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?

[Reflex439]

I use overnight parking wherever allowed when I'm traveling. I use campgrounds when I camp. Traveling and camping are two different things.

When traveling, I often drive till 10pm, then overnight park. Very inconvenient if I have to stop early, get off the highway, drive another 30 minutes to campground, arrive before 8pm for check-in, get situated, sleep, wait until the office opens so I can check out, 30 min back to the highway, all for $20-$30, paying for the pool, club house, kids area, activities, etc, that I'm not using.

In contrast, for overnight parking I can drive till late, pull off in a rest stop, travel center, big box store, right off the highway, park, sleep, leave early am after I fuel up or buy supplies. Very efficient for traveling, and you're not paying for amenities you aren't using. It's just convenient, and not a cost thing.

At first it was hard to sleep, noisy, etc. But after the first time or two when the noises become familiar, they don't bother me. Only some unusual noise would wake up me, even if not loud, just different, but that's rare now. I sleep like a baby.

I applaud these businesses for allowing us, and make sure they get my business for food, fuel, supplies, parts, etc, and will even go out of my way when possible to do so.

[koda55]

We stay at the PilotFlyingJ. We park out front where the car islands are. We have no problems sleeping. The noise for us is minimal. We also so stay at Waymart's. We always ask and where they want us to park. I have the Walmart APP on my phone that shows what Walmart's allow over night parking.
I run my generator at night because of my CPAP machine. My battery bank is not wired to the plugs in the bedroom. I use rest areas only to get a quick one hour nap or to eat.
Each person must decide what they feel is best for them.

[doxiemom11]

Saw someone comment that the trucker could get a campsite if he wanted. I don't know of any campground that would let a semi in for the night, and many are not constructed for a semi to be able to even get in or navigate thru the campground. Some motels have big rig parking if you rent a room. Truckers cant afford that very often when they pay over $10 for a shower( don't get that many free showers in a week with fuel purchases) $5 per load of laundry, and their food. Have cash to pay tolls, any weighs they need, pay to have loads unloaded ( yes they have to pay the workers at some places). They really do you a service by keeping your grocery store shelves full of food and stores full of other products you purchase. Be gracious and kind to those truckers!

[BigRabbitMan]

CT_WANDERER wrote:
....That is one of the reasons I got a fully self-contained MH to travel in.

Me too!

[CT_WANDERER]

Would like to see what you guys that favor the pull in to the campground for a quick overnight stop think after pulling into the CGs in New England. Big price different that out west. I will stick to FJ's, Wal-Mart, Pilots, Home Depot, etc while in the travel mode. Save the CG to when I get there or planning on being in the area more that just during the night time. That is one of the reasons I got a fully self-contained MH to travel in.

[tomman58]

We have a 40'TT and always stop at truck stops for fuel but to overnight, never. We normally find an RV spot near the freeway, pull in hook up the power, use the parks shower and make dinner. We don't worry of the cost as the 20 or 30 bucks gives us some security and a great nights sleep. The other thing is we start early and quit early so we get the advantages of the park also.

[Valkyriebush]

Any casinos on that route? Better for overnighting. Generator use could be probalmatic though.

[Bucky_Badger]

John & Angela wrote:

Dick_B wrote:
At least one trucker has complained on this Forum that he could not find a place to park due to all of the RV's in the truck parking lot. Some highway rest areas allow overnighting or possibly Weigh Stations. What's wrong with staying at a campground?

I don't think they are talking about "truck stops" but rather travel centres such as TA, Flying J. Lowes etc. These places cater to Motorists in general including RVers, cars, trucks, etc. They go thru a lot of trouble to attract RVers with dump sites, propane islands, parking areas. If it has wheels you are welcome at those places.

Finally someone under stands.Yes Travel Centers..They are for everyone

[Rancher_Will]

Everyone to their own taste,said the Cow, as she licked her tail.

For over 55 years we have stayed in our RV's in Truck Stops, Rest Areas, shopping centers, Wal-Mart, employee parking lots, private, commercial, Corps of Engineers, State, County and City Park camp grounds, etc. We have always used our generator(s) when we had a generator and when we needed it. That's what the Generator is for.

