Parking for shopping? No heavy vehicles allowed

[skylve]

It seems that every store parking lot doesn't allow for heavy vehicles, regardless if you're a customer or not and I'm worried that an HDT will severely limit where I can buy groceries and other supplies. Do any HDT owners have trouble parking on lots where the signage prohibits trucks or other heavy vehicles? Are there any alternatives other than bringing an extra vehicle or renting?

Thanks in advance.

[jkoenig24]

In 10+ years, I can remember only ONE parking lot that had a barrier set below 13'6" on the main entryways. There WAS a rear entry NOT so equipped so that the tractor trailers delivering store stock did have access.  In whatever parking lots I do stop in, I make sure that I park off to the rear and or edges of the lot so as to NOT impede "regular" customers. Doing it this way, I've never had a problem. Have you tried phoning ahead to request "clearance" to park your rig in their lot while you shop?

[sandsys]

1 hour ago, skylve said:

It seems that every store parking lot doesn't allow for heavy vehicles, regardless if you're a customer or not and I'm worried that an HDT will severely limit where I can buy groceries and other supplies. Do any HDT owners have trouble parking on lots where the signage prohibits trucks or other heavy vehicles? Are there any alternatives other than bringing an extra vehicle or renting?

We went to one with a barrier so low we couldn't pass under it in our Class C. We just drove around back and used the truck entrance then drove back up front and parked along an edge. We were not the only ones doing that, either.

Linda

[skylve]

1 hour ago, jkoenig24 said:

In 10+ years, I can remember only ONE parking lot that had a barrier set below 13'6" on the main entryways. There WAS a rear entry NOT so equipped so that the tractor trailers delivering store stock did have access.  In whatever parking lots I do stop in, I make sure that I park off to the rear and or edges of the lot so as to NOT impede "regular" customers. Doing it this way, I've never had a problem. Have you tried phoning ahead to request "clearance" to park your rig in their lot while you shop?

Good to hear that you haven't had any trouble, but was there signage prohibiting heavy vehicles or trucks on the lots where you parked? Where I am, every retail property has a sign that usually looks like such:

PRIVATE PROPERTY

Customer parking only.

Maximum 2 hours.

No truck or trailer parking.

No parking 12am-6am

Violators will be tagged and/or towed at owner's expense.

From what I learned when I worked retail, calling ahead won't matter since a store usually doesn't own the property, a large private company does. I never recall any of my managers or coworkers in the store caring about what happened on the parking lot, but things may be different now at other locations. Then again I'm not worried about the store employees, I'm more worried about the random police officer who might pass by and leave a ticket. Or I just might be paranoid about parking ever since I used to get parking tickets 2-3 times a week when I had my first car and my parents didn't have space to park it on their driveway.

 

13 minutes ago, sandsys said:

We went to one with a barrier so low we couldn't pass under it in our Class C. We just drove around back and used the truck entrance then drove back up front and parked along an edge. We were not the only ones doing that, either.

Linda

Thanks for the clarification, looks like the rules aren't as strict as it seems if you haven't had problems going around back and parking.

Edited February 10, 2022 by skylve

[Jaydrvr]

This is very simple. If there doesn't seem to be parking for larger vehicles in the main lot, just go around back and park with the trucks. I've done that for many years with either stepdeck (working) or camper (playing). Jay

[rickeieio]

Eleven years towing with a full height hdt, and not a single incident of being denied parking. 

Finding a place to park while hooked up is another issue.  Some municipalities require parking islands and narrow entrances to discourage commercial activities and parking out front.  We visited a grocery in the Florida panhandle where the truck entrance was dead end, and the customer lot was a real problem.  I had to jump a curb or two.

[Alie&Jim's Carrilite]

WalMart in Laurel Mississippi had height bars at the front road entrance that were 10ft or so.  The side entrance was clear.  I always parked in the front and nobody every said anything.

