Say Goodbye to Free Overnight RV Parking! Here's Why...
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- Опубліковано 21 вер 2024
- Free overnight camping is becoming harder and harder to find - could this mean the END of free camping as we know it? You will not believe what Ben and I saw this week and this is the PERFECT EXAMPLE of WHY more and more free camping and free overnight parking for RVers has completely disappeared in recent years and what others are doing to completely RUIN the experience for other RVERs. So in this video, I will talk about WHY free camping & free overnight parking are DISAPPEARING and what you MUST know to navigate the changes coming when it comes to RV travel.
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Stop blaming other rvers for loss of overnight parking. Most of it comes from an EVIL system and community who disrespect ALL nomads. Money more important than humans. Doesn't get more EVIL than that. Open your mouth to government--not youtube crap that'll go no where. Backbone, the real one.
What is a harvest host?
I would think that one if the things that limits over night parking to rest, Is how large your RV is. If ten RVs as large as yours try to rest over night then it doesn’t leave space for the little vans that will fit into a regular size parking place. It’s getting to be a big problem. I know the vans are staying at overnight places like a fitness center.
If you have to run your AC then how can you stay cool so you can sleep if you don’t run a generator? It all seems so futile!
We just got back from a cross country trip. During many of our Cracker Barrels overnights, people ran their generators all night, had their stabilizer jacks down and all slides out. And worst of all, some people weren't cleaning up after their dogs. They're going to ruin it for everyone.
😭😭
A lack of consideration and education.
Sounds like a lack of parenting....an apple doesn't fall far from the tree!!
I have seen all of this but not to the level yet that would cause me to stop rving. BTW... Some fifth wheel campers need the slide out to access the bed and bathroom.
Oh my, maybe I’m that BAD rv’er. I almost never go to RV Parks. I have a C-Class Jayco 31’ on a Ford 450 Super Duty chassis. It is in perfect shape / beautiful so I don’t appear to be a bum. I stay nights at truck stops, churches with huge parking lots (never on Sundays), large strip centers, etc. I park way out at their boundaries. If I must run the generator for AC or heat, It is pointed away from everything…preferably toward woods. When traveling, I ‘roam’, hardly ever any schedule so campgrounds reservations are impossible for me. I leave NO TRASH, NO TRACE and have no pets. In 10 yrs, I have never been contacted or bothered. I arrive later in the day and depart early. I use my rig a lot…+/-1,000 to 1,200 miles a month. Some 4,000 mile ventures.
One of the reason I like traveling in a converted minivan. I never have a problem finding free overnight parking.
😃😁👍
In a van, down by the river?
@@Threedog1963 That'll work
@@Threedog1963if you worry about your status van life isn’t for you. I camped last week down by the Rio Cauca, traveling through Colombia.
@@conchscooter Take it easy. I was joking. Was a Chris Farley SNL skit.
I NEVER put out slides or leveling jacks in overnight parking. That is considered bad form by most RVers for overnight spots. You must maintain the appearance that you are ready to roll away by simply starting the engine and leaving.
Totally! Thanks for watching
Exactly why I look at the road mode of any potential rv.
slides are ok, just remain hooked up
No they aren’t. They take up extra space and make your vehicle so it can’t just be started and leave.
@@SerenityNowhere what if you cant get to the bedroom without a slide out?? Lets use some common sense here
My wife and I were full time RVers for just over 2 1/2 years. I would say the biggest problem we encountered was people who bought RVs, but never took the time to learn any RV/Camping etiquette.
The second biggest issue we saw was the sence of entitlement that a lot of RVers (including Vans, trailers, etc) have. They seem to think they are entitled to everything just because it's there and they want it. They see a big empty parking lot and think they are entitled to it. But that parking lot is private property, and if you want to be a guest on it, you should at least have the decency to ask their permission first. They walk their pets on private property and don't pick up their pets mess. They change their oil in private parking lots, and spill oil everywhere while doing it, or leave their trash on the ground.
And it's sad to say, but a lot of people are slobs, there is no other way to put it. I watched a van drive up to the dumpters at La Posa South in Quartzsite, Arizona. The guy got out, threw his trash towards the dumpster and missed the dumpster. He saw that he missed it. Do you think he walked over and picked it up and placed it in the dumpster, no, he got in his van and drove off.
My wife and I walked around La Posa south and picked up trash with our bucket and grabbers when we stayed there. We were shocked to see how much trash was left behind by vans and RVers alike. It was terrible! Then people wonder why places get shut down and they can no longer camp there.
Yes. There are many slobs in America now. People raised or not raised perhaps, with any manners or class. Some idiots think overnight free parking means they can move in and just camp forever!!!😢 ruining it for everyone else that do know better. Perhaps they need to start putting these laws and rules into the drivers license manuals to pass driver tests. How else can stupid people can educate themselves about right from wrong anymore. I blame our governments for our lack of intelligent schooling.
You could change the word "RVers" to "truckers" and it would describe a lot of truckers. Certainly a lot of it in trucking is third world illegal drivers. If you've been outside the country you see how they have no respect for their surroundings and then they just bring their dirty habits to the US. However, there are also US born slob truckers that weren't "raised right" adding to the problem. Many shippers and receivers won't allow trucks to park overnight because of this. There are a couple receivers I've been to that allow overnight parking and have a dumpster. At those places, I put on my gloves and grab a trash bag and pick up the trash around where I park and throw it out.
