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Truck stops

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
I chatted with a couple truck drivers in a Freightliner service lounge yesterday. I asked if they got upset when RVs are parked in their overnight spots.

They both said no, as long as you're a larger rig - like a big trailer/5er. What they don't like is the little guys - perhaps truck campers - or sleeping in a car.

They also said to pull in head first to keep away from overnight idling engine noise, or noise from refer units.
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman
49 REPLIES 49

Edd505
Explorer
Explorer
cbshoestring wrote:
pnichols wrote:
Here's us over-nighting at a truck stop ... parked so that we didn't hear their idling noise too much ๐Ÿ˜‰ :



I have no problem with a RV that won't fit into a "normal" spot using the larger parking spots. That is why they are there.

I do NOT understand taking up an entire spot for a pick-up. I don't even understand it when a BOB-TAIL does it. (BOB-TAIL=semi without trailer). Seems to me you could park in a regular spot...avoid a lot more noise.

Remember...some of us are required by LAW to find a parking spot at a certain time, or be in violation of said laws. Load demands that we push that "clock" as far as we can before we pull over. In areas where parking is very limited, it is a bit fustrating if I need to violate the law because there is "no place at the inn", when someone taking a spot could of fit elsewhere.

I am 75 feet long....I NEED that big space.


Nothing like doing laps looking for parking and finding the spaces full of RV's. The RV has far more places it can park that the 75ft truck would be ticketed. There is a reason they call it a truck stop and not n RV Park.
2015 F350 FX4 SRW 6.7 Crew, longbed - 2017 Durango Gold 353RKT
2006 F350 SRW 6.0 crew longbed sold
2000 F250 SRW 7.3 extended longbed airbags sold
2001 Western Star 4900EX sold
Jayco Eagle 30.5BHLT sold, Layton 24.5LT sold

cbshoestring
Explorer
Explorer
Just so you know we really are a bunch of helpful guys & gals. Photo was taking this past Tuesday evening. The guy sitting on the ground is the truck driver. The man and woman hovering about are the stranded RVer's who had no way of jacking, removing the blown tire.

When the FLAT spare was installed. They limped the trailer over to the truckers cab. Where he used an air hose attached to his gladhands to pump up the spare tire.

If you are they one who forgot to check the spare, and are seeing this posted...shame on you. Otherwise, sorry for posting your misfortune on the W.W.W. Just snapped the pic because I saw a bit of humanity in one traveller helping out another traveller. Even though the travellers are on different sides of the travelling spectrum

cbshoestring
Explorer
Explorer
DrewE wrote:
cbshoestring wrote:
pnichols wrote:
Here's us over-nighting at a truck stop ... parked so that we didn't hear their idling noise too much ๐Ÿ˜‰ :



I have no problem with a RV that won't fit into a "normal" spot using the larger parking spots. That is why they are there.

I do NOT understand taking up an entire spot for a pick-up. I don't even understand it when a BOB-TAIL does it. (BOB-TAIL=semi without trailer). Seems to me you could park in a regular spot...avoid a lot more noise.

Remember...some of us are required by LAW to find a parking spot at a certain time, or be in violation of said laws. Load demands that we push that "clock" as far as we can before we pull over. In areas where parking is very limited, it is a bit fustrating if I need to violate the law because there is "no place at the inn", when someone taking a spot could of fit elsewhere.

I am 75 feet long....I NEED that big space.


That RV is around 25' long, too long to fit in most parking spaces if there's not room to put the back end over some grass or something. It would fit in two normal spaces end-to-end (as would most all class C motorhomes) if the parking lot is laid out with them. It looks awfully short in the picture, granted, nestled way back between a couple of trailers that are about twice as long.


With ALL due respect. Just the truck...no trailer, about 24' from bumper to mud flaps. I have parked in many department store, fast food lots. Normally I back it until the flaps hit the curb. I try to find a corner spot...so I can hug one side, or a spot far from the door. Yes...the width takes the ENTIRE SPOT.

