Exploring City With Travel Trailer

[WannaBeFree]

I have an F150 and think I would like to purchase something like a Coleman 192RD to travel around the US full time.  It is a bit under 23’ (bumper to tip of tongue) which is about the shortest TT I’ve found with dual axles, fridge/freezer, and a high cargo/water/gray/black capacity.

The TT seems great if you have a place to set it up for a few days but it seems to be a problem if you want to explore a city.  With a motor home you can stop in a Walmart, disconnect your toad, and explore.  I’m hesitant to disconnect a trailer and leave it in a parking lot like Walmart as I have never seen disconnected trailers parked at Walmart.  Does anyone have suggestion on exploring a city when pulling a TT?

Thanks!

 

[rvpopeye]

I frequently see disconnected trailers at the local Walmart here in Maine.
But in a big city , that might be a different story!

 

[TMG51]

There's a difference between "parking" and "camping." The people who confuse the two at places like Walmart give us all a bad name. Leaving a trailer is camping. Running a generator is camping. Putting out your awning and grilling is camping. Don't do those things at Walmart. Park there if you have to but don't camp there.

 

[rvpopeye]

Ahhhh , sleeping in your van is camping?

 

[TMG51]

No, sleeping in your van is parking. Sleeping in your van with lawn chairs left outside is camping. If it's evident that you are doing something other than parking then you are drawing undue attention in a parking lot.

 

[jimindenver]

I've never felt good leaving the trailer even out in the boonies. I think I'd rather pay for parking for a appointment and get a site if I were exploring a city for more than a day. It might be nice to have hook ups for a few days.

 

[DannyB1954]

Some businesses will have your rig towed if they believe that you left it there and went somewhere else. The story I remember reading involved a fast food place. The person went in, bought food, and then jumped on mass transit to see a sports game. It was determined that the business had the right to have the vehicle towed. The parking was for their customers and when the person left the premises they stopped being a customer. The business was not offering storage services.

A lot of places you can park a registered vehicle on the street for 3 days. Some places have specific laws against trailers parked on streets. You have to know what the local laws are. Every type of RV has disadvantages. Parking is about the biggest problem for trailers and huge Class A's.

 

[Stephen]

This one of the is reasons why, even though we love our teardrop trailer, we would like to get a van. There are times when a trailer is handy, but being all in one unit seems like a better idea to me.

 

[djkeev]

A trailer has advantages for long term "camping" that a Van cannot come close to matching.

A Class B Van has the advantage of easy traveling and parking. Sadly a self contained Van isn't as good for staying in one spot if you go out to sight see, visit, shop, etc. you are always dragging your house with you. Great for sleeping "on the go".

Pick your poison and adjust to the limitations of the choice.

I'd stay at a campground or a friends house where you can unhook and safely park your rig for visiting a city. Or park in a pay to park municipal lot as a unit and take mass transit into the city for the day.

Dave

 

[Van-Tramp]

Talk with the local Moose or Elks lodges. Even if you are not a member, they would probably allow it (and be sure to give a donation of a few dollars in return).

A lot of city/county parks have ample space to drop your trailer for the day. If you see someone on staff, just let them know what you are doing (no permission needed, it is public space).

 

[mayble]

Talk with the local Moose or Elks lodges. Even if you are not a member, they would probably allow it (and be sure to give a donation of a few dollars in return).

Excellent suggestion
You could also contact the chamber of commerce.  They are in the business of drawing people into their community to visit and do business, so they should be able to point you to a place to park your trailer for the day if you are just passing thru.

 

[Almost There]

Excellent suggestion
You could also contact the chamber of commerce.  They are in the business of drawing people into their community to visit and do business, so they should be able to point you to a place to park your trailer for the day if you are just passing thru.

Like their own parking lot maybe??

A welcome center is another place to ask.

 

[WannaBeFree]

A trailer has advantages for long term "camping" that a Van cannot come close to matching.

A Class B Van has the advantage of easy traveling and parking. Sadly a self contained Van isn't as good for staying in one spot if you go out to sight see, visit, shop, etc. you are always dragging your house with you. Great for sleeping "on the go".

Pick your poison and adjust to the limitations of the choice.

