kfp673
PA
Senior Member
Joined: 12/12/2012
View Profile
 Offline
|
I like it. Funny enough, I made a comment to my wife about this concept a few years ago. I hope they pop up all over along highways / interstates. No interest to "stay" here, but boy would this be nice as a last minute stop instead of a walmart during our long hauls. I kind of wish there were no reservations allowed and that you could simply pull up a website on your phone to see availability but first come. That way, at midnight when I'm tired, I can roll in, park (with hookups) for the night, shower in the morning, run AC etc and head out. Should just have sensors that can tell if you are still there and bill you for another 12 hours if you don't leave.
|
charlestonsouthern
Summerville, SC
Senior Member
Joined: 04/16/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
kfp, everything you have said, I could not agree with you more. This would solve two problems for tired drivers and the public at large, 1) it would remove tired drivers from the road, thus reducing accidents and 2) reduce the number of RVers in say, for example, Walmart parking lots overnight when town ordinances forbid it.
|
toedtoes
California
Senior Member
Joined: 05/17/2014
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
I only think this would work in that way if the cost was minimal.
Most folks parking overnight at Walmart do so because it's a free overnight. Unless the park was under $15, most people won't choose it over Walmart.
Yes, I know there are exceptions to that. But in most cases, folks who overnight at Walmart do so for the cost savings, not because they didn't want to deal with humans at an RV Park.
1975 American Clipper RV with Dodge 360 (photo in profile)
1998 American Clipper Fold n Roll Folding Trailer
Both born in Morgan Hill, CA to Irv Perch (Daddy of the Aristocrat trailers)
|
kfp673
PA
Senior Member
Joined: 12/12/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
toedtoes wrote:I only think this would work in that way if the cost was minimal.
Most folks parking overnight at Walmart do so because it's a free overnight. Unless the park was under $15, most people won't choose it over Walmart.
Yes, I know there are exceptions to that. But in most cases, folks who overnight at Walmart do so for the cost savings, not because they didn't want to deal with humans at an RV Park.
Per the website, its $39 for 14 hours. That's cheaper than a state park site here in PA. I don't stay at walmart because it's cheap. I stay there because we are not retired and have limited time, so I push every day/night as far as I can go and then start looking for a place to stop. That's usually 10pm to 1am and I never have an idea of how far I will make it (or not). Starting to get tough to find walmarts but when we do we setup generators and cary some water with us. Not the end of the world but would much prefer a secure location with hookups. My wife is always nervous when we stay at walmart or cabelas.
|
toedtoes
California
Senior Member
Joined: 05/17/2014
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
As I said, there are exceptions. But, the majority of folks who overnight at Walmarts, etc, are NOT going to pay $39 to park overnight.
And in many areas, $40 will get you a full 24 hours with hookups at an RV Park or campground. And a dry campground could cost as little as $8-$12 with a NP senior pass.
So while this concept at $39 might work in a few areas, it won't significantly reduce the Walmart overnighters or be more cost effective than many other existing opportunities.
|
|
|
charlestonsouthern
Summerville, SC
Senior Member
Joined: 04/16/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
I think someone missed something, “. . . . . when town ordinances forbid it.”
|
LMHS
NM
Full Member
Joined: 06/27/2022
View Profile
|
I personally like the idea. I don't park in parking lots because it's "free". I park because it's convenient. I have "older" campers and many RV Parks and Campground do not want my older campers. The newer RVs might get cooties or something (not sure what). I would like to pull into a parking lot, plug into the electric (to run the AC or heat if needed), dump tanks, get water, walk the dog a few times, roll out the next morning. Or wait out a storm. I don't care to talk to my neighbours (when traveling, I avoid strangers). I think this is a good idea. And it would be a good option for those who start foaming at the mouth over the idea of someone parking overnight at a Wal-Mart or similar store. Basically it's a parking lot with hookups.
|
kfp673
PA
Senior Member
Joined: 12/12/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
As I noted above, I'm a big fan but the buy in cost I am having trouble wrapping my head around. If you click on the franchise details they estimate $600-$800k plus the land. Assuming you don't already own the land this is likely a $2-5mil expense. That's a lot of $39 stays to make it up. Never the less, I hope it works out and I see these along highways.
* This post was
edited 09/17/22 08:52am by kfp673 *
|
