A travel question

[Venus Pax]

I have a question that is a bit different, but I know many of you travel.

My family and I like to travel with our truck and travel trailer. It is usually all of us. I have taken one trip with just myself and my children, but my husband towed us there, and my relatives and family friends were there in the campsites near us. It was also less than two hours from home.

I will be taking a trip soon where I will meet relatives at a campground, but I will be traveling with only my children. Relatives will be caravanning with us on the way home, but it will just be the kids and me on the way there.

What are some safety recommendations you would have for me, particularly if you also have experience traveling by yourself towing a trailer?

As usual, I will have one or two guns with me. I have a GoodSam roadside service if I have vehicle or trailer trouble.

We will be departing our hometown at about 7:00 a.m., and we will mostly be on the interstate. Buc'ee's gas stations will primarily address fuel needs. I
'm waffling on whether or not to use rest stops. What are your thoughts? If we need a restroom stop, would grocery store or shopping center parking lots be better?

Also, google says the trip is just under six hours, but I project it will be closer to eight hours because we don't really get in a hurry.

[jason812]

As a man, I barely like using rest stops myself. I think you got a good plan. If you can keep all your stops to Bucees, I think that would be good. They are clean and easy to get in and out of with a camper. I would bring enough fresh water (maybe 1/4 tank) just to use the toilet in case you do stop at a rest area. We have a 4.5-5 hour trip coming up and thats my plan but we wont be on the interstate, just small towns.
I'm sure you know from riding as a passenger just take it slow and leave plenty of room in front of you.

[Tex1961]

I’m going to agree with @jason812 , just carry a couple of gallons of water and use your own camper bathroom. We’ve done that a couple of times and it works great. Glad you’re going to take your time, I always give myself extra time to get where I’m going and never get in a hurry.

[cheezit]

Absolutely stay out of rest stops. Truck stops , major gas stations and big retail stores are better and safer then any rest stop.
To many drifter types around.

[03Lightningrocks]

I stopped at quite a few rest stops when I was traveling around the country drag racing. Some of the shadiest looking characters I have ever seen were at rest stops. I would usually pick the ones with lots of truckers and only then when I was so tired I could not keep my eyes open. It was desperation only. I can tell you I would not want my Wife, daughter or grand kids at one of those places. I am with the other folks. Use Buckeyes and or other major highway gas stations. Lots of people and lots of witnesses.

[powerboatr]

wow what great timing
i have to run out to pensacola later in the week, then rush home the next day. to pick up my grand daughters dog. her land lord wants no dogs. , nice of him to tell her after she moved in

anywhoooooo
going out is just me, so potty breaks will be at safer locales than rest stops, there is a bucc cees in AL
but coming back i have the medium sized pup and do not really want to leave her in the car, so rest stops or places that allow dogs will be the norm, i am thinking LOWES or home depots, or tractor supply if they are near the highway
thought about taking a service dog in training jacket, but that is cheating

other wise i have to lock her in the car with it running and chance she does not get freaked and eat my interior
she has abandonment issue at times , other wise she is a great dog .



as far as traveling with the rv....i will say a 1/4 tank of fresh water for hand washing and toilet time until you get to the next overnight stop. we carry about a 1/4 in the bus and it has served us well for long time

[Venus Pax]

Powerboatr,
If it's just you and the dog, and you're traveling during the daytime, you are likely okay at the i-10 rest stops in Alabama and Mississippi. Just keep your head on the swivel. We have stopped at rest stops as a family on the way to and from Disney, and there are lots of families and obvious travelers there. I wish I could advise you on Louisiana, but it seems to give us trouble also. Maybe the perimeter of Walmart? As for restroom stops, just take the dog in with you at Walmart. As long as the dog is on a leash and under control, it shouldn't be a problem.

I'm not actually staying overnight anywhere other than a campground. Although I know it's a popular thing to do, we do not stay overnight in rest stops, Walmarts, Cracker Barrels, etc. I book campgrounds, and I do my homework on them before staying there.