At least Pigsty (from Peanuts) is reserved, courteous, and considerate.
As a newbie to the RVing world here is what I've learned to do. First if staying overnight I always ask the permission from the buisness. Second I treat the establishment like I owned it, I don't throw out my garbage in the back yard, why do this to a buisness that's going me a huge favor. Third but not least when I walk my pet I always pick up after her. Not a fan of stepping in dog waste.
let me guess, you've never faced homelessness with no other options 🙄that "private property" was stolen from us. should be forests. not a walmart parking lot.
Cracker Barrel reinforced their RV/BUS parking spots and if you park elsewhere in their lot and are a big rig, you are ruining their parking lots!!! IF you are that big, go somewhere else... you don't fit. Quit ruining it for the rest of us who rely upon free and safer spots.
Bad behavior cannot be rewarded but punishment hits everyone.
Truth!
Yes, what we have seen is people living in their cars, pooping in the grass nearby. City’s are rightly upset. Not saying RVers have not been considerate because that can be the case!
We have tried to stay away from walmart after the danger we felt with some really sketchy people in the lot!
Exactly 👍 all it takes is one to ruin it
There in lies the problem and this woman does not see this, she refuses to look at this aspect like she is wearing rose colored glasses or blinders! She acts like everybody has million dollar RVs like hers????
Over the past 3 years of full time RV life we've also noticed overnight parking has gotten harder to find. We used to stay in rest areas because we just needed a spot for 8 hours of sleep before we continued on our way. Last month we drove past rest areas for 100 miles (after pushing our drive day much further than we should have) without seeing a single empty spot - finally pulled into a Walmart that was 8 miles off the freeway in the "hope" of finding a spot and spoke with the manager. What a JOY to have them welcome us to stay up to 48 hours (we only needed 10) with a smile! Sometimes a surprise awaits :-) Turned out to be a very quiet spot and we could get groceries too :-)
P.S. like you, we appreciate cracker barrel, but unless you time it right, it's often hard to find space for a class A with toad. - Most of our family/friends know Cracker Barrel gift cards are much appreciated gifts at Christmas and Birthdays for us :-)
It's fascinating to observe the large RVs with slides, towing their cars, searching for free parking. If one has means to cover the costs of fuel, insurance, and time off it might be more suitable to head to a campground. This way, free spaces can be left available for truckers and nomads who truly rely on them.
Cities have taken steps to safeguard businesses by implementing ordinances that empower police to issue tickets and tow vehicles if they are not relocated. There should be no exceptions to this rule, especially when it comes to permanently parked RVs in shopping centers.
Many might not be aware that the lack of expansion in Rest Area parking has created challenges for big rig truckers in finding suitable parking spots along the highways. This has led to them resorting to parking on the side of the road at exit ramps, which is far from ideal.
We had some decent Walmart experiences when we started traveling farther/longer post-retirement. But we've seen the absolute disrespectful & downright nasty things some travelers do at Walmarts, rest areas, etc. in recent years. We overnighted at a Cabela's 4 years ago. Huge, nearly empty parking lot, another RV parked right next to us & ran his loud generator all night. Since discovering Harvest Hosts shortly after that, we have stayed at 25+ HH properties across the country. We look at HH as part of our travel experience and have enjoyed every one. Sure, they're not "free", but we appreciate those with restaurants or cafes for an easy meal; purchase products from others to give as gifts; and enjoy ghost town tours, greeting farm animals, learning an area's history in their museums, and relaxing in the quiet of a field or orchard.
They are a great option for an overnight! Thanks for watching
Once in 16 years we stayed in a Cracker Barrel parking lot overnight, and that was because it was a rainstorm so bad we couldn’t see the road to continue. We have a 40’ class A pulling a CRV. We always stay and pay at campgrounds, even enroute, and because I am often traveling alone I think parking lot overnights are too dangerous for a 70yo female.
One problem is that "land barges" have become wayyyy too big and take up wayyyy too much space.🤨
More I'd say is the disrespectful actions and uh lot squatters. And the guys like I seen in a full size RV sitting by his burning firepit...IN THE WALMART LOT
How big is too big? A 12' tall 35' coach too much? 40'?
We are full timers and the campground where we have set up is filled with HUGE million dollar Class A's and then they have a MATCHING storage hauler that is the same size as the RV! It's insane! I'd also like to know where they get the money to afford all of that.
We saw a travel trailer couple at the Foothills Wal-Mart Yuma Arizona. Jacks down, tow vehicle disconnected, BBQ and chairs out. We noticed them near the end of October. They were still there in the same spot at the end of March. If you know the Yuma area, you know there are multiple areas to boondock.
The following season at this same Walmart. Three rigs parked side by side again jacks down, satellite dishes up. For sale signs on all three. Because of people like this is why. We are losing the privilege to overnight at Walmart.
Thank you for calling it overnight parking and not camping. Walmart, Cracker Barrel and the like. Are not campgrounds and should not be treated as one.
Exactly! Thanks for the comment and for watching
Why would local businesses and law enforcement not deal with this? That’s just crazy.
