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Medford unfriendly to RVers?


gypsydan

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This thread has been a timely read. We just spent our first night in a Walmart parking lot earlier this week. Left home after work on Tuesday (8:30 pm) ... destined for a friend's home roughly 250 miles away. Needed to be there by 9 am Wednesday morning. They live in heavily forested rural area - and have a driveway that's tough to find and negotiate in daylight. Rather than deal with that at 1:30 in the morning - we pulled up 20 miles short of our destination and overnighted at the Walmart in Cadillac, MI. We pulled in at 1:30 am ... took a slot near several semi trucks at the edge of the lot ... and went to bed. Slides were in, shades left up. I was up early ... walked up over to the store in search of coffee, spent $20 for a couple of items I needed ... thanked them for their hospitality and were on our way before 7:30 am.

 

This particular Walmart was on the "Allstays" list of stores that permit overnight parking - but I'll be honest, I didn't confirm with the store when I got there. It didn't look like the store was open (signage as not illuminated, 2 entry points were completely dark ... 1 entry had what appeared to be minimal lighting on). We weren't disturbed during our stay - and were thankful that we were able to overnight there.

 

I doubt we ever be Walmart parking lot regulars ... I didn't purchase my coach to use it to skulk parking lots! However,I suspect there will be occasions that we will have need to pull up and park somewhere in the wee hours every now and then in the future.

The Spacenorman

2012 Holiday Rambler Endeavor 43' DFT

2012 Jeep Liberty

Our Travel Website: www.penquinhead.com​

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Instead of fighting City Hall at many locations around the country, how about a letter writing campaign to Walmart requesting that they investigate what it would take to comply with the laws at the stores where RV overnights are prohibited. It would be good customer service to those that they say are valued customers; "Walmart values RV travelers and considers them among our best customers". Some Folks have said that they would pay $10 for a safe, convenient dry camping spot to overnight. A modest charge would help defray the costs. It would also facilitate keeping track of how long a particular rig stayed and facilitate length of stay limits if desired or necessary. With all the Walmart overnight parking devotees, maybe they could start a host program to further defray the costs. This very attractive prototype host uniform was posted in an internet discussion a few years ago.

 

 

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According to you a Walmart parking lot should be a safe haven from any law that Walmart chooses to allow in their parking lot, right? Or do you only object to the city having laws that affect the things YOU want to do in Walmarts parking lot?

I'll make you a deal. I will support you sleeping in Walmarts parking lot, if you admit that my arguments are every bit as valid as yours.

 

According to you no one has any rights whatsoever.

 

WDR

1993 Foretravel U225 with Pacbrake and 5.9 Cummins with Banks

1999 Jeep Wrangler, 4" lift and 33" tires

Raspberry Pi Coach Computer

Ham Radio

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According to you no one has any rights whatsoever.

 

WDR

Typical dodge. When faced with harsh reality you have no response other than misdirection. I have never said that people have no rights, which is what you suddenly accuse me of saying. The only "rights" I have argued about are underage drinking, drug usage, public urination and nudity, discharging a weapon in a parking lot and sleeping in a public place. Your "right" to sleep in a public parking lot is just as ridiculous as a crack head claiming that he has the "right" to use cocaine as long as the property owner allows it. If the community chooses (through their elected leaders) to pass a law saying that marijuana use is legal, then so be it. But because it is legal in one place doesn't give everyone the "right" to do it in a place where it is still illegal. Nor does it make most of our country "dope unfriendly". Because Medford chooses to make sleeping in a public place illegal, doesn't make them "RV unfriendly" any more than it makes them "vagrant unfriendly". I have never in my life heard so much complaining about a law that one little town has, and it isn't even a recent law. The City of Medford will not allow you to do what YOU want so you and a few others see the need to complain. But when confronted with other laws that some other people might want to break, suddenly it is me that is saying that no one has any rights when in reality it is you complaining because they won't allow YOU to break the law.

Rather than complaining here, where your whine has no real impact, have you attended a meeting of the Medford City Council and attempted to get the law changed? Probably not, since you aren't a resident and you have no other argument than "I want to do it and you won't let me".

 

As I have pointed out, there are rules everywhere: speed limits, entrance and exits on the freeway, age limits on drinking, laws about drug usage, and sadly (or luckily) public nudity etc. These rules and laws were created for a reason. I am sorry that you feel so burdened living in a country that has laws. I wish we had autobahns without a speed limit but we don't. I guess that makes us "speed unfriendly". But one right that we all have, especially those of us with wheels on our homes, is to keep moving down the road. There are places where sleeping in your mobile house is allowed. So go to one of them. If you are so offended by the law that says that WDR can not sleep any and everywhere he damn well pleases, then contact your congressman and see if he will file a bill allowing you to do so. If sleeping in a public parking lot is as reasonable as you seem to think and a "right" that our founding fathers seemed to have missed, then I am sure you will have no trouble getting it passed into law. If you need help trying to get that law passed, you can check here for instructions on the process.

