Upon settling in at another Supercenter I found the battery in our tow car had died. Was on its last legs. Just disconnected that baby and wheeled it in a sbopping cart into the auto center dept. $87 and 10 minutes later I was out the doorwith a direct replacement. Try that at a campground. And the net on the battery was closer to $50 if you consider the $30 or more I saved by not going to a campground.
Just FWIT.
Mike in GA
Good for you mike and true.
Dave5Cs
We love staying at Walmart......but it is never free, we always find a reason to go shopping!
The main reason I buy WM batts and tires when possible.
They have the very best batt adj policy and are never far away when we travel.
One of the main reasons I like to buy all my parts from Home Depot, Camping World, Wal Mart, etc so that you can easily find parts on the road. And along those lines using standardized parts-not something created that won't be able to be duplicated until you get back home. Good Luck, TomC
We like Wal-Mart a lot! Where are you traveling, Mike?
In MA now visiting family. Then on to NH for the summer!
Mike in GA
Guess I'm anti-Wallmart!!! after dark for sure! Here in quiet midwest. Last week shooting inside of store entrance. In last 6 months,cashiers adding cash to your credit cards but keeping for them selves, theft rings steeling merchandise,drug deals in parking lots and to top it off they built them with illegal workers from other countries. Funny they didn't show up when immigration came to check. I have been forced to stay a few hrs at one several yrs ago and about 2am the whole parking lot changed. So guess I'm the bad guy here. Stay alive and beaware! My opinion and experience only. Bob
Bob - I think its hit and miss depending on where you are at. When I'm in Orlando going to Walmart is like a 3rd world country. Your lucky if the cashier speaks english. In Wilmington NC its a date night for Wifey and I. Small town friendly employs and very helpful.
-Sean
www.herdofturtles.org (http://www.herdofturtles.org)
1984 Eagle Model 10S
We stayed in Walmarts going and returning from Blytheville, have not had a bad experience yet but I'm sure one is coming. I'm sure it varies depending where you are.
On our trips to the Bus Rallys in Arcadia, we traveled I-10 quite a bit. We went in early December and that is a horrible time to try Walmarts. The ones we used/tried in the eastern part of the country have very small parking lots and tons of Christmas traffic.
Other than that, almost all of our experiences have been good.
You have to be careful, as some Walmarts are posted with no overnight camping. That is usually the result of pressure from local campgrounds.
We try to buy the Walmart version of the atlas every couple of years so that we stay reasonably current with Walmart locations. Obviously, you can also do that on the Internet as you travel down the road if you have an air card.
Jim
Couldn't tell you how many wal marts have kicked us out when you're in south Florida. Even when they let you stay overnight, 7am comes around and they tell you to leave.
In the area around the Smokey Mountain National Park overnighting in other than a campground is forbidden. The campground owners may have favored the local laws regarding that, but the businesses whose parking lots were used as campgrounds just got fed up with stupid people. Awnings would be out along with lawn chairs. People were spending days in Walmart and other parking lots not just overnight. But what prompted the local laws forbidding the practice was some of the people would dump their tanks in the storm sewers. A community that relies on tourism just cannot tolerate such stupid actions no matter how many dollars those folks intended to spend.
We have stayed in rest areas, Cracker Barrel lots, at various Walmarts, and truck stops. But because we do not intend to live in our coach like folks in a tent, and we want AC, TV, lights, and other battery depleting features we run our generator and because of the cost of fuel it is just as economical to be in a campground as running the generator. The only reason we do not overnight in a campground is there is none convenient to our stopping spot. But campgrounds are usually secure, relatively quiet and we have never had people banging on our door wanting money, nor are we concerned about our safety or the safety of our vehicles.
For the most part, I would guess you can predict what a Walmart will be like by the area it's in. If the community has problems, they will be there at Walmart.
The best policy is to buy a WM road atlas and use its listing to stay only at Supercenters or Sam's. The other smaller stores usually have tiny parking lots and it is understandable that they don't want us using three or four spaces.
Overall we've had good experiences at WM and buy most of our travel supplies from them. What many RVers don't seem to understand is that permission is for parking, not camping, and they will eventually ruin it for the rest of us.
I also like the WM security cameras, lighting and security patrols. Far superior to most RV parks. I find rampant crime at a WM hard to believe. Sometimes the parking lot events are more entertaining than TV!!
