Best way to handle a late night knock on your door

We have never been approached in a rest area, truck stop or Walmart. I don't often stop for very long in a truck stop anymore as there are not enough spaces for all the trucks and the truck drivers do not appreciate MH's in their spots. As a former trucker the only times I was ever approached anytime was in truck stops by ladies of the night. You could see through the windows what was going on and ignore them. Never anyone who wanted to hurt, rob or steal in 27 years over the road.

Any persons with good intentions and an ounce of sense is going to announce who they are and why they are knocking.

If anyone does not do that, I will be on the phone with 911 before I go to the door, and have pepper spray in hand. Then the window will be opened, a crack adequate for communication. NOT the door.

I don't camp at truck stops or rest areas. I have a motion detector on my door light, a big dog and a 12 ga. I still feel saver at a camp ground!!!

Had that happen except it was not in a rest area or truck stop (never overnighted in one)
It happened in a COE CG and was at 11:30 pm

First was a loud knock on roadside slide out window....slide out was extended into unimproved area of cg so the person doing the knocking had to come thru the woods/brushes to get to that side of 5th wheel.

70# Border Collie/Lab tried to get thru closed window. Then we both went outside, dog first with mouth full of long teeth and me with loaded pistol.
No one...nothing........no noise

Went back inside. GF and I looked at each other and thought maybe a bird or such whacked side of rig.

Hour later.....hard knocking on front door
Porch light ON
Dog out the door first and me again with loaded pistol

No one.....nothing...........then just out of site boundary in the dark was a
" Hello........do you know what time it is? I have to get up at 5"

:S :S



Yes I opened the door........it opens outward so nobody can be right at door when opening. Then they have to come up 4 steps before getting to open door.
They will be met at door.....first the dog then me

No window in slide out that faces door, entry door doesn't have a window, bedroom window doesn't allow a good view of entry door.

Now if it is a regular knock not a frantic pounding I might ask questions thru door.......probably not. I'll just fling it open. Might hit then in the face if too close.

Some people are way too paranoid. :E

A late night nock on your door, especially in a rest area, could be a state trooper telling you to move on, if the rest area is posted with "No Overnight Parking" signs, though rarely enforced. Or it could be somebody in urgent need of help.

Caution is prudent, of course! I would not open the door without knowing who was outside, but then neither would I stick the barrel of a shotgun or handgun in the nose of a policeman.

If your lights are on then look out and see who it is and speak to them through the door without opening it.
If your lights were out and you were in bed, then I would ignore them. If they persist and knock again, then I would speak to them without opening the door and ask what they want.
If they tell you they see something wrong with your coach, just tell them you will take care of it in the morning.
If it is the law, ask them what the problem is and go from there. Don't open the door until you verify their ID at a window.
Do not open the door unless you are absolutely sure that the person has a legitimate reason to be there.
Our large dog barking usually diffuses any situation.
This has never happened to me in many years of travel. The only time I have been approached when parked at a rest area or truck stop has been during daylight hours and it was always another RV owner who wanted to ask about our dog or ask about our RV.

Go to the door with a can of wasp spray. Not illegal and would blind an intruder quick.

The recurring thought here is that something bad is knocking.

I have done it twice, but announced myself from about 6' from front door with my hands up. Once was a split water hose and the other was the electrical post had that "burnt wiring" smell. Brought the tow vehicle around so they could see from the inside of their coach. He checked his inside one place and the breaker did not trip, and he could see the pool of water.

Suggested to him to used is on board water and shut down all electrical appliances and fix it in the morning. He thought that was a good idea and didn't come out of the safety of his coach.

barmcd wrote:
I'd probably turn on the porch light, crack an adjacent window and ask what they wanted.

With the exception of my porch light is automatic and is turned on by a motion detector.... DITTO.

I would assume that any legitimate person would loudly introduce himself knocking somebody's door at night.
We carry pepper spray. It was like $5 for lipstick-size.