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Potentially Moronic Question

niccofive
Explorer
Explorer
Hello!

I am continuing to worry/work through/plan a cross country trip with my boys for summer 2015. I'm still in the beginning planning stages and am a super-newbie. I've never camped before.

I was looking online at the Trailmanor and Camplite models and talking to my husband about them. I was saying it would be convenient to be able to unhook our vehicle and go exploring vs having to take a Class C with us.

Then he asked me "How are you going to keep the camper from being stolen?"

I looked at him and told him they just aren't but honestly the thought had never occurred to me. I'm sure there is some amazingly obvious answer to this, but what keeps someone from just hitching your trailer up to their vehicle and leaving the campground?
34 REPLIES 34

Born_To_Travel
Explorer
Explorer
I carry this in the trailer if I ever need to unhook it and leave it for any length of time.. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Reese-Towpower-Universal-Coupler-Lock/15125814 And for the RV I have this on the entrance door window.. And yes, there is usually a Rottweiler in there!.. lol http://www.amazon.com/Might-Rottweiler-Guard-Window-Sticker/dp/B005D1EZM0/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=13...

stetwood
Explorer
Explorer
We took our kids out with a used pop up 25 years ago to Stone Mountain, Disney and Yellowstone, Black Hills for 6 weeks from Wisconsin. They loved it, but unfortunately due to our career choice we were never able to use it much after that. Now we have a 30ft 5th wheel and make at least 2 3-7000 mile trips annually, plus a few 4 day outings. Try the popup, try the rental C before settling on your method after this trip. As for getting stolen, that is what insurance is for. More likely anything that can be carried, coolers, chairs, generators, would be far more likely be stolen, but even that is fairly rare for the amount of camping that goes on in this country. Don't let that fear stop you.

Roy_Lynne
Explorer
Explorer
niccofive wrote:
JimM68- Interesting to read that because I've had all the same thoughts.

I've considered flying into Vegas and a 1 way Class C rental.
Flying into Vegas and a round trip Class C rental but making a loop instead of going cross country.
Buying an RV and then going Cross Country using it and then selling it.
etc etc etc.

I'm so tired of having no idea what is best to do. Argh!
So I just keep reading, and learning, and listening, and dreaming!

What about a pop up. If you have a vehicle to tow one, they would cost less. Our 30 foot class C gets about 9-10 MPG so going cross country would really cost a bundle. Two boys could "rough" it in a popup and while they do have some disadvantages size wise, I think that is what I would look at.

Rmack1
Explorer
Explorer
I have a hitch lock that can't be defeated by a pair of bolt-cutters. It's a solid chunk of metal that fits over the socket, and locks with a key.

And, as has been mentioned, it's a very low probability that you would have your whole rig stolen from a campground. Especially if you are usually there in the evening, and only venture out during the day, and there are other campers around.

Not so for your other gear. I was in an National Park campground in Arizona, and I heard that a few weeks earlier, someone had come through the place at around three a.m. with bolt-cutters and stole several generators. This is why I now have a cheap (forty bucks) motion detector alarm that I aim at my two generators if I leave them out over night, even if I have a good place to chain them up to. It won't go off from small animals and such, but a coyote-sized, maybe even raccoon-sized is suppose to set it off.

I've had my battery stolen from my hitch while I was sleeping inside my TT, WHILE my two brand-new Yamaha generators were running outside. The guy knew I would wake if the ac quit.

Because of this last incident, I've been too paranoid to 'boondock', which means camping anyplace without any hookups or support. I would be freaking out if I left my baby sitting all alone in the middle of nowhere. My precautions might prevent the casual thief from driving off with it, but breaking in the unit would be possible.

So, I pay the exorbitant campground fees for security. Full hook-ups are nice, but cost as much as a motel room twenty years ago. Even a dry National or State park campground is ridiculous; 25 bucks or more a night for a picnic table and a pit toilet somewhere in the campground, possibly no dump station or showers. At least we qualify for the senior 50% off discount.
Ray and Carol, Boxers Duke and Duchess
2013 Forrest River Rockwood Mini-Lite 22' trailer, with the Murphy bed.

niccofive
Explorer
Explorer
JimM68- Interesting to read that because I've had all the same thoughts.

