Seth Price
EF1
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.
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Camping
- Thread starter Seth Price
- Start date
Jake Orosi
EF4
I'm actually rather curious about this as well. My vehicle is of a size and shape that I could sleep in comfortably if necessary; do I just pick a parking lot? Are there certain places that are more or less hostile to such a practice? Should I get to an interstate and try to find a rest stop?
Brendon Lindsey
EF3
I have, you have to keep in mind how hot and humid it can be during the summers, but early spring isnt bad! I think " 3 nights at a hotel orrrrrrr some new equipment". I used a tent, and I had my dog with me sometimes. I have done this on occasions where the setup was a state or two away.
Hotel parking lots are good.
Hotel parking lots are good.
Kirk Chestnut
EF0
Dan Robinson
EF5
I do vehicle camping frequently, usually just to get a few hours' nap so I can make it home without stopping for a hotel. On rare occasions I have slept the entire night in my vehicle.
At night, my preferred spot for vehicle naps is the shoulder of interstate onramps, right at the start of the ramps where truckers are commonly parked. Some states don't allow this, and I won't do this if there are no trucks already parked there. Rest areas have too much foot traffic for my tastes (high chance of being heckled/harassed), unless they have shoulder parking on the onramps at the far end. I've never been bothered while on the shoulder of a ramp with 18 wheelers. Truck stops are OK as long as you can find a spot away from the foot traffic, plus, they have showers for the morning. Rural areas are the worst IMO - almost every time I found a secluded place out in the country, someone stopped and knocked on my window to see why I was there.
I use black sheets to create a 360-degree curtain that blocks light and provides some privacy.
At night, my preferred spot for vehicle naps is the shoulder of interstate onramps, right at the start of the ramps where truckers are commonly parked. Some states don't allow this, and I won't do this if there are no trucks already parked there. Rest areas have too much foot traffic for my tastes (high chance of being heckled/harassed), unless they have shoulder parking on the onramps at the far end. I've never been bothered while on the shoulder of a ramp with 18 wheelers. Truck stops are OK as long as you can find a spot away from the foot traffic, plus, they have showers for the morning. Rural areas are the worst IMO - almost every time I found a secluded place out in the country, someone stopped and knocked on my window to see why I was there.
I use black sheets to create a 360-degree curtain that blocks light and provides some privacy.
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Skip Talbot
EF5
I routinely sleep in my van. I put a twin mattress in the back with the seats out. It's extremely convenient as I can stop as soon as I get tired and have a full bed to catch some sleep in. It's so convenient in fact that I had to get another minivan when I replaced my first one.
Pitching a tent has numerous issues that make it impractical in most cases I'd think, like trying to put it up in the dark, the inconvenience of setup and take down, and then getting owned in the middle of the night by large hail or a raging squall. That's happened more often than not when I camp in my van.
The best places to sleep in your vehicle I have found are where the unpaved road grid dead ends along a major interstate. There is zero traffic on those dead ends, no one can see you there except maybe a watchful farmer, you're just off the interstate for convenience and cell signal, and it's quiet and dark. I lock my doors, leave my shoes by the pedals, have my phone and glasses next to me and sleep in shorts and a shirt. If something goes screwy weather wise or else, I can immediately jump into the driver seat and take off. Here's another thread on the topic:
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/sho...laces-to-park-and-sleep-overnight-in-your-car
A few places where I overnighted in 2010:
Pitching a tent has numerous issues that make it impractical in most cases I'd think, like trying to put it up in the dark, the inconvenience of setup and take down, and then getting owned in the middle of the night by large hail or a raging squall. That's happened more often than not when I camp in my van.