 

BTW: Don't go to Houston, because they won't let you sleep on publicly owned land either. It's illegal to sleep on the sidewalk or under an overpass there. Shoot, you can't even have a campfire under a overpass in the city limits. Hmm, I wonder if you can you have a campfire in a Walmart parking lot if they allow you to camp there.

MY PEOPLE SKILLS ARE JUST FINE.
~It's my tolerance to idiots that needs work.~

2005 Volvo 780 VED12 465hp / Freedomline transmission
singled mid position / Bed by Larry Herrin
2018 customed Mobile Suites 40KSSB3 

2014 smart Fortwo

 

 
 
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Typical dodge. When faced with harsh reality you have no response other than misdirection.

I wasn't faced with a "hard reality" from you... I was faced with an argument "reductio ad absurdem". Look it up. It doesn't deserve a response.

 

And aren't you the guy who says that if we don't do it exactly your way we should get off the road?

 

Oh... yup... here it is: "I'm sorry but if you can not afford $30 to sleep at night, then you shouldn't be on the road."

 

Your credibility with me rests somewhere in the imaginary numbers area.

 

WDR

1993 Foretravel U225 with Pacbrake and 5.9 Cummins with Banks

1999 Jeep Wrangler, 4" lift and 33" tires

Raspberry Pi Coach Computer

Ham Radio

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And aren't you the guy who says that if we don't do it exactly your way we should get off the road?

 

Oh... yup... here it is: "I'm sorry but if you can not afford $30 to sleep at night, then you shouldn't be on the road."

 

 

That is not doing it "my way", it is simple logic. If you can not afford to do something, then you probably shouldn't do it. It has nothing to do with "my way" but your reply is just some more misdirection since your argument has run out of steam, not that it had much to begin with. You have no desire to correct a wrong, you just wanted to complain and thought everyone would be sympathetic to your "plight".

 

I notice that rather than answer my questions, you resort to insults. That is so typical, when confronted with someone that will call your BS what it is you have to result to insults.

Thanks for the laughs. You were easier than most. This thread, like your complaint, is done.

MY PEOPLE SKILLS ARE JUST FINE.
~It's my tolerance to idiots that needs work.~

2005 Volvo 780 VED12 465hp / Freedomline transmission
singled mid position / Bed by Larry Herrin
2018 customed Mobile Suites 40KSSB3 

2014 smart Fortwo

 

 
 
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This thread, like your complaint, is done.

So we have to RV your way and you also get to tell us when a thread is over? I don't see your Admin credentials anywhere. You must be the secret SKP administrator.

 

WDR

1993 Foretravel U225 with Pacbrake and 5.9 Cummins with Banks

1999 Jeep Wrangler, 4" lift and 33" tires

Raspberry Pi Coach Computer

Ham Radio

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I am both a trucker and an RV'er.

It can get much more restrictive than Medford ever thought about.

I was the lead driver on a Cirque du Soleil move from Port of LA to Irvine CA. 65 tractor trailer loads. The Irvine site was the old El Toro Marine base, now mostly a park operated by Orange County CA.

Drivers of course have to stop driving after 11 hours and take a mandated 10 hour break. After shuttling between the 2 locations and climbing into their sleepers after 11 hours of dealing with southern California traffic, they drivers were summarily awakened at 10:30pm by local police and told to leave the park. It seems that Irvine has an ordinance that states:

"No one shall sleep in any motor vehicle, trailer, RV between the hours of 10pm and 6 am ANYWHERE within the city limits of Irvine."

The only exception is a licensed RV park. So if you deliver to a whse in a commercial district and arrive the night before you are clearly in violation, even if you have the permission of the property owner

A Federal requirement being effectively nullified by a local ordinance. And at a former military base several square miles in size no where near any residents. Legal? Yes. Effective use of discretion? No.

 

By the way, the problem was solved when the Cirque du Soliel organization contacted the city manager and threatened to move the show to another location. The harassment stopped immediately.

 

So in Irvine they employ a sledgehammer approach to the problem mentioned by the mayor of Medford. Expect more and more communities to do the same.

Jeff Beyer temporarily retired from Trailer Transit
2000 Freightliner Argosy Cabover
2008 Work and Play 34FK
Homebase NW Indiana, no longer full time

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*I am now afraid to go anywhere as I may not be able to do something I want to do . I was Ok before this thread.

