Camping

[David Drummond]

I've done it here and there. We found it worked best if you have a pretty large distance to your next day target area, and you want to go the day before and stage, when you have the luxury of setting things up, cooking a steak or whatever. We found trying to find a place to camp (with a tent) after the chase extremely difficult because we often didn't stop chasing until really late.

I've often slept in the vehicle when I was just far enough away from home, and it was just late enough, it would be 5 or 6 am if I drove straight through. For multiple days of chasing, I've found it's just better all the way around to get a cheap room. Over the years I've gotten some cheap favorites around the plains, that offer little more than a clean room and working shower, but that's all I need to recharge for the next chase day.

 

[Skip Talbot]

$8-12 dollars per shower, yikes. That's 50-150 miles of gas depending on your vehicle. If you really want to save some money, you can pack your own shower too. I usually bring a few gallons of water with me and take a hobo shower. This works better with more secluded overnight spots of course, and not so much with Wal-mart parking lots and interstate on-ramps. You can further bum it by washing your face and hair in the single serve bathrooms at Subway and similar places. It's not glamorous but you can chase for pretty cheap if you pack food and camp.

A word of caution on the highway ramps. Stop on the on-ramp, not the off-ramp. You'll be less likely to get hit by a drunk or sleeping driver on the on ramp, and the vehicle speeds will be lower on the start of the ramp. You might also get hassled by the police as I don't think it's technically legal to park there. I've never been bothered there, but I usually only stop on ramps if I'm too tired to keep driving and can't find a suitable remote location on the unpaved grid.

 

[David Drummond]

Just as a side note, if you are planning on getting a room at a town up ahead, and you have internet access, you can check rates/availability on the chain websites, and they often have a cheaper internet rate. You can either book it there then, or call the clerk and make sure they have what you want and most of the evening/late night clerks will give you the internet rate anyway. It's a quick was to shop pricing/availability without a lot of driving around and getting in and out.

 

[STexan]

Any Pilot, Bosselman's, Flying J, Loves, or Truckstops of America (TA, still a few out there) will have clean private showers that include a towel, soap, wash cloth, and commode. They all have easily accessible websites to find locations. Any other larger independent truckstop you may run across should have clean showers as well. The state parks are not a bad option for some, but showers are often hit and miss with regards to hot water and cleanliness. But like was mentioned, when there is a few days lag between systems and you're far from home, tents and parks can provide some other forms of relaxation and recreation (and exercise).

 

[Dan Robinson]

The truck stops are a little steep, but are the only option for a 'real' shower outside of a hotel room (I need pressurized hot water!). It's basically a private hotel bathroom/shower combo - clean towels and washcloths, etc. I mainly use 'vehicle camping' on trips to and from the Plains, and on the way back from a long Midwest chase day. As such, the truck stop shower doesn't come into play all to often for me. I tend to use cheap hotels during the heart of an extended trip.

Trucks on the start of the onramps are ubiquitous in Missouri at night (usually where I end up stopping on a Plains to-from trip), and there are no signs prohibiting it. I've always chosen low-traffic rural interchanges, stop right at the start of a ramp and pull as far to the right as I can. At that spot, vehicles are traveling at low speeds turning onto the ramp. I'll have to read about the legality, if it's illegal, then I'll just be out another good place to sleep. Finding good spots can take a long time. If I think there's any chance I might be harassed or interrogated by police or locals, I'll move on. It's hard to fall asleep with that possibility lingering.

 

[Jake Orosi]

I'm told hospital parking lots are generally safe places in a pinch as well for a single night, if there's no other free alternatives around; there's access to drinking water and restrooms. If it's a decent-sized hospital, you can probably snag breakfast at the cafeteria for cheap. If you haven't had "hospital food" in a while you'd be surprised how bad it's not.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Do any of you guys camp on your storm chases, or do you always stay in hotels? I am curious about trying it on nights where hotels are scarce.

I usually drive all night to go home but if sleep is required, I will pick a cheap motel to stay in before camping or sleeping in my truck... I am 6'5" LOL It would be hard to camp out in my truck...

