Sleeping Overnight at Flying J's

[berreez]

We are getting ready to make our way from MO to Fort Jackson, SC. Going to stop one night at an RV park but planning on two other nights at Flying J’s just to sleep.
I want to run my generator while we sleep. So I bought an additional CO monitor and Gen-turi exhaust system. I know to leave a window or vent open to supply fresh air.
I know truckers run their engines while they sleep so why can’t we?
So any tips?

[2oldman]

broark01 wrote:
So after having to deal with the noise, traffic, and lights, there is the smell.

x2. The pee smell can be nauseating, esp in hot weather.

[northmeck0255]

You guys are overlooking how much more TIME it takes to get off the interstate, find a CG, get checked in, get parked and get plugged in versus just parking for the night.

We have intentionally optimized our RV for overnight stealth camping enroute to our destination. We have big tanks, onboard generator, and a floorplan that is usable with the slides retracted. I see zero reason to pay for a CG for a mere overnight stay.

[ppine]

I agree about finding a campsite or an RV park. They are much quieter and safer. I have stayed in a parking lot only once in Anchorage because we had to catch a plane the next morning.

[cmcdar]

We overnight at Walmarts on our way to Florida. Where it is real cold we just run the camper furnace.

We run the fridge, furnace, house lights, and TV all on house batteries and propane - no problem. I must add that I have changed all of the internal camper lighting to LED. I purchased an adapter plug for my LED TV and it runs off of 12 volt as well.

NOTE: I cannot use the microwave or the AC unit on house batteries.

[jffnkrn]

Ditto on some but not on all:::
Me, we stay at Cracker Barrel as much as we can, we have stayed at Lowes, Cabella's, even a pizza hut. We usually call ahead and make sure it is ok. Our preference is we use our Passport America as we can call ahead, make a reservation, get a space number and even if we don't use any facilities, we have a safe place to stay and usually meet someone new in our travels. Last trip, least spent with passport was $9.00 and most was $16.00. The $16 dollar night was inexpensive as it was a scheduled time to flush and fill as well. We were there about 14 hours, got a good night sleep after all the flushing and filling, the $9. night we pulled in, plugged in and used the fireplace heater and water heater for electric, no propane usage. Anyhow: Make it happy like today! Happy Thanks Giving! Good Luck & Be Safe ! ! !

[Me_Again]

colliehauler wrote:
Unless you want to run the A/C why would you need to run the generator? Myself I would look for a Pasport American campground, would be not that much more then the cost of fuel to run the generator, and a lot more quite.

What ^^^ he said. Chris

[SBradley]

We sometimes use truck stops but stay out of the way, those guys are trying to make a living.
Only one time did we move on, a livestock truck parked near us that is tooooo much.

If you want a good shower stay at one of the new flying J, the attendants provide clean bath mat and towels if you want. All that I have used have been super clean and well kept.

[Rangerman40]

I stay at truck stops frequently. I leave for trips at night so the kids are asleep and it makes thexdrive easier. I usually stop around 3-4am and sleep till 8am or so. I feel more comfortable at a truck stop than a Walmart parking lot.

[B_O__Plenty]

I really don't like truck stops. Idiots dumping their pee bottles on the ground, noisy, stinky, lot lizards and hitch hikers..I only stop there for fuel if I need to. I'll pay to go to a campground.

B.O.

[broark01]

Sleeping in a truck stop of any type is low on my list of options, somewhere after a rest area. My experience of staying at truck stops is that some people, just step out of their rig and pee on the ground as opposed to walking to the restroom. So after having to deal with the noise, traffic, and lights, there is the smell. I prefer to be somewhere else but it is an option in a pinch.

[ppine]

The noise of the trucks and the lights on all night makes it unappealing. It is not that cold in the South in a buttoned up motorhome. You could probably sleep a lot better in the far corner of a Wal-Mart parking lot.

[Rygar]

I wouldn't worry about running the gen. We've stayed in J's when travelling and most of the trucks have auto starters to run air or heat. Your gen won't be heard.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

I'm a very light sleeper, so Flying J's were a poor option for us. The first time we stayed at one, the noise from the reefer running on the trailer next to us was annoyingly loud (we were in the RV parking lanes - it was some sort of enclosed car trailer); and then the second time, we parked on the "quiet side" of the restaurant only to be treated to a drunken, screaming-obscenities fight in the parking lot at 2 AM.... that's when I said "Never again".

We're generally not in so much of a hurry that we can't find some RV park to stay in; or if we are, we'll opt for a Walmart or Cabelas...

[michael8rc]

Last J we stopped at the RV parking was so narrow you could only use every other lane.

[malexander]

We like the "big-box" store parking lots, and run the genny all night. We park at the outer edge of them, by the curb so we can run the bedroom slide out.