Parking Lot Ethics

[donrebyct]

Hi All,

I'm sure this question has been asked before, but I haven't found it.

What are do's and don'ts for over-nighting in parking lots (Walmart, super markets, etc.)? I'm thinking of my minivan with a tent on the back (Tail Veil) to hold the potty and maybe changing clothes.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Don

[donrebyct]

The intent for 'camping' at Walmart was always just to park overnight for sleeping and probably buy some supplies. This string has gotten off on a tangent; not uncommon.

[rockhillmanor]

Camp and Walmart don't even belong in the same sentence.

[Atlee]

I don't camp at Walmarts either.

However, I absolutely pull into them for about 6 hours or so of sleep, when I'm going from point A to point B. Makes no sense to me to pay 30 or 40 dollars to a campground just to sleep a while, especially when I don't plan to use any of their facilities.

Sprink-Fitter wrote:

Wadcutter wrote:
4-5 years ago I talked to a guy in a Class C who said he had been out about 6 weeks and had only spent 2 nights in a campground. He was spending every night in Walmart parking lots. I asked him where he resupplied water and he said a lot of the larger gas stations/truck stops had water. I asked him where he dumped sewer. He said at night he would run his sewer hose in a ditch, empty his gray and black tanks then leave before daylight.
Remember this when Walmarting - If you don't support the local campgrounds then don't expect them to be there the next time you're thru the area and need a campground. If enough people Walmart the campground owners might not still be in business. You're driving a $100,000+ rig and set up. Cough up the $30 to support our hobby.

I agree with you, we have never and will never use a walmart to camp at.

[Atlee]

This is wrong on so many levels. For one thing, it's highly illegal to dump gray and black tanks in a ditch.

For another, it's not a bad thing to stay at a Walmart when just passing through. I find it wasting money to pay $30 to stay at a campground when all I need is to sleep for about 6 hours. Besides, most campgrounds are not along the side of a interstate, or other major highway.

Now, when I would get to a destination, a place I planned on staying to see some local sights, then I checked into a camp ground.

Wadcutter wrote:
4-5 years ago I talked to a guy in a Class C who said he had been out about 6 weeks and had only spent 2 nights in a campground. He was spending every night in Walmart parking lots. I asked him where he resupplied water and he said a lot of the larger gas stations/truck stops had water. I asked him where he dumped sewer. He said at night he would run his sewer hose in a ditch, empty his gray and black tanks then leave before daylight.
Remember this when Walmarting - If you don't support the local campgrounds then don't expect them to be there the next time you're thru the area and need a campground. If enough people Walmart the campground owners might not still be in business. You're driving a $100,000+ rig and set up. Cough up the $30 to support our hobby.

[Sprink-Fitter]

Wadcutter wrote:
4-5 years ago I talked to a guy in a Class C who said he had been out about 6 weeks and had only spent 2 nights in a campground. He was spending every night in Walmart parking lots. I asked him where he resupplied water and he said a lot of the larger gas stations/truck stops had water. I asked him where he dumped sewer. He said at night he would run his sewer hose in a ditch, empty his gray and black tanks then leave before daylight.
Remember this when Walmarting - If you don't support the local campgrounds then don't expect them to be there the next time you're thru the area and need a campground. If enough people Walmart the campground owners might not still be in business. You're driving a $100,000+ rig and set up. Cough up the $30 to support our hobby.

I agree with you, we have never and will never use a walmart to camp at.

[Wadcutter]

4-5 years ago I talked to a guy in a Class C who said he had been out about 6 weeks and had only spent 2 nights in a campground. He was spending every night in Walmart parking lots. I asked him where he resupplied water and he said a lot of the larger gas stations/truck stops had water. I asked him where he dumped sewer. He said at night he would run his sewer hose in a ditch, empty his gray and black tanks then leave before daylight.
Remember this when Walmarting - If you don't support the local campgrounds then don't expect them to be there the next time you're thru the area and need a campground. If enough people Walmart the campground owners might not still be in business. You're driving a $100,000+ rig and set up. Cough up the $30 to support our hobby.

