The ones I saw had the units on a catwalk positioned OVER the parking spaces, so it didn't take up any more room than just a regular spot, and remember, the technology is brand new, so there's plenty of room for improvement.
Yes, that's how they are built. The supports for the thing cost a few parking spaces. But they take away parking spaces in that if you are going to park and not use their service you can't park there, especially if you plan to idle your truck or use a generator such as I use as those spaces are "no idle zones". Most of us only need a place to park and aren't interested in using their service so for most of us it's just wasted parking spaces that we can't use.
I would have appreciated such a service *very* much when we were driving our first truck, a crappy old Mac cabover with a single berth and no a/c. In addition, we were hauling refrigerated loads, so the engine had to be left running as there was no independent generator, so that meant one of us had to sleep on the 'doghouse' which, needless to say, was hot as FUCK.
Oh misery of miseries, I despised that truck, we were running strawberries from florida to NYC, and the suspension was so bad we had to strap ourselves in with BUNGEE cords so as not to knock ourselves unconscious as we negotiated the teeth-cracking potholes coming into the city, me gripping our dog on my lap as tightly as I could to keep her from flying about too.
Sounds a lot like one of my old trucks, an old International C/O with spring ride. Damn thing would beat you to death. No a/c of course.
But I digress...later, we bought our own truck, a White/GMC/Volvo Conventional with a 325 Cat and a 13 speed Fuller tranny, integrated sleeper for two, complete with fridge, independent heat and ac controls, storage units, etc. It seemed a cadillac after that nasty old Mac cabover, and it had something that your truck doesnt, Mason, curtains all around, not just between the cab and berth.
Yeah some models do come with those around the cab curtains. Mine doesn't have that although I could install it if I chose. I do happen to have an aftermarket one but don't like it and so haven't installed it in this truck.
Still, I imagine those who are driving older trucks, or stripped down models bereft of creature comforts (check out any Yellow truck, these drivers are hard-core) in order to be able to accept heavier loads, would appreciate the amenities offered at these high-tech truckstops, I know I would have when we were driving that hateful Mac.
Honestly, the only ones I've seen using the service are those who drive for companies who are paying for the service to keep their drivers from idling their trucks. They get a group discount which makes it more affordable. Those running their own rigs or a company rig where they have to pay for the service themselves aren't going to use it as it's just too expensive. But I do get your point, if you don't have other options it would be better than nothing.
