BOONDOCKERS WELCOME VALUE YOUR FEEDBACK - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Someday · RV-Dreams Family Member

BOONDOCKERS WELCOME VALUE YOUR FEEDBACK

CJSX2fromCT · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cheri and I offer a spot in CT outside of Hartford (BOLTON) and have hosted to a few boondockers. The house is back on the market for the 3rd year now UUUUUUGGGGG! We are still are offering a place until we sell. feel free to look us up on boondockerswelcome.com under cjsx2fromct Safe travels.

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

Staying in Walmart..................Isn't "Boondocking".

Someday · RV-Dreams Family Member

TRAILERKING wrote:
Staying in Walmart..................Isn't "Boondocking".

Really!!!

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

Someday wrote:
TRAILERKING wrote:
Staying in Walmart..................Isn't "Boondocking".
Really!!!

Yes...............Really!!!

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

BoondockersWelcome is a really cool program... it's couch surfing for RVing. We love driveway surfing ourselves, and some of our best stays have been from accepting invitations to be temporary neighbors.

We've not renewed our membership, as we just simply don't use it.. we prefer getting invitations (which we get more than we could possibly accept via our social media presence), as opposed to asking for them. But that's really our only reason why. If staying with people is appealing to you (and sounds like hosting folks), it's definitely worth the small price of admission.

As to if you can score parking locations in big cities? Remember, if there are RV ordinances in place for an area, they would apply to potential hosts as well as local businesses. But yes, we have heard of folks being invited to stay longer than a couple nights in some locations - I believe the listings have that information.

Have fun!
- Cherie

Someday · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Cherie really appreciate that kind response. We feel for the sake of $20 a year it's worth getting for sure, we were just wondering how easy those that have used it often have found it on response to enquiries/acceptance etc. I have followed yours, Nina and Paul, Jason and Nikki and love the Fagan's, man they find some awesome boon docking spots on Roadslesstraveled. You all seem to think and roll the way we like to more off grid, and have thoroughly enjoyed your write ups and learnt a tremendous amount over the years. Thank you all for your dedication to your sites and blogs to assist those coming behind you.

I'm planning our travels now, and for San Antonio ease of getting around, are thinking to grin and bear it booking into Travelers World for 3 nights, and McKinney Falls SP Austin reads well for a handful of days to explore. Hubby's really into fishing and I into kayaking and water sports so that is where we typically target with a sprinkling of variety when passing nearby towns/cities/attractions.

Also thank you for your kind invitation CJSX2fromCT, next time we are in CT area we'll be sure to look you up, but for your sake hopefully your place has sold for you by then - we've just listed a Fla home, and surprised we haven't had any showings yet albeit the first week on the market can't imagine waiting 3 years!

Happy and Safe Travels to all,

SD.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

TRAILERKING wrote:
Someday wrote:
TRAILERKING wrote:
Staying in Walmart..................Isn't "Boondocking".
Really!!!

Yes...............Really!!!

I don't agree. Some people look at it that way, but many say "boondocking" anywhere they camp without hookups. These kind of words are not used consistently, similarly to some people thinking "RV" means "motorhome" and not a trailer or truck camper.

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well to me "Boondocking" is bringing out the furniture, popping out the awnings, grillin' on the BBQ,......loungin' back and having a beverage. That shouldn't be takin' place in a Walmart parking lot. It's bad enough to see all those that "Need" to put out (4) slides and levelling jacks down....Sitting in Walmart parking lot.

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

My opinion FWIW, is parking in a Walmart lot, while technically boondocking, is more a convenient place to stop overnight (where allowed). If the accomodation being made by Walmart et al, gets abused sufficiently that the locals or indeed the providers of such accomodations feel abused (trash, landing pad dimples, noisy generators, excessive stays etc.) then it will be the end of a valuable resource for the rest of us. Sadly too many people take such intended to be mutually beneficial accomodations for granted then wonder why the next time they come by the police or towing companies are lurking about, suggesting a move it or lose it frame of mind. It's not unreasonable, or all that inconvenient, to ask about the overnight parking (if offered) rules and to patronize the establishment that is providing a place to crash for a few hours. It's win-win.

