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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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
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
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.
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.
I've never done a free over night. I plan my trips to pay and stay. Having said that, our local walmart parking lots are over run with homeless people living in their cars, $hitting in the parking lots, etc.. I don't blame the former free hosts for not allowing overnight "camping". Plus the same local walmart parking lots are dangerous anyway. I wouldn't even shop there.
We overnighted in a Walmart once and woke up to a goat trailer next to us with goats going “baaa” all night long and then the owner getting up at sunrise and milking her goats in the parking lot.
I agree, but I bet that's the exception not the rule, the issue right now is that people refuse to leave when asked.. Many states allow RVs to stay at rest stops, too, but they limit the stay to so many hours. I got out of the RV game a long time ago and I was thinking of getting one now that I am retired, but the quality and cost of RVing in general is terrible.. I remember going to RV parking areas near casino resorts and the cost was real reasonable with full hookups, and most even had showers and club house type places to relax out of the RV if you desire. Now, from what I have read, it's hard to find a decent place for under $50.. Adding the cost of an RV, storage, insurance, and maintenance. I can stay in hotels for less and I can drive a car that gets 35 MPG instead of a truck getting 7 MPG while towing a trailer.
@@garybelew7813 I agree with NOT buying an RV!! And... you can "just flush" rather than crawl on all fours in your own excrement, trying to use dump stations, or, as many YT RVers do; dump their tanks alongside the highway......
In the past year I lived in the same Walmart parking lot for three months. They would run off campers within 24 hours, but left me alone.. Sorry not sharing the secret how I got away with it. But definitely appreciate that Walmart allowed me to stay there that long. It was crazy how many RV's would show up that looked like Meth houses, people working on their cars, throwing trash in the parking lot, and having parties... Wonder why they would get ran off within a few hours.
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 :-)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 ,
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!!!
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.
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
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.
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.
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!
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
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!
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.
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!
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 TH-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.
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.
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. ❤
@@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.
Hey, Love your channel and watch all the time. This seems like common sense. Yes, my mom is supposed to have O2 all night, which is a pain in the hiny (to be honest..and I'm a nurse so shouldn't say that) . Please keep up the great work. Thank you.
@@user-hi1kb8hf5n 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.
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?
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
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.
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 . . .
Thank you! And running a generator for a time period usually isn’t an issue. But common courtesy it to use it sparingly and be aware of others parked around you who can be adversely affected.
This is good info. I've thought about "putting a toe in the water" and getting a TearDrop camper. I'm certainly willing to pay for an overnight spot but everything (Florida, for example) is booked solid. State Parks in particular. Thus, I am really reluctant to pull the trigger on a TearDrop and deal with the hassle.
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. 👍😃🍻
when we are traveling in my car...we stay at rest stops or truck stops. we have even pulled off on an off ramp late at nite to sleep for about 3 hours.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
I visited a Walmart after dark...to shop. There was a full size RV in the lot. He was no joke sitting in his lawn chair...with a fire pit burning. Imagine my surprise a short while later the lot was posted no overnight
When our Walmart first opened they allowed RV parking as well as people who were selling cars, trailers etc to park them out by the road. They only asked that a key for the car be left at the office in case the vehicle needed to be moved. But people took advantage of it. RVers dumping their trash into the Walmart cans and other rude behavior. Walmart finally had to put a stop to it. They do allow trucks overnight but otherwise, no
The problem with using private property? Most land owners would rent space but it's not worth the trouble. Too many individuals leave a ton of trash. Literally and yes when they leave many will dump their sewer tank contents. Wal mart has a few truck parking spaces at some Wal marts. Rest areas on interstate highways and some space are available at mom and pop truck stops but bigger truck stops like pilot and loves and flying J but these bigger truck stops are not recommended for rv parking. State and national parks are always the best choices.
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.
The exhaust from generators is terrible too. We stayed one night where it was loud and the wind kept changing direction and randomly blowing exhaust inside to us. It was too warm to sleep with everything closed. Ruined our first boondocking experience.
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.
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.
"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.
@@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.
Even Wal-Mart and Cracker Barrel aren't really "free" if you consider the "courtesy purchase" you should make. The annual Harvest Host fee allows you to reserve your spot ahead of time, and you don't have to worry about a homeless encampments in derelict RVs. We're losing Wal-Mart locations because they're getting abused as long-term housing.
