Long Trip Overnights in a Hybrid

SDPadsfan · 12-11-2016, 12:57 PM

We have had our Roo for about nine months now and absolutely love it. So far we have only camped around Southern California, but now that we are more comfortable we are starting to look into planning longer trips to Northern California and out of state. Some of the places we are looking to go will involve multi-day trips. What are the best options for overnighting in a hybrid? We have two daughters so I don't think turtling is an option as there will not be enough bed space. At the very least I will have to drop the front bunk while it is still hitched up to our truck. Has anybody ever done the rest area/Wal-Mart/Truck Stop thing with a hybrid, and what was it like?

GalsofEscape · 12-11-2016, 03:28 PM

we have never done the walmart/rest stops type of overnightning. Our long trips, we use the KOA chain of campgrounds. Normally we do not go to KOAs as a camping destination, we use state parks. but for traveling stops KOAs are convenient and for just an overnight, they are fine. They are all over, usually close to the interstate, and easy to get too. We would plan to stop early enough so that the kids could swim and play at the campground facilities. Having a campground gives the kids space to run off energy after sitting in the car. we took a two week trip from Maryland to Yellowstone and back and this worked very well.

Mainframe · 12-11-2016, 04:59 PM

I do long trips and never even think about not staying in a campground, it is part of the fun, plan your trips so you can get set up in enough time to enjoy a swim and a campfire, use the internet for a destination campground, good sam app and KOA aps are what I use.

Google maps etc.

Why risk your family's safety at a Wal-mart when you could be in a campground having fun and being set up

Nccamper · 12-11-2016, 06:24 PM

We had to an emergency overnight at a Wal-Mart. We used the couch and the dinette bed. We were still attached to the TV, but we put the two slides out. We could have pull the front bed out if needed. Always ask the manger about where to park.

RACarvalho · 12-12-2016, 08:20 AM

We stayed at Walmart several times.
We would arrive after 10pm and leave early morning.
Only slides out no beds. We are 5 so 2 in the HAB, 2 in the dinnete and one in the floor.
Look for the Supercenter stores. The local ones probably will not allow you to stay.
Ask for permission before you do anything. We were never refused in a Supercenter.
I don't put the beds out for safety and noise reasons.

R

KMP44 · 12-12-2016, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GalsofEscape

we have never done the walmart/rest stops type of overnightning. Our long trips, we use the KOA chain of campgrounds. Normally we do not go to KOAs as a camping destination, we use state parks. but for traveling stops KOAs are convenient and for just an overnight, they are fine. They are all over, usually close to the interstate, and easy to get too. We would plan to stop early enough so that the kids could swim and play at the campground facilities. Having a campground gives the kids space to run off energy after sitting in the car.

Same here. We always find a campground, even on a quick overnight stop. We also look for a KOA or other campground with a pull-through site. We can put both bunks down without unhooking, so it saves a lot of time getting setup and then getting going in the morning AND everybody is comfortable sleeping in their own beds. After driving all day, we look forward to a cocktail while making dinner and letting the kids swim. That's my idea of vacation travel. It means you take an extra day to get where you are going, but for us, its as much about enjoying the trip as it is the destination. For some people it works out great to drive late, crash at Walmart and hit the road early again - and you can add an extra day or two at your destination.

Our first really long trip with the Roo was 2,800 miles in 11 nights - with 8 one night stops and a 3 night stop to visit friends. We saw a lot of things along the way and averaged 350 miles a day - about 5-6 hours a day on average. We had a great time and found some places we will go back to when we have time, but what a great trip.

**ependydad** · 12-12-2016, 12:56 PM

We hit Walmarts occasionally. There are no "rules"- just some guidelines that folks recommend. Personally, one of those recommendations that I don't mind violating is the "no slides" rule. Our bunkhouse is inaccessible with the slide closed and our camper is much more livable with them open. We open up the slides on one side of the camper. We ensure we're parked in such a way that it essentially doesn't block any additional space than if they were closed.

So, for hybrids- if you can open the beds with the truck still hitched up; I say go for it.

KMANUEL74 · 12-12-2016, 01:23 PM

Last summer we did a 9k mile trip with our 9 and 11 year old daughters. Like stated earlier, we used KOA'S as stop overs and not destinations. Prices are consistent, pull thru sites so I did not have to unhook, and the girls could unwind from a long drive in the pool. I made reservations in advance, but we changed up the route during the trip and ever KOA was very accommodating.