I can't remember ever, even once, when we had a problem with noise, with our without the generator running. Yes, trucks run their Reefer Engines, truck engines, and APU's at truck stops and rest areas. Railroads run trains past many Campgrounds. Highways have vehicles running past Rest areas. Camp Grounds have rigs entering and leaving. All make noise. Long ago we must have learned to sleep through it all.

[Slowmover]

Except in summer, truck stops are no longer loud. Company and state anti-idle rules. Many if not most big trucks now equipped to provide heat without running main engine. (And no one wants to park nearcreefers for this reason; most of them are good about choosing less desirable parking even if early).

HOS rules are forcing more of us into earlier hours per departure and arrival if we want to park at a truck stop. There are more TS, but there are even more big trucks than twenty years ago.

I prefer Flying J/Pilot (same corporation; the former is large and full service, the latter is more convenience store, relatively) whether working or traveling on my own time. And I recommend the RV parking strongly. Not just to avoid taking a parking spot (which is big), but because the chances of damage to your rig is lessened, and because the walk to the store is far shorter.

Good place to buy TV fuel, propane, dump tanks (as you all know) , but also good to finally do that three passes across the scale and get the WDH right.

The scale isn't likely to be busy past mid-afternoon. And, while starting to drive in the dark is marginally okay, driving past dark ESPECIALLY with an RV is not.

FWIW, I try to arrange my work days from 0400-1800. 14-hrs per HOS. I use the store and the showers in the time previous to that. No waiting.

The mornings at truck stops get rolling around 0530. Continues to about 0730 and includes local car commuters. There's some traffic at around mid-day, and very heavy near to and past dark. Parking lot is close to full at 2000, but was near empty at 1700. Work around this and they're easier to use.

[John___Angela]

Dick_B wrote:
At least one trucker has complained on this Forum that he could not find a place to park due to all of the RV's in the truck parking lot. Some highway rest areas allow overnighting or possibly Weigh Stations. What's wrong with staying at a campground?

I don't think they are talking about "truck stops" but rather travel centres such as TA, Flying J. Lowes etc. These places cater to Motorists in general including RVers, cars, trucks, etc. They go thru a lot of trouble to attract RVers with dump sites, propane islands, parking areas. If it has wheels you are welcome at those places.

[CarolynandBob]

I have in Barstow,CA Too noisy. We have done Wal Mart once. Nice and quiet. Like others we pull in about 10 -1030 at night and left about 6 am.

[Ernest]

Have done Loves and Flying J's/Pilot many times when we're in a hurry,

The best of all is Cracker Barrel though. Great Breakfast or Dinner or Both. Generally a lot quitter than a truck stop. Most are often quite near to the same interstate exit.

[ependydad]

ddndoug wrote:
I think that a lot of people are assuming that people pull into a F/J at 6 or 7 at night and stay the whole night. But a bunch of us that are still working and have kids have to make the most of our time off. When we head out I start driving after work and may not stop until 2,3, or maybe 4 in the morning. If you are camping in a campsite and I pull in at 3 in the morning, are you going to be real happy with me the next morning? Probably not.

Like Rangerman40, I'll sleep for a few hours and then head out first thing in the morning. Not only does it not make economic sense (in my mind), but I feel that I'm being a courteous neighbor by NOT staying at a campground and waking up half the campground when we arrive.

Same here from another Doug. When I'm "making time", we'll commonly drive until 11pm or later before looking to stop for the night. I'm sure I'd be a favorite at the campground if I stopped that late and got parked. Try as I might, my family makes way too much noise and always seems to involve 4 trips back into the truck.

[ddndoug]

I think that a lot of people are assuming that people pull into a F/J at 6 or 7 at night and stay the whole night. But a bunch of us that are still working and have kids have to make the most of our time off. When we head out I start driving after work and may not stop until 2,3, or maybe 4 in the morning. If you are camping in a campsite and I pull in at 3 in the morning, are you going to be real happy with me the next morning? Probably not.

Like Rangerman40, I'll sleep for a few hours and then head out first thing in the morning. Not only does it not make economic sense (in my mind), but I feel that I'm being a courteous neighbor by NOT staying at a campground and waking up half the campground when we arrive.

Doug