Walmart

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justpassin

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Arkansas
Protocol for staying the night at Walmart.
Do's and don'ts while at Walmart.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heh-KyvfL54
 
It is an interesting video. However, I would question one of their rules. They stated that you should never extend your slides. On my 5er, with the slide in, I can get to the rear couch, but not much else. I CAN NOT get to the frig, the bathroom, the bedroom, the closet, the kitchen sink, or the pantry unless I extend the slide. With the slide in, the RV is pretty much useless.  I am fairly certain that this is not a unique floor plan.

When I stop at a Walmart, I try to park along an edge of the parking lot, facing in a direction such that the extended slide does not protrude into the lot. What do others do?

Joel

Joel
 
Great Horned Owl said:
On my 5er, with the slide in, I can get to the rear couch, but not much else. I CAN NOT get to the frig, the bathroom, the bedroom, the closet, the kitchen sink, or the pantry unless I extend the slide.

One of the 1st things I looked at was whether I could use the 5er with the slides in.  If I couldn't get in the frig without extending the slide, I looked at a different model.  I have total use of my unit with the slides in.
 
I have total use of my rv with the slides in. The only problem we have when the slide in is if someone goes to the bathroom hey have to step into the bedroom to open the bathroom door enough to get in. :eek:
 
We open the slides as needed when at a Walmart, always being careful that they don't protrude into a traffic area. Generally that means the bedroom slide and one of the two lounge slides.

As you can see, I don't buy into the "no slides" part of the recommended etiquette. I don't think opening a slide - or not - has much to do with being a low profile guest.
 
I feel the most important thing to do is ask to speak to a manager even if there are already RV's parked in their parking lot. I also usually have a shopping cart with me with something in it. I open a slide but I make sure in not in the way of vehicle movement.
 
I did not see anything in there about using a generator. Do any of you use one when there. I have a Cpap machine and need AC power at night. I run a Honda 2000 so not loud but wondered if it is a good idea to run at places like this and other free night stops.
 
A friend of mine has a CPAP that run on 12 volts and it pull very little overnight on the battery.
 
They better bring a big set of cutters to cut the cable and lock. Most thieves are to lazy for that. I hear what your saying and it is one of the reasons we have never done the free stay. I would only do it in a pinch which has not happened yet. I used a invertor in my last camper but the new one does not have the 12 volt ran to the bedroom.
 
Inverter would be the best option. No noise and worry about someone stealing you expensive generator.

I've never stayed in a Walmart yet but have stayed in a WinCo parking lot. Like the video make sure you go inside the store and find a manager and ask about staying before you do. Exactly my case I was on my way up north and was getting tired of driving so we made camp at a WinCo, got dinner supplies and left in the morning.

Attachment - 1,200w Inverter and Solar controller - Silent power.
 

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What I usually do when I'm traveling is I don't use the CPAP. It's not the end of the world for me. If I had to use it, I would plug it into the 12 volt plug receptacle in my bedroom closet which is set up for a 12 volt TV. If I didn't have that option, I would purchase a inverter
 
Gary RV Roamer said:
We open the slides as needed when at a Walmart, always being careful that they don't protrude into a traffic area. Generally that means the bedroom slide and one of the two lounge slides.

As you can see, I don't buy into the "no slides" part of the recommended etiquette. I don't think opening a slide - or not - has much to do with being a low profile guest.

X2 what Gary said.  Plus I have started observing RVs in Walmart lots (7 in this area) and all RVs but one with slides had at least one slide out.
 
We extend all 4 slides at Wal Mart. If its crowded or tight we may only use the slides on the curbside so as not to intrude, or we just go somewhere else.  We try to park where the trucks are parked if we can. We also use the generator. 15 - 20 feet from the coach you can't hear it, and no one would know its running.

Becky always calls ahead when we are within an hour of the WalMart to ask if its ok if we park overnight, even if AllStays says its ok. The management appreciates the call and sometimes tells us where they would prefer we park.

Stan
 
We stop frequently at Walmarts. We try to be unobtrusive and take up as little space as possible. A lot depends on the size of the parking lot. We prefer parking along the perimeter where we can put the slide out over the landscaping area if we want to. And like others, our unit is totally useable with the slide in. In fact, when looking at new RVs, I've had the salesman pull in the slide so we can see just how useable it is.

We have run the generator at Walmart but shut it off by 11 pm in consideration of others (and because I don't like listening to it run either). And as for that Honda outside, cabled to the RV, I guarantee you there are plenty of thieves out there with bolt cutters just looking for something like that (generator, bicycles, etc). One of the casinos in Indio has outside generators stolen frequently by bolt-cutter-wielding crooks.

Mike has a CPAP which runs quite nicely off the inverter. I think someone here even has a separate small inverter just for his CPAP. And I'm pretty sure that Mike won't die if he doesn't use his CPAP for a night.


Wendy
 
We have a WalMart a couple of miles from our house (I guess these days who doesn't) with signs all over the place saying no overnight parking. It is not unusual to see a RV parked with its slides out, bar-b-que pits, lawn chairs and the like sitting out. Last weekend we went by and there was a family out in their TT enjoying their grill, and frolicking out in the parking lot...I thought that was a little much.
 
I can't imagine a CPAP taking more wattage than your furnace fan.  Go for a small invertor and use it without the generator.  A good night's sleep for both you and your better half is worth it--both for the restful night's sleep itself and being well-rested for your drive the next day.

It would be worth adding a 12v receptacle if your bedroom doesn't already have one, and investigate a 12v power supply for it so you could even avoid the invertor!
 
Oscar Mike said:
We have a WalMart a couple of miles from our house (I guess these days who doesn't) with signs all over the place saying no overnight parking. It is not unusual to see a RV parked with its slides out, bar-b-que pits, lawn chairs and the like sitting out. Last weekend we went by and there was a family out in their TT enjoying their grill, and frolicking out in the parking lot...I thought that was a little much.

I know most Walmarts don't mind RV's parking overnight in the lot because the RV community does use Walmarts often to replenish goods. We have been told at a few Walmarts we've parked overnight at to not setup a campsite in the parking lot. I'm surprised the Walmart manager didn't tell the RV to leave, especially with a full on campsite setup.
 
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