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Slideouts @ WalMart Redux

4X4Dodger
Explorer II
Explorer II
While I was at the Wal Mart in Whitehorse, Yukon I was also reading the original post Slideouts @ Wal Mart.

So I got on top of my trailer and took some photos.

When I went to bed the night before there were 22 campers in this Wal Mart. Campers of every description from million dollar class A's to simple scruffy Van campers and everything in between.

As you can see from the pictures below a good share of the parking lot is taken with RV'ers.

So WHY is this the case when there are at least Four good and mostly empty RV Parks very close to the city?

My guess is this: While Whitehorse has it's attractions most people just stay a night and move on. (I was on my way to Skagway, AK) and they:

1. Dont want the hassle of checking in and out of a park and dealing with what is often a Curmudgeonly owner who harangues you endlessly with his woes or rules.

2. Want to keep their units hooked together (either TV and Trailer or MH and toad (and this is not always possible in an RV park)

3. They want the convenience of being near shopping to replenish and get fuel in the AM right there in the corner by the Wal Mart.

4. They want VALUE for their money. And it makes little sense to pay $35 to $45 Dollars to stay 9 or 10 hours especially when you dont want all the so called Amenities and dubious ambiance of an RV Park.

5. All of the above

When I see 4 empty RV parks in one town like Whitehorse and the Wal Mart parking lot FULL it certainly leads one to believe that RV park Owners are just not responding to the needs of their customers. I can't believe that the person in the Million Dollar MH and the rest of them were all just concerned about the cost (vs the value).

My guess is if RV park owners want to reduce this trend they need to give a hard look at what they do and how they do it and how they come across to the public (their customers).

But really what RV Park can give you faster WiFi than McDonalds and an entire shopping center at your doorstep?







Edited for spelling and clarity by author.
53 REPLIES 53

Boon_Docker
Explorer III
Explorer III
My wife spends at least a $100 every time she goes to Walmart (about once every 3 weeks), so I never "Wally dock". Too expensive!

pnichols
Explorer II
Explorer II
creeper wrote:
Walmart is VERY expensive to camp at.


Yep .... we rarely spend less than $20-$30 dollars in the store whenever we camp in a Walmart lot!!
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creeper
Explorer
Explorer
RandACampin wrote:
pnichols wrote:
RandACampin wrote:
So how are they going to keep the "dry campers" out of their facilities such as the bathhouse?


That's an easy one ... issue keys to regular paying customers or have combination locks on all facility doors that only regular paying customers have the combination to.

We've stayed at many, many commercial campgrounds that required use of issued keys or combination locks on their facility doors.

The point is "IF" a commercial campground wants to start using some/any of it's extra land/acerage to at least get $10/night for one-night-only stop-overs ... then install a key or combination systems on the doors of it's facilities.

We'd gladly use $10 one-night-only spots in commercial campgrounds as much as we could on RV trips .... whenever we were enroute to/from more beautiful multi-night camping places on state and federal lands.


You know I kinda though of that when I posting, but thought it to be way too big a pain in the rear for everyone. Besides all I have to is wait for you to come to the facility and "oops forgot my key" and there you have it.



It's not so much using the facilities, it's the access to sewer, water, electric and wifi, hence dry camping.

There is a campground in Roanoke Rapids(Carolina Crossroads), where the campground owner went to the town to get an ordinance passed to ban walmart parking. He lost due to a flood of messages from RVers.

He then did a $10 a night dry camping to combat Walmart. That's when we began to use his campground, but we went full camping just to support his change.

I spoke with him at length about the issue. Nice enough guy, built a campground for the up coming Dolly Parton theater. When she pulled out that left him with a problem of filling his campground. He claims between Walmart and people coming in late at night and leaving early to avoid paying he was losing lots of fees. Why do so many Rvers do that?

Sadly he discontinued this program and now does a $30 express. Check in after 6pm full hookups.

Walmart is VERY expensive to camp at. ๐Ÿ™‚

Roy_Lynne
Explorer
Explorer
Walaby wrote:
I can't say I will never park in a WalMart, but honestly, I'd rather plan my trip such that I can stop about 3 or 4 in the afternoon, sit outside, relax, maybe grill some chicken, or hamburgers... hang out in the quiet evening, and then head out again in the AM, but, then that's just me and my preference. Clearly based on this picture, it's still daylight, so they are probably there for 10-12 hours.. maybe more. Certainly probably not just 4-5.

I don't like going to Walmart WITHOUT my trailer...

Mike

X2, I barely like to shop there let alone camp. LOL, WalMart is one place that I can guarantee I'll lose DH. We will walk in the door, head for the ?? and suddenly, Ill notice that I'm alone. Never fails.

Butch50
Explorer
Explorer
pnichols wrote:
RandACampin wrote:
So how are they going to keep the "dry campers" out of their facilities such as the bathhouse?


That's an easy one ... issue keys to regular paying customers or have combination locks on all facility doors that only regular paying customers have the combination to.

We've stayed at many, many commercial campgrounds that required use of issued keys or combination locks on their facility doors.

The point is "IF" a commercial campground wants to start using some/any of it's extra land/acerage to at least get $10/night for one-night-only stop-overs ... then install a key or combination system on the doors of it's facilities.

We'd gladly use $10 one-night-only spots in commercial campgrounds as much as we could on RV trips .... whenever we were enroute to/from more beautiful multi-night camping places on state and federal lands.


