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View Full Version : Safety when dry camping and boondocking?


Randy J
08-14-2012, 03:22 AM
Have any had unfortunate experience. while you where out dry camping or boondocking? I know at times when you dry camp or boondock you aren't always near lots of people. It's just the wife Leeann. and I want to be prepared. This may be a dumb question. But what do you do to keep safe?

Ron Skeen
08-14-2012, 01:13 PM
357 magnum

tuga
08-14-2012, 01:24 PM
Randy,

My wife Karen doesn't like dry camping either. She doesn't feel safe. I carry a gun in the coach at all times.

That makes her feel a little safer, but she still doesn't like it.

So my boondocking is limited to the trips that I make with my buddies (usually overnight on my way to Newell). All Newells have 2 deadbolts on the entrance door. One of the 2 deadbolts (the top one) does not have any access from the outside of the door. It would be very difficult for someone to get inside if both deadbolts are locked.

I have been in discussions about how a crackpot could gain access to the inside of your Newell. The consensus was that some sort of diversion would be created; a knock on the door and the person outside says "there is some oil dripping out onto the ground" or "there is some smoke coming out of your engine area - smells like electrical burning". Of course, the best thing to do would be to respond with " I am calling the police and fire departments"!

So to sum up; I would lock the 2 deadbolts, have the gun loaded and ready, and park under a well lighted area like a WalMart etc.

FJGuard
08-14-2012, 08:12 PM
I agree with the guys here. Not having a gun in the coach with us is never an option for me. I'm a hunter after all! I'll never give up my guns! They are for hunting and protection. I'm with Tuga keep those 2 deadbolts locked and your gun loaded and ready. You never know what kind of people are lurking around and some prey on travelers. No need to be scared just prepared.

lbrachfe
08-14-2012, 09:13 PM
In 12 years of boondocking I have never encountered a single problem or even a situation close to needing the .38 next to the bed or the one under the drivers seat..:thumbsup:

Randy J
08-14-2012, 10:16 PM
I reckon it's time we got a gun! Trust me the wife uses those deadbolts. no matter where we park. It's good to hear no ones had any problems.

fulltiming
08-14-2012, 10:43 PM
Because gun laws vary so much from state to state, we switched from carrying a 357 magnum to a 12 gauge pump shotgun (Winchester Defender). Had one night in Fort Stockton, Texas where the neighbors came back about 1 AM drunker than skunks and yelling at each other. Thought that one might turn into something that I didn't want to see happen but finally the apparent instigator shut up or passed out. Anyway, it got real quiet.

Chester B. Stone, Jr.
08-14-2012, 11:29 PM
Since I sometime travel to Canada and often to Mexico, I cannot carry a gun, but consider bear peeper spray. Also wasp spray works, but may damage someones eyes. Never had a problem over 30 years of dry camping.

Randy J
08-18-2012, 06:28 PM
Not afraid of guns. But Chester that's a good idea. I went over to the Dick's Sporting Goods. Picked myself up a mase keychain. Its good to have it on my key ring. Just in case.

Leeann

Raymond N Priscilla Miller
08-19-2012, 06:48 PM
We have, over the last six years, spent many number of nights in parking lots and Casinos all over North America. We usually make it a point to locate the security guard that patrols the lot and notify him of our stay, asking for him to keep an eye on us. That's one of the reasons we do not stay at Cracker Barrels!

We try to park in out of the way areas of the lot, usually along the outside perimeters lengthwise to the curbing. We sleep in nightclothes but our duds are nearby. We have never had a "knock on the door". The curtains are all closed for privacy.

Keep in mind that not all Walmarts are RV friendly, those too close to urban areas are usually too busy and tend to have smaller more constricted parking lots. At Flying J's, we stay in the "front" lot, not with the transports that are running their diesels all night.

So small towns seem to work better and tend to make you feel safer for their lack of traffic in the wee hours. We always stay at 24/7 stores, usually Super Walmart Stores, and we look for a spot that is well within the field of vision of the pole mounted security cameras.

As I said, never had a bad experience other than waking up to the motorized sweeper that does it's work in the wee hours.

speedingsport
10-13-2012, 08:24 PM
Boon docked to many times to count. Never a problem but it doesn't mean that nothing can happen. If you are worried about your personal security. Make sure all windows and doors are locked. If you boon dock with others you should be okay. Having a gun or mase is a good idea as well. But I'd say your best bet would be to stick together with other RVers while boon docking.

Chester B. Stone, Jr.
10-14-2012, 03:30 PM
You may want to consider purchasing several cans of bear spray and stashing them around the coach.