Not trying to argue. I get it. Like I said, I have bobtailed to many a resteraunt, store, etc... It is not always comfortable or convenient to park a wide-long vehicle. HOWEVER, it is possible and may save a spot for someone that has absolutely no chance of fitting up front....say a class A or 5th wheel, or even a minivan with pop-up.



The VAN trailer is a fluke. Normally will be pulling flatbed. If you see it on the road...holler on channel 19 for shoestring.

cbshoestring----now you get it. :B

Tom_Barb
Explorer
Explorer
Our friend met his wife in a truck stop. she was hitch hiking to Ca. from NY by the time they reached Vegas they knew they were a team. ๐Ÿ™‚ they've been on the road as a driving team for well over 50 years.
2000 Newmar mountain aire 4081 DP, ISC/350 Allison 6 speed, Wrangler JL toad.

fulltimedaniel
Explorer
Explorer
I think it could be the truckers you talked to were being polite...There is a huge shortage of truck parking in the country, especially in the East and Midwest (Ohio etc.)

They are required by Federal law to stop after so many hours driving and on Duty Not Driving. They need places to park so they can get the rest they need.

And if you are horrified by bad truck accidents that are often blamed on tired truck drivers who can be forced to work as much as 70 hours in 8 days and in some places 80 hours and allowed to drive 10 hours with a total of 15 hours on duty you should think twice about taking any parking space a truck needs who CANNOT park almost anywhere the way the OP can with his small Class C.

DrewE
Explorer II
Explorer II
cbshoestring wrote:
pnichols wrote:
Here's us over-nighting at a truck stop ... parked so that we didn't hear their idling noise too much ๐Ÿ˜‰ :



I have no problem with a RV that won't fit into a "normal" spot using the larger parking spots. That is why they are there.

I do NOT understand taking up an entire spot for a pick-up. I don't even understand it when a BOB-TAIL does it. (BOB-TAIL=semi without trailer). Seems to me you could park in a regular spot...avoid a lot more noise.

Remember...some of us are required by LAW to find a parking spot at a certain time, or be in violation of said laws. Load demands that we push that "clock" as far as we can before we pull over. In areas where parking is very limited, it is a bit fustrating if I need to violate the law because there is "no place at the inn", when someone taking a spot could of fit elsewhere.

I am 75 feet long....I NEED that big space.


That RV is around 25' long, too long to fit in most parking spaces if there's not room to put the back end over some grass or something. It would fit in two normal spaces end-to-end (as would most all class C motorhomes) if the parking lot is laid out with them. It looks awfully short in the picture, granted, nestled way back between a couple of trailers that are about twice as long.

cbshoestring
Explorer
Explorer
pnichols wrote:
Here's us over-nighting at a truck stop ... parked so that we didn't hear their idling noise too much ๐Ÿ˜‰ :



I have no problem with a RV that won't fit into a "normal" spot using the larger parking spots. That is why they are there.

I do NOT understand taking up an entire spot for a pick-up. I don't even understand it when a BOB-TAIL does it. (BOB-TAIL=semi without trailer). Seems to me you could park in a regular spot...avoid a lot more noise.

Remember...some of us are required by LAW to find a parking spot at a certain time, or be in violation of said laws. Load demands that we push that "clock" as far as we can before we pull over. In areas where parking is very limited, it is a bit fustrating if I need to violate the law because there is "no place at the inn", when someone taking a spot could of fit elsewhere.

I am 75 feet long....I NEED that big space.

cbshoestring
Explorer
Explorer
Turn off the red light...get a sticker for your window.




Crack-head looking "young lady" beats on driver door at 3:00am, I tell her no thank you. Get back into bed. Same person beats on passenger door (maybe she thought I drove team...someone else would answer that door)...I am MAD..tell her move on to NEXT truck you stupid wh***. I hear her banging on next truck as I climb back into my bunk.