Parking at WM means quick in and quick out without all the connecting and dis-connecting, I hate that part. We usually stop at an RV park every 4-5th night to dump and refill. I don't like RV parks because they are so often in out-of-the-way places and state parks are even worse.
Very few WMs prohibit overnight parking. When we find that we just move on to a truck stop or a casino, my wife loves casinos and usually wins!
There is always at least one hard-nose in every crowd. I really don't care who builds the parking lot as long as they are honest and willing to put in a full days work, not easy people to find these days.
Love staying at WM. Always entertaining. Prefer Super Centers open 24hrs for the security and lights. Always spend money on groceries, etc. Never a bad experience. Tough to see the homeless sleeping in their cars in the summer. One time in Idaho, in comes this old run down class C and park beside us. 3 teenagers and their dad, obviously living out of it, not on vacation. The kids got out to throw a basket ball to each other. They wore dirty old clothe... Dad went in the store to get groceries. My heart still aches thinking about those kids, compared to ours, about the same age at the time... :'( Another time in Spokane, WA, these 2 rigs from Alberta were at the WM camping, awnings out, lawn chairs, BBQs, and a bit loud. I was ashamed to be Canadian that night...
JC
I was wrong about voicing my opinion about Walmart building labor policy. My appologies to this forum for that: this was not the place!!! Everything else is 100% accurate . It seems like the more upscalled area stores are being targets of gangs from out of area crooks in our area. Lots of news coverage of them caught on camera doing the act. Warnings of checking your register reciepts to make sure it doesn't have a cash back added. A few years ago things were not this bad in our area and I would have felt safe. Just would say if it feels bad or looks bad beware. The shooting was at a supper center two blocks from a sams club. I wish it was the way the original founder wanted it to be. Our world is changing ,I sure miss the old one. Bob
I've not heard the stories on Walmart cashiers ripping off customers. I almost always use the self checkout which would make that harder. The two Walmarts I usually frequent are newly remodeled and in very nice condition. On the other hand, I have been to two other Walmarts in lower income areas and they look run down even though one store is nine months old and the other was just totally remodeled. The front entrances have gum and other crap all over the sidewalks and the inside of the store isn't much better. Walmart could do a better job of cleaning.
I've never been bothered by anyone when parking overnight at Walmart. At one Walmart I pulled in well after dark to stay the night. I missed the no overnight parking signs until morning, but no bothered me as it was late December in Wisconsin and it was around 10 degrees outside. I'm been shopping at various Walmart stores at 3 or 4 am in the morning and never felt unsafe, but it also helps that I travel with a large group of males.
This has been an interesting discussion, Being a newbie at all this, I have based my positive opinions on the 4 or 5 Walmarts we stayed at during the Blytheville trip and I can see now that was a bit Naive!! Seems like the general consensus is that its a good place to spend the night but I can see now that we need to be careful. There is a nice App for the iPad that shows Walmart locations and indicates if they allow overnight parking. There is also a way to put review comments in.
So far, I have felt that the bus is a pretty safe place at night, the door is deadbolted and all the windows are up high and not very accessible from the outside..
These discussions are what makes this forum such a great resource!
We have stayed overnight at Walmarts in about 22 States and perhaps 50 times. During those times we have never had a security problem. The problems usually are too much lamp light and too much highway or truck noise.
For us the approach to Walmart parking involves a phone call to the store from a Walmart directory or Rand McNally before we have left the interstate, asking if overnight parking (not camping) is permitted. This saves the wasted effort of arriving at the store and finding the lot is posted. If there is no answer on the phone call and often that is the case we will take our chances but always go into the store and ask permission. This is usually done while pushing a grocery cart with the items we always seem to need. (Paper towels, french fries, roasted chicken, et cetera.
By saying all of the above I do not mean to imply that all Walmarts are safe. We always lock our bays and tow car, and certainly double lock our door. Sooner or later I suppose we will have a problem. I worry more about vandalism than any physical threat. But in this country in these times you just have to be expect the worst. Until then I'm happy too spend the occasional night in Walmart and pocket the 30 to 40 dollars in Saved camping fees. Just my 2 cents worth Mike in Georgia
We dont stay in wallmarts to often, but have stayed at the one in Casper WY a few times and have been suprised be how many cars will be parked around us in the am, big empty parking lot and i have had as many as 10 cars parked around us with people sleeping in them, just think its kind of strange.
