Sometimes while enroute I want to pull over and take a nap or stop for lunch at a rest area. I have found several rest areas, particularly on the other side of the Mississippi to be quite nice.
My questions involves following the entrance signs that seem to put our trailers as the same category as large 18 wheelers pulling 53' long trailers. I feel like a dwarf alongside some of these behemoths and a little intimidated. Over on the passenger car side there are large enough spaces to park but I always stay on the truck side. Other than above and feeling unsafe what are some thoughts or ideas as to stopping in rest areas? Do you stay on the smaller car side while towing or go to the truck side? Thanks for responding.
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Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
Good question as I've thought about the same. While we're obviously supposed to use the truckers side I've used both if I can see how busy it is in time to do so. If I can't tell by the time I opt to follow the signs and use the trucker lot. Does seem a shame to take up such a bit pull through when it's busy.
I agree with the conundrum. I would prefer to have flexibility. However, I follow the signs and generally park on the truck side. If the truck side appears quite full I have used the car side a couple times.
Based on a recent story in the Wall Street Journal there is an acute shortage of overnight parking spots for truckers. Most prevalent around big cities and certain locations with heavy over the road traffic.
Here in CA, we have found that the slots located on the "truck side" are pretty big so we pull forward as much as possible which leaves room behind us. Several times, we've had a Class C or small truck/camper pull in behind us. The car slots tend to be fully utilized and, one time, we were specifically directed to the "truck side" by a State worker.
We've always parked on the truck side even with the Boler and a car.. But do usually pull through as much as possible..
But for a nights sleep will not stay at a rest area again--one time we were the only spot left beside a refrigerator truck who ran his engine all night long..Not a night for a restful sleep.(even with my earplus)
Now we go back to the Walmart in Bellingham (I get off work at 11:15 and we cross the border then to avoid the long lineups in the morning) Walmart is close enough and we are out of there first thng in the morning--gas at Costco across the street and coffee at Starbucks also across the street---then hit the I-5..works for us.
We always park on the truck side when pulling a trailer. I have taken photos with our rig next to a big (really big) rig. On our latest trip, which was without a trailer, there was more room on the truck side than on the car side along the I-5 in CA.