember, just because there's room to park, if when the breakfast crowd shows up and parks all around you, there might not be room to pull out until they've left. All it takes is one car in the wrong spot to block you in a small parking lot.
Bill
People on the forum have said that in some Flying Js there are specific spots for RVs. That could well be, I just haven't seen any of them yet and yes I stay in a truck stop a couple times a year..
In general, no, don't put your slides out unless you're parked next to a curb and can hang the over the curb where they're aren't going to get hit by a truck backing up in the dark. They're not expecting slide outs since none of the trucks have them and in the dark all they can usually see is the front of your MH. Sometimes if there's a large light post in the parking area we've been able to pull in next to the post and put the slide out. A truck can't back up there because of the post.
You're as safe there as you are anywhere else. No they don't worry about what time you leave because the trucks will be arriving and departing all night long.
Walmarts - we do the same as at the truck stops, park so the slides are over the curb and put them out where they can't be hit. In general there's more room in a WalMart than there is in a truck stop.
On Crackerbarrels - I'm assuming your MH is about 33' long and then you'll be towing something. We've tried to park in a CB twice and found the parking lots to be very cut up and small. I'd advise parking in the street first and then walking in to see if there's room. And remember, just because there's room to park, if when the breakfast crowd shows up and parks all around you, there might not be room to pull out until they've left. All it takes is one car in the wrong spot to block you in a small parking lot.
Bill
