Log In | Register
Skip to main content
Topic: Grocery Store and a Truck stop with propane near the Factory? (Read 7 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 3 Guests are viewing this topic.
Grocery Store and a Truck stop with propane near the Factory?
Yahoo Message Number: 18907
Our pickup will hopefully be in early April.  So I've been spending the cold winter days mapping out my route home to TN and planning the overnite stops.  I'm planning on just paying the CA sales tax so I'll be driving it from the factory myself.  I'll be getting on I-10, to I- 15, then picking up I-40 in Barstow and heading east for TN.
 I would like to fill up with gas and propane, and hit a grocery store for supplies before I get on the interstate.  Does anybody have any recommendations for a Truck Stop/Gas Station with propane, and then a grocery store (with a large parking lot), in the vicinity of the Factory?  Or at least on the way out of town?
 I know when I visited the factory last August I stopped at a grocery store not too far away and picked up some things to eat in the hotel room.  But it was a small neighborhood store with very little parking.  I would hate to try to park the LD in that lot.  I've also looked in Exit Source, but they only list places right at the Interstate Exits.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Charles 26.5 MB due in March/April (PO # 7888)
Re: Grocery Store and a Truck stop with propane near the Factory?
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18914
Quote
I know when I visited the factory last August I stopped at a grocery store not too far away and picked up some things to eat in the hotel room.  But it was a small neighborhood store with very little parking.  I would hate to try to park the LD in that lot.  I've
When headed that direction, I like the Flying-J in Barstow. Very easy on/off the freeway, and you can't miss it. Haven't looked for supermarkets in the Barstow vicinity, but I'm sure they would all have big lots. You won't need much before Barstow, and trying to find your way around the factory would be more effort than stocking up quickly is likely worth.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: Grocery Store and a Truck stop with propane near the Factory?
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18916
Charles,
 If you haven't gotten one, I highly recommend the Rand McNally Atlas from Wal Mart that lists all of the Wal Mart and Sams stores. )for $4.97 rather than the usual $11.95.)  We keep one in the house and one in the LD.

If you take Steve's recommendation of Barstow, there is a Wal Mart within a mile of Exit 1 of I40. (621 Montara Rd).  They always have large lovely RV-friendly parking lots.

Barry 26.5 RB Texas
 --- In lifewithalazydazerv@yahoogroups.com, "chennesy "
Re: Grocery Store and a Truck stop with propane near the Factory?
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18926
Charles,

Won't you be using an ICC driver to avoid California Sales Taxes?

If that's the case, you won't actually ga
Re: Grocery Store and a Truck stop with propane near the Factory?
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18930
Steve & Barry, Thanks for the suggestions about just waiting until I get to Barstow.  That's a good idea and I'm sure I'll be about ready for a short break by then anyway.  I'm assuming that the factory only includes a limited amount of fuel, but getting gas in Montclair before hitting the Interstate shouldn't be a problem.

Barry, I do have a copy of both the Wal-Mart and the FMCA atlas.  They should come in very handy.

Thanks again,

Charles.
Re: Grocery Store and a Truck stop with propane near the Factory?
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18931
Charles lives in Tennessee where the state sales tax is I believe
9.5%. At least that's what they were charging me in the Gatlinburg
 area last week so it's either the statewide rate or they have the same additional local/city sales tax rate in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville. Therefore using the ICC driver would actually cost him more money not less because he'd need to pay them and still have tax to pay in TN. Most states have reciprocal agreements on sales taxes collected so when he registers his LD in TN he would most likely only pay the difference between what he already paid and what is actually due. I'm sure he's checked into that and if not he should double-check it.

Mike
Re: Grocery Store and a Truck stop with propane near the Factory?
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18933
Mike, You're fast!  You answered the question while I was typing my response.  You are correct about the overall rate, but the local county portion of the rate does have a cap on it.  So on big dollar purchases like cars, boats, RVs, etc., you only pay 7% plus the local % on a limited amount.  I called the local county clerk and had them calculate the sales tax on my LD purchase amount just to verify my calculation, and to verify that I would not have to also pay TN sales tax if I paid CA.
Paying TN sales tax would have saved about $ 438. So, by the time I paid the ICC driver and notary ($335+25=$360), I would have only saved $78.  For that small difference I would rather pay the CA sales tax and drive myself on my own schedule.
Plus this way I can take 15 to Barstow and hit 40 there instead of going to Ehrenberg on 10, going into Phoenix and going up 17.
I've got a long 1800 mile trip home anyway, and every mile saved will help.

I hope you had a good time
Re: Grocery Store and a Truck stop - Flying-J...
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18937
Quote
Steve & Barry, Thanks for the suggestions about just waiting until I get to Barstow.  That's a good idea and I'm sure I'll be about ready for a short break by then anyway.  I'm assuming that the factory
Getting out of the LA area at rush hour lives up to its reputation, and once you have done so - you can be ready to call it a day. Our solution - if heading out I5 or I15 to ports north - is to return home after work, leisurely pack up the m'home, have dinner, watch a tv sitcom or two, then hit the road about 8:30-9 pm. We cruise up the interstates to Frazier Park or Barstow, park in the Flying-J RV area, and hit the sack.
 Compared to trying to get an early morning start from home, we end up with an automatically earlier start, no tension or traffic, about 1.5 hrs or more ahead of schedule. And, the coffee is right outside the door. Of course, if the sound of exhaust brakes won't lull you into a peaceful slumber...

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: Grocery Store and a Truck stop with propane near the Factory?
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18938
Quote
I would like to fill up with gas and propane, and hit a grocery store for supplies before I get on the interstate.  Does anybody have any recommendations for a Truck Stop/Gas Station with propane, and then a grocery store (with a large parking lot), in the vicinity of the Factory?  Or at least on the way out of town?
Just ask at the factory - they are a storehouse of knowledge on where to buy things.