We recently stayed at Cracker Barrel overnite we arrived at 6pm and one other RV was already there.Woke up in the morning at 6am 11 RVs were there in the lot,no slides out or generators running on any of them
There's like so many different state & national park passes you can buy. Have you done a video on the best, most comprehensive couple of these recommended? Kinda like having to buy more & more Toll passes....😬
I wasted money joining Harvest Hosts. They were low on conveniences, not flexible, had restrictions, etc. This was the only membership I believe was a complete waste of $$ and time! So of course, I did NOT renew. Thanks for your information as always!
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.
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.
All good points, but traveling in a sprinter van we have much less concerns. I can’t imagine ( again) RVing in a class A. But whatever floats your boat.
@gratefulglamper HELP, Charity, we’re almost retired so we just bought an RV and we’re trying to make a reservation at Doheny Beach State Park for the 4th of July. We knew it may be a long shot but we had no idea reservations comes up 6 months before the actual date. So of course the spots were all gone. I can’t find anywhere on ARVIE where it says if we can ask them to look for more than one RV Park for the same dates. We would take any one of the parks around the San Clemente, CA area. Our son lives there but it’s an apartment so we can’t Boondock at his place. Can you tell us if you can have ARVIE find us a place within 30 miles of the area we want to be at? Also, I did find a spot at Newport Beach Club for the next week but I can’t get reservations for the 4th. That’s why I want to try for anywhere around Newport, San Clemente, DoHo, Crystal Bay or even the military base. HELP!
Yes, you can run more than 1 sold out scan at other parks for the same date on Arvie. Contact their customer support if you need help walking through the procedure.
I was a Harvest Host, host, until mu insurer found out that Harvest Host does not carry liability in surance (like Airbnb) and they told me my policy would be cancelled of I continued as a host, as this was a liability exposure they did not intend to carry. Sad to say, one less freeish stopover for RVs.
@tolowreading6807 Hi, I am in Nova Scotia, Canada. The insurer, though, is a large international, as far as I am aware. It is a pity that Harvest Host can't get liability coverage the same as Hicamp and BnB etc. I will miss being a host.
Put all of the thousands of dollars into solar and lithium and now they want you to pay $30/night. It is better to pay for Thousand trails and get full hook ups for cheaper. We can also get full hook ups at military bases for the same cost. Cheaper for Pass Port America. All 4 Cracker Barrel’s here in Oregon closed totally
Camped next to a guy who fell asleep with his generator on, we just snuck out at 3a.m. and shut it off. I figured if it was running something important, he would come out and restart it. He didn’t, because he “fell asleep watching a movie”.
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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.
One of the reason I like traveling in a converted minivan. I never have a problem finding free overnight parking.
😃😁👍
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.
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
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
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.
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!
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
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
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.
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.
I've never done a free over night. I plan my trips to pay and stay. Having said that, our local walmart parking lots are over run with homeless people living in their cars, $hitting in the parking lots, etc.. I don't blame the former free hosts for not allowing overnight "camping". Plus the same local walmart parking lots are dangerous anyway. I wouldn't even shop there.
You live in California?
We overnighted in a Walmart once and woke up to a goat trailer next to us with goats going “baaa” all night long and then the owner getting up at sunrise and milking her goats in the parking lot.
@@SerenityNowhere , wow! That was definitely a memorable experience that you would have never had in a RV resort! So cool!
@@Dave-sw2dm Negative, Houston, off of I-10 west. Cesspool.
@@SerenityNowhere 😳
It's not the casual travel RVers making it hard, it's the bums who try to live at WalMart, not just use it as an overnight parking area.
Yes, we have seen some of that!
Yeah, those people need to take their tents and get back under the overpass.
I agree, but I bet that's the exception not the rule, the issue right now is that people refuse to leave when asked.. Many states allow RVs to stay at rest stops, too, but they limit the stay to so many hours. I got out of the RV game a long time ago and I was thinking of getting one now that I am retired, but the quality and cost of RVing in general is terrible.. I remember going to RV parking areas near casino resorts and the cost was real reasonable with full hookups, and most even had showers and club house type places to relax out of the RV if you desire. Now, from what I have read, it's hard to find a decent place for under $50.. Adding the cost of an RV, storage, insurance, and maintenance. I can stay in hotels for less and I can drive a car that gets 35 MPG instead of a truck getting 7 MPG while towing a trailer.
