[chuckinca]

KOA $45 +/- (they are usually a family destination and have more amenities)

Passport America members 1/2 price if you can find one.

Florida State Parks are usually very nice and Fla seniors get a 50% discount.

Truck stops, Cracker Barrels or Walmarts are too noisy and not very safe.

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[hulahips]

Last post said Walmart not very safe? I am a bit worried about safety. If u are traveling through states that do not allow u to carry a weapon what would u use to protect itself if God forbid someone tried to break in??

[hulahips]

I am a bit worried about safety. If your traveling through a state that does not allow weapons what would u do if God forbid someone tried to break into ur rv??

[chuckinca]

call 911

grab a butcher knife

use wasp/pepper spray

scream

etc

Walmart might be a bit safer than a truck stop or a Cracker Barrel that closes at 10 PM or so.

We planed on staying in a Walmart a couple years ago and it took checking out three Walmarts before one looked ok to stay, at 11 PM. We left at 4 AM.

On the flip side - we always stop at Walmarts to get off the road for a few minutes, buy some food, use their bathrooms (always in the front of the store and usually fairly clean), walk around the aisles for exercise, buy gas at Murphy's if they have one; Murphy's usually has the cheapest gas in town. But staying overnight isn't a good idea. They sell a Rand McNally road map that locates all the Walmarts in the country and also indicates if the store allows overnight RVs.

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[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Cisco Kid

67 & 63

You smarta$$!

[Xcuse]

Originally Posted by hulahips

Hubby and I have always wanted to try an RV trip. We are going to rent one and try a short trip to see if we like it. If we do, are we too old to begin now?? He is 66. I am 62. Also tips for 1st timers??

We are 69 & 65 and have been traveling in a motorhome for over 20 years during which we have met lots of people in their 70's & 80's still going strong. We used a 26 footer for many years and carried bicycles to get around if we didn't want to drive. With the 26 footer we could almost always find a place to park to shop or sightsee. The only time we ever make reservations is if we are visiting a popular tourist area in the high ( generally when schools are out ) season. We moved up to a 36 footer to go full time on the road several years ago and started to tow a car to augment the bicycles.
Definitely try it to see if you like it before buying something.

[gerryann]

Originally Posted by chuckinca

KOA $45 +/- (they are usually a family destination and have more amenities)

Passport America members 1/2 price if you can find one.

Florida State Parks are usually very nice and Fla seniors get a 50% discount.

Truck stops, Cracker Barrels or Walmarts are too noisy and not very safe.

.

Passport America and most other discount clubs have pretty much gone to the wayside. I agree it is best to stay out of the Walmart and other parking lots. It's just not safe anymore. Go to a KOA and get their free book. If you stay in KOA,s, there are incentives and discounts if you belong. (Inexpensive to get the KOA card).

[hulahips]

Definitely appreciating the straight forward answers as I am trying to learn from experienced rv'ers. Will avoid walmarts as mentioned previously but still looking for honest answer on security concerns

[vitacr]

We've bought & sold 3 RV's in the last 4 years - currently have a 26' travel trailer & we look forward to long weekends usually once a month. Mostly we travel 2-3 hrs for a 3 night trip. We bought & sold only "used" RV's using this site, Ocala4sale. Villages4sale & Craigslist. We always sold for more than we paid. If you like it, we suggest you join Passport America where you get 50% off RV parks nationwide. We rarely pay more than $25 a night. Most parks offer activities, WiFi, Cable, pool, etc. All state parks give seniors 50% off. The coastal RV parks fill up fast with "seasonal folks" in "season" Glad you're giving it a chance - Mainly, have fun.

[SantaClaus]

We've been RVing for 12+ years and love it. You can do a lot of touring with a 25' but having to break camp every time you want to see a sight or make a grocery run is very problematic. We did that for years. You can always rent at your destination but that's not very convenient either. There's a reason you see so many towing a dinghy.

[chuckinca]

Or pulling a trailer or 5er.

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[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by chuckinca

Truck stops, Cracker Barrels or Walmarts are too noisy and not very safe.

Truck stops maybe, but CB & Walmat are not noisy at all,

Not safe do have you any info to support safety issues?

in 9 years never heard anything

Originally Posted by hulahips

Last post said Walmart not very safe? I am a bit worried about safety. If u are traveling through states that do not allow u to carry a weapon what would u use to protect itself if God forbid someone tried to break in??

I think they are very safe and there are always other RV's parked generally in one area.

A gun is a problem, we carry a 12 Ga but a 410 shotgun will work as well, just can't cross over to Canada with it.

Originally Posted by chuckinca

call 911

They sell a Rand McNally road map that locates all the Walmarts in the country and also indicates if the store allows overnight RVs.
.

Rvparky.com is free and up to date

Originally Posted by SantaClaus

but having to break camp every time you want to see a sight or make a grocery run is very problematic. We did that for years. You can always rent at your destination but that's not very convenient either. There's a reason you see so many towing a dinghy.

I agree, we towed a 31' Airstream for 6 years, and last 3 drive a motorhome, should have made the switch years ago.

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also checkout RV, and iRV2 Forum | - RV Forum Community and RV News

those two have thousands of RV'ers that give you info/advice


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[Xcuse]

Have to agree with Jimbo. In 20 plus years of RVing have never met anyone who had to use a weapon while camping at a truck stop,Walmart, Crackerbarrel etc.
Noise is another issue. Just beware of your surroundings when you stop someplace.

[Jayhawk]

Here's a great site where many questions are answered by the owners of every type of RV imaginable:

RV.Net RV and Camping Forum ? RV, Trailer, Camper, Motorhome, Camping and Campground Information

[SantaClaus]

We have had one situation that was pretty scary while boondocking at Walmart. It was the middle of the night and someone came banging on the door. I sprang from the bed and in my best "burly football player" voice asked "Who is it". It was a couple of rough looking young guys who said they needed $20 for some scam-reason. I told them we used the last of our cash earlier buying KFC (also in the parking lot) , even having to use our available change. They left without so much as an apology for waking us at 2am. I suspect that they were really checking to see if the moho was empty so they could break in. I hate to think what might have happened if someone smaller had answered the door... I'm 6'2" 300lbs. We do not do parking lots any more. We have done a few rest areas since, but really prefer to pay $30 for a proper site if we can.