Zargonians · 12-12-2016, 02:39 PM

We took an 11 week, 10,000 mille trip this year and only spent one night in a Walmart and that was because we were making an emergency beeline for home and hubby got too tired to drive further. We pulled in around 9pm and chose an out of the way spot near other RVs. We did not deploy the bunk ends, but did open both slides. We could not access the bathroom or the dinette bed otherwise. There was a class A parked that night that had all 4 of their slides deployed. During the night, an 18 wheeler chose to park right next to us and left his loud motor running all night. Needless to say, we got little to no sleep and got back on the road before first light. Not a very good experience and will only do so again if absolutely no where else to go. On another note, we stopped for supplies at a Walmart in Montana and saw a regular popup trailer camped there fully set up! We did stay one night in free dispersed camping in a national forest in Montana. Would definitely seek that type camping in the future.

Kanga99 · 12-12-2016, 03:01 PM

Depends on how you travel. When travelling the Interstates or really needing to make time then I favor KOAs since they are everywhere and easy. Basically I hate them but they are convenient. I have never parked overnight at Walmart and probably will not. We have stayed at Cabela's. Some friends like Cracker Barrel. They both offer free camping at most locations. And don't forget Casinos. I believe they are the safest since they all patrol the parking lots. Check out the AllStays app or website. They list them all.

I cannot open my front bunk while attached to the truck so while hooked up it is slide out couch for the wife and rear bunk for me - with my friends Smith and Wesson or Mossberg if we are in a dicey area. We sometime turtle with one on the couch and one on the dinette for a quick overnight, sometimes even in a campground if we are hitting the road at dawn. With just the two of us and a larger Roo there are lots of options.

We have a 23IKSS so both slides need to be extended but have never had a problem.

Ncgrandma · 12-12-2016, 09:59 PM

We've had our ROO for 3 yrs now and have spent several nights at Walmarts or Crackker Barrel. Always check with manger first, never been told no. We go to one side or back part of parking lot so it to be in anybodies way and give us some privacy. We always put out the slide so we can. Move around and drop the front bed. We stay hitched to the truck and have never had a problem.

llevesque · 12-12-2016, 10:56 PM

On a five month trip . . . Massachusetts to Alaska and back (22,000 miles), camped everywhere. On driving only days, stayed at many Walmarts . . . stayed hooked up to my GMC 1500, dropped both beds, and opened both bump outs . . . no problems! Only suggestion is to bring sleep masks as you cannot get away from the lights. Very convenient in stocking up on food, etc. too.

itat · 12-12-2016, 11:44 PM

Walmarts and Cracker Barrels seem to be the most popular other than campgrounds. Just be sure to ask permission and patronize them to pay for use of their parking lot for free. Personally I couldn't be comfortable camping in a wide open parking lot in an urban area overnight so we've always stayed in a campground - most often a KOA for a single night.

When we did a trip to the Canadian Maritimes in 2013 we tried to plan our stops in areas we could do sight-seeing for at least a couple days. Opening and closing the bunks was a bit of a chore for a single night stay but we had the old bungee cord tent ends on ours. We couldn't open the front bunk without unhitching too.

Highway Rest Stops have a bad reputation so I suggest you not use them.

CaptnJohn · 12-13-2016, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itat

Highway Rest Stops have a bad reputation so I suggest you not use them.

I'll take a rest area long before a Walmart. Actually, have not stayed in a Walmart and have no plans to. Nearly every stop is a CG but have spent nights in rest areas and never had a problem or heard of one. The only stop out of the ordinary ~~ I was outside smoking when a cute young thing asked for a ride in the morning.

yetavon · 12-13-2016, 09:27 AM

We have done several short stops, remained hooked up and dropping just one bed over the years. Never an issue, yet. For these type places I would make sure you can drop the front bed...smaller overall foot print and folks would be less apt to inventory the back of your trunk. I have to keep kayak mounting in mind.sucks to find the bed wont clear to drop.

Reflectix and a PUG will help cut light and some noise if that's an issue.
If your including these as a planned stop you have the option of researching ahead of time, picking an area away from urban centers, having an outside edge away from the main road. Google earth can be your friend here.
Now our 1st Hybrid (05 Antigua 19CK) had a similar lay out to yours. I made filler so the table and couch converted to one large bed with an air mattress on top, made up and ready of our stops. depending on your DD ages this may be an option.

Rodski · 12-14-2016, 12:45 PM

We did a walmart for one night in wyoming on our way to yellowstone and it was fine. There were probably 15 other campers, rigs, cars, etc all doing the same thing. Left it hitched to the car. We didn't notice anything out of the ordinary but we were a little nervous basically from the fact of reading posts like this where someone had someone mess with them. We met other families and they were all doing the same thing, just heading to yellowstone and needed a spot to sleep for the night. The vastness of wyoming is such that you may go an hour or more before you see a town, campground, etc. Then the chance they dont have a spot, or let you in because its too late, etc.

SDPadsfan · 12-15-2016, 11:02 PM

Thank you everybody for the feedback. I would certainly prefer to be in a campground, but it is nice to know that several people have done the overnight thing in a Wal-Mart/ Cracker Barrel with the front bunk dropped. You have all given me a lot to think about as I begin to plan our trip.

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