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04-23-2021, 03:43 PM
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#1
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Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Bedford
Posts: 307
M.O.C. #21728
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Leaving your rig parked
The DW wants to know if anyone just leaves their rig parked somewhere (not a campsite but a truck stop, Walmart, church, etc.) so they can go drive around and see sights, visit parks or museums for the day.
__________________
Member #21728
2019 3931FB
2017 F350 6.7 Powerstroke SRW
B&W Companion Slider 20K
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04-23-2021, 04:22 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 4,086
M.O.C. #20477
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John,
Sure do but not often. If its a great spot - find a place to camp and stay awhile. For a short side trip your options will work - recommend asking permission before leaving your rig.
__________________
Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL
"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
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04-23-2021, 06:36 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Sebring
Posts: 3,669
M.O.C. #9969
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I don't think I would leave it at a Truck Stop, some times those spots are at a premium and those Drivers have to stop, we don't.
Walmart maybe, if checking with the store Manager and parking where they suggested.
I did it once, but only unhooked in a Walmart lot, to get into a small fuel station without the rig.
__________________
Michelle & Ann
2018 Chevy 3500HD High Country DRW 4X4 Crew Cab w/Duramax/Allison, Formally 2010 Montana 2955RL, Now Loaded 2016 SOB, Mor/ryde IS, Disc Brakes & Pin Box, Comfort Ride Hitch, Sailun 17.5 Tires.
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04-24-2021, 08:02 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
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never.
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04-24-2021, 08:05 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Anderson
Posts: 2,790
M.O.C. #22835
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No, I have never dropped the trailer to go site seeing. If I unhitch, it's always at a campsite or home. Otherwise, it stays hitched. Call me paranoid, but I've got too much invested in time and money in my camper(s) for a criminal to vandalize it or steal it.
At most tourist attractions, you can find somewhere to park tow vehicle and trailer. It may mean walking a little distance to see the attraction, but there is almost always somewhere.
If you unhitch to drive around an area, your camper is much safer and better off at a campground, even if just for an overnight. With RVing, it's ALWAYS about safety first, always. How you drive on the road, the speed you travel, where you camp, who you associate with, where you shop, visit, and explore. Call me paranoid, but when traveling, you have to be if you want to return home with good memories instead of heart-break.
Find a campground and unhitch.
The only time I unhitched trailer from truck was once when we needed to run the truck through a self-car wash and wash the thing. Of course, the trailer would not fit inside the bay. We had to unhitch.
The other time was when our truck broke down and we were in the middle of no where. We got the truck towed to a repair shop and we stayed in a motel for 3 days. The trailer was parked outside our motel room. There were no campgrounds anywhere in that region and this was over a holiday week-end when everything was shut down. We had no alternative except the motel. No power to the trailer at all and we managed to keep the refrigerator cold and even kept the ice cream frozen. We were not set up for boom docking.
This is how they towed the trailer to the motel. We then unhitched the trailer, and the tow truck took the truck to a Chevy repair shop, some 30 miles farther down the road.
After 3 days in the motel and the holiday week-end was over, we hired another tow truck to tow the trailer to a near by campground that was near where the truck was being repaired. We were then able to get a car rental and we were at this campground for another 5 days while they fixed the truck.
It goes without saying, we never made our destination. And imagine our shock when we went to the Chevy dealership and saw this:
Those were the only two times, ever, we unhitched when not in a campground or home.
__________________
History is not about the past, it's an explanation of the present.
2019 Montana High Country 375FL
2014 Chevy Silverado Duramax, 6.6L Dually
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04-24-2021, 08:41 AM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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For all of the reasons stated above we would never do that.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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04-24-2021, 08:53 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: San Jose
Posts: 528
M.O.C. #6790
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I was at the dealer, having some work done. I was going to be running cable for the cameras on the trailer. The hole in the bottom of the cab, was to small, to run them like on my old truck. I asked the dealer, where I might be able, to get the cable into the cab. He told me where and the subject came up about the cab. He said, that if there was major work to be done on the engine, they just take the cab off. So I rigged all the connections for the cameras with quick connects. Just unplug the harness and the cab comes off.
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2006 Montana 3650RK with Improvements.
2014 Ford 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LB Dually & Hadley's.
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04-24-2021, 09:19 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Frostproof, FL USA
Posts: 2,362
M.O.C. #13272
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The few times we end up at a Walmart, Cabelas, or other free dry camping spot it is just for a quick evening/overnight stop. I would NEVER unhook and drive my truck anywhere from a stop like that. As a matter of fact I limit my time inside a Walmart shopping if we are camped out in the lot overnight, just don't like leaving my rig unattended.
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Previous: 2008 Montana 3400RL & 2014 3725RL
Current: Full Time 2022 SOB TT Toy Hauler
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04-24-2021, 09:48 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Bastrop
Posts: 2,892
M.O.C. #20753
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Church, maybe if you had permission. Walmart or truckstop even with permission, no
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Mocha, one-eyed toothless, hurricane survivor, Pirate dog
2019 20th Anniversary Edition 3701LK
B&W 20K for Ford OEM Puck
2018 Ford F-350 Lariat CCLB PSD DRW KJ5CQH
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04-28-2021, 01:31 PM
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#10
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: El Paso
Posts: 68
M.O.C. #21551
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jdarwin
The DW wants to know if anyone just leaves their rig parked somewhere (not a campsite but a truck stop, Walmart, church, etc.) so they can go drive around and see sights, visit parks or museums for the day.
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During these crazy times right now that quite a bit of people looking for RV' s . I would never leave mine anywhere other than a safe camp ground or RV park. I like most people have too much invested in $ and time. Done quite a bit of modifications and upgrades that i wouldn't even think of losing it.
