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rawest50 View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Quick camping
    Posted: 02 Mar 2018 at 9:09pm
Traveling long distances and having to stop for 1 night. What do you do? Just park with RV attached? Set up completely? What about water? Looking for stop and go recommendations.
2017.5 RPod 179
2017 Jeep Unlimited Wrangler
2017 Chevy Colorado Z71 Off Road Crew Cab
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❤️ Thoroughbred Racing.
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Mar 2018 at 9:23pm
For overnights, I leave the R-Pod hitched up. For overnights, we look at Flying J or Pilot truck stops. Truckstops of America is also a place which will allow stays. The only place that flat turned us down was a Petro truck stop. In any case, stop in and ask permission to stay and where to park. We also have stayed at Walmarts overnight. The same applies about going in and asking for permission and where you should park. I try to find a level spot, or as close to it as I can. If possible, I try to find a spot where the front, if not level, will be just a little lower than the back. If I need to, I use an Andersen leveler to level side-to-side and the jack to level front to back. I do not disconnect for an overnight, but I do lower the stabilizers. If there is adequate room, I do extend the slide-out since it isn't that wide. For safety, I have put reflective tape on the front and back walls of the slide-out so it will be visible to anyone driving nearby.

I use the RV Parky app on my phone to help locate places to stay. It has overall been pretty accurate. I always go in and ask permission first, even if the app says that it is okay. It is only courteous to do so.

For water, we travel with water in the tank unless it is freezing and we have to travel winterized. If that is the case, I have an 8-gallon Hydroller water carrier that we use for water. If needed, RV antifreeze can be used for flushing #2. Even if the RV antifreeze in the black and gray water tanks is diluted from use, it still provides protection.
StephenH
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Leo B View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Mar 2018 at 5:21am
We also use the Flying J/Pilots we stay connected, leave the slide in and drop the stabilizers ( use our Dewalt portable screwdriver with a socket on it). Usually eat at the restaurant that is attached to the Flying J usually its a Golden Coral or Denny's . A couple times we have used a State  Welcome Center.
We usually travel with approx.  5 gall of water in the holding tank and bring plenty of bottled water. We also have a Flying J Pilot rewards card and built points for free coffees and showers.
Leo & Melissa Bachand
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Tars Tarkas View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Mar 2018 at 9:18am
I use WalMarts or truck stops.  I try to carry the water I need to reach my destination.  I don't unhook or put the stabilizers down.  Unless I'm really just catching a few Zs, I will run the slide out usually.  Why not?

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Richand Cindy View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Mar 2018 at 8:43pm
For just overnight we stayed hitched and carry enough water to get us through.  We joined Harvest Hosts.  They have a list of museums, farms, wineries, fruit stands that you can stay for free.  You can only call a day or two in advance.. and usually just for one night.  Obviously they do it in the hopes that you will buy something from them.  Imagine drinking some wine all alone in the vineyards when the winery closes for the day and you are the only ones around.  It is great.  One place we sat out for hours talking with the owner how he was a fourth generation wine maker.  Much better than a Walmart lot.  Some even have water and electric (some charge $10 others were free)
OLD 2017.5 RPOD 180 + 2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
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Subzilla View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Mar 2018 at 10:14am
Stayed at a Cracker Barrel last fall for a night....ate supper and breakfast at 6 am when they opened.  Discussed with manager first.  I think I did unhook just to take the load off the truck and WDH...may be unnecessary but personal preference.  It may have also been slightly unlevel.  Had water and it was really weird to take a shower in the CB parking lot.  Slide out for sure.
Never thought of the truck stops until just recently.  Plan to try a Flying J on the way to Florida in July.
Mark
Concord, NC
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Live2Camp View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Mar 2018 at 2:09pm
Originally posted by Subzilla

Stayed at a Cracker Barrel last fall for a night....ate supper and breakfast at 6 am when they opened.  Discussed with manager first.  

All of these ideas are helpful and thought-provoking, thank you all! My adult-long habit when needing to sleep in municipal areas or where there are other people (NOT including campgrounds) at coffee shops, rest stops & so forth is to sleep in the same vehicle as the steering wheel and accelerator. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to break that habit, but it's good to know what others are doing in these circumstances. And I agree with those who talk with the manager of such places, I do that as well. 

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His:Ford F150 double cab 4WD; Hers/mine:Tacoma V6 double cab 4WD
Still love rugged, diggin' comfy too
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rawest50 View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Mar 2018 at 2:51pm
Thanks for all the different location to spend while traveling. If others have other locations, please post.
2017.5 RPod 179
2017 Jeep Unlimited Wrangler
2017 Chevy Colorado Z71 Off Road Crew Cab
2 Weiner dogs
Great wife puts up with my BS
❤️ Thoroughbred Racing.
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