Happy Trails

Gus Weber
Re: Grocery Store and a Truck stop - Flying-J...
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18939
Steve, The factory typically does the deliveries in the morning and likes to start them as early in the day after opening as possible so you normally get out of there around 2PM. At that time you miss the commuting rush hours and the lunchtime traffic. If Charles only fills up with gas or at least gets enough to get to the Flying J where it would most likely be cheaper he shouldn't need to worry to much about traffic.

Believe me I know what you mean about the traffic in that area and I've always avoided it whenever possible!

Mike
Re: Grocery Store and a Truck stop - Flying-J...
Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18940
The factory usually offer two different deliverly times. One in the morning and the other after lunch.
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Gatlinburg
Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18941
Charles, We stayed in a timeshare condo up on Ski Mountain Road close to Ober- Gatlinburg ski area since we still own several timeshare weeks. It was nice and we had a good time but unfortunately the weather had gotten warm up there before we got up there and for most of the time we were there. In fact it was in the upper 60's close to 70 for the first few days, except at night of course. Even though they had a good base of manmade "snow" we decided not to ski as we had originally planned to do. I was afraid that would happen but my wife wanted to try it out instead of going to the New England states or out to the Rockies. The ski conditions weren't very good and my wife and daughter have never skied before so it wasn't the place for them to learn in my opinion. Believe me, I learned in NJ on similar conditions and I would never want to do that again! Especially after taking my first ski trip to real snow! We did go skating up there and my daughter got to play in the snow still up in the mountains in the park, at least she got to throw some snowballs.

They did get snow the day before we left and it was snowing for a short part of our return home in the NC mountains on I40. They also had closed US 441 the way we came into Gatlinburg through Great Smoky Mountain National Park last Thursday & Friday but I hadn't planned to return that route anyway.
 We do plan to take the LD up there though sometime for spring/summer to see the laurels and then rhododendrons in bloom and again sometime in the fall for the foliage. I'm sure it must be real beautiful at those times! Maybe we can arrange to meet you up there sometime.
 It sounds like TN has the same type sales tax laws as FL but here the state tax is 6% and our local 1% additional tax is only imposed on the first $5k so I did use the ICC driver and saved money.

I did see something I thought was interesting while in TN watching news about the shuttle tragedy on one of the cable news networks. In the scrolling news briefs at the bottom they had a brief that the TN tax collection system ranks the worse in the entire US.

Mike
Re: Gatlinburg
Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18944
Mike, Glad you had a good time.  We went to Gatlinburg on our Honeymoon over 20 years ago, and have been back quite a few times since then.
We usually spent 1 day in town doing all the tourist/gift shop "stuff", and then spent the rest of our time out in the mountains hiking and just driving around.  I'm really looking forward to being able to actually stay in the Park in the LD.  It would be fun to meet a few other LD folks up there some time, maybe in the fall to watch the colors change!

Charles.

Quote
We do plan to take the LD up there though sometime for
spring/summer

Quote
to see the laurels and then rhododendrons in bloom and again sometime
Re: was: Grocery Store and a Truck stop - Flying-J. now: pickup time
Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18945
Charles

If time permits, try to stay in a local campground for at least one night. You will be totally overwhelmed by the checkout. I had owned an LD with the same floorplan for years and we still missed a few things. They were minor but still we did not find them until we got home and spent the night in it. At the beginning of the checkout, Vince told us that minor problems occur in almost every LD they deliver. Considering how much goes into the construction of the MH, this is not surprising. If repairs are necessary, it will be easier to have then done then rather than rushing out of town immediately.
Our repairs only took a couple of hours but did require a return trip.
If possible, make the pickup reservation ASAP if you desire the morning pickup. We had wanted the same but someone else already had that time scheduled. It was only an hour and half drive home so it was not a big deal for us.
LD will work with you and a local RV service shop if warranty work is needed after you get home. They are one of the most customer oriented companies I have ever dealt with. You are going to love it. Happy LDing.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: was: Grocery Store and a Truck stop - Flying-J. now: pickup time
Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18949
Larry, Thanks for the suggestion.  Unfortunately I will have limited time and will not be able to take a leisurely trip back home.
But I'm still weighing pros & cons.  When I flew out last August to place the order I had a little extra time and drove through the KOA Fairplex, and the East Shore RV Park just in case.  They both looked fine but sure seemed expensive compared to the State Parks I've been checking out locally.
I've even considered taking a real early flight to CA and scheduling the pickup in the afternoon, and then spending the night in a local campground just to have time to check things out.  I like that idea since I live too far from the factory to easily get back for any necessary repairs, but that would make for one real long and busy day.  I suspect my final decision will depend on the timing of when our unit is ready for delivery, what the airline schedules are at that point, and exactly when I have to be back in TN.

Counting the days until the pickup! Charles.
Re: was: Grocery Store and a Truck stop - Flying-J. now: pickup time
Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18952
[When I flew out last
 
Quote
August to place the order I had a little extra time and drove through the KOA Fairplex, and the East Shore RV Park just in case.  They both looked fine but sure seemed expensive compared to the State Parks I've been checking out locally. ]
Charles,

We stayed at the KOA Fairplex lst year. We live in Florida & were "out west" when we developed some problems and wanted to go to the factory. It wasn't easy getting an appoinment so once we did and ended up in that area a few days prior to appointment time. It was a nice facility. Even allowed washing of the units on site. I agree it was expensive but wasn't much other options in that area. We don't have a KOA membership, but they gave a 10% on our AAA .
Good luck & all the best

Sylvia