I've considered flying into Vegas and a 1 way Class C rental.
Flying into Vegas and a round trip Class C rental but making a loop instead of going cross country.
Buying an RV and then going Cross Country using it and then selling it.
etc etc etc.

I'm so tired of having no idea what is best to do. Argh!
So I just keep reading, and learning, and listening, and dreaming!

JimM68
Explorer
Explorer
popeyemth wrote:
If one has never camped before a cross country trip to learn everything may not be the best plan.
A few weekend trips before would help insure a better trip.
Then one can focus on the trip and less on "how do I ...."
Good Luck, Mike


Dayum I just hate it when Ican't get to the end of a thread without replying (again...)

Our first trip was gonna be a rental. fly to seatle, rent a class C, and drive up and down the coast with 2 friends and thier families. The more i looked into it, the more I didn't like it. That rental was empty. Not so much as a plate or a towel. KACHING if you wanted any of those.

I ended up buying a '99 pace arrow for 30k. We put 6300 miles on here in 5 weeks, and we were hooked, line and sinker.

Couple years later, traded for a used DP with a twenty year mortgage, I am still hooked. No place I sleep better than in my camper, and no place I am happier than cruising down the highway with that big cummins diesel whispering somewhere "back there"
Jim M.
2008 Monaco Knight 40skq, moho #2
The "68"
My very own new forumfirstgens.com

My new blog

JimM68
Explorer
Explorer
niccofive wrote:
Hello!

I am continuing to worry/work through/plan a cross country trip with my boys for summer 2015. I'm still in the beginning planning stages and am a super-newbie. I've never camped before.

I was looking online at the Trailmanor and Camplite models and talking to my husband about them. I was saying it would be convenient to be able to unhook our vehicle and go exploring vs having to take a Class C with us.

Then he asked me "How are you going to keep the camper from being stolen?"

I looked at him and told him they just aren't but honestly the thought had never occurred to me. I'm sure there is some amazingly obvious answer to this, but what keeps someone from just hitching your trailer up to their vehicle and leaving the campground?


Yikes! I was gonna read all before responding, didn't get past the first post...

We are campers. We watch out for eachother. We are all friends, some of whom just don't know eachother yet.

I often leave my bus unlocked, particularly when it's time to walk the dogs and #3 son is out and about somewhere.

We don't worry about campground security. any camper who would mess with us either needs it way more than we do, or is inviting karma to rain on each and every day he or she spends in any camprground for the rest of thier days.
Jim M.
2008 Monaco Knight 40skq, moho #2
The "68"
My very own new forumfirstgens.com

My new blog

bikendan
Explorer
Explorer
WishWeWereCamping wrote:
We have had our 1997 TrailManor for almost 10 years and have never had the problems Mr. Camper described.


i don't think TrailManors or any RV, are made as well as they were 17 years ago. RV build quality was much better then.
Dan- Firefighter, Retired:C, Shawn- Musician/Entrepreneur:W, Zoe- Faithful Golden Retriever(RIP:(), 2014 Ford F150 3.5 EcoboostMax Tow pkg, 2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255 w/4pt Equalizer and 5 Mtn. bikes and 2 Road bikes

WishWeWereCampi
Explorer
Explorer
We have had our 1997 TrailManor for almost 10 years and have never had the problems Mr. Camper described. Just like our Prius (which is the least stolen car in America, you have to know how to start it up and put it in gear, it's different, plus my daughter says it's extremely ugly ;)) the TrailManor is a different kind of trailer. I dont' think that many people know how to open and close it! We have a hitch lock and also use a locking pin on the hitch while traveling. I really don't worry about anyone stealing it, plus we leave it opened up at home, so if someone wanted to steal it, they would have to know how to fold it down.

