Stealth camping idea for walmart

[travelingchic]

I came up with an idea I thought might be helpful when parking in walmart and trying to keep the cops from visiting. If all you are doing is sleeping and not making noise then I would think posting for sale signs in the front and side window would lead them to believe that it is just one of the many vehicles left in the parking lot that are left on display. Just put a huge asking price on the sign so no one would be interested and a slightly wiped out phone number that can'tbe called. Thoughts?

 

[Nelda]

There is seriously no need to do this and it would only draw attention in my view.<br>Yahoo groups has a walmart overnight group for info.<br>http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/walmartrving/?yguid=111831085<br>In ten years, I have never ever had a police officer encounter at a walmart.<br><br><br>

 

[travelingchic]

Sounds like you have been quite lucky and true it would bring more attention in the daytime not so sure in the night but I will respect your opinion since you have been successfully walmart parking for ten years. &nbsp;Thanks for the link to the group.

 

[Nemo]

My concern with this is that alot of Walmarts I have seen now, post signs saying no overnight parking..&nbsp; and while they dont seem to run off the folks that are, if you post a vehicle for sale and they think it's being left there overnight, that might be considered a totally different thing.. an Rv there overnight might spent money, a vehicle for sale just takes up space<br><br>

 

[travelingchic]

ahh true, the walmart in my town has tons of vehicles parked for sale so I guess I wasn't thinking of what it is like in other places.<div><br></div><div>Well it was just an idea not a well thought out one.</div>

 

[Ricekila]

When I lived in my motor home - I would pull into any store&nbsp;parking - land close to the street - put the for sale sign in the front window - close the curtains - set for the night

<br><br>No one actually knocked on the door's - but every so often I would hear someone try the door handles <IMG src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/eek.gif" align=absMiddle border=0><br><br>And lots of notes left under the wipers <IMG src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/rolleyes.gif" align=absMiddle border=0><br>

 

[rvwandering]

&nbsp;We've had the same experience as Nelda - about fifteen years of parking in Walmart lots all across the country and only one encounter with the police. We parked in a lot that was marked no overnight parking but we were tired and hoped that we could sneak by -hard to do in a motorhome. Anyway the police knocked on the door and told us that if we stayed there was a good chance that we'd be towed and fined.<br><br>&nbsp;I use this site a lot - <a target="_blank" href="http://www.allstays.com/c/wal-mart-locations-map.htm">http://www.allstays.com/c/wal-mart-locations-map.htm</a><br>It's not always accurate but pretty good. Also even if the lot is marked no parking you may be able to stay for a night if you ask the store manager.<br>

 

[VanTrekker]

<p style="margin: 0px;">At first that sounded good but then I remembered what happened when we had vehicles parked with For Sale signs on them at the gas station where I used to work.&nbsp; The owner immediately had them towed.&nbsp; Yikes.&nbsp; On the other hand, I used to let van dwellers camp in our parking lot as long as they would promise to leave in the morning.&nbsp; </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I have camped at a couple of Walmarts that said no overnight parking but asked first.&nbsp; They still let me camp.&nbsp; It was only semi trucks that they didn't want.&nbsp; One of the managers (Maquoket, Iowa&nbsp;Walmart)&nbsp;told me that truckers would open the door and pi** right in the parking lot so they banned them.&nbsp; Motor homes and vans&nbsp;are still&nbsp;welcome!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Other Walmarts only ban campers because of local ordinances that make vehicle camping illegal particularly in tourist areas.&nbsp; Even if camping is not allowed I would bet that managers would be polite if someone respectfully inquired.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I don't camp at a lot of Walmarts but the ones where I do regularly have provided a lot of safe fun.&nbsp; In return, I&nbsp;try to stock up on food, charcoal, etc. when camping at one just to return the favor.&nbsp; </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">V.T.</p>

 

[Cubey]

Oddly enough, I see plenty of RV folks at the two WalMarts here but little to no "for sale" vehicles. I *do* see them at the local Kmart (with a strip mall next to it). Also in a small town north of here, the old (now vacant) Wal-Mart store's parking gets cars parked there for sale sometimes. They built a supercenter nearby due to the lack of space on the existing property to expand it.<br>

 

[Telcobilly]

Really ashamed of the behavior I read about truckers. I just got out of trucking after only 3 years . These comments were pretty accurate about the behavior of a lot of them. Glad I'm out, guilt by association , I never behaved that way...

 

[judycmomx6]

Telcobilly, my husband and I drove truck together for almost 19 years and my husband NEVER did that either. But I totally agree w/you about the guilt by assoc. thing, it's awful how some have ruined it for the rest. And there are multitudes of places that have banned drivers for exactly that.

 

[twokniveskatie]

Sadly, that is how it goes. "guilt by association" whether it's truckers, vandwellers, bikers, cops, lawyers, blondes, the Roma....<div><br></div><div>I know I am overly sensitive to labeling. Our culture is full of it, I think it defines our culture in many ways, and is the source of too much pain. I like to think that we are working to boost each other above the labels and expectations that imprison us.&nbsp;</div>

 

[dborla01]

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Goodo about "guilt by association" comment, Kate.&nbsp;<img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0"> Unfortunately there are groups of people who "act a certain way" due to their own cultural norms that are the antithesis of at-large populations' expectations. There are also those, a noisy minority,&nbsp; who excuse their actions by blaming society, etc for actions of said' group. <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Judy, I drove truck for a year and a half and became fed up with the problems truckers face. I went back to my prior occupation and I sometimes wish I still could do trucking as a part-time job. It was the most enjoyable occupation I have ever done. I am glad you and your husband had that long-life experience...alot of war stories<img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0">. <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This string of comments has some intelligence to it.&nbsp; Darrell.<img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0"><br>