| Author | Message | ||
| jimbo Rating: N/A |
I would like some imput on an idea that I have been kicking around for some time. Our RV is a 1977 05 Eagle. One of the things we like most about traveling is meeting new people and sharing ideas and experiences. We live on 7 acreas just off a main highway inside the city of Tallahassee Florida. Property is country setting inside the city (fenced, wooded, secluded and within walking distance of WalMart, Sams, Resturants, Auto Parts, Tire Store, Service Station, Banks and more). Our idea consists of a way to meet new friends by preparing a couple of overnight sites with a pad, water, and electric (no sewer) and make them available to anyone needing overnight or short term parking. There would be no charge for the site. Do you think this concept is workable and would you use such a facility if it was available? | ||
| G
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Workable, just would be careful on how I advertised the spots. Probably something you would share with other BusNuts privately. I would hate to see the "Bus Police" come and site your for running a campsite without paying the "proper taxes and fees". If I ever made it to Tallahassee in my 9 I would come visit. The price is certainly right! | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Hospitality, kindness, and the willingness to offer help to others are probably the warmest and most sincere feelings one can have. I doubt anyone here would find a problem with your offer! Unfortunately, these pages are read by all. How'd you like some real freeloaders stopping over, making a mess, causing some destruction, and refusing to leave when asked? Don't think that can (or will) happen? Set it up and advertise it here, or anywhere on the WWW... Let me know.. (Better get some serious liability and property damage insurance, also) | ||
| Donald Lee Schwanke (Dontx)
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Not wanting to throw water on your campfire, but I will take bets that the City of Tallahassee will tell you "no way in hell". Even in our little city in Texas, it is illegal to stay overnight in an RV unless it is parked in a commercial RV park. | ||
| t gojenola
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I wouldn't presume to make such a decision based on what happens in Texas. Isn't that the place where you can get arrested for drinking in a bar? I'm no lawyer but I know that what one does on one's own private property is pretty much free of government oversight, save for ordnances, zoning restrictions, and the whim of public nuisance plaintiffs. Check it out with your local authority first, then just do it. Lots of people have guest parking for traveling rv'ers. tg | ||
| Jerry Liebler (Jerry_liebler)
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I guess I won't visit Don, he lives in a much to highly controlled environment. Here in Kentucky there is a whole lot less government intrusion so anyone who wants to visit me is welcome. Send me a private email if you're going to be in south central Ky. I'm near Somerset on about 25 acres of woods and pasture with plenty of parking. Regards Jerry 4107 1120 | ||
| ChuckMC9 (Chucks)
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The FMCA has a program for exactly this. I forget what it's called but there are hundreds of places listed across the country just like you describe, Jimbo. I'd keep it word of mouth only for awhile until you see how it goes. | ||
| JW Smythe (Jwsmythe)
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My mom did real estate in Florida for a while. I was talking to her about something for myself. I thought it would be nice to buy some small lots in rural areas around the country, have power, water and sewer hookups waiting for me. That way, I'd have "home" stops in various places. She warned me that the zoning in most areas won't allow it. Even hooking up in your own driveway is usually questionable but ignored. The "best" plan for me would be to buy properties with ratty mobile homes on them, and set up my hookups behind it, so no one would see. What sucks is, you can drop an old $10k mobile home on most of the properties, and that's perfectly accepted. Want to park your $100k+ RV on it, and you're some kind of devient. | ||
| Sean Welsh (Sean)
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Don, A bit off-topic, but I am curious where in TX you are. We have found Texas to be one of the most RV-friendly states in the country, if not the most. Texas permits overnight stays in all state rest areas and roadside picnic areas. Several towns we have visited in the state provide free RV parking right in the center of town -- one even provided free 30-amp electric hookups for up to three nights. We've also stayed in Wal-Marts, Lowe's, K-Marts, and mall parking lots all over the state. We've never had any problems parking (though, I will admit, parking is limited on Padre Island). In fact, we breathe a sigh of relief every time we enter the state, because we know unequivocally that we will find parking. -Sean | ||
| captain ron (Captain_ron)
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Jimbo, What the city don't know won't hurt them. I say go for it you will need permits for the electrical and concrete work but you can tell them it's for your own personal collection of bus conversions. like every body said, I would keep it a relatively secret deal. word of mouth for busnuts. I see a lot of lots here on Fort Myers Beach that would be perfect for that. and a lot of people living in drive ways here in their bus or rv. If you are not running a camp ground there's not much they can do. I have a friend in Wi. that has a bar. He has camping on his property for free, when questioned by zoning people he said it's not a camp ground it's a safe haven for people too intoxicated to drive. they praised him for his efforts in keeping drunks off the road. | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
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Jimbo, First thing we did was talk to our neighbors about this. All it takes is one neighbor to call zoning and complain. In our case, our neighbors have no problem with an occasional bus stopping by for a while. The most we have had at one time was 6 buses, but that was only for about 1 week. From November through April, we usually have at least one bus at our place. We are 12 miles from town on 5 acres, but have a neighbor on either side of our property. We are listed in FMCA and Coach Builder Bulletin, but everyone that has stopped has heard about us by word of mouth from fellow busnuts. Jack | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
huh? "said it's not a camp ground it's a safe haven for people too intoxicated to drive." In most states, being in any -vehicle- while drunk is a DUI, regardless if the vehicle is running or not, or of it's a car or RV. | ||
| Donald Lee Schwanke (Dontx)
