Question for everyone

Penguin · Jan 29, 2004

Hi. It's the woman who drove to Texas from British Columbia with a 35' 5th wheel (all on my own)... and I'm gearing up for another two month vacation jaunt.

But.... I do have a question.

In your own considered opinions, from a personal safety factor, does any particular truck stop franchise do better than another? Or do they all pretty well have their good/bad/horror stories? I ask because I often pull in to one to grab a few hours sleep, and perhaps an easy meal, and want to be as aware and careful as I can be. I know roadside parking pull over's are asking for trouble. I will be cutting a swath through the PNW; Central, South Central states again.

If it's not stepping on specific names, I'd really appreciate the feedback.

Penguin

Lawrence · Jan 29, 2004

I think that is a valid question and concern. I think for the most part truck stops have come a long way from where they used to be in the matter of safety for their customers.

I think the old Union 76 chain was a poor example of security - but many stops - or as they say these days travel centers have really improved security.

Lawrence,
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dieseldiva · Jan 29, 2004

Welcome back Penguin (aka the woman who drove to Texas from British Columbia)!! Lawrence is right in that most of the "big name" truck stops are focusing on the "travel center" image. I think if you stay with the more commonly known names you'll be fine. With the travel trailer you can park in the front lot and most of those are very well lit at night. Don't forget your friendly Walmart Supercenters (open 24 hours and very well lighted), we haven't been asked to leave one of those yet and they are usually close to a good choice of restaurants or we like to go inside and pick up a frozen Staufers dinner and throw it in the microwave for something different. Good luck and don't be a stranger, we'd like to hear some of your stories from the road. DD

Of all the things I've lost in my life, I think I miss my mind the most!!

Penguin · Jan 29, 2004

Thanks for the comments! Yes, I did a one nighter in Cody, WY Wal-mart parking lot. There were enough modern gypsies there it looked like an RV commercial. LOL

Stories? Just the usual I would imagine, except perhaps for my hitch-hiker. It wasn't until I got up to Montana that I found a full grown Texas Tarantula (entomologist identified) stomping around in the cab of the truck as I was merrily driving down the freeway. In September these guys get active, and it had obviously crawled in while I was parked in a field in Texas and hunkered down. He came as quite a rush of adrenaline to my nervous system as I generally mistrust anything with more legs than myself.

Maybe this is common for regular truckers, but it shook this part-timer. LOL

**edited for typo's

dieseldiva · Jan 29, 2004

NO WAY is this common for truck drivers, I just can't, WON'T accept that!! Rush? You say rush? I doubt there's enough tissue on board ANY truck to "fix" the problem I'd have, had that been me!!

Of all the things I've lost in my life, I think I miss my mind the most!!

Penguin · Jan 29, 2004

ROFL!!!!!

Yes Diva, you stated the response very well! I pride myself on being relatively cool-headed and calm, but this did stretch the limits a tad.

I must admit there was that stunning moment of slow-motion crystal clarity as my mind said,

"Oh look! A four-inch, hairy spider, with fangs that obviously belong in in a nightmare, is walking on the seat towards me. How quaint! A close-up vignette of local wildlife"

Then reality took over, as did the inner panic as I came to what *I* deemed as an 'emergency stop'! As a point of interest, the now deceased specimen resides in the trailer in a jar as a momento of one of those *special* travelling moments.

redytrk · Jan 30, 2004

Talking about Travel Centers replaceing the old dirty truck stops of the past.I would place first on my list as being RV friendly.
FLYING J Travel Centers.Most locations have gone way out of their way in catering to the RV`s needs,seperate parking,dump stations,special fueling lanes,etc. You can visit their web site for a lis of all locations.They also have Wi-Fi avail at about $4.95 per day if you use this service.
A note about parking at WALL*MART.Please do your best to be mindfull that they are running a business there.Checking with the mgr would be a good idea.He will tell you the best place to park out of the way.And please clean up after yourself when leaving...Dont make the mistake of trashing the place like many of my trucker buddies have.This resulted in most locations banning us for life.Also look our for overhead barriers in case your fifth wheel RV is extra high.

Penguin · Jan 30, 2004

Thanks Redytrk!

Yes, I have found Flying J to be pretty good. They do have the fuel lanes dedicated to RV's, which is nice because that way I know I'm not holding up some driver with a timeline that's just too short.

I am one who really apperciates the Wi-Fi, as it let's me keep in touch with people, and stops them from having to wonder quite WHERE I have taken off to on any given trip. LOL

Trashing any property anywhere is totally unacceptable in my books. If a place is kind enough to allocate space for my vehicle, I'll treat it with utmost respect - but have also seen those who don't.

My original question was prompted by two incidents of extreme rowdiness outside the door of my trailer that had me rather worried as it sounded as though it was going to develop into extreme violence, and there was no way out for me!

When I got this taller trailer last year, you have no idea ahow many times I shrunk down into my seat when an overhead area seemed too low, even though it was signed to be tall enough. Somehow, the psychology of hunering down seems to help! LOL

Thanks again.

dieseldiva · Jan 31, 2004

We're partial to the Flying J's also, mostly for the wifi and the showers are pretty good. They do however, give us "funny" looks when we pull in out front to quickly empty our porti-pot, no one has ever said anything but we have had management people come out and just stand there and watch (must be fascinating). Also the rv-ers give us the "you're in our way and not supposed to be here" look. Oh well, it beats dumping just anywhere like too many do! DD

Of all the things I've lost in my life, I think I miss my mind the most!!

