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How hard is it to park at hotels and other stops when using storage trucks like UHaul? Do they often have special sections for those trucks or what? Not only do they have a HUGE TARGET but they take up a lot of room to park. Any advice on this? I plan to move from VA to WA and I WILL have to stop at a hotel at some point.. any advice?
Make sure you have a good lock on the truck. Most of the truck parking, or areas big enough to take a few spaces is in the rear of some hotels. You don't want to leave it unlocked/ If you can back up to a fence or something even better in my opinion.
Not all hotels have truck parking but some do, but you can find parking in the rear usually.
Last time I drove cross-country, I only booked hotels which offered truck/RV parking. These aren't, for the most part, going to be located in city centers -- but there are plenty of them along the interstates. If you book online, their website should tell you which ones do/don't have truck parking. Chances are you'll find yourself parked next to other rental trucks or even, occasionally, some commercial trucks.
Usually, you can park in the back of the parking lot and take up several parking spaces. If you are pulling a car carrier, make sure you know how to get out of a parking lot before you get into a parking lot. In general, we've never had a problem parking at typical highway exit motels with a moving truck.
Most interstate hotels will have parking available for large trucks (and RVs, and cars with trailers, and other large vehicles). Usually their parking lot wraps entirely around the hotel. Even when the hotel is full they usually have ample space where a truck could pull in. And often they have 'pull thru' parking areas where you won't have to back out or otherwise maneuver when you are ready to leave.
When you check in, the clerk will probably notice that you pulled in in a u-haul, but still it might be wise to mention that you have the truck and ask for a room near where you can park it, that way you can keep an eye on it. Choose a hotel whose parking lot is well-lit. Try not to pull into the canopied idling area as maneuvering can be tight and the canopy may be too low.
As for 'other stops' usually at rest stops, as you exit the interstate, there will be a sign saying '<-- trucks/cars -->' follow the arrow marked trucks. For other businesses like gas stations, restaurants, and stores, if you stay near the interstate exits, they will usually have larger parking lots and turning areas that places further off the road, but don't pull into a driveway until you know you can get out (drive past it and look around the building, send a passenger to go scope it out, etc.).
If you are making a 'pit stop'--pulling off the interstate to get gas, eat a meal, and buy some things, you can save yourself a lot of hassle and exertion by stopping at an exit where all of the things you need are immediately adjacent to the exit ramp and each other. Get gas, park the truck at the gas station (away from the pumps) and walk across the road to the highway to the restaurant or walmart or whatever, leaving the truck in the gas station parking lot.
I would think the biggest issue is securing yr items. Make sure u use a lock that cannot be cut off.
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In general, we've never had a problem parking at typical highway exit motels with a moving truck.
