Is it okay to drop my tip out beds at rest stops or Walmart?

[09KZMXT266]

I'll be traveling to Florida from MO soon. I figure I'll have to stop for one night at a rest stop or Walmart. The beds in my toy hauler are queen tip-outs one on each side of the rig. I've never overnighted before except in campgrounds, so not sure of the proper etiquette. I would leave the bike inside and drop one of the queen tip-outs to sleep on. Just not sure if that is okay to do or not? Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.

[Padlin]

Not addressing whether it is right or wrong but I think you'd be much better off avoiding them. We tried WM a few times last fall and find them very busy noisy places all night long, and you have even less to keep out the noise then we do. We've pretty much decided they are a last resort only.

How soon are you going? McKaskey Creek CG in GA just NW of Atlanta off 75 opens the end of March if that's your route.

[rockhillmanor]

Is it okay to drop my tip out beds at rest stops or Walmart?

No and No.

You will be hard pressed anyway to find rest stops that allow overnight parking.

That's what CG's are for.

[colliehauler]

Rollnhome wrote:
Just ask at the Walmart. If they don't care and you don't care it ain't nobody else's business. I don't know where all these self appointed Walmakt parking lot attendants get their information.
At rest stops it depends on each rest stop some allow it some don't.

I have to agree. I ask the manager for permission. The local Wallyworld has RV'S with slideouts deployed along with semi's in the parking lot.

[Rollnhome]

Just ask at the Walmart. If they don't care and you don't care it ain't nobody else's business. I don't know where all these self appointed Walmakt parking lot attendants get their information.
At rest stops it depends on each rest stop some allow it some don't.

[TucsonJim]

If you pull in to a rest area, you can not encroach on another parking spot which looks pretty tough in your rig. I think you might be okay in a Walmart, but you need to go inside the store and talk to the manager to get permission. Explain what you're trying to do, let them know when you will be departing and the size of your rig. Be courteous no matter whether their response is positive or negative. Ask for specific instructions on where they want you to park, and make sure to patronize the store.

[darsben]

If you can park so one of the tip outs is not impinging on a parking space then no problem. In our case I would find a Lowes as the lot is empty all night

[koda55]

When we travel, we stay at Walmarts. We also put our slides out. We have never had any problems from Walmart. Another place we stay is at a FlyingJ. They have rv parking out front. Just ask where to park at Walmart. I recommend parking in the center between where two cars come together.

[09KZMXT266]

Here is a picture of my tip out beds.

Untitled by oneboltzfan, on Flickr

[09KZMXT266]

Ed_Gee wrote:

09KZMXT266 wrote:
I'll be traveling to Florida from MO soon. I figure I'll have to stop for one night at a rest stop or Walmart. The beds in my toy hauler are queen tip-outs one on each side of the rig. I've never overnighted before except in campgrounds, so not sure of the proper etiquette. I would leave the bike inside and drop one of the queen tip-outs to sleep on. Just not sure if that is okay to do or not? Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.

I think you more clearly need to define what a " tip-out" is. Some responses here seem to think you will be sleeping ' outside'. I think a tip-out is somethng like a poor-man's slide out....a canvas covered tip out? At a rest stop that permits overnight stops I doubt that would be a problem as long as you did not infringe on a designated parking space.

Correct, poor mans slide out. the side wall of my toy hauler opens, drops, and becomes a queen bed in a canvas tent. I guess you could call it a Hybrid trailer too. There is a picture of it in my signature.
So, some rest stops are okay with this you think?

[Ed_Gee]

09KZMXT266 wrote:
I'll be traveling to Florida from MO soon. I figure I'll have to stop for one night at a rest stop or Walmart. The beds in my toy hauler are queen tip-outs one on each side of the rig. I've never overnighted before except in campgrounds, so not sure of the proper etiquette. I would leave the bike inside and drop one of the queen tip-outs to sleep on. Just not sure if that is okay to do or not? Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.

I think you more clearly need to define what a " tip-out" is. Some responses here seem to think you will be sleeping ' outside'. I think a tip-out is somethng like a poor-man's slide out....a canvas covered tip out? At a rest stop that permits overnight stops I doubt that would be a problem as long as you did not infringe on a designated parking space.

[09KZMXT266]

Okay, looks like campground or motel would be my only option then. Or, just recline the seats in my truck, and sleep in it.

[kknowlton]

Not recommended. You can ask at the Walmart you're staying at if it's ok, but the general feeling seems to be you can't look like you're camping - so no slideouts, awnings or tipouts deployed, no BBQs, etc. At many of these places - rest areas especially, but also store parking lots - I just don't think it's safe to sleep in an exterior bed, even if attached.