[rockhillmanor]

wbwood wrote:
If people start doing this type of thing then it will start ruining it for all. Please do not set up camp in a parking lot, unless it is for a special function and specifically authorized by management.

Amen.

[rockhillmanor]

wbwood wrote:
If people start doing this type of thing then it will start ruining it for all. Please do not set up camp in a parking lot, unless it is for a special function and specifically authorized by management.

amen.

[wbwood]

If people start doing this type of thing then it will start ruining it for all. Please do not set up camp in a parking lot, unless it is for a special function and specifically authorized by management.

[joanne0012]

Eyegor wrote:
While it is correct that there is very few hard and fast rules, there is in fact acceptable etiquette. Not every one who overnights at Wally adheres to them but they do exist. They are like the "unwritten rules" that govern many things in a polite society. If you do nothing else, please go in and introduce yourself to the manager on duty. ...

Many of these etiquette "rules" are very subjective. WalMart themselves probably don't want their managers tied up with chatting with every RVer that comes by. I've stayed at dozens of WMs across the country and have never spoken to a manager.

You do need to make sure that your chosen WM allows overnight parking; in addition to municipal ordinances there are shopping malls that prohibit them in their leases. Call ahead and just ask whoever answers the phone whether they permit overnight parking "for customers who have RVs." You don't need to talk to the manager. While you're at it you can ask if there's anything else you should know like a specific area of the parking lot you should use, or should avoid.

[rockhillmanor]

donrebyct wrote:
Hi All,I'm sure this question has been asked before, but I haven't found it.
What are do's and

don'ts

for over-nighting in parking lots (Walmart, super markets, etc.)? I'm thinking of my minivan with a
1.

tent on the back (Tail Veil)

2.

to hold the potty

3.

and maybe changing clothes.

NO, NO, and NO.

[jplante4]

Eyegor's post is right on. Regardless of what has been seen in Walmart parking lots, there is common courtesy. If you don't believe in that, then don't screw it up for everyone else.

[Eyegor]

While it is correct that there is very few hard and fast rules, there is in fact acceptable etiquette. Not every one who overnights at Wally adheres to them but they do exist. They are like the "unwritten rules" that govern many things in a polite society. If you do nothing else, please go in and introduce yourself to the manager on duty. It also helps if you happen to have a recent purchase in your hands. If they don't allow overnight parking, s/he will let you know. Likewise, if there is a specific area they would like you to park, or not park, they will let you know. Using this strategy, I've on occasion been given go ahead to stay, even at Wallys that were posted No Overnight Parking. Not often, but it does happen. The alternative is to take your chances with the O'dark hundred knock on the door.
One last tip, since Walmart's corporate policy is to be welcoming to their RV customers whenever possible, many lots will have their more distant parking slots outlined with white paint, while the majority of the spots will be yellow. In theory these are the spots where RVs or employees are supposed to park, leaving the closer spots for other customers. Just a little tip. Take it or leave it as you choose.
We all use our RVs a little differently. That freedom is big part of RVing.

[jplante4]

Sandia Man wrote:
As for deploying slides, unhitching, running generator, or dropping stabilizers there are no hard rules. I've seen all the above done on many occasions and it didn't bother us a bit, probably best to find a corner or edge of parking lot if you want to utilize these functions.

Yeah, but all it will take is one nosey local to go to the town and say that there are gypsies camping in the Walmart parking lot, and the gig is up. They probably don't like Walmart to begin with. Why make it any harder om the store?

[Sandia_Man]

I don't see any issue with using your minivan (without the tent) as there are always several people sleeping in their automobiles when we happen to overnight at Wally World.

Many have stated that there are rules or some kind of etiquette that must be adhered to but that is simply not the case. It is wise to setup as little as possible so that it is easier to get up and go in the morning. No awnings, barbecues, or chairs make for a quick departure.

As for deploying slides, unhitching, running generator, or dropping stabilizers there are no hard rules. I've seen all the above done on many occasions and it didn't bother us a bit, probably best to find a corner or edge of parking lot if you want to utilize these functions.