We have been in a lot of campgrounds where when checking in they gave you a code to the restrooms, rec room and laundry room. So it can be done. We have never had a key and I think unless a deposit was made at check in that they would loss a lot of keys. The combination lock would also keep vagrants from just coming in and use the facilities.
Butch

I try to always leave doubt to my ignorance rather than prove it

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c_traveler2
Nomad
Nomad
That's almost empty compared to when we were there in June of 2015. The parking area was jammed with RV's.
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RandACampin
Explorer II
Explorer II
pnichols wrote:
RandACampin wrote:
So how are they going to keep the "dry campers" out of their facilities such as the bathhouse?


That's an easy one ... issue keys to regular paying customers or have combination locks on all facility doors that only regular paying customers have the combination to.

We've stayed at many, many commercial campgrounds that required use of issued keys or combination locks on their facility doors.

The point is "IF" a commercial campground wants to start using some/any of it's extra land/acerage to at least get $10/night for one-night-only stop-overs ... then install a key or combination systems on the doors of it's facilities.

We'd gladly use $10 one-night-only spots in commercial campgrounds as much as we could on RV trips .... whenever we were enroute to/from more beautiful multi-night camping places on state and federal lands.


You know I kinda though of that when I posting, but thought it to be way too big a pain in the rear for everyone. Besides all I have to is wait for you to come to the facility and "oops forgot my key" and there you have it.
HEY CHECK IT OUT!! http://www.rvingoutpost.com

pnichols
Explorer II
Explorer II
RandACampin wrote:
So how are they going to keep the "dry campers" out of their facilities such as the bathhouse?


That's an easy one ... issue keys to regular paying customers or have combination locks on all facility doors that only regular paying customers have the combination to.

We've stayed at many, many commercial campgrounds that required use of issued keys or combination locks on their facility doors.

The point is "IF" a commercial campground wants to start using some/any of it's extra land/acerage to at least get $10/night for one-night-only stop-overs ... then install a key or combination system on the doors of it's facilities.

We'd gladly use $10 one-night-only spots in commercial campgrounds as much as we could on RV trips .... whenever we were enroute to/from more beautiful multi-night camping places on state and federal lands.
2005 E450 Itasca 24V Class C

RandACampin
Explorer II
Explorer II
TooTall2 wrote:
pnichols wrote:
I'll post again what I've mentioned a few times in these forums: RV park owners could get more of my money on our RV trips if they offered dry camping spots available for one night only - with no use of their facilities allowed other than dumping of trash.

I'd rather pay $10 for a single-night-only dry camping spot in an RV park instead of free Walmart parking lots, free Cabellas parking lots, free Cracker Barrel parking lots, free Port of Entry parking lots, free church parking lots, etc.. RV parks are generally more secure, prettier, and quieter than parking lots.

As a result, RV parks get none of my money many times when they could get $10 of my money many times for one night stop-overs. It's no different than retail stores having a full time bargain bin for selected items on sale. RV parks need to do the same.


Yep, definitely agree.


So how are they going to keep the "dry campers" out of their facilities such as the bathhouse? Honor system?...yeah right. Once inside the park or cg there is no way to differentiate you at $10 form anyone else at full price. Now you have people doing laundry and denying services to people who paid for it. Nice try but unless you can come up with a reasonable way to discriminate then the idea is bogus.
HEY CHECK IT OUT!! http://www.rvingoutpost.com

2lazy4U
Explorer
Explorer
Too bad it didn't catch on, as I might have used it. Lots easier than trying to find boondocking spots in areas you don't know. The CGs anymore are just too expensive for someone like me who doesn't even need hookups.

MrWizard
Moderator
Moderator
IIRC some years back Good Sam, try promoting, the No frills, safe park and sleep, cheap fee overnight travel stop, but could not get it to take hold

i think the idea was to market the CGs overflow dry camp areas for this 'overnight stop only' , for travelers , for a cheap fee
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2lazy4U
Explorer
Explorer
I've been at that WM in Whitehorse and it looked a lot rougher than the photos in the OP. Quite a few hardluck characters there. This was last summer. The WM itself was also pretty hardluck feeling, had hardly anything in it, and needed a remodel pretty badly.

I never stay in campgrounds because of the cost, crowdedness, and general noise and lack of privacy. I ended up boondocking up on the hill above town in the trees. Very nice night, what there was of it (solstice).

TooTall2
Explorer
Explorer
JFNM wrote:
KazooTom wrote:
I believe I read on their web site that Route 66 Casino in New Mexico is developing a full service RV park.


I flew over yesterday and they are definitely constructing an RV park.


Strange I didn't notice it but I wasn't looking for one either. Must be in the back of the casino?
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TooTall2
Explorer
Explorer
pnichols wrote:
I'll post again what I've mentioned a few times in these forums: RV park owners could get more of my money on our RV trips if they offered dry camping spots available for one night only - with no use of their facilities allowed other than dumping of trash.

I'd rather pay $10 for a single-night-only dry camping spot in an RV park instead of free Walmart parking lots, free Cabellas parking lots, free Cracker Barrel parking lots, free Port of Entry parking lots, free church parking lots, etc.. RV parks are generally more secure, prettier, and quieter than parking lots.

As a result, RV parks get none of my money many times when they could get $10 of my money many times for one night stop-overs. It's no different than retail stores having a full time bargain bin for selected items on sale. RV parks need to do the same.


Yep, definitely agree.
Rockwood 2104 Mini Lite
RAM 2500 Diesel
USMC 68-70