woman travelling alone

I've been on the road as solo woman full time for quite a while. Before RVing I traveled and camped with suv plus tent for months at a time, for many years. Over million miles traveling while camping 

It's getting more and more unsafe out there as society is collapsing.  I am glad this is my last year traveling and will be moving overseas to live stationary life. I had been seeing more and more scary behaviors out there.

As I had learned from various experiences: you want to have a vehicle that allows to go to the steering wheel without exiting, such as van or motorhome. That's why I would never travel with a trailer or truck camper again especially since I boodock in remote or isolated nature sites 100% of the time. And would not tent camp in isolated places again, not these days 

Get the gun and learn how to use it. 99.99 percent you won't need it but the day you will need it you will be really, really grateful you got it.

Last Christmas, a large man was murdered to steal his pickup in the desert Northeast of Tucson, lured out of his remote ranch  under the ruse of car breakdown, he went to help, the type of place where I often camp.  RV couple were attacked one if them killed in a robbery to take their toad jeep in a busy rest area on l-80 in Nebraska last summer. A man got murdered by a stranger in his remote campsite in Montana last fall, hacked to pieces. I had sketchy strangers enter my isolated campsites and try to engage on numerous occasions and had an angry tweaker try to bash out my RV door in the middle of nowhere.  I had camped by the border with no soul in sight and had my rig approached. I had been stuck out there in the middle of nowhere more than once. Advice of old tow truck operator in CA mountains, who had seen it all and the local police goto tow guy: do not travel here without a gun.

Wherher you got the gun or not, do not open the door when they approach and try not to engage verbally at all.  If you are outside retreat inside the rig if they enter camp, lock it up (and let them hear that click too gun being cocked). Better safe than sorry.  Keep aware of surroundings and potential comings and goings. But this is not always possible depending on vegetarion, wind noise, etc, especially if you do mot have a dog, I don't, so keep self defence tools handy at all times, I got bear spray too on me 100 of the time. When methed out tweaker rapidly enters your remote site where you do not expect a soul, you learn. Out there, its not online forums, things get real and fast. If you want to huddle with others or caravan its not "solo", and no, corgis and fantasies will not protect.

I am loving the advice so far! I am also a solo female (51) after losing my husband to cancer last year.  Bought a TT last week, the 4th in my lifetime so I have a good amount of experience though my husband did most of the "heavy lifting". I am a fast learner and will be traveling most of the time with my 2 good sized dogs. I bought a new keyless door handle and will be reinforcing the screen.  Any other advice to share? 

Hello, I'm turning 60 this year and have traveled with the army, family, friends and a partner but never alone. Now I just now got an RPod and can't wait to hit the road with my 2 fluffy friends and not have to answer anyone. Just free!!!!

100ton wrote:
I predict this will be the last post on this topic. If not, I'll get the popcorn. :)

Take it easy everyone.

wintersun wrote:
It would be more sane to have women traveling alone comment on this question and not a bunch of white males who have the knee jerk reaction of "go buy a gun".

With dogs the alpha aspect is an issue only if the dog is male and the owner/master is male as well. If the owner is a female the alpha dog will protect his property and do so far more aggressively than if his owner is a female. I saw it happen many times with girl friends with male dogs. A couple even chewed up my clothes to let me know they did not approve of a new male into their home. A friend would stay over at his then girl friend's (now his wife) place and her male cat would spray his pillow. It is a guy thing.

A dog is also a good companion for anyone spending a lot of time alone regardless of any protection. In most cases having an alarm dog that barks is all that is needed and little dogs tend to bark a lot more at any little noise.

Squonk61 wrote:
I just completed a 3000 mile round trip in my TT. The advice on this site gave me a lot of confidence in using my equipment. I stayed overnight at rest areas on the highways alongside truckers and felt very safe. Very friendly guys and never felt threatened. I have three corgis that can make quite a racket! I'm former USMC and can handle weapons easily but choose not to because they can easily be taken away and used against me. Trust instincts-if it didn't feel safe, move along. On the first night the TT next door made pancakes for everyone. My trip was from VT to Iowa and all highway, no campgrounds except at destination. Anybody thinking of dogs for protection need to understand pack behavior to insure the human is alpha. My beta dog is the oldest female, followed by a male and female. They all have a strong instinct to protect the pack, which developed over time with training and consistency. They all know their place in line and are happier when it's reinforced. There is a ton of info on,how to do this. An Akita I had made me learn fast and my dogs are much happier now and in control.
Common sense and instincts. And please no guns.