Stopping overnight - rookie question

Dog Folks wrote:

sdianel wrote:
some rest areas do not allow overnight parking. In Florida they say only 3 hours max.
We also prefer Walmart parking lots. Park in well lit area. Do not open the door for anyone.
Once you get the address for the Walmart, you can view Walmart parking lots on www.googlemaps.com earth view and zoom.

You can park and sleep in all Florida rest areas, for up to three hours. Overnight camping is not permitted. That is technically correct, but conversations here indicate that security and LEO's are "relaxing' that rule a little. They do not want to put a tired driver back on the road. The tired driver is as dangerous as the drunk one.

My brother drives OTR and states by law he as to get off the road after so many hours but often RV'ers are taking up space so we just try to do WM, etc. RV parks are fine but some are down right hard to find in the dark when you just need some sleep when just traveling from point A to point B takes a few days.

Just be careful out there. There are dangers at any options you will find.

We always stay at campgrounds, even for overnights - national forests, state forests, state parks if convenient, KOAs, whatever is available that's convenient to the highway. That way we don't have to worry about whether or not it's permitted.

No need to unhook. We try to make it level enough for the fridge and lower the tongue jack for stability.

My only fear would someone stealing your rig while your in it. Yikes!

bhall wrote:

sdianel wrote:
some rest areas do not allow overnight parking. In Florida they say only 3 hours max.
We also prefer Walmart parking lots. Park in well lit area. Do not open the door for anyone.
Once you get the address for the Walmart, you can view Walmart parking lots on www.googlemaps.com earth view and zoom.

3 Walmarts in 15 mile radius forbid overnight parking. I have even seen police at RVs/TTs/5ers in the Gettysburg Walmart several times over the last several years presumably asking them to leave.

You can avoid that problem not matter what some list says or does not say by simply going into the Walmart and asking for a manager and asking if you can spend the night and if so where they want you to park and then buy something.
Also if overnighting at a Walmart unless absolutely necessary do not put your slides out.

"Some rest areas have some restrictions"

IN fact in some areas EVERYTHING (other than a licensed campgrond) is restricted by Govermental decree.. City, county or State law may prohibit overnighting in a parking spot...

Otherwise, to unhook and jack or not.. Use the comfort test..

The key appliance in your RV that needs to be level if sitting is the fridge, it can be up to around 3 degrees off (May be a bit different depending on the direction) I am uncomfortable long before the fridge is. So if you are comfortable walking around and sleeping inside the trailer.. You good.

Most of the time you'll be reasonably level and don't need to unhook, it's just personal preference. If you trailer has a slide out, you need to extend your stabilizers. In such I case I would extend the tongue jack enough to release my WD bars, but that's it, then level the trailer front to back.

Allworth wrote:
Francesca has it exactly right. For those of you "experts" who did not spent thirty years as a Traffic Engineer at the County level here is how the commissioners (city or county) do it:

Amend the Zoning Ordinance to establish a special condition for retail properties over 15,000 square feet under roof (or any other number you like). Make it unlawful to park overnight on any part of the property and include a sentence allowing local law enforcement to remove violators. It just takes a simple majority. No problem when you can tell the public you are doing it to "protect property values".

If you object to being told to move, the officer can haul you in for "Resisting Without".

P.S. Don't blame the store or the manager. They have no choice in the matter.

Yep, this is how it works at our Walmart in Napa.

Francesca has it exactly right. For those of you "experts" who did not spent thirty years as a Traffic Engineer at the County level here is how the commissioners (city or county) do it:

Amend the Zoning Ordinance to establish a special condition for retail properties over 15,000 square feet under roof (or any other number you like). Make it unlawful to park overnight on any part of the property and include a sentence allowing local law enforcement to remove violators. It just takes a simple majority. No problem when you can tell the public you are doing it to "protect property values".

If you object to being told to move, the officer can haul you in for "Resisting Without".

P.S. Don't blame the store or the manager. They have no choice in the matter.

When I stay hitched, I still put down both front and rear stabilizers. It doesn't take long and does exactly what it says they do: stabilize.

Stay hooked as long as you are fairly level. :)