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2017 3660FL ALPINE 6 SLIDE
2021 F350 DRW Long Bed 6.7 Diesel Lariat Ultimate
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04-28-2021, 02:06 PM
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#11
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Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2015
Location: fargo
Posts: 187
M.O.C. #17461
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jdarwin
The DW wants to know if anyone just leaves their rig parked somewhere (not a campsite but a truck stop, Walmart, church, etc.) so they can go drive around and see sights, visit parks or museums for the day.
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Typically we didn't, but we did leave the 5er sit at the odd spot while we went somewhere else. The normal course was to park at a campground. With that, I didn't worry about it, the effort to steal a 5th wheel is pretty high vs say a pickup (they'd have to have a 5th hitch, cut the lock, etc).
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04-28-2021, 02:30 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Qualicum Beach
Posts: 665
M.O.C. #26399
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jdarwin
The DW wants to know if anyone just leaves their rig parked somewhere (not a campsite but a truck stop, Walmart, church, etc.) so they can go drive around and see sights, visit parks or museums for the day.
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I once parked at the back of a large metropolitan shopping mall. Went inside to the security office and they were cool with it but asked me to move to a slightly different part of the lot as they were setting up for a craft display or something that weekend. Was able to leave it there for 3 nights and the security patrols kept an eye on it. Asking will get you a long way.
__________________
2018 Keystone Montana 3811MS
2017 Ford F450 diesel dually
600AH Battle Born Lithium Batteries, 1,080 watts solar
3,000 watt hybrid inverter with 120A charger
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04-28-2021, 02:42 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
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I can't even think of a place that I would want to spend the day but not at least 1 night. I would get a campsite.
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
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04-28-2021, 02:55 PM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: westminster md
Posts: 2,328
M.O.C. #17894
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DutchmenSport
No, I have never dropped the trailer to go site seeing. If I unhitch, it's always at a campsite or home. Otherwise, it stays hitched. Call me paranoid, but I've got too much invested in time and money in my camper(s) for a criminal to vandalize it or steal it.
At most tourist attractions, you can find somewhere to park tow vehicle and trailer. It may mean walking a little distance to see the attraction, but there is almost always somewhere.
If you unhitch to drive around an area, your camper is much safer and better off at a campground, even if just for an overnight. With RVing, it's ALWAYS about safety first, always. How you drive on the road, the speed you travel, where you camp, who you associate with, where you shop, visit, and explore. Call me paranoid, but when traveling, you have to be if you want to return home with good memories instead of heart-break.
Find a campground and unhitch.
The only time I unhitched trailer from truck was once when we needed to run the truck through a self-car wash and wash the thing. Of course, the trailer would not fit inside the bay. We had to unhitch.
The other time was when our truck broke down and we were in the middle of no where. We got the truck towed to a repair shop and we stayed in a motel for 3 days. The trailer was parked outside our motel room. There were no campgrounds anywhere in that region and this was over a holiday week-end when everything was shut down. We had no alternative except the motel. No power to the trailer at all and we managed to keep the refrigerator cold and even kept the ice cream frozen. We were not set up for boom docking.
This is how they towed the trailer to the motel. We then unhitched the trailer, and the tow truck took the truck to a Chevy repair shop, some 30 miles farther down the road.
After 3 days in the motel and the holiday week-end was over, we hired another tow truck to tow the trailer to a near by campground that was near where the truck was being repaired. We were then able to get a car rental and we were at this campground for another 5 days while they fixed the truck.
It goes without saying, we never made our destination. And imagine our shock when we went to the Chevy dealership and saw this:
Those were the only two times, ever, we unhitched when not in a campground or home.
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I've always owned Duramax trucks. From the looks of that picture with the cab off I'm guessing either injector issues or an exploded cp4 fuel pump. Or maybe blown turbo
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04-28-2021, 03:30 PM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
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No we do not do that never did in over 20 years of Rving. We factored staying at Campgrounds in our Rv travel budget.
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04-28-2021, 05:30 PM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Bencia
Posts: 539
M.O.C. #25828
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jdarwin
The DW wants to know if anyone just leaves their rig parked somewhere (not a campsite but a truck stop, Walmart, church, etc.) so they can go drive around and see sights, visit parks or museums for the day.
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After 17 years never have and do not plan to leave the trailer parked unhitched. I might, if I thought I needed to AND got permission from the site manager.
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04-28-2021, 08:20 PM
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#17
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Established Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: LIVINGSTON
Posts: 42
M.O.C. #19411
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Just curious, what was the issue with the truck?
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04-28-2021, 09:27 PM
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#18
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Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2018
Location: san andreas
Posts: 209
M.O.C. #21805
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only if in a emg..
but please Never park in the truck areas ( including side roads close to one) of any truck stop. as those drivers MUST stop by fed law and the fines in not doing so are huge. and over the country places trucks can stop have been closed off, or shut down, some towns and city’s have a outright ban on truck parking.. so space is limited thing for them.
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04-29-2021, 09:21 AM
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#19
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Anderson
Posts: 2,790
M.O.C. #22835
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beejee.... it was a blown turbo, and about $4500 out of my savings account. I'm glad I had the money!
__________________
History is not about the past, it's an explanation of the present.
2019 Montana High Country 375FL
2014 Chevy Silverado Duramax, 6.6L Dually
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04-29-2021, 05:02 PM
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#20
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,774
M.O.C. #12947
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Our turbo went out about four years ago, but we managed to get it to the dealer with the trailer in tow. They cleared codes so we could move the trailer to a KOA, and the got the truck back to the dealer. Same thing with the cab in the air.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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