I agree, to a point, with Bernie... emotionally, boondocking and Walmart parking lots don't really go together or leave me with a warm fuzzy.

I wouldn't want to split hairs on the Webster's Dictionary definition of "Boondocking" biggrin

Brian

-- Edited by biggaRView on Monday 13th of April 2015 09:58:52 AM

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Maybe that's why some of us use the term "Wally docking" instead of boondocking for just the WalMart stops, but I'm not going to argue too much about the definition.

We haven't taken advantage of Boondockers Welcome due to our travel style, maybe if we had a bit more time and flexibility in our schedule, we'd find a better use for this service. Since we're not retired, when we have the longer relocation weekends we tend to drive a few more miles than many RV'ers out there and we just want somewhere to stop for the night, when we're ready and honestly, we don't always feel like we want to interact with hosts or chit chat with someone we've never met before. There are those nights after a long day's drive where we just want to veg in the privacy of our home on wheels. Wally docking and Casino Camping are much easier for us to accomplish that goal and we can pull in as late and leave as early as we need to for our schedule.

Regarding the slide issue, no we don't have to put all 4 slides out, but we do have to put 3 out to access the bathroom, stove, etc. We don't put the jacks down. I will say some of these stops are our most expensive overnight stops, restocking at WalMart or going out for dinner at a Casino, but then again we are usually counting on that convenience factor to make our traveling a little easier.

And as we've changed our travel style / plans and become more experienced at life on the road and slowed our pace down the need for Casino or Wally Docking has also decreased, to now just planning these stops 3-4 times a year.

Someday · RV-Dreams Family Member

Heck, Dang It, I've tried everything to avoid it, Tied Hands Behind My Back, Tapped fingers on keyboard, looked at other threads and posts, but I admit I'm weak and can't hold back no longer, my warped sense of humour just won't allow it, and seen as since post 3 has sent this off topic from the subject of Boondockers Welcome Feedback, here goes:

So you mean that when hubby and I pull up for a week stay, as close as possible to Walmart Garden Centre blocking several vehicles access so locals get better exercise walking to the store from the back of the lot, connect our water hose to their Spigot and our Electric to their outlet, attach our sewer hose to discharge into their storm drain, then put out all our slides, awning, Large Mat, Comfy Chairs, and hubby puts his speedos on to catch some rays whilst he's blowing up the pool we like to set up to cool us down in middle of the day, which Walmart kindly lets us fill from their Spigot it's not acceptable? Really?

Shucks, we thought it'd be fine considering we spend our dollars in their store by buying a couple of cases of beer, some hard liquor for plenty of shots to get hammered, marshmallows to toast on our fire pit we put up and some CD's for loud music to get the party going. Everyone dances into Walmart when we stay there, well except when we decide to shower outside in the car park but if folks start staring too long we get them to join in with a water fight by Spraying them. We get so many folks laughing including the employees we know they like it.

We don't dance around in the pool or whilst showering outside in our birthday suits anymore (I keep a thong on now) cos one we stayed at we got an expensive citation ticket for indecent exposure, so we just guessed that wouldn't be acceptable any more moving forwards. Because of the way we set up with connections we don't even need to block their bathrooms for washing our hair so we thought they might really appreciate that.

Man oh man, Shock, Horror, Faint. We had no idea that the way we roll wasn't acceptable when Wallydocking, as well, we thought that by throwing our litter all over the place in their lot it kept that nice guy and gal in paid work who do a great job of collecting it all up to save us bothering too. Guess we've got a lot to learn.

Off now to study RV101 Back To Basics. Do You Think There's Any Hope For Us Moving Forwards?

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

Someday wrote:
connect our water hose to their Spigot and our Electric to their outlet,

Don't laugh there are some people that actually do that and sort of act like this should be a normal practice. Topping off the water tank and charging up the batteries.................All at someone else's expense.

-- Edited by TRAILERKING on Monday 13th of April 2015 01:26:51 PM