Truck stop Service Station??

gordon_adl · Senior Member

Truck stop Service Station??

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Big Gorilla wrote:
I stop overnight at Truck Stops regularly. In fact I plan to stay at the outbound Truck Stop on Western Ring Road out of Melbourne next Monday night...

You coming to the Big Island BG - heading to Qld with the rest of the hordes of us???? Enjoy your trip over - loved Tassy and the boat back was great!

Sorry all - a bit off topic!!

-- Edited by jules47 on Tuesday 26th of March 2013 09:29:28 PM

Sheba · Guru

I wasn't in a "Bay". Just down the back out of the way, in an unmarked area. There was a ton of room that was unused all night.

I don't like it when people park in "Disabled" zones when they're not. There's no way I would stop in an area specifically marked for Trucks.

And I did ask permission first.

Cheers,

Sheba.

-- Edited by Sheba on Tuesday 26th of March 2013 11:04:18 PM

Cloak · Guru

Can you stop at these for a shower and rest? Maybe even a nights sleep? While driving the truck I sometimes refuel at large BP servos and see plenty of trailers parked up waiting for a prime mover to hitch up and take it away. If it's ok for a long haul driver to use the facilities why not a caravan GN? Most have showers and bathroom facilities, restaurants I mean they even have Maccas in most of them... lol

I haven't noticed many vans though.

Cheers

Steve

Grams · Guru

My husband is a truckie and he always used to stop and stay overnight at these especially when he had to have his break to sleep.

I can't see why GN can't, some are open 24/7 so you can get anything anytime. Plus the ones we stop at going through to the city have huge parking facilities, so it's not like they can say no. As for the showers, I'd just ask them, the worse they can say is no.

If you find out either way let us know here.

Big Gorilla · Guru

I stop overnight at Truck Stops regularly. In fact I plan to stay at the outbound Truck Stop on Western Ring Road out of Melbourne next Monday night...

Cloak · Guru

Over Easter we're visiting family in Rochester and will be breaking our fast and having a cuppa on the way north at one as well. We won't have the van on however but if I see any I might conduct a survey and see how useful these places are.

way2gokev · Senior Member

G'day It depends some are better than others, if you fill up and buy a meal you can get a free shower, just ask but at some if you are not a trucky you have to pay a small fee for a shower. I used to have ready a floro vest or shirt to make out like a trucky when I wasnt a trucky.

Cheers

Kev

Cloak · Guru

Apparently in the USA Walmart allows RV'ers to park up over night in their car park. Not sure if they have a dump point or provide any other services...

Here in Aus however there are no such gestures that I know of.

gordon_adl · Senior Member

Ahhh yes, to cheap the system in the name of saving a gold coin. Just another reason why so many people have a negative opinion of gn's.

way2gokev wrote:
G'day It depends some are better than others, if you fill up and buy a meal you can get a free shower, just ask but at some if you are not a trucky you have to pay a small fee for a shower. I used to have ready a floro vest or shirt to make out like a trucky when I wasnt a trucky.
Cheers
Kev

Santa · Guru

gordon_adl wrote:
Ahhh yes, to cheap the system in the name of saving a gold coin. Just another reason why so many people have a negative opinion of gn's.
way2gokev wrote:
G'day It depends some are better than others, if you fill up and buy a meal you can get a free shower, just ask but at some if you are not a trucky you have to pay a small fee for a shower. I used to have ready a floro vest or shirt to make out like a trucky when I wasnt a trucky.
Cheers
Kev

Must admit I have noticed a trend among some members of this forum to rort the system whenever possible. confuse

way2gokev · Senior Member

G'day Some people need to get a life and also to read what is posted. I have paid by filling up with deisel where am I rorting. Its the gov that is rorting by allowing the high fuel prices. Its all about saving a dollar where possible, what is wrong with that.