My main issue is a) I don't want us to be a target of crime, and b) I want to make sure I can drive as safely as possible, especially through cities, since I won't have another adult to offer an extra set of eyes. I've pulled the camper on nearly every trip, and I've pulled into pumps at larger gas stations, etc., but never without another adult.

I'm now remembering our last trip through San Antonio was met with wrong exits (yes, there is an "s" at the end of exit--we actually messed up more than once), and gas stations that had me going from yellow to orange. Once we get west of Luling, the Buc-ee's supply dries up. I recall the small towns having small gas stations to match. :/

[carlson1]

We have stopped in rest stops for overnight and used our generator. We fill our dry tank and we use “our on restroom.” We have stayed overnight in Walmart parking lots and also Cracker Barrel’s love campers.

Just from one point to another we stop for Disel and to use our restroom and then keep going.

We do our best not to travel at night anymore and not to try looking dor a place to stay at thr last minute.

Your plan sounds good.

[chasfm11]

We've had our motor home since 2004 and driven it over much of the country for 75K miles. A third of our trips including multi-week ones were with our granddaughter. Because of our combined length (60 feet) with the car, we can only use truck stops and places like Buccees for fuel stops.

I normally stop at rest stops and use the bathrooms myself, more to give myself a chance to walk around. Having a gun on me while driving long distances is uncomfortable so I use (and practice with) a fanny pack when we travel. I can easily and quickly put it on when I get out and it is about there a gun would be for appendix carry. My wife and granddaughter use the on-board toilet except Buccees.

Fuel stops are another matter. We like Flying J (now owned by Pilot) because they often have RV lanes and offer cash price even with a credit card and a discount on diesel. I've had multiple times when I've been approached while fueling. "They" know that you are a captive audience. By contrast, I've used the truck lanes at truck stops and never had a problem. If your truck uses gasoline and not diesel, those aren't an option for you. I've had a dozen or so situations at fuel stops versus none at rest stops. When traveling in a car alone, I have had "them" at my driver's window before I can open the door.

We've had a few sketchy campgrounds. We belong to Passport America and some of the places in their catalog can be a little weird. We've never had a problem at any of them, however.

[carlson1]

I also use an app when traveling called Crime and Places. It can run in the background and will alert you when in a high crime area. You can check personal and property crime. I always check it before stoping for fuel or whatever. Here is a picture of the motel area I am in now.

[cmgee67]

Woo this topic is like Glock VS 1911’s hehe. Just kidding.

Your plan sounds good. You obviously have to stop to get fuel. Buccees sounds like a good place to stop. It’s well lit and mainly big enough for your rig to pull in and out of. I would however stay away from the rest stops like others have mentioned. Those transitional spaces tend to be magnets for undesirable individuals that wonder the highways. Always make sure your stuff is locked up and travel in pairs if possible. There is strength in numbers. I hope you have a great time and have some fun! It’s a blessing that your able to go take the family like that. I would also carry extra fuel if you can. Maybe 5-10 gallons. You never know when you may run out and just that little bit could be the difference between you calling roadside assistance or not. I really like the racing gas cans you can get at Atwood’s or tractor supply. They dump a lot of fuel in a hurry. If you can also, get a couple
Of the blue water cans and fill them up for extra water. Carry a floor jack and a 4x4 block about 2ft long in case of a flat. (After being stranded on hwy 75 because my bottle jack wouldn’t go up high enough I carry that at all times). Carry a tire repair kit and also carry an air compressor if you can. Jumper cables as well. When I go somewhere for an extended trip I am a bit over cautious. Most of the time you end up helping others instead of yourself but it’s always good to be prepared. That’s part of the reason we carry right? Anyway good luck!

