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Old 01-09-2014, 12:44 PM   #21
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I personally do not care where we spend the night. Sometimes it's a reasonably priced campground or an RV park, or even a Walmart. It all averages out over time. $35000 for a trailer and $45000 for a truck to pull it at 10 miles a gallon. I am not worried about the extra ten bucks it might cost me to stay somewhere nice. i will just to leave less for the kids to inherit.
Kinda puts things into perspective, doesn't it?
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Old 01-09-2014, 01:15 PM   #22
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When we are in travel mode, Flying J's type accommodations work because it's quick and simple. Relaxation mode is a different story. Price doesn't matter so much.
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Old 01-10-2014, 06:17 PM   #23
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On the Ohio turnpike, we pulled into one of the stops with a plaza with food court and gas station,restrooms and showers for truckers, etc. We followed signs for trailers and there were pull through spots (maybe 10 spots) with an electric box. There was a drop box for $20 (I think that amount is correct) for an overnight stop. It even had a dump station. Too close to home but would have been awesome to have something like that off I-75 when we attempt a road trip to Florida from Michigan. No need to pay anyone extra because there is always someone in the plaza.
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Old 01-10-2014, 06:35 PM   #24
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We'll be traveling through Alabama in about 3 weeks and plan to spend a night around Birmingham. What interstate were you referring and can you remember what town it was near or any other information. Thanks.
Let me know what you find, especially on the south bypass. By car I usually stay at Embassy Suites in Hoover, and there's also an RV park in Hoover. Probably a good starting point.
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Old 01-10-2014, 07:09 PM   #25
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I'm sure there are people this would appeal to - but think about it from the other side. As a business model, 20 sites at $15 per night could generate a maximum of $300 a day. Figure in the cost of overhead (land, improvements), labor for an attendent (even at min wage for 8 hrs, that is $75 with payroll taxes & comp) and utilities and then determine what the occupancy % is, it doesn't leave much for profit.

Customer loyalty and repeat business could be an issue. Let's say I go to Florida every winter for X weeks. If this operation is on my way through NC or SC, sure I would stop and gladly pay $15 for hookups on my way there. And if the distance works out right where it is also in a good spot for the way back, I'll stop again on my way back. Even if its the greatest thing going, I only use it 2 nights a year.

And one last thought - if your target market is the guy who is too cheap to spring for a campground at $45, you run the risk of that guy also being to cheap to spend $15 for water & electric and he goes for the Walmart parking lot.

As an add-on to a truck stop or gas station along the right interstate, it might be a good revenue booster for an already operating business. I think this would have great appeal to a segment of RV'ers, but is the market really big enough to support a business? But adding this to an existing truck stop or gas station chain where your start-up and operating costs are low might work.
Using this model Hotels and Motels would not make it either. Sometimes I am just looking for a safe place to park for a night. Don't really need all the fixens.

I have thought that there is money to be made with this idea but on a larger scale. Having many lots scattred about would be better. You could be the McDonalds for the RVer. Why do people go to McDonalds? because they know what's on the menu and how much it will cost. A convenient RV lot Nationwide that is reasonable and secure and people will come. .

I would offer a free spot to a campground host who would monitor the site for free in exchange for his spot. I would do 50 and 30 amp but no dump, no bathrooms and no showers.... 72 hour limit and then gone for 72 hours... No outside yard art or blue tarps....

Also check out

Casino's offer overnight RV spot could be a dry camp but if it's only for one night.


We have a large truck stop near us, The Truck Stop has a large paved secondary parking lot with several power kiosk's. You pay for power by the hour the parking site is free. I don't know if other truck stops offer this kind of accommodation but worth checking out if your looking for a spot.
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Old 01-10-2014, 07:34 PM   #26
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When in Vermont we stopped at a motel and asked if we could stay on their lot for the night. The owner said we would have to use the back lot (no problem). He then escorted us to the back where there was a20 amp plug in(Used for winter parking). He let us stay for free, the only thing that he asked us to do was to use the motel restaurant for breakfast in the morning (not a major hardship). We even went to the motel for dinner that night.
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Old 01-10-2014, 08:36 PM   #27
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I would have used it at a campground. Not sure about any other place. I always thought it would be nice for campgrounds to set aside several slots with electric only for quick stops. I've seen a few like that. Stacked close, and cheaper than reg spots.
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Old 01-11-2014, 05:01 AM   #28
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We'll be traveling through Alabama in about 3 weeks and plan to spend a night around Birmingham. What interstate were you referring and can you remember what town it was near or any other information. Thanks.
Dauphin Island is on the Gulf near Mobile, AL. It would be reached with I-10 or I-65.
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Old 01-17-2014, 11:56 AM   #29
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Funny, that is what I'm trying to search for online now for our road trip from Florida to Goshen in August. Somewhere not too far off I-75 and I-65, for one night, not too pricey.
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Old 03-06-2014, 01:26 AM   #30
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Join your local Elk's Lodge (BPOE). They have lodges in most cities and many have RV hookups for members. Sites vary from parking lot to full hook up sites with E/W/S. Prices
vary-usually average $17 for full hook up. Use them all the time in Western USA.
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Old 03-06-2014, 08:12 AM   #31
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Funny, that is what I'm trying to search for online now for our road trip from Florida to Goshen in August. Somewhere not too far off I-75 and I-65, for one night, not too pricey.
Are you headed to the FROG rally? We will be in Fl. till early July then heading to the rally from there so if you know or hear of any good spots post them as we will be looking for some also.
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Old 03-06-2014, 09:29 AM   #32
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I have often thought about Walmart putting electric spots along their parking lots with meters were you could swipe a credit card and they could charge per hour or by usage. We also often stop at walmarts especially if it just for a quick over night stop and generally I will fire generator up which a can run for a few bucks per hour even with ac running.

If I were to implement a short term stay kind of place I'd go with something along this route. Only I'd look to put them in roadside truck stops. Pull thru, first come, first serve, no water, no sewer, credit card swipe for power, probably charge by hour as there should be a better profit margin than charging by usage for an overnight stay, when usage is minimal after the initial evening. Site's already manned, so at most you might need a couple of hours part time extra to cover walking the area and picking up trash, hosing down sites occupied by inconsiderates.

Within the truck stop, you'd also be able to provide showers (pay per use), a diner and a separate fresh water fill and dump station (again at a price) to complete the package.

Provided you already had a rest/truck stop, probably the most expensive startup cost would be getting a system built to handle the 'use a credit card to get power' poles.

Aside from the power, I assume rest stops in Ontario probably allowed overnights once upon a time. I know anytime I pull into one of the onroutes (onroute.ca) I see what's now picnic areas, but based on size, layout, and the occasional one that still has gravel pads they look like they once supported dry camping. To bad they now all have signs that say "No Overnight stays allowed".
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