Cheers

Kev

herbie · Guru

Some 24/7 servo's have notices up with No Caravan/Motor Home parking over night signs up now....I think that maybe due to some people letting their gray water run all over the parking lot and leaving plastic bags of their rubbish left behind .Any place that allows truck drivers to shower almost always let you use the shower,but it will cost from $1 to as much as $7 .I have never found any to let you use their shower for nothing even if you fill up with fuel and have a meal.

brickies · Guru

One of the problems they need to kept room for the trucks has they are there life blood , I called into one of these trucks stop to fill up and there was a B-Double at the next bowser next to me I put $230 in the Prado his fill was $2000 he told that happens every 2 nd. day

hako · Guru

Truck stops are just that - they are not caravan stops. If I were a truckie and I pulled into a truck stop and found my way blocked or otherwise impeded by caravans/mobilehomes then I'd be tempted to return the favour....maybe a blast on the airhorn, or a good rev of the exhaust right over the van etc....maybe even block the van in.
How would it be if truckies started using "free-camps" for the same reason. Mutual respect is required.
This is just my opinion FWIW.

gordon_adl · Senior Member

I've got no issues with caravans using a truck stop if it's allowed. And if they give you a free shower even better. If they say it's going to cost you two dollars, then pay it. Don't go dressing up as a truckie and cheat the road house. It's not about being politically correct, it's about being a decent person.

Look I'm not perfect by any means. I've certainly made my share of mistakes in life. However I don't cheat, I don't lie and I don't steal.

I don't give opposing views just to stir some of you up. But when I see a poster write something this is blatantly wrong or cheating, I will take them to task on it.

It's certainly anyone's prerogative to ignore me and or think what you will of me. I'm surely not going to lose any sleep over it :)

Sheba · Guru

I stayed in a Truck-stop Servo. one night on the way to Cairns. It was late at night, I was tired, and didn't know how far the next Free-camp might be. I stayed way at the back, out of every-ones way, and felt much safer there than I would have if I'd just pulled up on the side of the road. I'll do it again if I have to.

Cheers,

Sheba.

herbie · Guru

It is illegal to camp over night in any truck parking bay that displays Tuck Parking...They need to sleep as they are working ,It gets my back up when i see someone camped up in these places,no wonder the truckies take a dis like to us.How would these people like it if the trucks started useing the free camps set aside of the R/V camps. ...

herbie · Guru

Sheba, was not thinking for a moment that you were parked in a truck only bay/ parking.I was refering to the truck stops beside the highways/ roads.They, are a designated truck stop, and that is why you see the truck painted on them.The ones with just parking are for all vehicles. I have parked in the stops you are refering to on a number of occassions , well out the way of any interfering with the trucks pulling in or out.

Regards Herbie

Sheba · Guru

When I went down to Mildura I used to park in roadside stops. They didn't have "Truck Stop" marked anywhere though. I used to park so that I was right out of the way of Trucks that might come in.

Cheers,

Sheba.

Big Gorilla · Guru

I agree with everything posted here on the use of truck stops. I use them frequently, announce my arrival, and utilize the shopping facilities such as Diesel, 7/11, McDonalds whatever. Whether it be a truck stop or free camp, I can never understand why some people are not considerate enough to clean up their areas before departing. Many drop grey water on roadways, in rivers etc. with no consideration whatsoever for other travellers or the environment. I don't have grey water tanks, so I am particularly careful where I drop it, and when I leave an area, I walk around to ensure I leave it spotless. I am aware from reading posts on this Forum that GNs certainly don't need any lecture on these points, but I urge all to adopt my policy. If I see anyone leaving a mess, rubbish lying around, grey water being indiscriminately disposed of, I don't hesitate to approach them in a friendly manner and point out their wrong doing....

-- Edited by Big Gorilla on Wednesday 27th of March 2013 10:08:31 AM

Big Gorilla · Guru

jules47 wrote:
Big Gorilla wrote:
I stop overnight at Truck Stops regularly. In fact I plan to stay at the outbound Truck Stop on Western Ring Road out of Melbourne next Monday night...
You coming to the Big Island BG - heading to Qld with the rest of the hordes of us???? Enjoy your trip over - loved Tassy and the boat back was great!
Sorry all - a bit off topic!!

-- Edited by jules47 on Tuesday 26th of March 2013 09:29:28 PM

Hi Jules, yes making the annual pilgrimage to the mainland. I'm originally from Brisbane and went up as far as Mackay in 2010. This trip will be 3 months to Victoria only. I don't mind the cold weather. I want to search out some of the free camps I've read so much about on the Forum. Especially Green Lake and Aysons Reserve. Glad you liked Tassie. I've been here almost 10 years since I returned from living overseas. Biggest gripe, perhaps the main one is cost of transport on the Spirit. Hopefully one day the Federal Govt. will come to the party !!! Ken.

