Boondocking safety

[ekirkland]

Being from the south and traveling often "out west", I'm somewhat sceptical of boondocking in out-of-way places even though I really love the idea of being alone, and many sites are awesome. Have any of you had troubles from partying teens, "ruffians" or others that have ruined your stay? We've done some boondocking and have never had a problem but it is always on my mind. Probably watching too many scary movies.

[captnjack]

Eurocamper wrote:

captnjack wrote:


Carrying a gun for defense is one thing. Carrying a gun while confronting total strangers is another thing entirely. What if the guy in the car saw your husband approaching and thought he was the one in danger? Things could go south for all concerned in a hurry.

Many people out West have concealed carry permits and would consider it prudent to be armed in a such a situation. The guy in the car probably wasn't even aware that her husband had a gun.

I would assume the reason for carrying is to protect yourself from potential deadly force on the part of another. If he truly felt that was a possibility, why carry it concealed. The guys in the car, assuming they were intent on harming him, could have shot him or run him over on his approach to the vehicle. The gun could very well have been useless to him. Of course, if he carried it visible in his hand he may have precipitated violence on the part of the men in the car.

Wouldn't it be more prudent to remain in RV and use the gun only to protect life or property?

[Eurocamper]

captnjack wrote:


Carrying a gun for defense is one thing. Carrying a gun while confronting total strangers is another thing entirely. What if the guy in the car saw your husband approaching and thought he was the one in danger? Things could go south for all concerned in a hurry.

Many people out West have concealed carry permits and would consider it prudent to be armed in a such a situation. The guy in the car probably wasn't even aware that her husband had a gun.

[bka0721]

captnjack wrote:

ReneeG wrote:
We boondock a lot and have always been safe. With that said, you should always plan for your safety. Once while boon docking way back on a FS road in the Idaho Sawtooths, we were playing cards at night. We saw a car come in, circle around, then stop. DH told me to stay inside, he got his pistol and went out and talked to them. They just wanted to spend the night in the back of their Explorer on the way through. Next morning, DH took them breakfast and we visited. After they left, the "neighbors", another family camping together down from us, came over and said that he got out his shotgun and was watching them too as DH talked to them the night before. Well, we chuckled. These neighbors respected our space and we theirs but they were watching over us too. Same spot, fast forward the following year, and a group of 4 RV's came up and circled in a spot. They partied loud into the night. Jeesh! That's not what we went up there for. They had kids and didn't pay any attention to their kids floating the creek, which is ice cold, deep and swift. I was worried for them and watched them till they left. We boondock and have always been safe but we are cautious too. It never hurts to be aware and prepared. When you are, nothing happens!

So you saw a car and this made your husband think he needed to approach it with a gun? I don't get it.

If the people in the car were armed themselves and looking for trouble, your husband could easily have been shot. Possibly by the other camper with the shotgun that he didn't even know about. Why take the chance? How about remaining in your trailer and waiting to see what develops? If anything. Usually, just like in your case, it's nothing.

Carrying a gun for defense is one thing. Carrying a gun while confronting total strangers is another thing entirely. What if the guy in the car saw your husband approaching and thought he was the one in danger? Things could go south for all concerned in a hurry.

Captnjack, you are reading more into the story, that was shared, than there is information to support your conclusion. Just as there is information not to contradict your supposition.

We all bring our own beliefs and biases into things we hear and read, its natural. But, if you use only the facts presented, your conclusion might arrive differently. I would never advocate leaving your "gut feelings" home, as they are just as important.

I see the situation much in how I approach things. The husband grabbed his pistol, for use if needed. (This is where my bias goes) In doing so, he puts the pistol in a pocket, or the small of his back, so as not to unnecessarily concern the people that are being contacted. Like a Boy Scout, some people just like being prepared. The downside is there is often no reason to take a person's life for trivial and material things.

As you demonstrated there is always different ways to view and react to a stated scenario. That is why many of us had careers in where we did just that, looked at all the different scenarios.

For safety in Boondocking, just keep your eyes open and make good choices in what situations you insert yourself into, not with what situations you find yourself in.

b

[captnjack]

ReneeG wrote:
We boondock a lot and have always been safe. With that said, you should always plan for your safety. Once while boon docking way back on a FS road in the Idaho Sawtooths, we were playing cards at night. We saw a car come in, circle around, then stop. DH told me to stay inside, he got his pistol and went out and talked to them. They just wanted to spend the night in the back of their Explorer on the way through. Next morning, DH took them breakfast and we visited. After they left, the "neighbors", another family camping together down from us, came over and said that he got out his shotgun and was watching them too as DH talked to them the night before. Well, we chuckled. These neighbors respected our space and we theirs but they were watching over us too. Same spot, fast forward the following year, and a group of 4 RV's came up and circled in a spot. They partied loud into the night. Jeesh! That's not what we went up there for. They had kids and didn't pay any attention to their kids floating the creek, which is ice cold, deep and swift. I was worried for them and watched them till they left. We boondock and have always been safe but we are cautious too. It never hurts to be aware and prepared. When you are, nothing happens!

So you saw a car and this made your husband think he needed to approach it with a gun? I don't get it.

If the people in the car were armed themselves and looking for trouble, your husband could easily have been shot. Possibly by the other camper with the shotgun that he didn't even know about. Why take the chance? How about remaining in your trailer and waiting to see what develops? If anything. Usually, just like in your case, it's nothing.

Carrying a gun for defense is one thing. Carrying a gun while confronting total strangers is another thing entirely. What if the guy in the car saw your husband approaching and thought he was the one in danger? Things could go south for all concerned in a hurry.