 

[Jake Orosi]

Just came across this find - if you have an iPhone or Android device, there's a free app (completely free; it doesn't even seem to have any ads) called My DAT. It uses your location to provide a list of the nearest rest areas, Walmarts, or truck stops (all major chains and a few smaller ones), as well as directions to a chosen facility. For truck stops, it provides a list of amenities, such as showers, laundry, and wifi access (if any). The app is mostly geared toward truckers, so it also lists scales and diesel prices; however, if you're long-roading and think you may want to stretch your legs or even stop for the night, it gives you some options.

 

[Tim Vasquez]

If it's camping you're after, and you want to do it for $0.00 in a secluded area I'd strongly pulling over where there's cell reception and get a feel for the area in Google Maps using the aerial imagery. Here's an example in the Oklahoma Panhandle. There's the farm that will get you a 9 pm visit, but if you look a little bit further there's grid roads that don't really lead anywhere and mostly service the oil wells and farm fields. Nobody goes back in here except oil trucks and farm equipment. There should be no problem finding a spot to pull over and bed down here.

But remember if you pull in late, your headlights will be seen from 20 miles around. Best to get there before dusk, and if it's at dusk, maybe go in slowly without the lights. It does get harder to do this as you get further east towards I-35 and the cities, but there's a lot more foliage in this area to hide you, and you can still use aerial pics to find a good out-of-the-way street that doesn't lead to any residences.

I've only done this a handful of times but it's perfectly doable.

Tim

 

[David Drummond]

With the widespread theft of oilfield and farm equipment going on by thieves swiping any sort of metal they can recycle, I really wouldn't suggest that in this decade Tim. I know it would work years ago, but these days, you'll be lucky if it only lands you a criminal trespassing charge, and if your unlucky, you'll be on the news the next day because some owner mistook you for one of the metal thieves and shot you dead.

They are stealing everything from equipment to irrigation pipes, right down to the copper wirelines servicing wells.

Times are different now.

 

[Skip Talbot]

Those farmers are very protective of their land and property. I've had them stop and check to see what I was up to a few times. A friendly greeting and explanation about how you're watching the weather goes a long way. They're usually happy to see you then, have no problem with you staying, and wind up hanging around and chatting for awhile. I actually prefer this since I know somebody is watching the area.

I've highlighted an example of my favorite place to stop. They cut the road grid in places where they didn't want to build a bridge for the interstate. These dead ends are pretty common near exits, are usually completely devoid of any activity, and are super convenient to get in and out of.

 

[David Wolfson]

Perhaps it's not so easy nowadays, but when I car camped on long trips I'd pull into the parking lot of a church. Never was confronted, but if I were to be, the honest explanation that you needed a place to sleep in your travels should have worked with most people.

 

[Jake Orosi]

For those who wish they could sleep with a window or two rolled down.

 

[Dan Robinson]

According to MODOT, the onramp parking is actually illegal. Truckers use them regardless because of a shortage of parking (quite a few threads on the web about that issue, it's controversial). I would imagine the gravel pull-offs common along the intersecting roads near the exits might be a viable legal option, but being away from the trucks where you 'blend in' better makes it likely a cop will want to check you out.

With that option out, having done in-vehicle sleeping countless times, I would say a truck stop is the next-best choice. Well-lit, cameras everywhere, lots of places to park and it's a location where parking for a long time doesn't seem too out of place or suspicious. Restrooms, food and a shower all there also. The times I've done it, I've chosen a far side or corner of the parking lot away from the high-traffic areas.

 

[TrumanBoyer]

Church and Hospital parking lots work great.

Remote FM Roads are okay, too.

Just do not trespass on marked ground, private roads, etc.
I figure if you cross a cattle gate, you are trespassing.
Turn around.

Criminal trespass charges must be backed up with evidence of some other crime.
(Like breaking and entering, or climbing under/over a marked fence)
otherwise its just Simple Trespassing.

Shooting a simple trespasser is illegal in every US State and Territory.
Shooting an assailant is another matter.
If they are in your house...depends on the state.

IT is TRUE, you could get evicted, you could get arrested, for simple trespassing.
Shooting a simple trespasser is assault with a deadly weapon, and it is at least
manslaughter if it kills them, regardless of whether you think they are a thief or not.

I think that to worry about being shot as as a suspected thief...
...well...
...you should always consider that possibility...
...and it is true that there might be a higher risk these days...

But really, how often does this happen ?

News Break: "Farmer Shoots Man Sleeping in Truck".

Hell, I got invited in for breakfast one morning in New Mexico...

...In this decade...

-Truman