Scotty01 · Senior Member

As they say "Truckies carry this country". By law they have to take breaks and need a large area to do so and are entitled to get some uninterupted sleep. I have stayed at a couple of the big servo/truck stops and have always found the people there to be friendly and very accomadating. Use some common manners and ASK not just do! I always go and ask before filling my water tanks or staying over night. If you treat them as you would like to be treated its usually all good. If someone tried to pretend to be what they arnt I would get pissed off too and make life very hard for them, the ones that do this sort of thing are the ones that make being a nomad harder than it needs to be.

When driving I always keep a close watch for trucks coming up behind me and as soon as possible find a spot where I can get out of their way to allow them to pass quickly and safely. They have a tight schedule to adhere to I dont!

Cloak · Guru

Hi guys,

I started this topic not to create arguments but to find out what others do to manage their driving fatigue.

In my day job I drive a truck under fatigue management rules giving me 13 hrs behind the wheel if I need to and I was trying to relate that to pulling a caravan. I realise this issue is fairly well left up to the individual and common sense and not enforceable like it is with heave vehicles.

These truck stops at sevos are a fantastic opportunity to have a nanna nap and use the facilities to freshen up. In the name of safety of course. I'd be concerned if their use by caravaners was resisted after all we fuel up and shop in them.

Safety 1st...

Steve

Happywanderer · The Master

I have stayed many times at Truck stops up the Newell in my campervan. Park there overnight, use their showers, have a meal there. All good. Lots do it and have been told its allowed by the workers there.

Have stayed at Wyalong many times and I think the other one is Jerilderie.

wasn_me · Guru

Cloak wrote:
Hi guys,

I started this topic not to create arguments but to find out what others do to manage their driving fatigue.

In my day job I drive a truck under fatigue management rules giving me 13 hrs behind the wheel if I need to and I was trying to relate that to pulling a caravan. I realise this issue is fairly well left up to the individual and common sense and not enforceable like it is with heave vehicles.

These truck stops at sevos are a fantastic opportunity to have a nanna nap and use the facilities to freshen up. In the name of safety of course. I'd be concerned if their use by caravaners was resisted after all we fuel up and shop in them.

Safety 1st...

Steve

Hi Steve, A lot of my working life involved driving long hours, sometimes driving 10hrs & working 6hrs in a day. I'm totally over driving long hours, I limit the days driving to 4-5 hrs allowing time to find a good camp. I like to wake up & have my morning cuppa with a view of natures best. I know a guy who frequents shopping centre car parks for his over night stops.(that sort of thing is not for me). I would rather plan my stop for a national park, dam, river something with a view.

To each his own I suppose.

Cheers Pete

P.S. Good to see an insulting post was removed. (Good work Cindy)

brickies · Guru

People who don't have grey water tanks can use 10 or 20 lt. drums which have screw caps lids run their grey water into drum by placing it under the waste pipe , when they leave replace cap take grey water with you and depose of it when you get to some where to dump it

herbie · Guru

When we were touring around over in America, the s/market complexes allow you to park up over night in the parking bays,infact they encourage it ,as they know you will spend in the shops and it is extra security for them with people around.Some nights there would be up to 12 vans in one shopping area.Over here if you tries that the council would slap a fine on under your windshield wiper blade ,before you were out of bed in the morning .

dogbox · Guru

have a look at the no of trucks pulled up in truck bays an truck stops in the long hours(midnite till 6 am) if you pull up early evening an use the parking bays these guys have nowhere to stop an have to move on. they maybe out of hours or out of eyes
on the east coast this problem will only get worse when triples become the norm hard enough to find parking for singles an doubles
some truck stops have areas for caravans to park some have plenty of room some don't you have use your own discretion they are not always the quietest places to camp for the nite try getting a good nite sleep next to a stock crate or a fridge van

Grams · Guru

herbie wrote:
It is illegal to camp over night in any truck parking bay that displays Tuck Parking...They need to sleep as they are working ,It gets my back up when i see someone camped up in these places,no wonder the truckies take a dis like to us.How would these people like it if the trucks started useing the free camps set aside of the R/V camps. ...

Actually it's not illegal to park or camp your van or car in these truck stops or parking bays. These areas have been made bigger so trucks can drive in, park and rest. There are some that trucks can't use as it is smaller and have more trees.

the reason it has the picture of a truck or truck stop on the sign is that trucks are able to get into them....the ones that have a picture of a truck with a line through them means that trucks can't get into it.

Les (a truck driver for 48 years) and I have always used rest stops on the side of the road as its for EVERYONE.

-- Edited by Grams on Thursday 28th of March 2013 05:06:04 PM

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.