We tend to travel at night and hit a day-use fishing lake or park and park our slide away from common view and catch some z's for a couple hours, get up and use the area for a picnic breakfast and move on toward our ultimate destination.
We would easily leave quickly if there were a dispute...but my adult severely handicapped daughter tends to bring out the humanity in most.
People with RVs the size 18 wheeler and costing as much of a house looking for free stuff. Talk about a sense of entitlement 😂😂😂
That’s how we afford the things we like.
Lmao yeah, them rolling past a poor "homeless" person parking on a public street with a broken window being all offended about it. "Oh no poors are ruining our white middle class fauxfreedom experience by trying to acquire affordable housing!"
For some of them that IS their house. I trust that you never accept a product or service without paying for it.
Not a sense of entitlement. We have a 2005 Newmar 40 ft with 3 slides. Sometimes we will dry camp off the road, in parking lots, but we always ask first. And make sure we leave it as clean as possible as well as being respectful while there.
Yes!!!!!don’t get the big diesel boy with a 40+ foot 5th wheel?????half of these tools 🧰 don’t have what it takes to change a tire….
I travel by truck camper . I drive from mid morning and stop along ny route for a quick trip into the camper for a bathroom break and may grab a bite to eat. Then back on the road. I would say that 90 % of the time, i just pull into a rest area and go back to my truck camper. Put on a movie, make dinner finish the movie and go to bed. Ive never experienced any problems whatsoever. Wake up, have a coffee and danish and hit the road. Whenever I arrive at family they want me to stay in guest room. I always just ask for an extension cord. Im all set. I just love my truck camper. Shower, flat screen t.v., all the comfort of home. I have stayed at Cracker Barrel. Had dinner, spoke to staff and left after a nice breakfast. No slide, no generator, just to watch a movie and sleep
How long is your truck?
@@rubidot I have a 2004 Chevy 2500HD Duramax . Bed is 6 feet. The camper is a NORTHSTAR ARROW 8.5. I have to remove my tailgate. This 8.5 NORTHSTAR ARROW was designed for a 6 .0 foot bed. Center of gravity is perfect. Rex Willet at NORTHSTAR allowed me to purchase the camper from Monticello RV in Minnesota with me living at the time in Mobile, Alabama and pick it up at the factory where I got the AC installed .He was very gracious as the owner of the company. Gave me a personal tour of the plant, took me to lunch , and gave me some literature of every piece of equipment in the camper. Installed mounting brackets for free. Loaded camper. Tested all appliances, went for test drive. 18 years and one problem. Left Rear brake light bulb.... Not bad.
@@rubidot I'm retired now. But when I worked, I was an industrial HVAC/R TECH. I do all my own maintenance.
@@mikeglasgow9618 sounds like a great setup. I have no experience maintaining anything mechanical, but I'm seriously thinking about full-time RV.
@@rubidot I like the freedom of a truck camper. Mine as well as all NORTHSTAR campers have no slides. Some of the campers nowadays come with 3 slides and go up to the $ 80,,,,, 90,000.00 range. Plus you need a 2 or 3 ton dually to haul them.
Unbelievable the person who has the RV pulling a car behind it taking up like six or seven spots blames it on others.
😂 they can take up six spots, or two spots and a lane of traffic. You pick
How often do you have trouble parking in the middle of the night because there's an RV in the lot?
I've never understood that. Class A expecting free camping.
Cracker Barrel is always slammed on Mothers Day, New Years Day, Easter, etc. I think it would be polite to avoid those days for regular customers to have parking spaces.
One problem I see is there are a number of homeless living in ratty old RVs. Not only is it an eyesore in the store's parking lot, more importantly, it's a safety concern for the store's customers and employees.
Living in an RV isn't homelessness, regardless of how ratty it looks.
I think this is the underlying issue. Businesses don’t want their parking lots to turn into permanent campgrounds.
If they have an RV, they aren't "homeless". I live in my RV. It's not brand new either. Because of rental prices and social security I can't afford most places. Plus, nomadic living is a lifestyle choice for many, whether rich or poor. Looking down on others isn't nice.
We also consider putting down the jacks 'bad etiquette', so we don't do that either.
I'm so thankful we live in Alaska. It is a short RV season, but we can "Free" camp just about everywhere minus private property. Unless I'm looking for full hookups and dumps, paying to camp is not even a consideration.
Spent last summer there-we loved it!
Cracker Barrel is our favorite place to overnight. We always make sure to go in and introduce ourselves to the manager and have dinner there. And yes.....having to hear a generator all night is no fun. How about 2 RVs with generators going on each side of us!!!
OMgoodness that would have been bad. Thanks for sharing your experience and for watching
Mighty fine thing to do by giving them your business. Showing gratitude will never go out of fashion.
But it was free...lol
I stayed at one a while back. Woke around 6:30am to guys pressure washing the building and sidewalk...well time for breakfast
Our society has become ill mannered, self absorbed and terribly inconsiderate. Heaven forbid if you say something to someone about their behavior. Throw in the fact that older RV’s and boats have become cheap housing for low end people. It’s a big and expensive problem for businesses and property owners. I’ve noticed this problem has got much worse over the last five or six years.