I'd stay at a campground or a friends house where you can unhook and safely park your rig for visiting a city. Or park in a pay to park municipal lot as a unit and take mass transit into the city for the day.

Dave

Pick your poison is exactly how I feel about this choice :huh:

I picked the truck/travel trailer option thinking I would

• bypass the need for maintaining more than one engine - no toad
• not have to disconnect every time I leave camp - if I had no toad
• have more room than a class B
• have much more water capacity than a class B
• have decent gas mileage when disconnected as compared to a class A/C

But... The more I watch YouTubers who explore cities the more the idea of a small class C which can fit its wheels in a standard parking spot seems more appealing.  But when you go this route you have to revisit the poison bypassed by the travel trailer.

I've even considered just putting a cap on the back of the truck and building it out for such exploring.  If Kathleen can live in a Sonic (Bob Wells Interview ) I can live in a truck bed for a few days at a time while exploring.

 

[StarEcho]

I'm visiting family in Phoenix now due to a family emergency and finding a place for my trailer while I stay at their house was a real chore. Of course their HOA won't allow trailers, and there are very few campgrounds close by. Even those within easy driving distance didn't want to "store" a trailer. I tried the storage places and they all wanted at least 1 month fee to "store" the trailer. One campground which said they didn't have space to store a trailer advised me to try a nearby RV repair place. That place said sure I could park it there for a week or so for a fee, but they closed at 1pm and that didn't work for me at the time. So I finally found a campground/RV storage place about 45 minutes away that charged a reasonable weekly fee. Irritating, but it is what it is. So I feel your pain with the trailer in a city. So other options not previously mentioned are "storing" your trailer at 1) RV repair place 2) Self-storage unit and 3) campground.

 

[debit.servus]

I am thinking of upsizing to 24' travel trailer towed by a truck and this is the main drawback for me. Then on the way back from BRC I saw a couple of guys flat towing class Cs with their pickup trucks. I don't know the legality of this but this is something to look into.

 

[WannaBeFree]

I'm visiting family in Phoenix now due to a family emergency and finding a place for my trailer while I stay at their house was a real chore.  Of course their HOA won't allow trailers, and there are very few campgrounds close by.  Even those within easy driving distance didn't want to "store" a trailer.  I tried the storage places and they all wanted at least 1 month fee to "store" the trailer.  One campground which said they didn't have space to store a trailer advised me to try a nearby RV repair place.  That place said sure I could park it there for a week or so for a fee, but they closed at 1pm and that didn't work for me at the time.  So I finally found a campground/RV storage place about 45 minutes away that charged a reasonable weekly fee.  Irritating, but it is what it is.  So I feel your pain with the trailer in a city.  So other options not previously mentioned are "storing" your trailer at 1) RV repair place 2) Self-storage unit and 3) campground.

Good to hear you were able to find a place due to the family emergency.  Thanks for these three suggestions

 

[WannaBeFree]

I am thinking of upsizing to 24' travel trailer towed by a truck and this is the main drawback for me. Then on the way back from BRC I saw a couple of guys flat towing class Cs with their pickup trucks. I don't know the legality of this but this is something to look into.

Yep.  It seems rather risky to be towing a class C with a pickup.

 

[WannaBeFree]

Talk with the local Moose or Elks lodges. Even if you are not a member, they would probably allow it (and be sure to give a donation of a few dollars in return).

A lot of city/county parks have ample space to drop your trailer for the day. If you see someone on staff, just let them know what you are doing (no permission needed, it is public space).

I was looking into the Elks.  They have RV parking in sites close into D.C. which was surprising.  

When I was looking online I found that different Elks lodges have different yearly rates.  It seems you have to become a member of a lodge and then you can have access to other Elks lodges.  Anyone know where the yearly rates for the individual lodges might be found or have an idea what the normal yearly rate is?

Thanks!

 

[blars]

Flat towing a RWD vehicle that is not designed for it often involves removing part of the drive axle so the transmission is not damaged. Also you need to consider the braking issue.

 

[mayble]

I thought about joining the Elks, until I read this on their website:
"To be eligible for membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, you must be a citizen of the United States over the age of 21 who believes in God. "
Maybe the Moose are more inclusive?