A concern of many first time boondockers–or those considering it–is the question of personal safety. There are many who claim that you are as safe if not safer out boondocking then you are in just about any other public place. I am one of them. Others would not venture out without a weapon, a firearm being weapon of choice. Neither side is 100% right or wrong. I suppose I would start carrying a handgun if I felt really and honestly threatened—not just imagined–with violence when boondocking. Or if it was that bad out there, I would probably find some other place to camp or instead go to a designated campground where others where nearby. But in my 35 years of RVing and 17 years of serious boondocking as a fulltimer, I have never had a problem. I imagined I had a problem a few times, but they turned out to be unwarranted fears. In contrast, others can tell story after story of how their possession of a gun has prevented robbery, holdup, breaking and entering, assault, mugging, and rape. When you hear these stories, consider the source, and check the facts. Then take whatever position that makes you comfortable. If there have been verifiable stories of assault on RVers when boondocking, they have been few, and there are certainly very long odds of it happening to you. Theft, maybe. But again, not a huge threat. Most thefts have resulted probably because of carelessness by the RVer. Nevertheless, to be prudent when boondocking, follow these guidelines whenever possible (but you don’t have to be paranoid about following all of them all of the time). Practice common sense and enjoy your boondocking time.
Personal Safety
- Never open your door to someone you don’t know after dark. Several times I have had someone knock for various reasons—like the native Indians in Mexico that had harvested clams off the rocks near where we were camped and wanted to sell them to us. We bought them and had a wonderful, fresh-out-o-the-water, clam linguini for dinner. Another time, a couple knocked and said they ran out of gas. I told them (through the window) that I couldn’t help them (I had no sympathy for them if they let that happen).
- Don’t invite strangers, even those that seem perfectly harmless, into your RV. If you want to socialize, do it outside, under the awning.
- Lock your door when you leave (I admit that I don’t always do this). You don’t want to come back and find a homeless person inside your rig.
- Don’t tell strangers (or newly made friends) that you meet where you are camped.
- Boondock with friends or with club members. Many solo RVers belong to solos clubs (such as Loners On Wheels) and often camp together.
- Bury some land mines around your rig to protect yourself from intruders. (Don’t call Homeland Security, that’s a joke.)
Theft Prevention
- Don’t leave any unnecessary stuff lying around outside your rig when you leave. Camp chair, table, rug—OK. Portable generator—if you don’t have a locked compartment where you can stow it, make sure you chain it up with a heavy chain, not one a simple bolt cutter could cut through .
- Close your blinds and drapes so the curious can’t see what you have inside.
- Lock all your outside locker doors.
- Re-key your lockers. Most RVs have the same key to open lockers, which is easy for a would-be thief to acquire.
- If you still feel uncomfortable, buy a simple red LED light and mount it near your entry door, operated by a switch on the inside. When you go out, flip the switch. The red light looks like you have a set burglar alarm.
Check out my new eBook, BOONDOCKING: Finding the Perfect Campsite on America’s Public Lands, on my Web site.
Don
I think everyone is getting a bit caught up in the bad guy part of carrying a weapon for defense. I look at it as protection against a wild animal as well. We have dogs, but when a bobcat was by our motorhome, they would not have had a chance. Even if they did, chances of rabies or some other disease are not worth it. Also carry it for the 2 legged threat, but when you’re out in the middle of nowhere, remember the 4 legged threat can be just as deadly.
Jeremy
My first boondocking experience wasn’t a good one. I stopped at a gas station in Lodi, CA to gas up, decided I was too tired to drive further, and pulled into a parking place to sleep a few hours. My dog started to snarl as I was sleeping and, instead of checking it out, I ignored it. When I awoke a few hours later and took off, I was startled to see that my gas tank was at 1/4 full. As I slept, someone syphoned 3/4 of my gas tank! No more gas station boondocking for me!