Helen and I are long timers ..08 F-350 Ford,LB,CC,6.4L,4X4, Dually,4:10 diff dragging around a 2013 Montana 3402 Big Sky

SKP 100137. North Ridgeville, Ohio in the summer, sort of and where ever it is warm in the winter.

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Break.......Break folks.......

 

Time for a bit of humor....

 

Phils take on nudity is so.......... special I just have to relate below....

 

One time in a jungle far, far away I flew for a outfit that provided "specialized services" ..........

 

I was dispatched to land (on floats) on a REMOTE arm of a river and "remove some assets" from a clearing next to the river.......

 

I fly out to WAY past nowhere and land on the river and taxi over to a log jutting out in the river........I jumped out on the float and moored to a limb in the log and then shut down the engine.

 

As I turned around I noticed that about 35 NAKED locals and two white "assets" were pretty much in local.........uh well.....un-dress code so to speak........

 

I tight-rope-walked the log to shore and the "assets" carried over some duffle bags to load and then started bidding goodbye to "locals".........some of the locals looked at me with a concerned look and a couple of the guys smiled just a bit.....

 

Once we were in the plane and taxing I ask why the "locals" looked at me so strange..........the "assets' chuckled and said that many of the locals had NEVER seen anyone that was NOT nude so they wondered what was wrong with me that I had to cover my body.......

 

I then ask, "what about the guys that were grinning".......the "asset" said that the guys said oh do not worry someday your body parts grow and you can do away with all of the covers.........

 

No........I have not gone "local" .....and likely not to........

 

Wal-Mart is ......well Wal-mart, what can I say........just the same, I will let Phil check out the "nude locals' I've had my share of the "locals".....

 

Happy camping....

97 Freightshaker Century Cummins M11-370 / 1350 /10 spd / 3:08 /tandem/ 20ft Garage/ 30 ft Curtis Dune toybox with a removable horse-haul-module to transport Dolly-The-Painthorse to horse camps and trail heads all over the Western U S

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Big5er and those that agree with him: take this in consideration be fore you pass judgment on all of us:

Late last month I had to travel from Mid-Texas (Rainbow End) up to Cottage Grove OR (above Medford) because my disabled sister was in trouble and needed me.

It took 3 days/nights of rain and wind through mountains that beat you up driving and if it weren't for Walmart's along the way I would have never been rested and might even have not made it.

I did not have time to make reservations and couldn't just coast in at 3pm because I was driving until the early morning hours. I had to get there to relieve my brother so he could get back to his job.

When I arrived in Cottage Grove, God bless the Walmart here is allowing RVs and Trucks to park (notice I did not say 'CAMP') overnight. Arrived at 2 am exhausted and rose around 8 am to look for an RV park. The local COE camps have no hookups so that was out and found I was able to move in to the Village Green Resort RV Park next door which is the only full hookup park for miles.

You bet I do my shopping at the Walmart here.

Kimberly Flores, Trail Boss and Wagon Master
Jesse Flores, Coxswain, Shotgun Shipmate
Wagon mates: Cinnamon, Mini Schnauzer
2017 F350 Lariat Dually
2018 Keystone Fuzion 371 Toy Hauler
LovetheRVlife.com

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Slightly off the subject, but in the same spirit. A friend in Moro Bay Ca. just lost one parent, and the other moved to assited living, leaving their view lot in an area called Moro Heights or highlands, with a house and Space for up to 42 ft of RV, complete with 30 amp hook up and sewer, free for us to use when we're in town. I did some checking before we comited to parking there as security, in exchange for space use.

It turns out that It's not allowed. You can park and hook up, spend the day in it, but you cannot spend the night in your coach, on private property in Moro Bay it seems

2003 Newmar Dutch Star 3802

'98 Ford Ranger

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Yep we have as of yet never overnight parked at any Wal mart, rest area, truck stop or big box store but we sure appreciate the opportunity to do so if ever needed. We would hope that those that do would be in compliance with local rules and regulations so as not to deny us and others that privilege.

 

Although we have never overnighted at a Wall mart we shop at Wal Marts all the time. We use rest areas, we usually do lunch at truck stop after fuelling. We have two wall marts local to our S&B neither of them are near a interstate, TPK or tourist attraction and do not draw much RV parking but over night parking is allowed at both stores. We have local ordinances in our town about parking on city streets and even the length of time you can leave you RV in the driveway. There is a HOA down the road from us that does not permit Rv's to be parked anywhere which is why we do not live there. I do not feel discriminated against because we are Rv'ers no more that I feel discriminated against because signs on streets say no parking this side even tho we live on the other side.

 

Very informative and entertaining thread.