To this day.....my brother (NEXT TRUCK) insists I sent her to him, because she told him I said "try the next truck".

Terryallan
Explorer II
Explorer II
Tom/Barb wrote:
JaxDad wrote:
RoyB wrote:
I parked in the one at Roanoke VA one night and there was girls with short skirts on knocking on the trailer door all night long...

It was funny at first but that wore off pretty quick...

Truck stops also has trucks coming and going all night long as well... All too busy for this old man...

Roy Ken


One night........

I've been doing truck stops for 30+ years. That hasn't happened to me yet.

Maybe my rig just doesn't look like it's 'open for business......



Do you have red porch lights?


I'm wondering how he got that lucky. ๐Ÿ™‚


Funny story. Years ago. We were at the Petro Truck stop near Dallas. One of our drivers had to stay the night. so, as were leaving. the "girls" came on the radio and ask if any one wanted a "date".
Soooo, we said yes, and told them where Big Foot was parked. They beat on that truck all night, until he got up and moved it.

But yeah. In some rest areas, the girls work all night. I've seem them walk down the line knocking on doors, and seen their pimps drive them to meet trucks as they come off the ramps. That is one of the reasons, I will not stop in a rest area at night. could be different now. But it wasn't safe when I drove, and you won't see me in a rest area after 10:00 PM
Terry & Shay
Coachman Apex 288BH.
2013 F150 XLT Off Road
5.0, 3.73
Lazy Campers

Tom_Barb
Explorer
Explorer
JaxDad wrote:
RoyB wrote:
I parked in the one at Roanoke VA one night and there was girls with short skirts on knocking on the trailer door all night long...

It was funny at first but that wore off pretty quick...

Truck stops also has trucks coming and going all night long as well... All too busy for this old man...

Roy Ken


One night........

I've been doing truck stops for 30+ years. That hasn't happened to me yet.

Maybe my rig just doesn't look like it's 'open for business......



Do you have red porch lights?


I'm wondering how he got that lucky. ๐Ÿ™‚
2000 Newmar mountain aire 4081 DP, ISC/350 Allison 6 speed, Wrangler JL toad.

JaxDad
Explorer III
Explorer III
RoyB wrote:
I parked in the one at Roanoke VA one night and there was girls with short skirts on knocking on the trailer door all night long...

It was funny at first but that wore off pretty quick...

Truck stops also has trucks coming and going all night long as well... All too busy for this old man...

Roy Ken


One night........

I've been doing truck stops for 30+ years. That hasn't happened to me yet.

Maybe my rig just doesn't look like it's 'open for business......



Do you have red porch lights?

Redwoodcamper
Explorer
Explorer
Small rv in huge space is kinda selfish, unless most of the parking lot is empty. my pet peeves is when gas rigs park in front of the only diesel pump, when there are other gas pumps available. People are so self centered they don't even consider how their actions affect others.
2011 ram 3500. Cummins 68rfe. EFI live. 276k miles and climbing.
2017 keystone bullet 204

We_Cant_Wait
Explorer
Explorer
That's exactly what the OP's truck drivers were commenting on. A SMALL RV parked in the truck lot when it could have just as easily parked in the car section of a rest area etc. instead of taking up a truck spot. It's even worse now, but when I drove over the road 10 years ago it was estimated that if every driver stopped for the night at the same time 20,000 ++ would not be able to find a place to park for the night. Myself when I've had to spend the night in a rest area I've parked our below listed coach in the auto section at 1 end of the other parallel to the curb.

DutchmenSport
Explorer
Explorer
pnichols wrote:
Here's us over-nighting at a truck stop ... parked so that we didn't here their idling noise too much ๐Ÿ˜‰ :


Little dog with a big dog complex! I love it!

pnichols
Explorer II
Explorer II
Here's us over-nighting at a truck stop ... parked so that we didn't hear their idling noise too much ๐Ÿ˜‰ :
2005 E450 Itasca 24V Class C