JERRY FISHER
When packing a firearm with you, be sure you know the gun laws of wherever you are traveling. For the most part, a parked RV is considered the same as your residence. It is legal to have a loaded weapon in your residence or RV. An RV on the move may not be so as with it is with other vehicles. Therefore, be educated so that you don,t get arrested for illegaly carring a gun.
GMAs
Paul Hagler on October 1st, 2009 1:36 pm
the word “there” meaning a place is misspelled as “their” meaning belonging to them in at least 2 places in the GMA rant.
Thanks Paul… I stand corrected… it must have been late…when I wrote that… but are you sure that is all that is wrong? what about The’re, there and their?
By the way , just for your edificiation information, your sentence is not correct grammatomically either… seems it has a statement change in the middle thus fractured participles or is it past participles from the following:
The-ed participle combines with a form of the auxiliary have for the perfect: has cared, has said, may have walked. It combines with a form of the auxiliary be for the passive: is paid, was told, are being auctioned, could have been seen. It is also used as the verb in an -ed participle clause: I had my study redecorated; Asked for his opinion, Ian was non-committal; Among the objects recovered from the ship was a chair stamped with the captain’s initials.
either way… just a little strange
Your posting must have been trunkcated as I didn’t see anything pertaining to the current issue other than my fractured participal… 😀
What about the topic on the blog, any comments, as that is what the rest of us are all into…. 😉 😉
Larry Lee
The world has changed a lot since I first went camping in the 50’s and self-defense has become a part of it for me. One of the mistakes we make in estimating risk is using our own life’s experience instead of statistics. Risk is almost always higher than we estimate it to be. There really are people who roam about seeking people to attack and destroy, and they do it every day. Ask any cop. I don’t want to be waiting for the police to show up while someone evil attacks myself of my loved ones. I have a duty to be prepared and equipped. I mean, what would be my excuse if I were not prepared to defend us and my family is dead but I survived! Common sense is exactly right. Read the papers, talk to the police/rangers and take every precaution available to you to protect those you care about.
Rich Hoffpauer
Bob, all it takes is once. You may never get a second chance. ALWAYS carry a hand gun and, like you said, NEVER open the door for someone you don’t know. Use a cell phone to call law enforcement, if you’re in cellular range.
JB
From my conversations with other campers and RVer’s I find a high percentage that are able to take care of serious matters with a firearm, until law enforcement arrives. If someone is up to no good that has to factor into it to some extent when choosing a victim. It may well be that those of us who choose to depend on the good nature of others and venture forth blithely, may be taking cover from those of us who believe in a strong measure of preparedness. The criminal element may have calculated their chances of success and decided to leave RV and Camping enthusiasts alone. When used for defense firearms should be chosen with care and sufficient training obtained so that the user will have a safely stowed low profile defense resource. I don’t understand the reasoning of those who take responsibility for others but are unwilling to learn to properly maintain and use the best portable means of self defense. Risk for oneself is one thing but when others depend on you I think it calls for an extra measure of caution. Count me as one of those who needed a “convincer”, it was my wife actually, it was a long time ago. She stopped a home invasion at the door as we were moving into a new apartment. It was well worth the price of admission to observe a potential assault turn to apologetic civility. I hope those more trusting have no problems, but as for myself, I have one additional line of defense.
Paul de Nubilo
We have been boondocking for almost 30 years and have had only two threats from people. But it only takes one. We don’t open the door to strangers. I let them know through the window that I do not appreciate their company. I fixed alleged car trouble from the window at night in the rain one time by letting them know I would not come out because the rain would rust my gun.
The wasp spray for a non lethal threat is a good idea but you better be able to follow up with something better and bigger if it goes sour. Many times these people are not alone.
The guy who mentioned not using a gun so it cannot be taken away and used against you is living in LA LA Land. Anything you use can be taken away from you and used against you. The program is to use it so it cannot be taken away.