Jean_S
Explorer
Explorer
I've never heard of a trailer stolen, altho we had 2 pricey bikes and a canoe, all chained up, stolen in a gated campground. If someone wants your stuff badly enough, they will get it. But trailers in campgrounds just don't seem to disappear. Hitchlocks, sharp-eyed neighbors, watchful campground owners, all combine to make it very unlikely. Plus, people are going to take a special interest in looking after a "single mom" and her kids on the road. A stranger wandering around her site or messing with her trailer will attract attention.

Personally, I prefer the truck and trailer option, too. But it is trickier to drive than a class C by itself. Make sure you get some practice.

wa8yxm
Explorer III
Explorer III
Though the stealing of RV's is not as common as the swiping of cars. It does happen from time to time, we hear about one or two on the forums every year..

USUALLY however they take motor homes, or they take a trailer WITH TOW VEHICLE attached.. Why do they not take the trailer.

Well there are some very good trailer locks out there, If I wanted to swipe your trailer they would not even slow me down, Not at all.. But I'm not in that business and ... Well.... I do have something the average vehicle thief lacks (I will let you figure out what it is).

A good hitch lock might slow me down.. But the average thief is defeated by even the simple ones.

When I towed trailers.. I used a padlock to "Pin" the hitch (It is recommended you pin it so it does not accidently become unlatched) and that's all it takes to stop many thieves. They cant hook up with the lock there.
Home was where I park it. but alas the.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
after a semi "nicked" it. Still have the radios
Kenwood TS-2000, ICOM ID-5100, ID-51A+2, ID-880 REF030C most times

Mr__Camper
Explorer
Explorer
niccofive wrote:
Mr. Camper, sounds like a horrible experience! I hadn't yet read anything negative about TrailManor. What model did you have?


It was their big one at the time (31') but I believe they have discontinued that specific model. The upper and lower half of the entry door would never align properly, nuts and bolts were always droppin off, interior wall and ceiling panels came off and the seal between the two roof parts didn't seal out wind or rain. On our last trip the entry steps fell off. When we got to the campground and called the dealer they brought out a Fleetwood Prowler Regal AX6, put it on the site next to us and took the TM back to their mechanics. Two days later the owner came out with a check and the paperwork and offered us the Prowler in exchange. We finalized the deal in about two hours.
Mr. Camper
Mrs. Camper
Fuzzy Kids = Tipper(RIP), PoLar(RIP), Ginger, Pasha
2013 Open Range Light; 274ORLS
2004 Dodge Ram Turbo Diesel
Retired and love spending the kid's inheritance

niccofive
Explorer
Explorer
Thank you for all the helpful input. I didn't know there were things like hitch locks and such. ๐Ÿ™‚ All good advice. These are great boards!

RoyB
Explorer II
Explorer II
My SIL always ran a long locked chain thru two opposite wheels of his POPUP trailer. I always just lock my trailer hitch in the closed position.

Either of these two methods of course could be easily comprised but might slow the thief down and maybe they would pick on a easier target...

I would be more concerned of my batteries, propane tanks, and the 2KW Honda generator sitting on the ground unattended. We Lock everything up when unattended and anything important to us goes where we go secured and out of sight in my truck.

common sense prevails here...

I have never had anything that I was aware of stolen from me at the camp grounds but did come back from grocery shopping one day around 2PM in the afternoon and the neighbor camper's 3KW Honda generator that was log chained to a small tree was stolen in broad daylight. They actually cut the small tree down to steal his 3KW Honda generator. This happened at the ELKMONT Camp ground in the Smoky Mtn Natl Park a few years back...

By the way there is no dumb questions - only dumb answers sometimes mine included haha...

Roy Ken
My Posts are IMHO based on my experiences - Words in CAPS does not mean I am shouting
Roy - Carolyn
RETIRED DOAF/DON/DOD/CONTR RADIO TECH (42yrs)
K9PHT (Since 1957) 146.52M
2010 F150, 5.4,3:73 Gears,SCab
2008 Starcraft 14RT EU2000i GEN
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