On the west coast it’s not RV’ERS ruining Walmarts, Bass Pro etc. it’s the thousands of homeless people. Many also get junk RV’s that barely run. In addition, tow yards won’t tow & impound RV’s when asked to by Law enforcement because the tow company looses 💰 money.
Here in Killafornia you can walk on the Freeway, ride a bike on the Freeway and LIVE on the Freeway. Cal Trans sign says. "Watch out for pedestrians" ON THE FREEWAY!
@@waynepovilaitis2305take the hint
In the 49 years I've been an RV owner and camper I have never once not paid to camp. If one can afford an RV/Truck, all the gear and fuel to move it down the road then one should be able to pay for a minimal campsite. The campground behaviors I've seen since 2020 have been just unbelievable, absolutely no consideration of others and no respect for any kind of authority. It's not getting better. We keep talking about selling our RV and calling quits, just not enjoyable anymore.
It’s not always about being able to afford it or not. For some, like my family, it’s more about not wanting to be packed into a campground. I admit some are better than others and yes they do come with commensurate amenities but I’d much rather, more often than not, much rather be out in the “wild” for our experiences.
Agree. Maintenance of those areas takes money. And as she said, there are a minority of disrespectful RVers that take advantage and trash areas. Most RVers are fine, but there enough of that minority ruining it for those wanting to RV, and for those wanting to provide spaces.
As a Boondocker Welcome Host, I have had mostly good experience. I allow up to 5 days. However I have been considering Hip Camp as an alternative as I have had a few bad apples that almost got be in trouble. Hip Camp is not always perfect, at least I get some recovery of some of the cost of the improvements I have made. I have also learned as a host that in some locations including ours, local laws define an RV Park as 2 or more sites with occupied RVs. This means going through the permitting process for a Conditional Use. Again not free for the host. Lots of navigation of local legal laws.
Interesting! Thanks for sharing your experience
I own a nice piece of land along the Cowaselon creek have often considered allowing a camper or two to use my land for a day or two at no charge but , I've seen too many horror stories of what can happen . I don't want to have to deal with the trash ,
Our local Walmart had 4 rv’s that took up residence - slides, jacks, generators, barbecues, parties etc., and then used the facilities like their personal bathroom. Gee, I wonder why the local Walmart no longer allows overnight parking. We also have rest stops that were created for trucks but rv’s were able to use them - when they became camping spots, rv’s weren’t allowed anymore.
So a couple of things on this very subject and trust me I’m not pointing fingers at your channel or channels like yours for trying to educate people as well as don’t ever want to take the onus off of the Rv’r.
It’s my belief that when you spread the word about a good thing, especially if it has free attached to it, it can and will lead to increased use and occasionally get Rv’rs who just don’t care. Not to mention when Corporate America starts getting involved it leads to costs somewhere along the line for the rest of us.
In many ways I miss the pre-interweb/social media days and here’s why. I’m a fisherman & the first rule of Fisherman’s Club is you don’t talk about your favorite fishing holes or spots for obvious reasons.
Harvest Hosts is a rip off. I joined for one year and found out that many times when I tried to overnight they were not “available.” Or, have the host charge exorbitant prices for their “products” which are generally a waste of money. Most of the time you have to arrange at least two days ahead of time. Totally not worth it for me. State parks are no longer subsidized by the government, which is why costs have skyrocketed. Not to mention, during the “season” everything is mostly full. Also, the fact that state parks charge extra for out of state travelers is a no go for me. In Idaho, some parks charge TWICE as much for out of staters. Not sure how they think this will appeal to tourists and bring jn cash flow to their communities. From UA-cam to Walmart to campgrounds, everyone is trying to make a buck by adding on ridiculous charges. If you stay at a local rv park, you will pay for your site, pay for your tow vehicle, pay extra if you’re from out of state, pay extra for showers, pay for you electricity, and then they have the audacity to charge an additional $15 for the dump and .50 per gallon for fresh water. Absolutely ridiculous. I’ve gotten around this nonsense by utilizing free dump/fill stations, boon-docking, and camp hosting. I’ve been full time since 2017 and unfortunately this lifestyle has been pretty much destroyed by selfish and rude people. And drug addicts, who have now learned that state parks are ideal places to steal anything and everything. There’s generally no ranger presence out in the campgrounds and if it’s busy/full no one really pays attention. I’ve learned to lock up everything, even if I’m just going for a quick walk, because I’ve had chairs, tables, and of all things- a bottle of distilled water- stolen. I also stayed at a USFS campground in Arizona who thought the way to get unstable, homeless addicts off the street is to give them a cheap tent and sleeping bag from Walmart and a weeks worth of camping at the local USFS campground. This was told to me by a camp host, so it’s legit info. The subject came up because there was a young man a couple of spaces away from me who kept lifting this HUGE log and slamming down to the ground. Over, and over, and over. So, it’s not just Walmart parking lots that are sketchy. It’s really sad to see the destruction that had happened over the last few years.
TL;DR
Seems one necessary accessory to always have is: EARPLUGS and earbuds. Both the noise-dampening foam kind as well as ANC (active noise canceling) earbuds (like AirPods). I have neighbors who use gas-powered leaf blowers and I pop in my AirPods with noise cancellation technology, and it greatly helps. I shared a hotel room with a friend and she snored loudly. I used my regular foam earplugs for comfort while sleeping. Blissful.