Weave · Jan 31, 2004

I can say in all honesty I have NEVER YET had a single incident at any facility I have stopped at, I just make sure it is clean and well lit. I am a guy, and not a friendly looking one mind you, but short of one occaision where a fellow wanted to sell me a junk say-co watch, I have not even been approached by anyone. Not even a single lizard

In the case of a woman who is alone, I offer up one suggestion of a "weapon" to keep in your truck, and I keep this myself. It is a high powered spray bottle filled with isopropyl rubbing alcohol. I mainly use it to quickly de-ice wiper blades, but I imagine if an undesireable individual tried to get into my truck a quick blast with it to their face and eyes would send them running.
Any of the "name brand" truckstops should be fine. Leo's Backwoods truckstop, bar and adult entertainment might not be your best bet for a stop.
-Weave-

dieseldiva · Feb 1, 2004

Thanks Weave for the "legal weapon" suggestion, something I've thought a lot about but couldn't come up with much. How does one drive as long as you and not have a knock at the door? We've had the "ladies" approach in broad daylight with myself in the jumpseat asking Jim if he wanted some "company", TWICE!! In all fairness, she approached the truck from the rear driver's side and couldn't see me sitting there. These times they are a changin'.

Of all the things I've lost in my life, I think I miss my mind the most!!

Penguin · Feb 2, 2004

HAHAHA... so I take it not all lizards have four feet?

In all honest, I have to say I have never been approached 'inappropriately', but then again, I also never look as though I am anything other than fully occupied doing whatever.... or gee, is my age showing that badly now??? ROFL

RichM · Feb 2, 2004

Another good little weapon to have is Wasp and Hornet spray.It shoots in a straight line about 20 feet and really will deter someone.One time in New York City in Manhatten at a traffic light, one of the window waher guys jumped up on my running boards and started to clean the windows.I asked him to stop,the light turned green and he demanded money. I am far from a violent person but we carry this spray behind the drivers seat so I sprayed him in the face with it.Boy did he jump down fast,also the stuff is perfectely legal.
DD ,we have had lot lizards approach us with just me sitting up front.Once they see my wife they apologize and leave.I personally think any guy would be out of his mind to utilize their service!s.

Weave · Feb 2, 2004

I swear to God I have never been approched by a lizard ever. I have seen them get into other guy's trucks and hanging about, but other people leave me alone for some reason. Where I am a friendly person, my friends tell me I am not friendly looking at a glance. I guess this a good thing while on the road! Maybe I smell funny... but I always wear clean clothes, am showered and groomed, and use Speed-Stick, and dont THINK I smell funny, plus my truck is usually clean, and I don't even smoke or have bad breath. I'm not sure. To be honest if a lizard ever did approach me I'd get so damn nervous I wouldn't know what to do :7 Give her an EO bumper sticker?
One thing I have always questioned- Is a BB firing pistol considered a firearm? I'm thinking one could "shoot an eye out," and some of them look so real just the sight of it would send a potential perpetrator running. Would hate to get busted at border crossing for that though- They take big toenail clippers seriously!
-Weave-

RichM · Feb 3, 2004

Another legal weapon that you can carry everywhere is a Flare Pistol. Met a guy in Michigan once who had one,nasty looking device and it would shoot 2 flares before it needed to be reloaded.He had no problem going into Canada with it.You can buy them at Marine outlets.
I carry a device up in the cab which looks like a flashlight but is really a pepper spray gun. It is about 8 inches long,very narrow and shoots a stream vs a spray, has a light in one end, bought it at a police supply place in Alexandria VA.

louixo · Feb 3, 2004

Lizards have been approaching me my entire trucking career...wife in the truck or not in the truck. Walking from the fuel island, walking down the street and at rest stops......anywhere they hang out..gays too, at rest areas.Does that make me the opposite of weave? Devastatingly handsome? Or do i look like a horny goat? For a weapon, I have a 12" glavanized pipe. Never had to use it, but brandished it more than once. Seems to do the trick. One safety feature I´ve always practiced at rest areas (usually avoid them, unless there is no choice when it´s time to go)is to send my wife in to the ladies room and then for her to come back out and tell me it´s all clear, then I stand outside in sight the door, and wait for her. Once you´re inside the restroom you are virtually trapped. Also I never leave the truck at a rest area without putting my "persuader" into my belt, out of sight down my pants leg.Maybe some would call that overly cautious, but better safe than sorry.

RichM · Feb 3, 2004

In my 18 years on the road I have never been approached to buy or sell drugs and I have only witnessed 1 transaction which I think was a set up.I have been approached by lot lizards 8-10 times ,just about everywhere,but man the gay guys in the rest areas are something else. I actually had a guy in a pickup pull up next to me at night,put his interior ligt on and exposed himself (like i care). I avoid the rest areas at night unless they have security.

Weave · Feb 3, 2004

What is with me?? I consider myself very lucky! I go into the rest areas all times night and day, and the most excitement I've had at any one of them was exchanging some small talk with other truck drivers while washing my hands at the sink. Never an incident there either. Watch, now that I've said this all kinds of creeps will be after me:7 I use the Hells Angels attitude with people on the road- I never start anything with anyone, but if someone starts with me, I will sure as hell finish it}>
-Weave-