[Jose_in_Dallas]

Not sure if the OP ever stated the destination but as far as rest stops, I think Texas has some of the best in the country and I would not hesitate stopping at one for a rest room break and possibly sleeping for a few hours. Most are very large with plenty of parking and very well lit. Not like the rest stops from the 80 and 90's. Most of my state travel is usually going up and down 35 and 45 with the occasional trip to Colorado and New Mexico via 287 and the Panhandle.

Out of state, Louisiana was probably my worse experience. Coming back late one Sunday night/Monday morning from a motorcycle race at Barber Motorsport Park in Birmingham, AL, the rest stops in Louisiana were pretty bad and reminded me of the ones in Texas from when I was a kid. Small, wooded areas behind the stops, and not very well lit. Passed on them. The one I stopped in Oklahoma on my way to Missouri was pretty nice and even had a dog park area that was pretty nice. The one I went to in SE Colorado reminded me of Texas and was big with plenty of parking. Can't say I've stopped at any in New Mexico.

Not having any kids, my experience may be different. Depending on the situation, Buc-ees is a solid choice if you have to gas up, use the rest room, get something to eat or drink or ice, and gas up all in one stop.

[Jose_in_Dallas]

wow what great timing
i have to run out to pensacola later in the week, then rush home the next day. to pick up my grand daughters dog. her land lord wants no dogs. , nice of him to tell her after she moved in

Not to be an jerk, and not stretch to far from the original topic, but shouldn't your grand daughter have checked with the landlord/lease before moving in to see if dogs are allowed? Sounds like it's her first time living on her own and she might have overlooked that.

[jason812]

Woo this topic is like Glock VS 1911’s hehe. Just kidding.

Your plan sounds good. You obviously have to stop to get fuel. Buccees sounds like a good place to stop. It’s well lit and mainly big enough for your rig to pull in and out of. I would however stay away from the rest stops like others have mentioned. Those transitional spaces tend to be magnets for undesirable individuals that wonder the highways. Always make sure your stuff is locked up and travel in pairs if possible. There is strength in numbers. I hope you have a great time and have some fun! It’s a blessing that your able to go take the family like that. I would also carry extra fuel if you can. Maybe 5-10 gallons. You never know when you may run out and just that little bit could be the difference between you calling roadside assistance or not. I really like the racing gas cans you can get at Atwood’s or tractor supply. They dump a lot of fuel in a hurry. If you can also, get a couple
Of the blue water cans and fill them up for extra water. Carry a floor jack and a 4x4 block about 2ft long in case of a flat. (After being stranded on hwy 75 because my bottle jack wouldn’t go up high enough I carry that at all times). Carry a tire repair kit and also carry an air compressor if you can. Jumper cables as well. When I go somewhere for an extended trip I am a bit over cautious. Most of the time you end up helping others instead of yourself but it’s always good to be prepared. That’s part of the reason we carry right? Anyway good luck!

For a trailer, I have 1ft sections of 2x12 that were drops from building the house. Break the lug nuts loose, then I make a pyramid ramp and pull the good tire on the pyramid to lift the bad tire to change. Normally I do this to grease the bearings but last November I used this practice to change a flat on the side of the road. It is much faster and safer than a jack. I don't mess with jacks on a trailer. I also use these to park on when setting up to make sure I'm level side to side.

[RoyGBiv]

Wife and I road tripped to Tucson (~1,000 miles each way) in March and Taos (~600 miles each way) last week. Wife and daughter drove to San Diego in May (>1,300 miles). We/they took our time, stopped at every kind of gas station and rest area and had zero issues. We've road tripped a bunch to Colorado, Florida and North Carolina over the years and typically stop wherever the need arises when it's daylight, but stick to busy "gas and food plazas" and well-lit gas stations at night.

When our kids were small, we still felt ok stopping at rest areas, especially "Welcome stations" that were well lit and well maintained. If wife or I was traveling with only the kids (one adult only), I know that I avoided rest stops where I could not escort our daughter closely.

IMO, stay away from generic rest stops at night, trust your gut, and carry just in case.