In 2017, I travelled from my home in Manitoba to Rapid City, SD to catch the eclipse. Since I was tenting, I didn't want to try to get an campsite in Bismarck and set up my tent when I was going to be leaving early in the morning to continue the trip. So I planned to park in the Bismarck Walmart and sleep in my SUV. Which was a good thing since I got to Bismarck after dark. There were others staying overnight as well. This was the only time I've slept in my vehicle overnight at a Walmart.
And we have 3 Walmarts in the Bismarck-Mandan area.
👍
I am so glad I had all those places to stay mostly without hassles 2013-19.. I had a feeling 2019 was like a farewell tour. The 2020 hit and I never got to travel again. Finally sold the RV last year
We still love Harvest Hosts. Most have been great. Walmart isn’t our vibe, but we may try a Cracker Barrel someday. COE parks are the best value around. We’re staying at a beautiful lake front COE campsite with full hookups for under $15 per night!
YES to the COE camps!! We’ve stayed a several and they are great.
@@Terri_K9 we are at one right now. Huge sites, and with the American The Beautiful Pass discount, it’s $12 per night with full hookups. Amazing!
I'm new. What is COE?
@@sarahwebber7384 Corps of Engineer (Army) but you don't have to be service to stay there. They do water projects (Dams, etc.) then build a campground on the locations. There are so many great locations!! 😀
Here's why: your YT channel and others like it. Places are now very crowded, thanks a lot.
We have one good thing to say about Harvest Host and that was when we stayed at a farm, they had power and water hookups if you needed it, at least. That was the only time we used it. There are nearly no HH or Boondockers Welcome locations along the Washington and Oregon coast. This video just reminded me to cancel our membership. Thanks.
Just remember … state, local and regional parks are often booked 6-9 months in advance along the west coast. ARVIE sounds like a great option! Definitely will be checking it out thx!
We love using Arvie for these scenarios
I went to Texas for the eclipse. It was my first LONG trip, ever in my truck and trailer. The people at Cracker Barrel were great. The one in eastern El Paseo was, for my experience, exceptional. Given it is located right next to the freeway, well, that was noise. But for the ease of parking, it was great. Yes, if you are over 45 feet, you WILL have issues. But for me, at 40 feet total, it was great. Can't say enough, sorry.
On our last trip we pretty much stuck to Love's truck stops, some with RV spots. Worried about safety at most Walmarts
I have twice processed a request for a battery backup to my CPAP/BiPAP machine. All I needed was a statement by my prescribing doctor stating that I required the use the medical device every sleep period. The insurance processed it under the durable medical benefit. It is worth looking into.
Great suggestion- thanks for sharing!
I mean... my generator is actually quieter outside than inside (by a long shot) but I still wouldn't run the damn thing all night. Get an inverter.
Well done, young lady! Very interesting and informative. It is such a shame that there are people that ruin things for others.
We’ve stopped staying at Cracker Barrel because their quality of food has gone downhill the last few years.
I never liked their chow.
I doubt CB misses you.
I am sure they won't miss having you stay theta. They probably prefer no rvs to pack up the parking area
@@ghanajunction why eat crappy food somewhere when usually there’s a better option that’s locally owned? CB has been closing stores with poor earnings nationwide.
I don’t care for the food but the gift shop is great! I support them that way as a thank you when we stay overnight. They truly have something for everyone so I’ve been doing all holiday and birthday shopping at Cracker Barrel.
ANOTHER great video! 🔥 You guys always share the best info!!
WE only had to do this once and that's because Carolina Crossroads in Roanoke Rapids, NC used to be a campground where you can roll in, grab a spot(even after hours) then pay and be on your way the next morning but this particular trip they were completely full which was unusual. We overnighted at a Walmart which was a blessing. Now to cover our butts we make reservations at overnight campgrounds. Along I-95 a couple we like to use are Carolina Crossroads which I mentioned, Americamps RV Resort in Alexandria, Va., and Inland Harbor in Darien, Ga.
Thankfully our only slide comes out the back and doesn’t go out beyond our bike rack (Thor Vegas 25.2). Otherwise we’d never put our slide out for overnight parking if at all possible. And we are firm believers in and adherers to the Leave No Trace philosophy. We value our lifestyle and want to do our part to get to keep doing this. ❤
How would you rate your Thor overall? Would you recommend it as a brand?
@@tolowreading6807 we’re really happy with our Thor. I will say there are some design elements that I question as they make no sense, but overall we’re happy. I can’t speak to Thor’s full line of coaches as I’m not familiar with all products, but the Vegas 25.2 is a winner IMO.
I remember as a kid, my parents never made reservations. There were always spots, and even parking in free places was everywhere. Its a shame.
I can understand needing air conditioning at night. So run your generator. However you should also have a quiet generator .
Try this instead. Buy some lithium batteries ( maybe 4-5) and get a 12 volt ac. No noise, no bother. No generator!
#1 reason; because more and more people chose RV life due to housing prices being out of reach by more than half of people. And in the process you see A LOT of people on the road that live full time in RV.
Thanks for listening to my Ted talk.
