Wall Mart Rules?

[Imbriaco]

Hi all! We’re not new to the RV scene but we are new to a ‘08 Montana 34RL and will be embarking on a full time RV life beginning in Sept. I need someone to settle a disagreement I have with my wife.

If you’re using a wall mart parking lot, is there a time limit, do you or can you d/c the truck from the trailer to check things out, and do you typically open all slides while parked there?

Thanks in advance for responses; this will be the 1st of many queries I have as awe prep for our next adventure.

[RAS43]

Very similar sight in Salida CO and there are campgrounds in town and close by. I don't understand the thinking!!

[happycamper1942]

Last year we were in Whitehorse in the Yukon and visited Walmart to do some shopping.an area of the parking lot had been turned into a RV lot, people unhooked, slides out,chairs and barbecue s at up, and they were there for days. It was a real mess. Made me ashamed to be a RVer.

[Fiver_Driver1]

The picture reminds me of our first trip north. We were driving through Whitehorse, Yukon Territory when we noticed a lot of RV ahead. I thought it was a dealership. Approaching closer we saw the Walmart sign. No, we did not stay there.

[2001400ex]

I stayed at a Walmart in Bend Oregon a couple weeks ago for the first time. However we called literally every campground within a half hour and they were all full. Even the expo center which has over 100 sites and a huge open field. We asked if we can just park in the field since the campground was full and they said no. I was with another fifth wheel, we parked side by side, opened the slides, brought out camp chairs, and drank some beers. There was about 15 other campers doing the same. One next to us ran their flipping generator all night for some reason, which was irritating.

I personally would only do it as a last resort. Although we sleep overnight in rest areas often. We leave at 8 or 9 at night. I drive until I'm tired, sleep for 5 hours then get up and arrive at our destination early in the morning. Not everyone's cup of tea but works for us.

[jdb7566]

Imbriaco wrote:
Hi all! We’re not new to the RV scene but we are new to a ‘08 Montana 34RL and will be embarking on a full time RV life beginning in Sept. I need someone to settle a disagreement I have with my wife.

If you’re using a wall mart parking lot, is there a time limit, do you or can you d/c the truck from the trailer to check things out, and do you typically open all slides while parked there?

Thanks in advance for responses; this will be the 1st of many queries I have as awe prep for our next adventure.

Wal-Mart is not a campground, so the very thought of disconnecting your truck to go sight seeing says you ought to be staying in a real campground. Far too many doing as you suggest, have ruined it for those who just want a place to park for a few hours, or a short overnight.

[excelrvguy]

I published an article I found on my website about Walmart overnight parking etiquette.

https://btrvinnovations.com/blogs/rv-service-tips/rv-tips-tricks-walmart-overnight-parking-etiquette

[B_O__Plenty]

Wadcutter wrote:

Imbriaco wrote:

B.O. Plenty wrote:
Why not opt for the security and convenience of an RV park? We will never stay in a WalMart lot. They aren't all in good neighborhoods, besides if we park there it's one less spot for the 1/2 million dollar diesel pushers that roll in at noon to spend a couple days there.
B.O.

Totally agree. Just understanding how people use (or avoid) the cheap or free nights stay.

The same type of people who complain there are not enough campgrounds where they want to camp or the campgrounds are not kept up to their liking.
If you don't support the campgrounds when traveling then don't complain when you can't find a campground when they close because they can't make a profit.

100% in agreement. Some friends that own a small campground told us their biggest competitor is the Walmart 10 miles down the road..shame.

[agesilaus]

theoldwizard1 wrote:
The Walmart by my house does not get many (any?) RV over-nighters probably because it is about 1.5 miles off of the freeway. The odd thing is, there are frequently a dozen or more 18 wheelers parked there ! Yes, they are quite far from the building but it seems quite odd.

There are at least 3 "big box" stores between the freeway and Walmart. Some have even larger parking areas, but they do not allow overnight big rig parking.