@@garybelew7813 I agree with NOT buying an RV!! And... you can "just flush" rather than crawl on all fours in your own excrement, trying to use dump stations, or, as many YT RVers do; dump their tanks alongside the highway......
In the past year I lived in the same Walmart parking lot for three months. They would run off campers within 24 hours, but left me alone.. Sorry not sharing the secret how I got away with it. But definitely appreciate that Walmart allowed me to stay there that long.
It was crazy how many RV's would show up that looked like Meth houses, people working on their cars, throwing trash in the parking lot, and having parties... Wonder why they would get ran off within a few hours.
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 :-)
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.
We also consider putting down the jacks 'bad etiquette', so we don't do that either.
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.
Unbelievable the person who has the RV pulling a car behind it taking up like six or seven spots blames it on others.
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!
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
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 ,
ANOTHER great video! 🔥 You guys always share the best info!!
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
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.
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
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 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!
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
calling parking your car camping is too funny!
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
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!
Great information
Glad it was helpful!
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.
Ok
5:00 yeah... During the summer I never stopped until close to sundown
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 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.
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 TH-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
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
Well done, young lady! Very interesting and informative. It is such a shame that there are people that ruin things for others.
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.
Great video! It's sad the few have to spoil it for the many😔
Tell me about it! Thanks for watching
Again thank you.
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.
Hey, Love your channel and watch all the time. This seems like common sense. Yes, my mom is supposed to have O2 all night, which is a pain in the hiny (to be honest..and I'm a nurse so shouldn't say that) . Please keep up the great work. Thank you.
Some people just don't give a f%&k, and it ruins it for the rest of us👍🇺🇲
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
@@user-hi1kb8hf5n 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.
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.
So Right!!!!
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?
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
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.
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
Gotta tell ya if it's hot. I would run my generator, too? The onan generators are pretty quite? Good video!
Thank you! And running a generator for a time period usually isn’t an issue. But common courtesy it to use it sparingly and be aware of others parked around you who can be adversely affected.
Look into 12 volt ac units by dometic. Buy lithiums (4-5) and no generator needed.
This is good info. I've thought about "putting a toe in the water" and getting a TearDrop camper. I'm certainly willing to pay for an overnight spot but everything (Florida, for example) is booked solid. State Parks in particular. Thus, I am really reluctant to pull the trigger on a TearDrop and deal with the hassle.
We’ve found a great option for booking state parks that are full is using Arvie. You can learn more here: gratefulglamper.com/arvie
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.
👍😃🍻
when we are traveling in my car...we stay at rest stops or truck stops. we have even pulled off on an off ramp late at nite to sleep for about 3 hours.
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.
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.
We have the same problem in europe, the behavior of some RV‘s are terrible.
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.
😂 I agree - it is devastating to pass a Buc-ees!
Cancelled my hh subscription last week for the reasons u mention. Really, it's not even low cost for dry camping. Love ur content.
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.
You are so right. Why do a few ruin it for everyone???
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
I visited a Walmart after dark...to shop. There was a full size RV in the lot. He was no joke sitting in his lawn chair...with a fire pit burning. Imagine my surprise a short while later the lot was posted no overnight
🤦♀️
When our Walmart first opened they allowed RV parking as well as people who were selling cars, trailers etc to park them out by the road. They only asked that a key for the car be left at the office in case the vehicle needed to be moved. But people took advantage of it. RVers dumping their trash into the Walmart cans and other rude behavior. Walmart finally had to put a stop to it. They do allow trucks overnight but otherwise, no
I'm full timeing; not interested in moving a lot. 3 or 4 times a year max. A guide or app to places to park long term would be great.
The problem with using private property? Most land owners would rent space but it's not worth the trouble. Too many individuals leave a ton of trash. Literally and yes when they leave many will dump their sewer tank contents. Wal mart has a few truck parking spaces at some Wal marts. Rest areas on interstate highways and some space are available at mom and pop truck stops but bigger truck stops like pilot and loves and flying J but these bigger truck stops are not recommended for rv parking. State and national parks are always the best choices.
I updated information. Don't have to happy about said information, but, appreciate effort.
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
The exhaust from generators is terrible too. We stayed one night where it was loud and the wind kept changing direction and randomly blowing exhaust inside to us. It was too warm to sleep with everything closed. Ruined our first boondocking experience.