I’d like your channel though I’m not RVing yet. I plan to the next two years trying to decide what I need for two dogs and one man. It’s sad but my wife’s in hospice so we’re doing the best we can. I’ve been enjoying your channel and I hope to learn a lot from you, keep up the good work
Thank you and best wishes
I hope for you solace and peace and for your wife comfort.
This topic is making me reconsider going full time. Guess if they outlaw overnight parking, then only outlaws will overnight park 🤷🏼♂️
So many homeless people with no where to go.
It's only going to get worse.
"if they outlaw overnight parking, then only outlaws will overnight park"
If they outlaw overnight parking, not only will they be classifying the homeless as outlaws, they will be classifying all truckers as outlaws as well.
I think such laws would turn out to be unconstitutional, if a rights advocacy law firm chose to sue.
@@scotttovey right 👍🏼 I get they don’t want people living in their parking lots, I get it. I’m just wanting to park for the night and leave ✌🏼
@@Thesaltymedic36
I hear what you're saying.
I was homeless from March of 05 to August of 08 and lived in my van. I parked in a couple of lots at night and then moved on in the morning.
People that pull out chairs and act like they are in a camping site are rude, they should be considered trespassers and arrested. I know that in Florida, a person can be arrested for vagrancy.
I don't think that's constitutional, but it sure would put a check on the entitlement attitude that toxic RVers have.
So agree! We stayed at that same Harvest Host - Lane fortunately we were on the end and I think the huge class A (we're 16') was at the other end but thankfully they didn't run their generator all night
Anybody who runs a generator after 10.00pm go and Pound on door until they come out and tell them to shut it off or call the police!!!
Guess you don’t travel in Texas in the summer or the states west of it, lol.
As tent campers, the HUGE RVs and buses, with their loud and nasty noise polluting generators, have destroyed the wonderful experience we enjoyed in the past at our beautiful state and national parks. (I don't care that you are paying for your tax subsidized site; so are we.)
If you aren't there to be outdoors and enjoy the outdoor experience, please don't make these special spaces your big loud RV back up plan.
We do not like camping in your shadow and city like vibe.
If you have to buy $30 of product at a HH stay, you might as well stay at a state park for less cost and more amenities.
calling parking your car camping is too funny!
The reason you can't park at Walmart anymore is not because people were causing problems, it's because Walmart is engaging in greedflation and want people to pay. If you pay them, you can stay there overnight. I mean, look at how Walmart treats its customers, it's periodic news articles where Walmart is trying to claim all their customers are stealing from them and is why they are having to raise prices. Yet, the CEO/Owner of Walmart is also the CEO/Owner of the Denver Broncos who have made the two worst trades in sports history in the last few years that lost the Broncos a half-billion dollars. That's why Walmart is raising prices and stopping people camping for free in their parking lots. They want people to pay to park there overnight. Just ask! My source? My family as my fiancé and her mother both worked for G4S security and both were often assigned to patrol Walmart parking lots. They never had issues with RVers and car campers. And if you notice, they got rid of security patrols and replaced them with parking lot cameras with 2 people in a backroom who do nothing but just monitor cameras and then call 911 on anyone attempting to park overnight without paying.
I love the idea of living on the open road. And I also don’t want to be classist, ever. But there is an RV that parks just below our condo complex and runs their generator all night long every few days or so. I can’t sleep with the vibration. This is a residential area of San Francisco that’s normally very quiet. I don’t want to be that person. But I’m tempted to call the police on them because it’s effecting my sleep.
yeah the cracker barrel in Cartersville, Ga close to Buc-ees which is in Adairsville, Ga didn't have any RV parking.
They don't allow overnight if people are wondering
Some people just don't give a f%&k, and it ruins it for the rest of us👍🇺🇲
Wow. Reading through some of the comments here pretty well makes me glad I never got to "follow my dream" of being a full time rver. I would've never lasted with such attitudes seeming to prevail as I've seen here. I really think it's getting to be the same everywhere though, unfortunately.
Thanks for watching and for sharing
I know some people are sooo rude! A few years ago I was in a Walmart in Ludington Mi & 4 campers rendezvoused in the parking lot . . Not even far out in the lot . . had their campers pulled into a circle, all slides out, chairs out, & a firepit going in the parking lot! Shameful . . .
😱
Yep I seen a full size RV at a walmart too. Sitting in a chair by his firepit
If you can't fit in the RV space, you should unhook the vehicle and park it in a different space. You don't know the establishment's customer pattern and don't know that they won't need those spaces while you're parked there.
My son and his friends use a web site that lists independent micro campground/camping. They have usually 1-5 sites. They are not fancy at all. Usually located on some acreage attached to farms.
❤
I guess I'm just not bothered by the generator noises when they're installed in the chassis of an RV. I grew up traveling in RVs and tour busses and there was always a generator running. If it wasn't the unit I was in, it was another unit next to us. Tour busses tend to run generators or their engines a lot more than RVers think is appropriate, I suppose. Now, the generator IS my white noise. Having said that, I do understand the complaint. I'd probably be more upset if I was at a campground or in the backcountry, but I just don't think about it inside of civilization anymore. Obviously, everyone has a different preference.
