Stealth camping
This link was posted in TC and yes, I ripped it right off.....to share here. http://www.truckcampermagazine.com/camper-lifestyle/stealth-camping-with-a-truck-camper If you are into the stealth s...
Forum Discussion
I have just wasted 10 minutes reading this drivel. I'm surprised that the moderator has not expunged this thread. ANY political discussions are taboo. But, I digress.
I must make full disclosure that I am a huge fan of both BKA and Tioga George.
There is a thread on the TC forum re: stealth camping right now that goes into even more (if that's possible) detail than BKA's fine article contains. How can that be?
The definition of the term. "Stealth Camping" has high negative and even misleading connotations. Maybe it does have political element. I don't like the term at all. We used to stealth camp. Now we either,
overnight or
layover
even in urban situations. This has been done for a long time in this country and Europeans do it in droves. We follow the euro concept which is: don't draw attention to yourself and do blend in to the surroundings, whatever they may be. My buddies on the TC forum convinced me that having a white TC will blend right in with all those white vans, trailers, MoHo's, and C's parked on city streets. With Jeanie and I it's kind of a game. We do nothing illegal or immoral. We simply take advantage of the local parking laws, usually 72 hrs. in one place before a citation. We are never in a layover more than one time in one place. However, we usually get up early and move to a park or suitable location for breakfast before the daily hum of the city begins. We do not layover because that's all we can afford. Au contrare, we mix up the whole traveling motif with N.F. camping, NP's, COE, Wildlife, Fisheries, State, County and local campgrounds and once a week on the road we get a high bucks hotel. They say mixing up your traveling style makes the trip seem longer. I concur. Matt Colie above is right on the mark talking about traveling style vs. camping style. Some other success we've had doing this has to do with the TC itself. It does not change shape (like you are assuming the position); it's the smallest hardside we could find for a 6-1/2 foot pickup bed that had everything we wanted. It does not look brand new (and it isn't) and pretty beat up from all that XTC-ing. We now use a small aluminum step ladder that hooks on the rear TC ladder once you are in for the night, so no scissor steps down at night and subsequently no perceivable change from the traveling mode. This adds a little physical danger to ingress and egress but I think it's worth it. In the end your personal perspective in layovering will tell you whether it's right for you or not.
regards, as always, jefe
I must make full disclosure that I am a huge fan of both BKA and Tioga George.
There is a thread on the TC forum re: stealth camping right now that goes into even more (if that's possible) detail than BKA's fine article contains. How can that be?
The definition of the term. "Stealth Camping" has high negative and even misleading connotations. Maybe it does have political element. I don't like the term at all. We used to stealth camp. Now we either,
overnight or
layover
even in urban situations. This has been done for a long time in this country and Europeans do it in droves. We follow the euro concept which is: don't draw attention to yourself and do blend in to the surroundings, whatever they may be. My buddies on the TC forum convinced me that having a white TC will blend right in with all those white vans, trailers, MoHo's, and C's parked on city streets. With Jeanie and I it's kind of a game. We do nothing illegal or immoral. We simply take advantage of the local parking laws, usually 72 hrs. in one place before a citation. We are never in a layover more than one time in one place. However, we usually get up early and move to a park or suitable location for breakfast before the daily hum of the city begins. We do not layover because that's all we can afford. Au contrare, we mix up the whole traveling motif with N.F. camping, NP's, COE, Wildlife, Fisheries, State, County and local campgrounds and once a week on the road we get a high bucks hotel. They say mixing up your traveling style makes the trip seem longer. I concur. Matt Colie above is right on the mark talking about traveling style vs. camping style. Some other success we've had doing this has to do with the TC itself. It does not change shape (like you are assuming the position); it's the smallest hardside we could find for a 6-1/2 foot pickup bed that had everything we wanted. It does not look brand new (and it isn't) and pretty beat up from all that XTC-ing. We now use a small aluminum step ladder that hooks on the rear TC ladder once you are in for the night, so no scissor steps down at night and subsequently no perceivable change from the traveling mode. This adds a little physical danger to ingress and egress but I think it's worth it. In the end your personal perspective in layovering will tell you whether it's right for you or not.
regards, as always, jefe
