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Joined: 3/16/2009
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Okay, I have a question here and since I know that there are no stupid questions, here goes. I am planning on heading to Texas next week to pick up my granddaughter and bring her back to MD with me for the summer. I'm figuring I'll drive about 7 hours a day and so it should take me about 4 days to get to Abilene. My questions, for all you experienced travelers is...when you overnight in a Flying J or WalMart parking lot what is the proper protocol as far as slides and generators, etc? Is it okay to put the slides out? I mean, I could leave it in, but it makes it a whole lot nicer to have it out. I don't want to "do anything wrong" that would cause problems for others. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Paulette
Maryland
Paulette
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Joined: 3/16/2009
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I have never pulled up at a Walmart for an overnighter but see the rigs even with there slides out. However, in Saratoga Walmart I see more w/out their slides pulled. I also know some states don't allow the Walmart overnighting. I think you can go to Walmart rvs or something for info on that. Or post more ? See my ps
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Joined: 3/16/2009
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Hey Paulette, What a neat trip and I bet your grand daughter is going to be excited as well.. I know as a kid I'd be looking out those windows...
I can only tell you what I do.. as I have slides as well and I also tow.. I park usually in Flying J's and I park to the side as I have the dogs .. makes it easy for me to let them out.. I pull my slide out a little .. not opened all the way.. on my passenger side because I'm parked next to the curb I can let my bedroom slide out all the way.. but my living room is just out enough so it's roomy..and I don't have to worry about someone whacking it.. if it's hot I run the genni..as my dogs need the AC as well as me.. but if it's cool I just open my vents and slide my windows open as well to let the air in.. I do watch TV and also I charge up my Laptop too LOL I'm usually in bed by 10:30pm as I'm an early riser..
Walmarts, honestly I think I've stayed in them once or twice..but I much prefer Flying J's ..Now I don't look like I'm homesteading LOL cause I've seen some that do...LOL .. but just comfy for overnight sleeping..
Hope that gives you some idea.. You'll see when you pull in.. Now if you are parked in like a row of Rigs .. which I don't usually do because of my 4 dogs..LOL.. but I've seen some pull their slides out just enough like maybe a foot..giving them a little room.. always see those antennas up..that's for sure..
Keep us posted on your journey to Texas.. Lots of great Flying J's along the way :)
God Bless and Be Safe
Barbzeee....
Life is full of surprises, just go with the flow !
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Joined: 3/16/2009
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Thank you all for the advice...I really appreciate it.
Paulette
Maryland
Paulette
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Joined: 3/16/2009
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Great advice Donna
I've spent the past two nights at Flying J's - have never opened my slide at one, and I've never seen a slide open at one. If you were to do so, I would suggest it would have to be as Barb said - where you were parked where your slide would open towards the side with grass - which means you'd have to park along a side.
I haven't stayed at Walmart's, but while you don't need to ask at Flying J - I would definitely ask at a Walmart and make sure I was ok to be there. It's not the Walmart's making the rules when you can't stay - it's the cities, etc.
Have a great trip!
Smiling is contagious - try it!
Bethers
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Once your reputation is ruined, you can live life quite freely :) (old German saying)
Bethers
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Well, my sister is going along with me on this trip, and my Dad hasn't made up his mind yet if he is going or not. I think it would be a little rough on him considering his health, but will let him decide. If he goes, then both dogs will go too, so it will be 3 adults, 2 dogs and a 7 year old on the trip back!!! Family Fun!
I may try to do Good Sam parks on the way there and back instead of overnighting at WalMarts or Flying J's. We'll see. If it was just me or just me and sister, I would probably do the overnights instead.
Thanks for the etiqette updates, I do appreciate that and will keep that in mind for any time I do decide to overnight somewhere.
Have made the reservation in Abilene at the KOA and will overnight in my step-sister's driveway just outside of Houston on the return trip. I will finally get to meet her in person! We have communicated for years now via e-mail and on the phone but I have never met her face to face, so I am excited about that too!
Still have a few more plans to finalize, but it is coming together.
Thanks
Paulette
Maryland
Paulette
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Joined: 3/16/2009
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Paulette if everyone gets to go to Texas that is thinking about it...will be such a nice family trip!!
How exciting for you to meet your step-sister!! It will be so great after many years of being friends/sisters via mail!!!
This is fun just to plan the trip...Enjoy it all!
Jomilt From Texas
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Paulette, You know just use Common Sense ! When I park, whether it be FlyingJ's or a Walmart or even a Cracker Barrel.. I just try to show respect for others.. I do park also for the ease of taking care of my Critters as I said before and also because I have a tow.. If it's just for a few hours I don't drop my Jacks..but when it's overnight I certainly have too! It's because you have to be level in your rig to run your refrigerator..if it's on propane..other wise you can run into some big trouble.. Your refrig will not work properly if it's not closely level.. This is a Fact !! I've done the mishap.. where I didn't realize..I leveled to my coach and not to my refrigerator.. and what happened is my frig started not working properly.. it was cold up in the freeze but the bottom part was not.. I had to then take the Frig completely out turn it upside down to try to break loose the blockage..(this was really cute driving around with Frig upside down ) which it didn't.. they also did another procedure to attempt to break the blockage loose..(didn't work) and wound up with a New Frig that wasn't cheap.. So I learned a very costly lesson.. What matters is, My Refrig.. I use my bubble level put it inside the Freezer plate and if the bubble is some what near the circle I'm safe ..but if it's not... I then level my coach to that .. What amazes me.. is how come they don't when putting the refrig in.. why don't they level the Frig at that point to have it all in one..but I guess that's asking too much !!!! Or better yet have a level built on the door of the frig so that would indicate when you park whether it's level or not...duh.. not much brain power for that folks LOL... Anyway.. now you have an understanding of why.. you have to level if you are parking more than a couple of hours.....
So yes, as far as the parking in Walmart and CrackerBarrel..for short time.. but if more than a couple of hours.. You need to level.. just don't set out your beach chairs and drop your awnings LOL..
Ok, enough said..I'm laughing at that one..cause one time I saw a group of people set up a picnic table chairs and a BBq Grill...and even you'll love this a clothes line from one rig to the other LOL>.. bet that was a riot.. :)
God Bless and Happy and Safe Journey ..what ever way you decide..
Barbzeee
PS Thanks Fernie..Yeppers my close and clothes are part of my New York Accent LOL
Life is full of surprises, just go with the flow !
This message was edited by Barbzeee on 5-18-06 @ 11:42 AM
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