The best places to sleep in your vehicle I have found are where the unpaved road grid dead ends along a major interstate. There is zero traffic on those dead ends, no one can see you there except maybe a watchful farmer, you're just off the interstate for convenience and cell signal, and it's quiet and dark. I lock my doors, leave my shoes by the pedals, have my phone and glasses next to me and sleep in shorts and a shirt. If something goes screwy weather wise or else, I can immediately jump into the driver seat and take off. Here's another thread on the topic:
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/sho...laces-to-park-and-sleep-overnight-in-your-car
A few places where I overnighted in 2010:
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STexan
EF4
So long as a hail threat does not remain for that night, I suppose. I personally do not function well without a shower first thing in the AM. But if you can get to a truckstop, you can pay $8-12 for a shower. I'm not against staying in "less than ideal" motels and prefer in the $45-55 range for the convenience and wi-fi access.
Dan Robinson
EF5
Skip's frontage road ending idea does work - just make sure there are no houses in sight, or you'll get that knock on your window right as you start falling asleep.
Joshua Nall
EF4
I've never stayed in a hotel, but I've also never really camped. Usually find a Walmart and sleep in the back seat area of my truck. It folds out flat and I have two layers of foam padding and a couple of sleeping bags back there. Its really very comfortable.
Finding a remote area or a nice campground would certianly be more pleasant. The lights and noise can be a problem, especially if the parking lot cleaner decides to show up at 2 AM, sounding like a jet engine doing laps around the parking lot.
Finding a remote area or a nice campground would certianly be more pleasant. The lights and noise can be a problem, especially if the parking lot cleaner decides to show up at 2 AM, sounding like a jet engine doing laps around the parking lot.
Kirk Chestnut
EF0
A caveat to the Walmart suggestion earlier. Some select locales have banned "boondocking" so it might be good to look for signs to that effect before bedding down for the night.
Seth Price
EF1
Thanks for all the feedback. I figured if I was too tired to find a hotel that had rooms, I'd likely be too tired to set up a tent. Do you guys have a good source for truckstops that have showers?
Lee Smith-Whaley
EF1
If I recall from when I planned a road trip in the past, most major truck stop chains have a list of locations, and features on their site. I apologize in advance if I'm wrong about that.
Jake Orosi
EF4
Also worthy of consideration is your chase partner(s), if any. Theoretically I wouldn't mind bringing someone chasing with me, but I don't think I'd be as comfortable (on both levels) sharing my vehicle as a sleep shelter.
Dan Robinson
EF5
Virtually all truck stops have showers. I've only run into a couple that didn't, but they were smaller independently owned places in remote areas. The major chains always have them - most are relatively clean and run 8 to 12 bucks.
TrumanBoyer
EF2
WALMART parking lots...
I live there when chasing on limited budget.
RV-ing websites maintain lists of Walmarts
with a no-overnight policy.
State Parks for camping on down days.
I recommend Cherry Creek State Park East of Denver.
Last year $14 per night lake, good food, showers...
Stayed for 3 days between setups. Loved it.
WiFi and Picnic tables everywhere.
I sat near the Marina by the lake and ran the laptop all day.
Denver area is a good place to start a chase.
Kansas State Parks
Daily Camping per unit or tent $8.50 + 4.20 per vehicle
El Dorado is nice,
Wilson State Park near Russell has beautiful lake
and nice campsites,
but Russell Inn has $30 rooms....
Mark down the campgrounds on your map.
Don't spend 3-4 days in a hotel when the
weather is too nice for chasing.
The $100+plus dollars you save can take you
500+ miles.
I live there when chasing on limited budget.
RV-ing websites maintain lists of Walmarts
with a no-overnight policy.
State Parks for camping on down days.
I recommend Cherry Creek State Park East of Denver.
Last year $14 per night lake, good food, showers...
Stayed for 3 days between setups. Loved it.
WiFi and Picnic tables everywhere.
I sat near the Marina by the lake and ran the laptop all day.
Denver area is a good place to start a chase.
Kansas State Parks
Daily Camping per unit or tent $8.50 + 4.20 per vehicle
El Dorado is nice,
Wilson State Park near Russell has beautiful lake
and nice campsites,
but Russell Inn has $30 rooms....
Mark down the campgrounds on your map.
Don't spend 3-4 days in a hotel when the
weather is too nice for chasing.
The $100+plus dollars you save can take you
500+ miles.
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