I have read previous posts, blogs & journals where someone will mention that they didn't unhitch if they only planned to stop overnight.  When you do this must you still level the unit, lower the jacks, etc?  How about the slides?  I understand that you can't extend the slides in a Walmart or Cracker Barrel parking lot, but what about in a campground?  If I stop in a campground and only intend to stay overnight and leave the next morning, what is the necessary  minimum set-up required?

I'm asking because when I leave the NY/NJ area to drive south, I don't intend to stay anyplace except for overnight stops until I reach the point where I can safely de-winterize.  I'm not sure where that will be, but I'll be traveling down I-81 along the Appalachians.

gypsy

When we spend an overnighter, I make sure we are level and if necessary will pull up on blocks. I will then lower the front and then the rear landing gear to make the rig more stable for walking around inside. I do not unplug or put wheel chocks under the wheels but do set the parking brake on the truck. We do put our slides out as we would not stay anywhere that we couldn't.
Bob

I am not sure where you are headed down I81 but we travel it a lot going from NJ to Louisiana. We are in Southern NJ. If we leave after work, we travel about 8 hours which takes us to Wytheville VA. I have two nephews and families who live in the area. We stop over at the Walmart. RV's are welcome there. If you pull along the edge on the parking lot, one sides slide can open. We do not unhook but like Bob, have used blocks to level us and rear landing gear down. One thing - on Fri and Sat nights this is the teen hang out until around 11. Then the local police show up and move them on the way.

I usually take I-84 from NY over to Scranton, PA, and then pick up I-81 south.  Then I like to turn south on I-77 just before Wytheville, VA and take it to I-40 to drive to Asheville.  I can't make up my mind if I would rather pull the 5ver over the mtns on I-77, or those a little further south on 81.  It looks like I will have to take I-95 to the Baltimore beltway to get over to 81 if I leave from NJ.  I really would like to avoid Baltimore, and am thinking about the PA Tpke over to Carlisle PA and then south. 

I've ordered the Woodall's directory, so I think I'll be able to find campgrounds along the way; also I got the membership in Good Sam Club, and plan to do the same for Escapees, so hopefully I can get discounts at CG's.  I think at first I would prefer CG's to stopping at a Walmart all by myself.  A little experience on the road will probably take care of that.  I'm no shrinking violet, but to tell the truth I am scared silly over just getting started.

gypsy

Whatever you do, you should warm up your diesel engine before you leave. We always unhook so we can take the truck out for a spin before hooking up but just running the engine to warm it up might do the trick. I'm sure there are diesel experts on here who can tell you.

Please don't be scared silly. Just do it, you'll be fine. If it makes you feel better stay at CG's instead of Walmart's. We have only stayed at one Walmart in 2 years on the road. It was OK but in a smaller town. Like Sandra said, let your engine warm up in the morning before starting out and go easy the first few miles. All will be fine and if you are in a place you are not comfortable, just leave, thats the advantage of being mobile. Bob & Judy

You might think of picking up a copy of the Trailer Life Campground Directory also, it's a lot more comprehensive than the Woodalls. Another good resource is just to pick a location on the Google Map and search for campground. It sometimes picks up CG's that aren't listed in any directories. We've never stayed at a Walmarts, but notice trailers with their slides out all the time when we go there. I'll take a counter position on the diesel warmup, we just start it and drive off. By the time you get out of the campground and local neighborhood the engine is fine. Good luck, you're going to be just fine. It seems overwhelming to everyone at the beginning. Fred

gypsy, the min required is up to you, what ever is safe andyou are comfortable with.  If you can sleep in a titleted bed no need to level up the rig. I'v been in some spots overnight where I did no more then plug in the shore cord, others I'v had to level the rig, others I had to level and un-hitch.  It depends on the place, the spot and how fast I want to get on the road in the morning, and what is safe.  Good luck in your travels, take your time and always error on the side of caution. 
 
Flyone

Like others have posted, it's up to you and depends on the situation.

One night when we were really tired and I couldn't drive any longer the only place we could find was an all night grocery store parking lot. I asked the night manager if it would be ok to stay the night, he said ok and he would let his brother know...the local sheriff.

Unfortunately the parking lot was not level and the only way we could park the rig made it necessary for the two of us to hold on to each other all night so we would not roll out of bed....just kidding. We put extra pillows on the low side of the bed to keep us from rolling out.

I left the 5th wheel connected to the truck and only rolled out the bedroom slide.

I discovered the next morning, the refrigerator was not cooling properly due to the angle the temperature inside had risen about 15 degrees. It was ok once we got back on the road.

I should have tried to level the trailer before going to bed, but was too tired.


-- Edited by thebearII at 17:17, 2008-10-28

Escapees' overnight parking eitquette suggests not lowering your landing gear if you're overnighting in an asphalt parking lot somewhere.... they can damage the pavement, and if that were to happen the owners might not be too happy about it and might rescind the privilege for all RVers...

You should review the Escapees Parking Eitquette and be a good guest. We never unhook or lower any of our jacks and have never had to level the fifthwheel (most parking areas are level enough). As for the slides, we have extended the bedroom slide a couple of times at Flying J's when we can get next to a curb on that side; otherwise we don't extend slides. We do use our generator for a little while inorder to get an internet fix and watch a little TV. And further, we ask permission and only stay one night.

Dry camping anywhere can be fun. We just pull in and go to bed. We do not extend the slides because we can use the shower bed and toilet without the slides out. We can get to the fridge and enough counter to make a sandwhich. We don't unhook the truck cause we normally don't go anywhere. The idea is to get some sleep and then get up the next morning and get on down the road. We do use Casino parking areas some and if that is the case we have a place to eat and play..then go to bed without unhooking. Make it a fun experiance but do mind your manners where ever you go. Joe and Sherri

When we are in "travel mode" it is soooo nice not to have to unhitch for the night. We do try to make sure we are as level as possible. We are usually in an rv park so we do use the slides and stabilizers. Debbie

When we bought our fiver we looked for a floorplan that would allow us to stop overnight and fully function without putting any slides out.  We always put  large wood blocks under our landing gear if we had to level the rig.