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.
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.
Posted or not I ask and I always get it. OK, they posted to get rid of the transients and the people that try to live in their parking lot.
For overnight parking, I have found rest stops to be great, where they have truck and RV parking.
Some city/town parks have low cost sites as well.
Even Wal-Mart and Cracker Barrel aren't really "free" if you consider the "courtesy purchase" you should make. The annual Harvest Host fee allows you to reserve your spot ahead of time, and you don't have to worry about a homeless encampments in derelict RVs. We're losing Wal-Mart locations because they're getting abused as long-term housing.
We recently stayed at Cracker Barrel overnite we arrived at 6pm and one other RV was already there.Woke up in the morning at 6am 11 RVs were there in the lot,no slides out or generators running on any of them
There's like so many different state & national park passes you can buy. Have you done a video on the best, most comprehensive couple of these recommended? Kinda like having to buy more & more Toll passes....😬
The neighbors have to listen to generators running all night?
I wasted money joining Harvest Hosts. They were low on conveniences, not flexible, had restrictions, etc. This was the only membership I believe was a complete waste of $$ and time! So of course, I did NOT renew. Thanks for your information as always!
I did not renew my BW. There were never any where i was traveling or they didn't have availability.
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.
I’ve heard that State Parks can have security issues, have you found that to be true?
Not in our experience. In many of the state parks that we’ve stayed in actually have gates that lock around 10 PM.
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.
I love camping in state and national parks.
All good points, but traveling in a sprinter van we have much less concerns. I can’t imagine ( again) RVing in a class A. But whatever floats your boat.
The section in front could turn into a drink holder with a plastic container insert and some jig sawing.
Thanks for the idea!
Haven't had one in almost 35 years. But understand the reasoning.
@gratefulglamper HELP, Charity, we’re almost retired so we just bought an RV and we’re trying to make a reservation at Doheny Beach State Park for the 4th of July. We knew it may be a long shot but we had no idea reservations comes up 6 months before the actual date. So of course the spots were all gone. I can’t find anywhere on ARVIE where it says if we can ask them to look for more than one RV Park for the same dates. We would take any one of the parks around the San Clemente, CA area. Our son lives there but it’s an apartment so we can’t Boondock at his place. Can you tell us if you can have ARVIE find us a place within 30 miles of the area we want to be at? Also, I did find a spot at Newport Beach Club for the next week but I can’t get reservations for the 4th. That’s why I want to try for anywhere around Newport, San Clemente, DoHo, Crystal Bay or even the military base. HELP!
Yes, you can run more than 1 sold out scan at other parks for the same date on Arvie. Contact their customer support if you need help walking through the procedure.
I was a Harvest Host, host, until mu insurer found out that Harvest Host does not carry liability in surance (like Airbnb) and they told me my policy would be cancelled of I continued as a host, as this was a liability exposure they did not intend to carry.
Sad to say, one less freeish stopover for RVs.
What state are you in?
@tolowreading6807 Hi, I am in Nova Scotia, Canada. The insurer, though, is a large international, as far as I am aware. It is a pity that Harvest Host can't get liability coverage the same as Hicamp and BnB etc. I will miss being a host.
I'm sorry to hear that. Sometimes I think insurance companies suck.@@rvhtravels
Put all of the thousands of dollars into solar and lithium and now they want you to pay $30/night. It is better to pay for Thousand trails and get full hook ups for cheaper. We can also get full hook ups at military bases for the same cost. Cheaper for Pass Port America. All 4 Cracker Barrel’s here in Oregon closed totally
I love watching all your great videos. They’ve been very helpful to us. I hope we get to meet ya’ll at some point in our RVing adventures.
It would be fun if we see you out there sometime! Thanks for watching our videos! 💙
Not in Coeur D’Alene Idaho. Small parking lot.
Did you know that love truck stops have like a parking with or without hook ups and even a place for your pets to run in a fence in area
Yes, some loves truck stops now have paid camping with full hook-ups, thanks for watching
Camped next to a guy who fell asleep with his generator on, we just snuck out at 3a.m. and shut it off. I figured if it was running something important, he would come out and restart it. He didn’t, because he “fell asleep watching a movie”.
State Parks in Michigan (and any Big Water State) ALL need to be reserved 6 month-1 year in advanced... can't count on this. Rare cancellations.