We always stay WM the wife will not spend the bucks for a camp ground,on this trip to TX we spent the night in Deming NM at the W/M security patrolled the area all night never know what one sees at WM in the way of RV there was a guy there with his wife and 2 grand kids in a new Newell
I was talking to him about looking out of place in the rig parked at W/M for the night he laughed and said how do think I afford this rig it's sure not by spending 50 to 100 bucks a night at a KOA as he said he was not a tight wad just conservative very nice guy had no problems letting people look at his pride and joy
Bob, you bring up a good point. There are some WM we wouldn't stay at. I can remember two that we pulled into, then decided to move on.
However, we stay at a BUNCH of WM in cool weather. If we need to run the AC we will usually find a CG, if there is one that is close and easy. We have never had a time where anybody bothered us. Sure see some interesting and strange things there for sure. Of course, we always try to park under a light. There are some WM's that I won't go into shop until morning, because of the area. Even though I don't look like easy pickings, I still like to exercise common sense.
YMMV
John
This is one thread I should have stayed out of. Enjoy the ride! Safe and happy Bussin to all.
Quote from: robertglines1 on May 20, 2013, 11:37:29 AMThis is one thread I should have stayed out of. Enjoy the ride! Safe and happy Bussin to all.
I appreciate your perspective and the fact that you shared your experiences, Bob. I also have had no problems with WM (limited amount of times stayed) but it's good to know that other people have seen a range of different things. I'll be keeping my eyes open a bit more in the future, and that's valuable. Thanks.
BH NC USA
Quote from: robertglines1 on May 20, 2013, 11:37:29 AM
This is one thread I should have stayed out of. Enjoy the ride! Safe and happy Bussin to all.
I enjoy everyone's opinion on this so I am glad you didn't
Mark
Quote from: robertglines1 on May 20, 2013, 11:37:29 AM
This is one thread I should have stayed out of. Enjoy the ride! Safe and happy Bussin to all.
Naw, Bob. That ain't it at all. Don't worry about it. The reality is, we might not stay in as many WM if we weren't on a schedule. Don't let this stop you from voicing your opinion. You are one of the posters that I really enjoy, so don't quit now.....
John
Bob
Your comments were fine and productive in my mind, I think your comments produced more discussion on the topic and that's always a good thing. It's perfectly OK to have a difference of opinion. Your thoughts helped me see that WM may not always be the best place to stay.
Bruce
Years ago I heard a discussion with some W/M big wigs David Glass, was one he wanted all overnight parking in W/M stopped because by law they are responsible for your safety while on their premises the Walton family would have nothing to do with it because Sam before he died felt like he could shoulder the responsibility and law suits to furnish travelers a safe place to rest at night.
Now you know the reason you can park at W/M and you can be sure there are at least 8 cameras scanning the parking lot in front of that store to insure your safety
Only a leased store from a developer will prohibit overnight parking and they usually give up after pressure from W/M then you have a few metro cities with dumb laws that W/M battles for your right to park there also
Believe it or not working for those people for 27 years they are not all bad, $#!% is going to happen at W/M,K/M,Lowes,HD or any of the box stores all I am trying to tell you guys and dolls W/M does put out a effort to insure your safety while sleeping in their parking lot for free
I don't care for the direction the stores are headed now but times are changing everyday nothing any of us can do about that
You didn't do any thing wrong Bob why would you not want to join in and express your opinion like the rest of us
good luck
A bout a month ago
we stopped at a walmart in Albuquerque NM. Been there many times before. Security came around and informed me that no longer can stay overnite. He was very nice about it said campers were leaving garbage There was a sign but I missed it. Went back to the FlyingJ I had just bought fuel there but didn't want to stay there as it is pretty noisy. Next stop was Pratt KS same thing, this time I saw the sign. Went back found a RV park (35$) Used truck strops rest of the way home. None of the local Walmarts in my area have no over nite parking signs. I have heard ,after asking around that the locals are dumping there garabage as a tag costs 3 to4$ so just use Walmart Any body else have this problem?
Roger 4106
Roger, never heard of that problem. Stayed at several just this last trip, and no issues. Some of those RVer's can really smear all of us. That is sad.
Sounds like RVers are becoming just like lawyers, 99% of them are giving the rest a bad name. Sad state of affairs.
NOT among the 99%, Sam
For those times when the local Walmart doesn't allow parking or you just decide to stay somewhere else...what alternatives are available? I know the larger truck stops are ok but noisy. What about Lowe's, Home Depot, Cracker Barrel or others? Is anyone RV friendly other than Walmart?