[beemerphile1]

dave54 wrote:

Plug the electric light into a currant bush. Just make sure it is a AC currant bush.

:B

[dave54]

bka0721 wrote:

richardcoxid wrote:
When “Boondocking” I feel as safe or more safe as I do at home! Why? Park under a security light if possible.

You still have to use discretion, if it doesn’t “FEEL RIGHT” don’t stop!

:h Where does one Boondock where you would have a security light to camp next to?

b

Plug the electric light into a currant bush. Just make sure it is a AC currant bush.

[pnichols]

Can't one buy and install bright motion-activated LED lights that can be mounted high at several spots around the perimeter of a motorhome's roof?

If so, that would almost qualify as "parking under security lights" when boondocking IMHO.

[LenSatic]

bka0721 wrote:

richardcoxid wrote:
When “Boondocking” I feel as safe or more safe as I do at home! Why? Park under a security light if possible.

You still have to use discretion, if it doesn’t “FEEL RIGHT” don’t stop!

:h Where does one Boondock where you would have a security light to camp next to?

b

Under a Full Moon, maybe. 😉

LS

[bka0721]

richardcoxid wrote:
When “Boondocking” I feel as safe or more safe as I do at home! Why? Park under a security light if possible.

You still have to use discretion, if it doesn’t “FEEL RIGHT” don’t stop!

:h Where does one Boondock where you would have a security light to camp next to?

b

[richardcoxid]

When “Boondocking” I feel as safe or more safe as I do at home! Why?
At home- Hedges, shrubs, furniture on the porch/deck, flowers close to the windows all for the “bad Guys” to hide behind, some window sill heights are very low, slider sill height is at deck level, 36” wide entry door that opens inward.

RV- open (clear) area around RV and park under a security light if possible. My lowest window sill height is about 42”, pretty difficult to climb into after breaking the window, plus they will have to climb over 2 recliners to get all the way in. 24” wide entry door that opens outward, impossible to PUSH in. Plus you have to step off the step before opening the door all the way (easy to knock the bad guy “off balance” by opening the door, NOT RECOMMENDED to open the door though).

Even though I have a 5W/TV (see sig) the “panic” button on my TV remote key clicker has the range to work from anywhere inside the 5W, I know I tried it! I don’t have the convience of a MH in being able to drive off w/o getting out of the TV, I still can make a LOT of noise without going outside! (TV flashing lights and horn honking) The one thing that all “bad Guys” fear is lights and noise!

Then depending where you are there is always dialing 911 on the cell phone!

We have a widow lady living next door from our S & B home that has the answer about “safety” issues when “boondocking” in her class C MH- She went to our local Army surplus store and bought pair of well used size 13-14 Paratrooper/Logger boots, a length of light weight chain (I drug it behind my car to break up the plating so it would rust and look used) with a snap lock on each end and a dog watering bowl from another neighbor that had been chewed on by their dog. When she pulls into a Wally World etc. she picks out a spot under a security light if possible, places the boots outside next to the steps with the dog watering bowl and chain attached to the steps and goes to bed, never had a problem!

You still have to use discretion, if it doesn’t “FEEL RIGHT” don’t stop!

[dave54]

profdant139 wrote:
I still don't even understand the controversy about guns and camping. Those who want to carry them do. Those that don't don't. What more is there to say?...

You do not need to say anything. Except to a peace officer you need not admit you are carrying a concealed weapon or not. No one will know unless they try something stupid to me or around me.
more than once I sat quietly just nodding and smiling as someone else was railing against firearms, people that carry guns are merely compensating for some inadequacy, inherently unsafe, yadda yadda yadda -- while I had a .357 tucked in my waistband holster.

[rfryer]

My perception of boondocking is out in a remote and rough area well away from any form of civilization and neighbors, and in over 50 years of camping I’ve never lost a single thing.And it's not all that unusual for me to be gone before daylight and back after dark.

You wouldn’t get a MH back in those areas so I think you’re probably talking about dry camping by yourself away from dedicated campgrounds. Regardless of one’s definitions, it’s a given that the closer to civilization you are and the easier the access the more risk you have of something walking away. And a MH would be a better target than a tent or small RV. But it would still be far safer than it would be in a parking lot in the city. Even in a campground I’ve only lost an ice chest once, and that was on a weekend when the cg was full of people from the city.

It’s not something I’d be overly concerned about, just don’t leave anything of value sitting out in plain sight and if you carry barbeques or generators or other equipment lock them up.

[profdant139]

I still don't even understand the controversy about guns and camping. Those who want to carry them do. Those that don't don't. What more is there to say?

I think that this whole non-issue is an example of the Second First Amendment -- the right to shoot off my mouth about everything! 😉

[beemerphile1]

Or not allow gun posts at all and advise those interested to visit a gun forum.

I have guns but tire of some of the squabbling about them. I prefer not to discuss them one way or the other on an RV forum. I think the mods do an okay job of keeping things under control just as it is.

[pnichols]

Reader1 wrote:
.... One suggestion for the moderators though. Would you consider opening a forum called, "Camping with/without guns?" All the pro/anti gun activists could "shoot it out" on their own forum and stop hijacking so many discussions. Just a silly thought!

Or perhaps better still, consider opening two forums titled, "Camping with guns" and another titled "Camping without guns" ... then deleting all posts as we go along of any poster in either forum who advocated the opposite of that forum's title. That way each forum would contain only posts talking purely about the advantages of camping either "with guns", or "without guns". There would be no nasty back-and-forth conversation in either forum ... then. 😉

P.S. I wonder which forum would wind up having the highest number of posts over time.