Just wondering

[caysea7254]

How many of you that own 5th wheels stay overnight at either Walmart parking lots or one of the Travel Plazas? My dh would like to do this when we are going and coming from vacation ,but how on earth do you sleep and get ready the next morn? I can understand Motorhomes doing it and I would have no hesitation about that but 5th wheel, just can't see the convenience in it. Thanks Tara

[kakampers]

caysea7254 wrote:
Ok I guess I didn't make my concerns clear. One reason is because of the slides and the other is the electric. And when I get up I gotta have a shower to wake up and no I wont use a Walmart sink! Lol I was just wondering how many people do it. I see lots of motorhomes in the lots but not a whole lot of 5th wheels. wow u people can be ruff on a persons question!! LOL Thanks for comments 🙂

You should have more than enough battery power to get through one night. Your slides work off the battery. As for the shower, put the water heater on propane....over night stops in a fiver aren't any different in a motor home.

[waltbennett]

We've stayed at quite a few truck stops (Flying J, Pilot) and Walmarts, and I'd stay at the latter over the former any time. Truck stops are noisy beyond belief, although no one will complain about running a generator in your truck bed for the AC. Walmarts have been our choice for overnights since they're usually close to the road we're traveling on so easy in and easy out. Like someone else said, we can cook & shower on battery & propane with no difficulty. If it's hot, I keep a $300 Harbor Freight 4kw peak generator in the truck bed and it'll run the AC all night on one tank. Only issue we've ever had is finding a spot that's fairly level.

[reluyog]

We use Walmarts, truck stops, and certain rest areas for overnights to get rested while on the road to a destination. We never open the slides at these locations. We use a wheelchair lift, but make sure it's folded up except when in use. We pack enough to shower whenever we want to, and run an inverter for 110 volt if we need it. Granted, we are set up more for boondocking, so a Walmart stop can be very convenient.

[larry_barnhart]

NC Hauler wrote:
...Never have...never plan to..

same here. I do not believe in saying never but darn sure, for sure.

chevman

[NC_Hauler]

...Never have...never plan to..

[caysea7254]

Glad some see my point! It was just a question. Dh and I aren't making an argument over it and no im not a primper! Just like a shower in the morning. I sure did not mean to make a big deal out of it. For those of you that stay with a 5th, great! Really I just was wondering! 🙂

[bid_time]

caysea7254 wrote:
Ok I guess I didn't make my concerns clear. One reason is because of the slides and the other is the electric. And when I get up I gotta have a shower to wake up and no I wont use a Walmart sink! Lol I was just wondering how many people do it. I see lots of motorhomes in the lots but not a whole lot of 5th wheels. wow u people can be ruff on a persons question!! LOL Thanks for comments 🙂

Tara, I would suggest you don't overnight at WM. There is nothing your husband is going to be able to do to make it acceptable to you. The fact the there are a whole bunch of us that don't have any problems overnighting at WM is not going to change a thing for you. So save yourself the fight down the road and just take it off the table now.

[Michelle_S]

We have Wally Docked at times, and no problems, but using PassPort America we generally try to find a low cost Park. Oh, if we need power we have a built-in Onan that will power everything, but use it spareingly.

[Nutinelse2do]

Shower? I don't need no stinking shower!
But seriously, all you are doing when wallydocking, is having a place to sleep.
In the morning, wash your face at the sink, brush your teeth, and if need be, use a dry shampoo.
It's not a beauty contest, and after you live the rv lifestyle for a while, you will realize, nobody cares!
( woman speaking here )
Just an fyi, gentleman appreciate natural beauty.... It comes from within.

As far as coffee, use a stove top percolator.

Edit.... There are many better places to sleep overnight than Walmart or a truck stop.
Try Cabela's, casinos, Lowes, Menards, Home Depot, and Bass Pro Shops.Freecampsites.net is a great website to find overnight places on your route.
If you don't have a battery bank, inverter, solar, or generator, sometimes it is better to just bite the bullett and pay for a campground. Passport America is cheap, I think around $25 to join, and has half price campgrounds across the Country.

[ron4750]

When we had a motorhome we used Walmart a lot, the last two years with fifth wheel not once. Pretty cold in January on way from MI to Florida and April to warm, if we had a generator would be different for us.
Ron

[Lantley]

I thought the idea was to just get a nights sleep and move on. I can see A/C being an issue during the summer. But showers and coffee can all be done if you really want to. The stove,water heater and water pump will all work for an over night even without electric.
On the other hand one of the reasons I have a built in genset is for the convenience.I always travel with a full fresh tank.
Being self contained at all times gives us lots of options and flexibility.
Having electric at the push of a button makes a huge difference.

[Trackrig]

Don't 5th come with batteries and a propane water heater?

I like my showers too.

I usually don't run my generator in a store parking lot, but will in a truck lot with everyone elses noise there. (my noise is better than their noise)

If you have slides, park so you're near the edge of the parking lot, have the slide over the grass or shrubbery - put out a slide where it's not in the way. We do this in the truck lots also. If we can't find such a position and have to park in parking space like the trucks, we'll leave them in - we're only there to sleep.

Bill

[mtofell1]

You guys pretending not to notice the difference with the 5th wheel are pretty funny. As some have mentioned, it's called a generator 🙂

Pretty big difference being able to run the coffee pot in the morning, maybe microwave up some dinner or breakfast.... watch a few minutes of TV before bed, run the furnace or A/C, blow-dry your hair in the morning, etc, etc. But other than those few things I suppose there is no difference 🙂

Of course you can do it with either (and I'm sure I'll be bombarded with stories of people doing it snow storms) but I have to agree with the OP that a class A is a bit better equipped.

[caysea7254]

Ok I guess I didn't make my concerns clear. One reason is because of the slides and the other is the electric. And when I get up I gotta have a shower to wake up and no I wont use a Walmart sink! Lol I was just wondering how many people do it. I see lots of motorhomes in the lots but not a whole lot of 5th wheels. wow u people can be ruff on a persons question!! LOL Thanks for comments 🙂

[ksbowman]

We have stayed in a Walmart and found it very satisfactory. There are usually a few semis and motorhomes, but also camping trailers and 5th wheels. Always try to buy something during or stay. After 10 all gets pretty quiet and the semi always are courteous and shut off their motors. We are in a 5th wheel.