I say pick a good spot, don’t come out, use the cell phone or tell them you will call for help for them, (I like that one!) learn how to and use your last resort weapon well.
Frank Alvarez
Years ago I read this article that stated it may be unsafe to chamber a shotgun round to scare off would be robbers as the distinctive sound will give away your location and armed criminals may fire first at the sound to avoid being shot. So you may want to chamber your shotgun behind something bullet proof.
NORMAN c bILD
BOB, HERE IS A WEB SITE THAT SELLS BOOSTERS (LEGAL) FOR CELL PHONES IN rRVS, HOMEs AND ETC. RANGE UP TO 60 MILES .!!!!
Used once in remote area and got thru. Also I use the Blue Tooth connection on my Garman gps and the volume is great as I have a hearing loss.
One time my son just chamberd his shotgun (empty) when a snooper was hiding behind our garage, WOW he took of FAST out the driveway and gone>
Paul Hagler
the word “there” meaning a place is misspelled as “their” meaning belonging to them in at least 2 places in the GMA rant.
Kathryn Schowalter
Rather than a firearm, I travel with two very large, scary looking dogs. They are a weapon that can’t be taken from and turned against me.
Thanks for the cell phone information, I would have fallen for that line.
Johnny G...AKA The NYC Castaway
Dear Mr. Bob,
Here is a useful tip for poeple who don’t like using guns for Self-Defense:
Carry a big can of Wasp Spray (the type that shoots 20 feet or more). Spray them in their face and it will stop any attacker in their tracks long enough for you to get away. It won’t kill them, but atleast you will be safe….And it’s legal…
Here’s a joke for you bleeding hearts: Since you rather be dead, then defending yourself,….eat a pound of garlic!!! The smell alone will stop a charging Rhino from a distance of 100 yards….LOL
Graet article Mr. Bob.. I am my Wife are looking forward to your next article.
Liz Bard
Any time I travel alone, I always go with my gut feeling. When I was in the WAC’s, we were taught that if you looked like you knew where you were going and didn’t look intimidated, most people who are looking for weak people to hurt or rob, will leave you alone. I have traveled alone several times to Washington DC, West Germany (even drove there), and other big cities in the US either by driving or flying. I drove all the way from Akron, OH to Corpus Christi, TX in a new car with a Texaco gas card, $75.00, my AAA card and a CB. This was in 1978. I had offers to party but turned them down. I had one trucker who met me for lunch and took me under his wing. He escorted me to the bathroom at the rest areas and waited outside to make sure no one bothered me. He was small and wiry and said someone had attacked him once in a truck stop. He had daughters at home and said he would like someone to keep an eye on them if they were going home for a family emergency.
We used our CB’s when my husband and I were traveling in two cars. When we traveled in the snow (he was in the Army and had to report back to work on Monday after the holidays), we had trouble communicating but other people relayed messages so everyone knew you were safe. That was one time I was glad to have a CB. I didn’t skid, but another woman did and she said my husband talked to her on what to do to stay on the road.
I don’t have a CB, but my RV is wired for one. I plan to do some traveling alone. If I am tired or the weather pops up with storms, I will lock my self in and rest until I can go on down the road to the next RV park. I feel more confident traveling in it alone than in my car since the RV is self contained.
Liz Bard
I got our Class A RV in March because I was tired of staying at some questionable motels when my husband was in the hospital. Since we have the RV, if I am tired (like when we were on vacation in May – I’m the only driver) I either pulled over in a rest area or truck stop and took a nap. If my husband wanted to go to the resturant or store, he locked both locks.
Today I pulled into the Texas State Visitors lot when I was coming from Louisiana, I just got parked before the next thunderstorm hit. I was very glad to just sit it out with my gen on and the A/C. I watched the truckers and car drivers having to run inside for the bathroom. I had called my husband to let him know where I was. He looked on the TV weather station and says, he didn’t know what I was talking about. There was nothing on the weather channel and then all hell broke loose. I was glad to just sit it out for almost an hour until the road appeared to be cleared off. We have had 90 to 100 degree weather and afternoon and evening storms. Our roads can be like black ice in the summer after a storm.
