Forum Discussion

RetiredBeanCoun's avatar
RetiredBeanCoun
Explorer
Aug 27, 2019

The Beauty of Day Spots

My RV strategy is a bit different from others. I find the allowable places to park during the day are generally much nicer than those to which you are allowed to camp. So first thing in the morning, I move to these spots, open my triple slide, and have essentially an apartment at the best spot overlooking a lake, a beach, a valley or canyon.

Frankly I could care less where I sleep, as long as it is legal and safe. The true beauty of a truck camper is it fits in a relatively small parking spot, yet with three slides, it open to a space the size of a small hotel room, to keep cold beverages, retreat for a nap, cook meals etc.

I am an early riser, so I show up at these pristine day spots way before anyone else and generally do not leave till dusk. Then I drive off to my night spot to sleep, and repeat the next day.

And night spots are not that tough. Offer someone $20 buck to park in their driveway in a quiet neighborhood, or use the site hipcamp.com, and it takes very little planning.

Yes I miss out on the campfires, and socializing with fellow campers, but it is worth it to avoid the RV parks, the crazy planning required for national forest or state parks, or living with the questionable characters at free spots.
Truck Campers
  • Bedlam's avatar
    Bedlam
    Moderator
    Aug 28, 2019
    You brought up some points - If I go to a buffet and spend all day eating there, am I a food squatter? If I spend all day at the cinema watching movies, am I a film squatter?

    I would consider you a day squatter only if you parked your rig there early in the morning and then left just so you could hold that desired spot until later in the day. You see this at resorts or cruise ships where someone will put towels on the desirable chairs by the pool or view point but not return until hours later just so they can put an exclusive hold on them.
  • RetiredBeanCoun's avatar
    RetiredBeanCoun
    Explorer
    Aug 28, 2019
    ajriding wrote:
    You are a Day Squatter.

    I do the day spots too, and leave late to go park somewhere level to close the blinds for sleeping.

    I still get hassled by ranges if I have to pull the blocks out to level the camper for the propane fridge. They think that means "camping". They do not understand campers or the needy-ness of a propane fridge, even in the daytime when I may be out hiking or swimming or fishing….

    Well, got rid of propane for an electric fridge, so I will park off-level and we will see if that makes em happy.

    I call them Day Squatters because they cone in, set up an incredible camp, run around cartoonishly, then pack up and leave. This is when I am in a boondock camp spot. Funny to watch

    I put out my slides and a couple of chairs, so it is not to cartoonish. The people that do huge unpacking and repacking are those that show up in the SUV, not me. I have leveled using my jacks, but never have had any trouble with the rangers.

    These sites are set up as picnic areas. They generally have a table and grill, so I am using them for their intended use, to enjoy the lake, beach, or trails during the day. I see it as another advantage of having a truck camper.

    Really you had a ranger complain about blocks? That seems absurd. If you are not taking up more room than the spot allows, why should they care whether you are in an SUV or camper?

    The term "Day Squatter" is a bit pejorative. That is like saying someone that goes to a restaurant is a food squatter, or a movie, a film squatter. These spots are meant for day use, the entire day. Showing up in a truck camper to shorten set up time and improve comfort should not make a difference, if you are not infringing on other spots.
  • valhalla360's avatar
    valhalla360
    Navigator
    Aug 28, 2019
    ajriding wrote:

    I still get hassled by ranges if I have to pull the blocks out to level the camper for the propane fridge. They think that means "camping". They do not understand campers or the needy-ness of a propane fridge, even in the daytime when I may be out hiking or swimming or fishing….


    Actually they are camping...just not overnighting.

    As long as they don't abuse it by taking up multiple parking spots to open slides, awnings and putting out other stuff when parking is full...it doesn't bother me but rangers have to deal with the "slippery slope" type issues and if they let people get away with it sometimes but not other times...it's a lot harder to win the argument when it reaches the point of having to put a stop to abuse.
  • ajriding's avatar
    ajriding
    Explorer II
    Aug 28, 2019
    You are a Day Squatter.

    I do the day spots too, and leave late to go park somewhere level to close the blinds for sleeping.

    I still get hassled by ranges if I have to pull the blocks out to level the camper for the propane fridge. They think that means "camping". They do not understand campers or the needy-ness of a propane fridge, even in the daytime when I may be out hiking or swimming or fishing….

    Well, got rid of propane for an electric fridge, so I will park off-level and we will see if that makes em happy.

    I call them Day Squatters because they cone in, set up an incredible camp, run around cartoonishly, then pack up and leave. This is when I am in a boondock camp spot. Funny to watch
  • jaycocreek's avatar
    jaycocreek
    Explorer II
    Aug 27, 2019
    My RV strategy is a bit different from others.


    Mine also..I don't do RV parks/Forest-service pay sites or any spot that requires money to stay..

    In central Idaho you can camp wherever you want anytime you want for free..Depending on the National Forest,the stay in one spot is 18 days which they rarely enforce but I am a roamer, so I rarely stay more than a week in one spot unless there is lots of easy firewood..

    They pay more attention to people who camp by lakes and those bums that trash places making the spot look like a homeless spot...

    Keep a clean camp without a bunch of stuff laying around and your good to go around here by any creek or lake of your choice.

    Rarely we go to Lewiston for doctor stuff and have to spend the night..Sometimes I splurge and camp by the river in a State park and others it is Walmart...Last time was 3 years ago for the wifes surgery.

    The winter is the only time any RV has problems in finding a good spot you can get into for nuttin..I have my winter spot along the Salmon river fishing and watching the jet boats at a much lower elevation yet just 45 miles away..

    Truck campers do have there place in the wild outdoors..
  • RetiredBeanCoun's avatar
    RetiredBeanCoun
    Explorer
    Aug 27, 2019
    work2much wrote:
    At least on the western US finding boondocking spots isn't hard. Often you can find that amazing view to enjoy during the day and it's ok to stay the night.

    Freecampsites.net
    Campedium
    Allstays
    Harvest Hosts

    are all ways we find nice spots to overnight.

    I think we will add boondocks welcome when we get back on the road.

    I agree, if you are looking for a spot to camp and stay all day, these are great alternative. My point is that campgrounds (if you can get them) rarely compare to the day spots that allow no camping. So my strategy is to grab these incredible day spots in national and state parks, beaches, or lakes, and not worry about the view from where I sleep.

    Sometimes you do score that perfect campground, but I always score that perfect day spot by being first in the morning.
  • work2much's avatar
    work2much
    Explorer
    Aug 27, 2019
    At least on the western US finding boondocking spots isn't hard. Often you can find that amazing view to enjoy during the day and it's ok to stay the night.

    Freecampsites.net
    Campedium
    Allstays
    Harvest Hosts

    are all ways we find nice spots to overnight.

    I think we will add boondocks welcome when we get back on the road.
  • Kayteg1's avatar
    Kayteg1
    Explorer II
    Aug 27, 2019
    Making the Alaskan Highway this summer, whenever I pass a bear on the side of the road, took me 15 seconds to make U-turn and take the pictures.
    Also in Alaska, as well as Canadian provinces - it is legal to stay overnight whenever you can.
    Only few rest areas in prime locations had "no overnight" (thanks campground owners) , while some Rest Areas were nicer than $50 RV parks.
    I did stay at state park in Alaska, with fire rings, but they had ban of campfires due to forest fires 50 miles away.
    Nobody was extinguishing the forest fires, so they were going for a month.

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