Cracker Barrel is RV friendly, if you can fit their spots. We can't when we are towing as we are at 53 ft. Their spots are 40' I believe. A lot of their parking lots are rather tight. We do frequent them when we are camped nearby.
GaryD
I have heard some in the busing community have had luck by going into a Cracker Barrel late, after their dinner rush, disconnecting their tow car, and sitting nicely on a 40 foot site. After sleeping, they have an early breakfast, hook up and get gone.
Mike in GA
In order of best first we prefer the following.
Casinos
Bass Pro Stores
Cabella Stores
Churches
Cracker Barrel
MallWart
We will never ever overnight in a rest area or truck stop, period.
If you have the America The Beautiful pass you can park on national public lands for free, ie. Forest Service, BLM, Corps of Engineers, National Scenic Areas, Seashores, Grasslands, etc.) After age 62 the cost is 20.00 for life. A great deal.
To add to the information about America the Beautiful passes, Active Duty military and most Reservists qualify for the pass for free.
see http://store.usgs.gov/pass/military.html (http://store.usgs.gov/pass/military.html)
We're about 2000mi into a 5000 mi trip and only found a couple of WMs in CA which didn't allow ON parking. No problems in OK, TX, NM, AZ or OR. CA and the NE states seem to be the worst.
Truck stops are our WM backup. Used them probably 50 times with never a problem, they are numerous and always a fair place to eat. Usually well lighted and secure.
We also use casinos when possible but they are scarce in some parts.
We are business members at Sam's Clubs. They are our number one choice for what I call Freedom Parking (http://freedomparking.webs.com/). I got in trouble on various RV forums for calling it boondocking ("it's not real boondocking if another human is less than a mile away from you") and wallydocking ("it's not wallydocking if you are not in a Wal-Mart") so I have my own phrase, definition and conduct guidelines now based on our experiences of what store managers say we are allowed to do. We always ask permission to do any grilling, sitting outside, running generator) etc. It has always been given and even encouraged. We had a Sam's Club ask us to stay a week so that we could go to their community Founders Day celebration. We always ask where they would like us to park at. We don't stay anyplace that gives me bad vibes.
#1 Sam's Club (all night security patrols, usually free coffee and danishes or fruit in the early AM for business members).
#2 Cracker Barrel (supper then breakfast the next morning)
#3 Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowes, et al.
#4 Rest areas, truck stops, picnic areas on primary highways, et al.
David is partially deaf and I wear 3M ear plugs I buy from Home Depot. The soft, memory foam ear plugs muffles the loud noises down to where I will drift off to sleep but a really loud noise will wake me up. We have yet to be told no at anyplace we have parked at. We also keep a cell phone turned on all night and I write down our location on a piece of paper that I leave under the cell phone. If anything happens I will call 911 not the store. Unless I am at a Sam's Club.
We had a bad experience at the Wal-Mart in New Braufels, TX (homeless drunks fighting in the parking lot at 2AM). I called the 24 hour Wal-Mart 3 times and got nowhere. Lesson learned.
We will keep on Freedom Parking. We figure 2 to 3 nights in a parking lot and then one night in a free or cheap ($25 and less) campground (Thank you Don Wright's Directories (http://www.amazon.com/Don-Wrights-Guide-Free-Campgrounds/dp/0937877417) - I have both Eastern & Western editions). We use the campgrounds to dump our holding tanks and fill our fresh tank overnight (my filters knock the water flow down to 1 gpm so we have a float valve in the tank to shut the water off once it gets full). We prefer to stay on the primary highway system (the old US and State highways). Ride is more relaxing and interesting. I use "The Next Exit" (http://www.amazon.com/Next-EXIT-Mark-Watson/dp/0984692118/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369342284&sr=1-1&keywords=the+next+exit+2013+edition) to see what is at the exits of the interstate we either cross over or parallel at times.
The comment above about keeping the cellphone and store address handy reminded my of the following resource...
RV author Ron Jones made the following points on boondocking safety at a recent FMCA rally in Brooksville, FL. This was subsequently published in the Southeast Bus Nuts newsletter. Granted, some of the suggestions are just common sense, but others had not occurred to me. I would be interested in readers' reactions - and additional suggestions.