When he has to go to the hospital for treatment, I can sit in the RV in the far parking lot after dropping him off or go back to the military camp site. We don’t have a toad vehicle yet, so I have to drive the RV. Some day we will have that luxury.
I am loving the RV even tho we inherited someone else’s problems since it was a used vehicle. Hopefully we can go a couple of months without it going to the shop. I will be boondocking next weekend at Six Flags where I will drive the RV to their parking lot, then we will come out to it for lunch and turn on the gen and A/C to rest up. I did it last year without a RV, so I’m hoping this year will be easier on me.
G Shea
We always travel armed, both with a cell phone and a firearm. Safest I feel is our shot gun, just racking a shell into it and the classic sound of the action will send any bad guys running and the bullets won’t travel through walls to harm someone innocent as regular bullets. I love the tip to tell the cell phone requesters that you will have help come namely law enforcement. I doubt anyone who is out of gas for real is going door knocking in the middle of the night. We had someone pounding on our door one night and they would not reply when asked who is there or what do you want. When they knocked (more like pounded on our door) a third time, I said knock again and the next sound you will hear is a bullet coming through the door. They did not knock again, confirming our doubts. G Shea
Ron Butler
Thank you for your common sense reply Francis. Though we are relative new to RVing, we have done a lot of boondocking in our 5 years. Have never been in a situation where we were concerned about 2 or 4 legged “bad” guys. Same with my life as a whole. I guess I’m just not adventerous enough to be out challenging the “wild life.” Seems like some people lay awake night dreaming up scenarios to rationalize their paranoia! More power to them!!
BTW Francis – tell old Gabby hello from a big fan of his!!
Francis X. Schilling
Great article. I don’t know where the testosterone went in this country, but if I had to constantly worry about “threats” that I just had to have a gun to protect against I’d never leave the dang house. Common sense, good skills and a sense of adventure have served me well for 60 years and I never had to lean on a gun for my peace of mind. I fully understand the fears of females travelling alone or those less physically able, but bearing neither of those burdens I don’t live in fear of “something bad” crawling out of the wood work to harm me. Glad to see that there are still a few of us left, Bob.
GMAs
Well Bob… you know I have to remark on your posting … again…
This time its been good… lots of good info… and some scare tatics. As to consider the source of “these stories”… all one needs to do is go look at the current police reports and NRA testomonals conserning firearms and protection.
Like anything else… a firearm is only as good as the person using it. Thus if you do carry one…try and not shoot your toe off Bob…smile Its not a toy its a tool. Like all tools if you have one when you need it… your safe… otherwise if you don’t and you need it.. you lose…
Many of the age group people today who are boondocking come from the Korean, VN or Desert strom military background. and thus are more than likely to carry and not boast about it.
Yes in years past camping was much different. You didn’t have the people who knew that you are unarmed… you had people that had more respect for property and life… but, today its a different story.. and if they think you are easy pickings.. you are going to lose unless you have some means of equalization. A lot of times just letting the bad guy know your not weak and unarmed is good enough to cause him to move on and pick on some other politically correct whimp.
