New Wal-Martians - RV-Dreams Community Forum

charles · RV-Dreams Family Member

New Wal-Martians

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yeah, and next you will see a posting somewhere from one or both of the class C units complaining about the rude Wal Mart in Greeley and promising to never darken their door again. People like that ruin opportunities for others. I bet if you checked, they dumped their waste tanks in a nearby storm drain.

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Charles,were you at the South Wal-Mart on 23rd Avenue(by Golden Corral)? If so they have been chasing a couple older class c's away for a while now. They go somewhere else for a while then come back and stay until asked to leave again.Those are "in my opinion" not true RVERS and make it bad for us that are.If you were at the North one on 10th Street I'm surprised they were allowed to stay very long as that is a nicer neighborhood and they chase them away pretty fast or they did when I lived in Greeley.Isn't that a beautiful drive up to Estes Park?

Mike and Gloria · RV-Dreams Family Member

We've stayed in a couple of Wal-marts overnight since beginning this adventure on March 31. Both times I would say there were nearly a dozen of us RVers in one distant corner of the parking lot and about a dozen semi's in another distant corner. It was much better than staying in a rest area on the highway like we'd done in Florida one night. In Wal-mart there was very little noise.

I can't imagine the rudeness of staying for weeks though.

The Wal-mart in Westerly, RI (where we're originally from) doesn't allow overnight boondocking at all. I imagine it's because it's a beach resort town plus Foxwoods Casino isn't that far away. They've had tremendous problems with the influx of tourists in the summer.

jayc · RV-Dreams Family Member

I've stayed in both Wal Marts and rest areas and felt at ease in both. I only stayed long enough to get some rest, never more than a few hours.

charles · RV-Dreams Family Member

Racerguy,

We were at the one across the street from the country club, a very nice neighborhood.

The birds in the two Class C's were definately living there.
When Pat asked the mgr for permission to park the mgr asked for how long.
The drive up to Estes Park was nice and we boondocked there, kinda cold!

Today we are in Buffalo, Wyoming, tried to stay in the National Park, drove up the mountain with the TT and all cg's were closed.
Huge buildings for the Park Service and NO ONE WORKING. No one.

The drive up here from Casper was very scenic, I like the wide open spaces and they have a lot of that here.

CCC

phyllen · RV-Dreams Family Member

About a month and a half ago we were staying in the Oklahoma City area for a few days. Someone suggested the casino in El Reno as it is free. There are 10 sites, FHU (50 amp even). When we pulled in security came up to us. We asked how long we could stay and was told as long as we wanted. We could not believe it! There were two old run-down rigs hooked up there. It was obvious these rigs had been there a long time and its owners had taken up permanent residence. Could not believe people had the nerve to live off the casino for free and that the casino permitted it.

We have stayed in WalMarts for a few hours sleep so not long enough to know if there were people taking up residence! Yup, these idiots hurt the rest of us.

Postalpair · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hubby and I love staying at Walmart. Like you said, we usually have some type of shopping to do......even if it's only for diesel, and always ask for permission.

Last one we were at was right outside of Lexington KY....little tow behind. Had his rig on leveling blocks, satellite up.....we pulled in pushed out our slides so we could eat dinner, brought back in our slides and went to bed. Up at 5am and back on the road. We get funny looks sometimes when we unhook to go get diesel if the pumps are close.....we have a 40ft toyhauler. Takes me and hubby about 10 minutes to unhook and get him over to fill up. I stay with the rig and wait until we take another 10 minutes to hook back up. We would NEVER consider ever dropping our rig to stay.

Ivey · RV-Dreams Family Member

I am sorry but I just can't imagine anyone abusing walmart's hospility by staying for a few weeks. We have stopped at a walmart twice to sleep. We stopped. asked permission, parked out of the way, and slept the night. We left early in the morning. It is a shame that some people abuse this.

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Give some people an inch and they will take a mile. hmm

Tim & Robyn · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm wondering why anyone would WANT to stay long-term in a Walmart parking lot.

Perhaps these people are basically unemployed and have lost everything else they had, except for their Class Cs, and if not for that would they basically be living under a bridge somewhere in a cardboard box?

Back in 2007 my wife and I noticed a woman who was parked in her car all day, every day, in a city owned park just down the road. It became clear that she was living in her car.

I called the authorities to see if there was something they could do to help her out, but she refused all offers, and there really wasn't anything they could do... it's a publc park after all. If she wanted to sit there all day in her car, that was her business I guess.

As cold winter weather approached, my wife and I offered her some extra blankets, but she refused. The city also began locking the entrance and exit gates to the park each evening, and passed an ordinance making it illegal to be in the park during the overnight hours. So, this woman simply parked her car just outside the entrance gate every night.

I don't know what has become of her. Earlier this last winter, it was obvious from the sound of it that her car was having major mechanical problems. The car is now gone, I have not seen her since, and I have no idea what has happened to her.

It's true there are those who will abuse courtesies offered to them. But there are also those who have mental, physical, emotional and financial problems who need our help if we are able to give it, rather than our condemnation.

There, but for the grace of God, go I.

Tim Fansler

BruceandTrisha · RV-Dreams Family Member

We've had similar problems with people "living" and not camping at the campground where we are camphosts. Not with RVers, but with tents - and they end up making their campsite look like tent city with all their stuff spread out everywhere. Finally made the decision that tent campers can only stay one week. WalMart might have to change their policy - to allow 1 or 2 nights as a result of the abuse of the hospitality. All we can do is make sure we take the time to tell management how much they are appreciated - and provide a great example of respecting their service.

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Tim, Some people don't realize what it is like to try and get back into the main stream. Do I say been there done that! I had a back injury that forced the loss of job, home, posessions and wife and kids. I took a job driving taxi, staying in hotel parking lots to sleep and the YMCA to take showers, as well as truck stops. But: The beef here is extended stays with an RV in parking lots. Would not even consider it! People don't know what to do when the finances are lost!

But, I do hope those who are so affluent, never lose what they have! 2nd the But for the Grace of God, there goes me.