1. When camped in a rest area, Flying J, WalMart or similar setting, lock your doors,windows, storage bays, tow bar and tow vehicle;
2. If you have electric steps make sure they are CLOSED (in travel position) and will not go out if the door is opened; inside, it is a good idea to also close the step-well cover at the door. This acts as an additional barrier should an uninvited person manage to enter;
3. NEVER open the door to a stranger. If someone knocks, speak to them through the kitchen or other smaller window. If it is the police ask to
see a badge, while looking for the marked police car, and even then it is wise to verify the information through the local 911 agency;
4. Always close the shades/curtains in your coach so that your activity inside is not visible;
5. If parked in a business or retail parking lot, park under a light with the door and windshield facing the front of the store;
6. Don't leave computer, cell phones, GPS, radar detector, or other electronics OR THEIR CORDS or mounting bases, on the dash, attached to the windshield, or under the curtains where they would be visible from the outside;
7. If you have one, use your coach rear-view camera monitor to watch activity behind the bus; if you have docking lamps, light these if you hear suspicious noises;
8. If you suspect someone is messing with your tow vehicle, from inside the coach use the keyless remote lock or panic button to chirp its horn or to sound the alarm;
9. If your automatic rooftop satellite dish has a built-in light shining on it, try powering down the controller inside. On most systems, once the dish is in place, it will still function properly while not being a BEACON at night;
10. If someone does approach you asking for aid, (gas, food, battery jump, wife sick, dog hurt) through the window and with your cellphone in hand, let them know you will be happy to contact 911 or a local charitable service on their behalf. Many times if the person seeking aid was up to no good, this will cause them to decline your offer and move along.
Hope this generates some discussion and additional suggestions!
Mike in GA
A non ending adventure parking in different places and a good way of being protective and aware of your surroundings.
depending where I am, I might close all blinds and have TV on all night, then I might leave all blinds open and no TV nor internal light.
I feel comfy in truck stops, maybe from my trucking days, never had any issues othere than lot lizzards.
Everyone needs to do what they are comfy with, I use the Cracker Barrel lots even when towing, park in side lot taking a few car spots and leave enough space to get out without backing up.
Hard to list all the possibilities as every situation is different usually. W/M is not high on my list, a rest area, Fly J etc work for me.
I think a dog is a wonderful friend to take along, they make good watchers and friends both.
Thanks
Dave M
I don't know which is worse at a truck stop the big engine idling ,the refer unit running all night or these new APU man those things make a terriable racket we avoid truck stops both of us are lite sleepers and truckers love to park right at a open window some are thoughtful and will try their best to park away from you very few now days though
We like Nev rest areas trucks are not allowed in the same area but you still can hear a refer running
Quote from: luvrbus on May 24, 2013, 07:21:59 PM
I don't know which is worse at a truck stop the big engine idling ,the refer unit running all night or these new APU man those things make a terriable racket we avoid truck stops both of us are lite sleepers and truckers love to park right at a open window some are thoughtful and will try their best to park away from you very few now days though
We like Nev rest areas trucks are not allowed in the same area but you still can hear a refer running
Funny you should mention trucker parking an APU or refer next to an open window Clifford.
Years ago when I was driving heavy duty tow trucks my main truck was a Cabover MH600 Mack that had no A/C.
So many a night I would slip into a quite spot in a truck stop and pull in so I'd be away from "most" of the noise and leave the windows down and sleeper door and vents open.
Never failed I'd wake up with an old rattling thermo-king pukked in next to me or a bull wagon backed in next to me!
I swore up and down I'd NEVER drive either of those kinds of trucks.
And when I went full time over the road I pulled refer's coast to coast and occasionally pulled bull wagons for a friend down in Franklin, TN when they were in a hurry to moove large #'s of cows and didn't have enough trucks to make the mooves.
I got to where I couldn't sleep good if that refer unit didn't start and stop every so often.
Some nights I'd get out an turn the unit on just so I could sleep!
Moral of the story is my momma always told me growing up that I should never say NEVER. And she was write because I pulled both kind of those trailers and grew to love them! (OK well I loved the $ I made most of the time then!)
;D BK ;D
Idling trucks and reefers never bother us, constant noise is actually a sleep inducer - sort of a "white noise" effect.
It is the sudden loud bikes, train whistles and pickup trucks that awaken us sometimes.
Never had the slightest security problem anywhere yet. A little common sense goes a long way!
Never found any rest stop that allows overnight parking?
Quote from: gus on May 25, 2013, 10:43:55 PM... Never found any rest stop that allows overnight parking?
Texas. Also many have Wi-Fi which is handy.
Thanks, drove right through the panhandle and never noticed!!