I like your advise to the readers about not opening the door to strangers… especally when they say they are out of gas.. (No. 1 assult MO the bad guys use
No.2 is .. Can I use your cell phone to call for help) If you ever run across any of these door knockers.. do like bob did and tell ’em you cant help ’em out.. but now using your higher intellect (if you say you can’t use your cell phone… because it doesn’t work…ahhh) instead lets fake ’em out a little and say .. I will call for help right now for your to get the sheriff here immediately… even if you can’t.. it told the bad guys.. help is on the way.. and to book…
But, then don’t go outside after they appear to have left… keep the door locked or arm up at this point…
that be said… Indeed boondocking can be safer also… as the bad guys don’t know your out their… and if they did.. they don’t want to spend the time to travel all that way for just a few trinkets and a couple of bux… let alone most of the time they don’t want to walk or have a vehicle which can get out where you are… so in that way your distance is a safety factor. (dont know about the land mines around the camp site though… last I checked they won’t let you have ’em.. grin)
However, their are primiter alerts that one can get at some of the outfiting stores. some use laser.. some use ultrasonics… some use just plain light.. some use a old school very fine trip wire… I dont recommend the rasor wire with tin can and hand gernated in it… like they had in VN… it doesn’t discriminate between frendly and foe… ) Setting out the primiter alerts is a good safety assurance to know when a intruder (mainly animal) has entered the compound and your camping alone… gives you that edge of surprise so to speak advantage.
Most of the time out in the woods or desert your going to come across the wildlife that lives their… of which you can look at it two ways… pest or intrege. Knowing what liviing in the area kills any surprise of the unknown.. maybe except for the UFO little guys.. etc…
Fear is a force that needs to be overcome… if you are going boondocking… and the only way to overcome it is to be equiped and/or trained to handle the situations that can or could arise .
Is boondocking for everyone… well no… as it seems a lot of people get very paranoid when others are not around… I used to take gal friends out boondocking… and lost a lot of sleep due to their constant fretting and fear. Noises that are not common.. suddely become hyped and fearful.. yet it may just be a packrat excanging pebbles for M&M… Other fears of the boondocking 90% of the time come from the local animals (not human) that are checking you out as you are in their domain.
One thing however may I suggest… don’t think hollywood .. and try to pet the wildlife… remember you are on the menu when your in their domain… even though you may think your ule gibbons… its not that way… enjoy them but, always keep your distance.
… AND.. never, ever keep meats such as bacon or fish (any meat or smell good food) in the RV at night… better to watch the bears try and get it out of the tree than have them try and tear the RV apart… This goes for the clothing also as you cook these foods… bag and hang ’em away from the RV after dinner… and make sure you wash ALL the grease smell off your bod… remember bears can detect things you can’t… they are that good…
So by using a little logic and common sense… precausions… one can have a exceltent time camping.. be it boondocking or campground…
Oh and if you think your going to play dan boon and have the camp fire going all night… attt that ain’t happening either.. as you will get cited by ranger rick if you have a fire .. UNATTENDED… and yep we have seen ’em come around at night and ticket people.. something about wind coming up and starting forest fires… so all campfires should be out cold and watered down (old used dishwater or portapotty water works here instead of the good stuff you still need to drink… called recycling it for purpose.. grin)
Keep up the good articles Bob… be looking forward to the next issue? … being equiped to go back into the boondocks…?? and what to do if you get stuck?
( you know I have always wondered why AS didnt take a lead from the automakers and put keyless door locks on their trailers… hey I will only take 2% of the gross if someone uses my idea…grin)
Oh and as far as a firearm goes… handgun is bad JU JU… a good 12 ga or high power rifle is more common and useful That’s why I belong to PETA – People Eating Tasty Animals! 😉 😉
Larry
I prefer law enforcement discover me with a weapon than someone intending to do my family harm discovering me without one.
Jeff
I ALWAYS carry a weapon. I carry a S&W .40 M&P. My Marine Corps training and background lend me to believe that this is a prudent precaution. If I do not need it… GREAT! If I do, well that is equally great.. for me and my family. Great thing about this country is that I can (where allowed and following the laws) carry one.
Debbie Trueblood
Great article! Use common sense, a little caution, and trust your instincts.
Gerald Strickland
We’ve been RVing for only 10 years but camping for over 40 years and never had a problem. About 6 years ago, in Northern California, I woke up to what I thought was an intruder but when I turned on the outside lights, it was a black bear looking for food.
Carson
Thanks for some good information…..common sense it is indeed…