I just read an article that says there is a major shortage of parking places for cross country semi's. They prefer truck stops with electric hookups, dislike rest areas which have no electric hookups. Walmart parking may be better than nothing.

[theoldwizard1]

The Walmart by my house does not get many (any?) RV over-nighters probably because it is about 1.5 miles off of the freeway. The odd thing is, there are frequently a dozen or more 18 wheelers parked there ! Yes, they are quite far from the building but it seems quite odd.

There are at least 3 "big box" stores between the freeway and Walmart. Some have even larger parking areas, but they do not allow overnight big rig parking.

[laknox]

Old-Biscuit wrote:


And they DID.....over and over
Until the shoot out!

NOW us law abiding citizens do NOT have to put up with the low-lifes

I was =trying= not to disparage the LEOs in CV, but I can see that it was likely warranted. 😞

Lyle

[Yosemite_Sam1]

Imbriaco wrote:
Hi all! We’re not new to the RV scene but we are new to a ‘08 Montana 34RL and will be embarking on a full time RV life beginning in Sept. I need someone to settle a disagreement I have with my wife.

If you’re using a wall mart parking lot, is there a time limit, do you or can you d/c the truck from the trailer to check things out, and do you typically open all slides while parked there?

Thanks in advance for responses; this will be the 1st of many queries I have as awe prep for our next adventure.

You have to apologize now for opening up this topic -- again! Lol!

[Old-Biscuit]

laknox wrote:


At the same time, store management could have gone to the local cops and complained about these people, especially the harassing part, and the cops =could= have rousted them out...had they really wanted to. Yes, it would have been harder without a specific ordinance, but it could have been done. Hell, they could have complained about them trespassing, simple as that. Cops still could have been proactive about it by rousting people, telling them to move along, then having the manager file a trespassing complaint if the low-lifes continued to hang around.

Lyle

And they DID.....over and over
Until the shoot out!

NOW us law abiding citizens do NOT have to put up with the low-lifes

[laknox]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:

old guy wrote:
One night was all I wanted in wal mart. some nut kept driving around the parking lot with his load muffler and car

There seems to always be some altercation going on at our local Walmart. My wife calls it 'punch out at Wally World'. goes on weekly. Not sure if it's drug related or what but certainly not a good place to set up shop at.

Local Walmart got so bad had to escort her In/Out when she went there.
I do NOT enjoy having to provide 'security'

Cops ended up in a shoot out with a vagabond family that had set up in parking lot, panhandling/intimidating/threatening folks.
One of the low-lifes was shot and killed

Town council immediately passed a 'No parking/Loitering Ordinance'
With it cops then had a 'legal tool' to move folks along
Seemed like overnight the whole atmosphere in area changed.
Love it!!

No more 'stealth camping' and cops are proactive ----good for shoppers, good for citizens, good for businesses----not so good for scum. YEAH!

At the same time, store management could have gone to the local cops and complained about these people, especially the harassing part, and the cops =could= have rousted them out...had they really wanted to. Yes, it would have been harder without a specific ordinance, but it could have been done. Hell, they could have complained about them trespassing, simple as that. Cops still could have been proactive about it by rousting people, telling them to move along, then having the manager file a trespassing complaint if the low-lifes continued to hang around.

Lyle

[Sandia_Man]

For the vast majority of RVers who do utilize Walmart and other RV friendly businesses on their way to their final destination, it is simply to travel later into the night and leave promptly at daylight.

It's been a few years since we have had to stay at a Walmart overnight but we did several times as we were RVing with our kids and had to make time due to limited days off from work or school.

We've also used truck stops, rest stops, and churches to name a few others. Now with the kids all grown and out of the house, the only locations we overnight are casinos which my DW loves.

As for extending out slides we did it when we were along an edge where they couldn't be obtrusive to other vehicles, when it was hot we would run our onboard generator to cool our rig for a few hours of shut-eye.

I never fret what others think, and certainly do not pay heed to their silly notions about saving a park fee, overnighting is a viable option for those attempting to get somewhere in a hurry and nothing more.