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For those who inquired - I live permanently in a small town of La Feria TX, middle of the Rio Grande Valley winter Texan area, a town of 6000. While I consider Texas to be the most friendly RV state I have encountered, in our case it is a city code that prohibits the occupation of the RV, although thruout the valley parking in Wal Marts etc is perfectly acceptable and even encouraged. My experiences in Florida with their predomidantly anti RV sentiments (I can't even visit my Florida daughter in my RV, whole town is off limits), would just make me assume that the hate goes on in Tallahassee as well. What happens is that it is a occupant enforced deal, and the RV haters seem to be everywhere just to call the cops when they see one in town. I may be wrong, but that is why I suggested a check with city hall first. | ||
| Gary Werschler (Gary)
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We live in rural part of a city in British Columbia, and have room to park at least three buses in our yard.We have many of our RV friends come for a visit and stay with us from bus conversions to motorhomes. We have friends that when they come for dinner come in their bus conversions and usually spend the night as do we when we go to their place. Any excuse to drive the bus. My cousins from Califorina have been here a couple of times for a visit in their motorhomes and think it is great to be able to stay on our property and visit with us. Our city has two free dump sites and I can supply power and water at my place. In our travels in our bus we have met many great people in Canada and the US. We have taken them up on their offers to visit them with our bus and had just a great time. Also many of them have come to visit us. We just got back three weeks ago from our maiden voyage in our new coach. We met new bus friends in Apache Jct and Yuma. We invited them both to stop and visit us when they travel our way. In Yuma we met Gary who owns a Newell coach and offered a spot to stay on his property to do a repair on our coach, replace the dry tank on the coach as it deceided to start leaking.We spent 5 days with them, Gary had ramps and all the tools required to do the job plus water, dump and 50 amp power. Bus people are just great. Gary | ||
| Henry 96A3 (Hank)
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huh? In most states, being in any -vehicle- while drunk is a DUI, regardless if the vehicle is running or not, or of it's a car or RV. Yeah well this is WISCONSIN! You're right tho' John but kudos to the officer who looks the other way if it means keeping the drunks off the road. | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Wussieconsin: "Wisconsin drunk driving law prohibits a person from driving or operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, or a combination of alcohol and a controlled substance, or any other drug which makes a person less capable of safely driving. In this respect, the law does not specifically prohibit driving "drunk"; but more accurately prohibits driving under the influence, which is commonly referred to as DUI or OWI for operating while impaired or operating while intoxicated. Note that it is not necessary for an officer to actually see a person driving to being able to stop him or her for OWI. It is enough that a person has either turned on the ignition or has left the motor running while the vehicle is in the park position. In fact, the statutory definition of operation is "the physical manipulation or activation of any of the controls of a motor vehicle necessary to put it in motion." The fact that a vehicle may be immobile due to engine problems or being stuck on a mound of dirt with the wheels spinning does not preclude an officer from arresting the driver for OWI." http://www.1800duilaws.com/states/wi.asp Kinda' like Texas, Virginia, and a growing number of other states, that allow officers to arrest people drinking in bars, if they are found to be intoxicated. (see here) Gotta' love what's happinin' in the good 'ol US of A. | ||
| james dean boggs (Jd_boggs)
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Jimbo, great idea. Any bus nut that reads this is welcome at my yard for parking just send me an email ahead of time. I can accomodate 3 full size busses until I get the 15 acres in shape then we can go bigger. I live 5 miles from Joshua Tree National Forest and 10 miles from Palm Springs in the high desert of southern California just off the I-10. Great place to visit in the winter. We get alot of RV's from Minn, Wash, Ore in winter time. PS This is an RV friendly town. You can even stay at the Wall Mart. They don't seem to care. | ||
| motorcoach1
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your always welcome for a few days stay over at my place to make minor repairs or just chat and have dinner in South Carolina in da country. weekends preferably .I'm still a working stiff ...Mike | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
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I dunno..First FF shows up with his race/sports car bus, and then other racer busses show up, then you have the cops on your back, you know..someone reported seeing two busses racing up the interstate right after they left your place.  . | ||
| H3-40 Rating: N/A |
Hey Jack, out of curiosity, how much is five acres going for in them thar parts near you now? Up here it's gone balistic! Way too high for what you get! We've been looking around for a small parcel but not at these prices! Looks like Ga, Al, Tn, or Carolinas is the best buy! Ace | ||
| JR
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South Carolina has cheap land, and low taxes. And if located between Charlotte and Columbia, anything you want is within a hours or so drive. I'm moving down there one of these days. North Carolina is taxing my A$$ off. Didn't we just cover this subject last week? Whatever, if anyone finds themselves in or near Charlotte, NC and need a place to stop over for a night or two, or to make minor repairs,,,or have the mutha of all Jam Sessions (musicians you know)...we're here. I just love bus owning musicians! I gotta place that can park a bus...or 5 if we have need. All weather too. Love company! No one's going to engage the police around here. Just look like one more musician bus is visiting. Anyone that stops by and has unique bus building skills....ummm, like doing interior work (Ozite), should plan on a little longer stay. Email for directions. JR | ||
| Ross Carlisle (Rrc62)
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Been thinking about SC myself. The economy up here in NH is stagnant. It's getting hard to make a living. Even the businesses that have been around for 50+ years are closing thier doors. Real estate is up right now, so I can clean up on my house, then head south, buy a piece of land and build a "bus" shop. I lived on a boat full time in Maine for 6 years. Living in the bus in SC should be a breeze. Only problem is that I want to be near the coast...like less than 15 minutes drive to the beach. That might be a problem. | ||
| Michael Malloy (Busnut06)
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Jimbo, I built just what you have described for when my Mom comes with her coach. We are in the Shenandoah Valley. Concrete pad with patio, 50 amps and water. no sewer. Others are welcome, Mom gets it if she is here. Plenty of additional room without hookups. I have a sister in Tallahassee, can't get our coach in her yard, maybe it could be a trade off sometime. Michael |