camping in Flying J parking lot

[howlinowl]

This is my first post.  Wife and I have just purchased "Mental Therapy", a 2002 Fleetwood/Coleman Taos Popup.  We purchased it mostly to take short weekend camping trips to Johnathan Dickinson state park in Hobe Sound, Florida just a few miles south of us.  

Maybe next year, we will take a trip to Kansas, where I was raised.  The Flying J in Fort Pierce FL always has RVs in the parking lot.  A lot of the RVs there are "camping", but a bit on the down low.  Sometimes you will see a van camper with a generator outside.

Looking at a map of where the Flying Js are along our route, I figure that I could stop at the one outside Quincy, then the one at Shreveport, then the one at Oklahoma City then make it to my destination.  

I would like to do this to save time and money on our trip.  If I can stop for about 8 hrs and hit the road again, it would be better than "renting a space" at a rv park and being commited to staying there for a bit.  

However, traveling with a popup, I can't "camp on the down low" like the travel trailers, class c do.  I would have to unhitch, and unfold.

Anybody with a popup try this?  Do the personel at Flying J frown on camping in their lots?

Thanks,
Allan Koeberlin II

[flyfisherman]

An important feature to my little Starcraft is that I can still pop it up and remain hitched! And I would think you could just about do that, too, with your Taos.

Never spent the night at a  Flying J's, but have spent the night (with RV's and TT's) in the Cabela's rear parking lot, Dundee, Michigan.  Not too long ago saw a popup (poped up) in our local Wally-Mart store parking lot, still hitched to the TV, nesttled inbetween two TT's. They  could have possibly been traveling together. I've also just pulled into a national forest back road and found a turn off into the woods, backed in  and set-up, still hitched to the TV.


Fly

[howlinowl]

I'll have to see if I can pop mine with the TV hitched.  I do know that the front bunk pretty much covers the towbar on the trailer.  If I didn't have the topper on my TV, it would clear with no problems.  

I'm gonna keep an eye on the Flying J in Fort Pierce.  I drive by on occasion during my work, and I'll see if I see any PU there.  Worst case, when we make our trip, I'll just pop mine and see if they run us off.

Allan

[Gone-Camping]

I wouldn't feel safe sleeping in a PU in a Truck Stop or at Wallies! Never can tell who is running around the parking lot at night, and with a PU there is no security at all. There are far too many nuts running around these days. At least in a campground everyone is a registered guest and you have the campground security. I have a hybrid with locking bed ends, and I'd be willing to do that ONLY if I were to leave the bed ends closed and locked!

[GeneF]

"I have a hybrid with locking bed ends, and I'd be willing to do that ONLY if I were to leave the bed ends closed and locked!"

I have to agree with Cliff.  We have used WallyWorld a couple of times but have kept the hybrid closed up.  I don't think I would be that comfortable trying to overnight it at Flying J's or WallyWorlds in a popup.

Also keep in mind that these areas are generally very well lite and some trucks keep there diesels running.  They are not always the best place for some peaceful sleeping.

[calstate360]

This is my first post. Wife and I have just purchased "Mental Therapy", a 2002 Fleetwood/Coleman Taos Popup. We purchased it mostly to take short weekend camping trips to Johnathan Dickinson state park in Hobe Sound, Florida just a few miles south of us.
 
Maybe next year, we will take a trip to Kansas, where I was raised. The Flying J in Fort Pierce FL always has RVs in the parking lot. A lot of the RVs there are "camping", but a bit on the down low. Sometimes you will see a van camper with a generator outside.
 
Looking at a map of where the Flying Js are along our route, I figure that I could stop at the one outside Quincy, then the one at Shreveport, then the one at Oklahoma City then make it to my destination.
 
I would like to do this to save time and money on our trip. If I can stop for about 8 hrs and hit the road again, it would be better than "renting a space" at a rv park and being commited to staying there for a bit.
 
However, traveling with a popup, I can't "camp on the down low" like the travel trailers, class c do. I would have to unhitch, and unfold.
 
Anybody with a popup try this? Do the personel at Flying J frown on camping in their lots?
 
Thanks,
Allan Koeberlin II

We have done it in a Hybred at Flying J.
They have a special section just for campers that is usually behind and to the left of the store and gas pumps. You can dump your water at the Diesel pumps the next morning, thats why they provide the special section.
I fill up there no matter what I drive, or what type of gas or diesel, I need for my generators.
Sal