[GlennWest]

Only place I have been denied was 1 RV park and buccees

 

[jenandjon]

It's hard to blend in with the HDT and camper but when I was long haul pulling a reefer, I would find the truck entrance and park over by the dock, so I looked like I was making a delivery. 

I noticed places like Costco put lots of islands and curbs in to keep trailers out. However, there is no signage saying no trucks. In that case I would circle the store to find the delivery entrance. Just keep in mind you may have to back up to get turned around. 

[Sculptor]

Almost always I will look for the signage to see if RVs are prohibited, they rarely if ever are.  In the case of full parking lot or overhanging barriers I will drive around as has been suggested.  
If that fails, then we will look for a parking lot that has better access one or two lots away. When we decide park in a parking lot that has questionable signage we will go straight to the manager and ask.

[hatrack]

Using my HDT every day driver for almost 3 years and have been in every store or food lot that I want to go. I even did drive thru's when I couldn't go inside to get food. Had wife drive truck to keep out of overhangs and I walked next to it to order & pick-up. Before HDT had long bed, crew cab dually and did the same thing.

Ken....

[Alie&Jim's Carrilite]

23 hours ago, GlennWest said:

Only place I have been denied was 1 RV park and buccees

 

Yea.... I forgot Buccees..... Not allowed....

[nawaa]

We've been using our Freightliner as our daily driver for 6 years now. No issues, although some parking lots are just plain set up stupid! We stay near the edges and get our exercise. While you're shopping you ARE a customer, so those signs you posted really don't apply to you. Postings like that are just letting the tractor/trailer drivers know that they're not allowed to "hang out" there. If you're there shopping, then you belong there.

That said, I google the heck out of places when we're pulling the trailer to make sure we'll even fit, and try to have our shopping done before we hit the road! We'll go shopping at the Walmart we choose to spend the night at if we are on a several-day jaunt, and there are some apps that will tell you where those are located. AllStays is probably the easiest.

[Vegas Teacher]

The worst town for Parking is Mesquite Nevada. Outside of the Flying J / Pilot on the south end of town, I don't think you can park anywhere else. Or if you can you have to pay to park. Mesquite is rather difficult. 

In Laughlin there is a large parking lot on the south end of Casino Drive. This lot is owned by Harrah's and has an out of business shell station in it. If you check in with Harrah's by calling the phone number on the sign you are good to go. The walk from the parking lot to Harrah's is a hike, but once you are there you can take the water taxi to wherever you want to go from that point on. If you haven't been to Laughlin it is a nice break from Vegas and about an hour and a half from town, depending on traffic.

Later,

Cory Ossana - Vegas Teacher.

[rpsinc]

On 2/10/2022 at 3:10 PM, skylve said:

I'm more worried about the random police officer who might pass by and leave a ticket

Cant write tickets for parking on private property. 

Sounds to me like you are worrying about something that hasnt happened yet.  Might be a situation that asking for forgiveness is better than asking for permission.  What business would deny you parking when you are there to shop at that store?

[Jaydrvr]

10 minutes ago, rpsinc said:

Cant write tickets for parking on private property. 

Sounds to me like you are worrying about something that hasnt happened yet.  Might be a situation that asking for forgiveness is better than asking for permission.  What business would deny you parking when you are there to shop at that store?

Parking tickets might not be worth worrying about, but having your rig towed is. I know of one instance where a truck with trailer was towed from a Columbia, SC Wal-Mart to the tune of $1500.00. I also know of a parking ticket at an OK Wal-Mart for $150.00. I'd rather have the parking ticket than the tow bill. It is pretty common to be at less risk of towing if you're with the vehicle. In my experience, many times the parking restrictions are due to local regulations and not the business in question. Jay

Edited February 15, 2022 by Jaydrvr

[rpsinc]

Jaydrvr

 

Thank you for the experience.  Had not considered that happening, but I understand how it could.  Could have a ticket written by private security too, esp when they do not recognize the sometimes applied Private RV, Not for Hire that most of us have.

And then the effort needed to dispute or counter such a ticket.  And towing, what a nightmare.