Helen and I are long timers ..08 F-350 Ford,LB,CC,6.4L,4X4, Dually,4:10 diff dragging around a 2013 Montana 3402 Big Sky

SKP 100137. North Ridgeville, Ohio in the summer, sort of and where ever it is warm in the winter.

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Some towns have it right and are very traveller and RV friendly. I am thinking in particular of Idaho Falls ....they have a free RV stopover area at each end of the city. We have used the south one several times and it is beautiful....just like a park beside the river with paved areas to stop and rest. They have public toilets and picnic tables..no hookups. The sign there says free to use for 1 night only.

We have also stayed in a local RV Park in that city as well.

 

Our city here in Alberta has a visitor center close to where you enter the city with a picnic area and free dump station with potable water as well. Plus you are allowed to stay in the Walmarts and the Casino here has a separate parking lot designated for RVs.

 

I guess my point is ...as we travel , especially over the same route time and again, you get to know what is and is not available for weary travellers. I will always pick a traveller and RV friendly town over one that has its protectionist council enforcing traveller unfriendly bylaws.....no question about it.

<p>....JIM and LINDA......2001 American Eagle 40 '.towing a GMC Sierra 1500 4X4 with RZR in the rear. 1999 JEEP Cherokee that we tow as well.

IT IS A CONTENTED MAN WHO CAN APPRECIATE THE SCENERY ALONG A DETOUR.

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Let's turn this around and expand it a little... what if a city which owns a parking garage that charges for parking and has metered parking along the streets passed an ordinance that said cars could not park at Walmart in their parking lot and used the same restrictions that the Medford Mayor described in her letter? Even if they don't explicitly SAY in their ordinance that cars should pay to park, if the only other alternative is pay to park then would that be the same thing? Would this be an unfair "taking" of Walmart's property by depriving their customers of convenient parking? Would this impact Walmart's revenue in any way?

 

You might also want to Google some of the definitions and descriptions of unfair taking of property (there is mention of this in the 5th Amerndment to the U.S. Constitution, too). In general any government has to have at least some public value involved in a "taking" of private property; even a partial taking. I'm not at all sure that the Mayor's letter provides that.

 

And, as far as Big5er is concerned, I assume he thinks boondocking is wrong because no one pays $30 a night to sleep there; all you boondockers should just get off the road.

 

Escapees seem not to be against "free parking" either. Day's End has numerous listings of parking sites which are only described as not having any signage forbidding overnight parking (and yes, for whichever poster suggested that we spend $10 for Day's End... we spent $10 for Day's End). Is the abence of a "no overnight parking" sign the same as permission to park overnight?

 

WDR

1993 Foretravel U225 with Pacbrake and 5.9 Cummins with Banks

1999 Jeep Wrangler, 4" lift and 33" tires

Raspberry Pi Coach Computer

Ham Radio

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Lots of WalMarts have spots designated for RVs & Trucks. Put meters on these spots. Charge $10 for 24 hours, or get a token for a $100 purchase. If the meter is expired you get a ticket. No parking outside these spots or you get ticketed.


Or - WM could set up a kiosk where parkers could register with date & license number. Get a window ticket. Three day limit then out for 14 days. No window ticket - get a parking ticket. The kiosk would have WM's parking rules, if there are any, regarding slides, awnings, grills etc. printed.


There are lots of options to control mis-use without a blanket ban.

The richest are not those who have the most, but those who need the least.

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Wow with all this sniping and name calling, I thought I was on the forum with the "halo."

 

Not used to such activities here.

 

Some posters here are more concerned with being "right" than the subject at hand.

Camping Rig:

2005 Dodge 3500 - Dually- Cummins

2006 Outback 27 RSDS

 

Two rescue dogs: A Catahoula mix & a Chihuahua mix.

 

Fulltimer since 2006

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The key here has become the label of RV unfriendly. I agree with the idea of labeling cities as RV unfriendly for the very low percentage of those it applies to. This city is RV unfriendly to the 20% or so that want free parking so the sign reads This city is friendly to the 80% of RVers . Those that don't agree with our right to govern, feel free to move on.

 

Sort of like some biker bars, No patches allowed... so, were 99% friendly to bikers.

 

This has gotten down to becoming a useless thread with no winners and needs to be closed.. IMSHO of course

Dave & Tish
Beagle Bagles & Snoopy

RIP Snoopy we lost you 5-11-14 but you'll always travel with us
On the road somewhere.
AF retired, 70-90
A truck and a trailer

“He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion” -unknown

HoD vay' wej qoH SoH je nep! ngebmo' vIt neH 'ach SoHbe' loD Hem, wa' ngebmo'. nuqneH...

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