Last year I stayed overnight at a Cracker Barrell and a huge 5th wheel took up 3 spaces with his RV and another space with his truck. He had slides and awnings out, camper chairs, mat, etc. I was relegated to next to the garbage bin and delivery entrance. I asked the management and they didn't want to offend the RVer.
😒
Some people feel entitled, sadly. He clearly had no consideration for anyone else that needed to park there.
Reply to your reply to my initial comment.
Well aware that Buc-cees doesn’t allow overnighting. My point was, that a HH overnight is considerably cheaper than a Buc-cees stop, bcuz you walk in a Buc-cees and leave with over a $100 worth of stuff - that was my point.
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Great video! It's sad the few have to spoil it for the many😔
Tell me about it! Thanks for watching
Actually you can't say that Harvest Host isn't really free and then say that Cracker Barrel is free. The proper etiquette when staying at Cracker Barrel is that you purchase a meal there. This is no different than patronizing the Harvest Host that you stay at. Sure there are people who will stay at Cracker Barrel and never buy anything, but those are the people like you mentioned who may eventually cause Cracker Barrel to stop providing a safe place to overnight.
But Harvest Host also has a membership fee, which makes this a pretty big difference.
Good luck with that generator advice. It amazes us how many people generators when they shouldn't. Doesn't the noise bother them as well?
We had HH for 2 years and were never able to use it. You have to plan ahead....the ones were checked were either already full or did not answer the phone. We decided that we had paid over $300.00 for no benefit to us. Plus, the fact that you mentioned the $30.00 spending requirement. We didn't renew this year. I think if you are a full timer, it might be more useful. Thanks, Charity, for always being helpful and positive! Love and prayers from SC, Jane
Thanks for sharing your experience and for watching
I was at a cracker barrel in Tucson and there was a travel trailer that had a bucket underneath their sewage line. The bucket was overflowing and stunk up the whole parking lot. The trailer was not parked in the designated parking area but was in the corner taking up 5 parking spaces. The door was open with the screendoor closed. Pull vehicle was nowhere to be seen. It smelled like someone had died. I thought of calling the police but i figured i would leave it up to the Cracker Barrel management. Glad to say they still allow RV parking there.
😳
I absolutely CANNOT drive past a Buc-ee’s without stopping even tho I have 1 of the larger Buc-ee’s in my own town. I ❤ ALL Buc-ee’s!
Amazing the differences between Aus and the US, we don't have that many RV and rely more on caravans, the big market here is with hybrids where most of the cooking is outside kitchens, the caravans here are getting smaller but more for overland use with 4x4.
We stopped at a Walmart in Washington on our move up to Alaska and were surprised to see the no overnight sign. We had a uHaul with a trailer and a 1st gen 4Runner, which we were sleeping in the back of. We figured if someone said something about us parked in the back of the lot, we'd tell them we were customers, which was true. In the 12 hours we were there, we started and ended the stay with Walmart purchases, with at least one other trip in the store.
You have an outrageously big rig. They should limit free camping to vehicles under 20 feet who are respectful. Maybe charge by the foot.
I was just looking at RVs, and it seems there aren't many that are less than 25' long.
@@rubidot My high top Promaster van is under 18 feet. wheel base is 136. It is the middle length one.
We have a 2003 Roadtrek. 20’. Drives me nuts with the large RV’s that take up 4+ parking spots, and usually the best spots! That goes for trucks pulling large boats as well.
It's what happens when you try to park an 18 wheeler in a strip mall.
Who is "they"? You're welcome to charge whatever you want for parking at your business.
It only takes a few to ruin it for the majority.
No matter the sport, hobby or lifestyle... there will always be the few that take advantage, take more than their share, feel they're more important and turn a good thing into bad.
sadly yes, well said
And the ironic thing is that the "Entitlement" issue crosses the entire political, conservative and liberal spectrums. So, it's not fair to blame one side or the other. It's just something that has permeated society over the last 30 years. Social media being one of the biggest contributors. It's a cancer on society.
The "RV" in your example is a huge tip off. There are full time RVrs and there are bums living in old RVs. Running a generator is the least of what those people will do. Cruising the lot looking for cars to break into, shop lifting, drug dealing, drug use, public intoxication, fighting, pan handling, and much more similar behavior. Most of them are junkies, that's why they live like they do. It didn't use to be that much of a problem but since about the last 15 years or so you can see more and more broken down RVs with bums living in them. Prior to that you could see an old rig now and then but it wouldn't be just trashed the way they are now. It would usually be just an older couple that didn't use their rig that much , they'd have an old rig and take it out now and then. Harmless stuff. It's not that way now. Personally I'd get a 4x4 and just get way back off the road to camp, it's a lot safer that way.
5:00 yeah... During the summer I never stopped until close to sundown
Many of the full timers ruined RVing especially for younger families like ours. I own a 5th wheel at 25 and as a millennial with kids, we enjoy RVing. We sold our 5th wheel and purchased a class c rv. Three kids from HS to kindergarten and growing, we had to get an upgrade. But camp sites are hard to find for those working and want a weekend trip. Going to the zoo and the closest rv park had over 1/3 of full timers. We ended up buying a campsite.
