Over nite at truckstops

[Shoe2728]

Sometimes we will stay at Flying J because they have RV spots. Other times we have parked where the big trucks park. My question is has anyone ever encountered problems parking back where the big trucks are?

[John___Angela]

Huh. I wouldn't have thought of truckers as being a$$ holes. Most are just doing there job and going home at the end of the run. We don't stay at a lot of "truck stops" (what I have been calling travel plazas but many here seem to call truck stops), but when we do they almost always have areas where RV's are good to park for the night. They are always inviting and welcome our patronage. I can't say I have had a problem with a trucker in a travel plaza....ever. I also haven't seen any lot lizards, or maybe I'm just not looking. 🙂

Most of the time we prefer casinos or box stores like Walmart. Always by invitation, never had a problem. We have had a few security issues over the last 25 years of RV'ing, always in a Campground though. Keep it locked and keep on the lights.

[JnJnKatiebug]

mlts22 wrote:
From what I've seen, the people at truck stops will go out of their way to make it known that presence of RV-ers is not desired at "their" territory, be it parking right by you and firing up the APU and engine (in an otherwise empty lot), or many other ways.

Truck stops are my last resort, and at the most only 3-4 hours.

This happened to us. We were broke down (water pump on engine out), they had a shop at the truck stop that was going to put the water pump on the next morning so we had to spend the night in the parking lot. We parked way out of the way to not bother anyone. At 10pm a truck parked right beside us so close we could not get out the door.

[JnJnKatiebug]

I would prefer a campground every night as well, it is not the cost of the camping site. We are night owls, when we are traveling to get to a destination we usually drive until at least 1am. If I pulled into a campground with my rattling Cummins at 1am it would wake half the campground and then they would be here on this forum posting about how inconsiderate I was.

That's why we usually pull into Cracker Barrel. They are closed and the lot is empty. We park for the night, get up at the crack of 9 and have breakfast before we hit the road again.

[mlts22]

From what I've seen, the people at truck stops will go out of their way to make it known that presence of RV-ers is not desired at "their" territory, be it parking right by you and firing up the APU and engine (in an otherwise empty lot), or many other ways.

Truck stops are my last resort, and at the most only 3-4 hours.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

colliehauler wrote:
I have used Wallyworld twice in small towns when I was to tired to continue on. With Passport America and other low cost campgrounds they are my choice as well.

We were thrilled to find a Camping World along I-75 (Exit 5) that had a campground next to it, and you paid your $19.95 at the CW and then drove over and picked a space to spend the night! It's a really nice place, too! Would love to find more like that!

[Dtank]

holstein13 wrote:

doxiemom11 wrote:
Son and brothers are truckers and the lot lizards are everywhere. Any trucker can tell you this. Nothing new and it won't stop. Why do you think they sleep with their windows up and their doors locked. Those girls and other sordid creatures would come right in to try to sell themselves, drugs and or steal whatever they could. The truckers (or most) don't want anything to do with them either. They have better taste and a big fear of diseases.

I know for a fact that they aren't "everywhere" because I've stopped at plenty of truck stops and driven through the parking lots and I haven't seen any lot lizards. So they can't be "everywhere." Maybe I just didn't see them because they were busy with clients, I have no idea.

I don't doubt for a moment that they are out there, I'm simply trying to gauge the extent of the "problem." Have you personally seen them? For every 100 trucks, how many lot lizards are roaming the lot? How often is a trucker woken up in the middle of the night by someone knocking on their window? I'm sorry to question the conventional wisdom here, but this all seems like hype to me.

Obviously someone who has led a "sheltered life", ROTFL.

Your "facts" are VERY flawed!!

Chances are - the ladies of the night won't bother "plying their wares" to RVs.
However, an RV would be a good mark for property theft if the opportunity presented itself.

Are they there?..:@

NO! - at truck stops - they *are* everywhere!..:S
(Just 'cause you don't see 'em, doesn't mean they're not there).:S

OP - lots of better (paid or free) choices than truck stops..:W


.

[colliehauler]

Deb and Ed M wrote:
Light sleeper here.
Truck Stops = all-night noise. Trucks idling, driving in and out; and the ongoing shower announcements... it was no quieter at the designated RV spots
Tried sleeping at the restaurant parking lot near a truck stop - then you get to hear the drunks arguing at 2 AM - yeesh.
Stayed at a nice quiet Walmart out in the boonies once - but still didn't sleep soundly.

Finally realized that paying $30 or so for a good night's sleep at a campground was worth every penny.

I have used Wallyworld twice in small towns when I was to tired to continue on. With Passport America and other low cost campgrounds they are my choice as well.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

Light sleeper here.
Truck Stops = all-night noise. Trucks idling, driving in and out; and the ongoing shower announcements... it was no quieter at the designated RV spots
Tried sleeping at the restaurant parking lot near a truck stop - then you get to hear the drunks arguing at 2 AM - yeesh.
Stayed at a nice quiet Walmart out in the boonies once - but still didn't sleep soundly.

Finally realized that paying $30 or so for a good night's sleep at a campground was worth every penny.

[John___Angela]

beemerphile1 wrote:

John & Angela wrote:
When dead heading somewhere our preffered overnight spots from best to worst are,

1. Casinos
2. Box Stores
3. Travel centres like Travel America or Flying J's etc
4. Campgrounds in a pinch.

We have never been to a "truck stop" so can't comment.

Travel America and Pilot/Flying J would be truck stops to most people including myself.

Hmm. OK. I kinda thought they catered to motorists in general but whatever works I guess. 🙂

[beemerphile1]

John & Angela wrote:
When dead heading somewhere our preffered overnight spots from best to worst are,

1. Casinos
2. Box Stores
3. Travel centres like Travel America or Flying J's etc
4. Campgrounds in a pinch.

We have never been to a "truck stop" so can't comment.

Travel America and Pilot/Flying J would be truck stops to most people including myself.

[John___Angela]

When dead heading somewhere our preffered overnight spots from best to worst are,

1. Casinos
2. Box Stores
3. Travel centres like Travel America or Flying J's etc
4. Campgrounds in a pinch.

We have never been to a "truck stop" so can't comment.

[holstein13]

rvit wrote:
My 2 cents. Have stayed in several rest areas/truck stops and have had zero trouble and have seen zero questionable individuals, male or female. On the other hand, we felt so uncomfortable at a Walmart in Jacksonville Fl. that we left and found a CG nearby.

How can that be? You must be mistaken. According to Dateline NBC, these places are full of call girls knocking on each trucker's window several times a night. Our own members warn others that if they get a knock on the window to send the wife to answer it. A respectable organization like Dateline would never exaggerate, would they?

Who would want to watch a story about S E X on TV if it wasn't true?

[rvit]

My 2 cents. Have stayed in several rest areas/truck stops and have had zero trouble and have seen zero questionable individuals, male or female. On the other hand, we felt so uncomfortable at a Walmart in Jacksonville Fl. that we left and found a CG nearby.

[FunnyCamper]

stayed at truckstops, rest areas, big parking lots and never had trouble.
when a few hrs sleep and break is needed on a long trip while driving these are wonderful places to stop. just watch your safety issues and all was fine for us on every stop.