Surprisingly most people in our private rv campground are part timers/weekenders. So quite a few full timers are cheap and not expecting how much RVing cost or the maintenance that goes into them. And for those who sold their house thinking RVing is a cheap living, only the very few will make it happen.
I don't even RV but I just love your videos ❤
Thank you!
The Free overnight stays in most of the Walmarts or Cracker Barrels...and other commercial stores, was meant to be a "low profile" place to just stay a single overnight stay. It's not a campground to spread out, set up BBQ pits, etc. Some people have NO damn common sense...they exhibit an attitude of "it's THEIR world and everyone else is just passing through." Their stupidity results in ruining the good will of the establishment for everyone.
Yep seen a guy in a full size RV in a lawn chair by his firepit...at a walmart
Some of the Cracker Barrel’s I have stayed at in the past are becoming very shady. I think Cracker Barrel’s are usually in metro areas and with the homeless population getting higher it can be scary to stay at. I am headed north for the summer and have been staying at rest areas so far they have all said no longer than 24 hr stay but it may come down to only truckers can stay at some point.
I stopped staying at Walmart years ago because of noise. And now most of them disallow it anyway. Then there's the county ordinances you spoke of... some areas are extremely anti-RV so they don't want ANY RV parking ANYWHERE in the area that isn't a park. The county where Reno Nevada exists is one of those counties. EVERYWHERE you might think you could park overnight is clearly marked NO OVERNIGHT PARKING. This includes off-road trailheads, state/city parks, etc. It's one of the main reasons I refuse to go to Reno anymore.
I just found you and watched 2 videos and realized the photos were of south Al. specifically Baldwin county where I live. We have a well maintained 30+ year old American Eagle and we have not been refused a reservation yet But it will come.
We’ve never had that 2 AM knock at the door. But we have a relatively newer RV, we find out-of-the-way places to park and we never pull out our slide. In fact, we bought the RV with with the intention of never using the slide.
I'm a tent camper, so I never overnight in a parking lot. But reading the comments there are 2 things I don't understand about RV parking at a place like Walmart or Cracker Barrel: 1. Why would anyone think it's ok to stay there more than a day (unless some emergency happened)? I wouldn't think the property owners want people living on site. Overnight, fine. More than that, nope. Who would want to? 2. Is it truly bad to have your slide-outs and stabilizers in place? I mean, if they aren't in the way or damaging the lot, why not? The idea of being able to start up and pull away quickly doesn't make that much sense to me...emergency situations? I suppose if you're camping in a wildfire zone, perhaps, but under normal circumstances, no. Happy to hear any clarifications.
You come across as normal, not a troublemaker, courteous,... People like you (and me) will never get clear understanding of this, lol
The big problem is IGNORANCE, from some RVers who WON’T take the time to know what’s acceptable & what’s not. Come on people, play nice & learn camping etiquette!!!!
😂 I agree - it is devastating to pass a Buc-ees!
The problem with Cracker Barrels, during business hours, is illustrated at 10:54 in the video with 4 wheelers taking up RV/Trailer parking. We see this all the time and many times have had to drive right back out of a CB parking lot due to the RV parking being occupied by one or more 4 wheelers.
SAME experience I have had. It is very common in Michigan and Ohio CB's.
Yep you said it, boondocking generally is overnight... Ie arrive late, no water, no dumping, no generator/power, no bins, get out earlier means higher propane cost, higher gas cost
Can confirm the Walmart changes. As always, a few people have ruined it for everyone. Firstly, too many homeless people abuse the space, many RVs damage parking lots on hot days with levelers, leave garbage, dump grey/black... What did we expect when the community is not cohesive and appreciative enough?
In a way, I can't blame Walmart for now saying NO. Look at the liability issues, some lazy RV or camp people leave behind trash and urine bottles.
I think it's a little unreasonable to expect a 'FREE' place to park with your rig. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to have to pay 'something' for the use of a space.
I agree. It should come as a courtesy from the driver to the land owner
If I'm going to pay $30 per night, that's $900, which is still MORE THAN 1/3 of how much I would pay in rent. If I add up the cost of buying an RV, cost of driving such a guzzler from place to place, it pretty much destroys the advantage over rent. Stealth becomes the only option for me.
RV life is way more expensive than people know. Space is $ high for lousy amenities or no amenities.
You are so right. Why do a few ruin it for everyone???
In this day in age, if you have a loud generator, you're doing it wrong.
We found that free attracts a lot of riff raff, you get what you pay for? We LOVE state (California) and National parks! You can get free or discounted camp fees if you stop at a park service office and show your DD214 or DD261 if your are a Gold Star family.
That’s awesome! Thanks for watching
I can understand why free rv camping is getting hard to find. We met a family looking for a space to camp in their small rv so we offered them a spot on our property. Big mistake. They dumped their sewage even though there was a free dumpster a quarter mile away. Garbage left behind and not even a thank you when they pulled out.
I'm amazed at the number of people who travel long-term (live) in their car, van or RV and go from place to place in an attempt to live for free - for months or longer. I assume these free places are getting overwhelmed. Not just Walmart, Cracker Barrel and rest stops but residential streets, empty fields (not public property), etc. I hate to say but a lot of these people are not resting while travelling in their nice vehicle....but rather very aged vehicles many of which are not designed to be live in. It's actually very sad.