How Safe do you feel RV-ing?

[snowball]

We were camp host for a few years and occasionally something would come up missing generally it was people driving through not the campers.... and the sheriffs department drove through a couple times a day... the first year we were in Quartzsite we had to leave for a week or so (funeral) left the fifth wheel there came home and all was well except someone stole my shepherd's hook that was given to me when dh retired from the University of Utah was so ticked off still am but in all the years of boon docking that is the only thing I can think of that has come up missing...one just needs to use common sense the generator...if it's a stand a lone chain it up make it harder to get ...I didn't boondock last year cause it was the first year with out my husband and thought I wanted/needed the park where I stayed at in reality I missed the area we were in and am looking forward to going back to it this fall
we went on a family trip camping we had a 24 footer and tents lots of tents very late one night we drove into a campground and drove out even as late as it was for some reason we didn't feel good about it ...went to a rest stop and slept in the cars till the morning and we could find a campground...as they said trust your instincts
sheila

[sharon]

Safer than in my sticks and bricks.

[mitch5252]

Typos - too much wine tonight! I meant that I don't need the "aura of a man" to feel safe. And the "old man's hat" should be the an old hat of a man, and not an hat of an old man. Did I just make it worse???

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[mtngal]

Agree with Sharon! My place is near a busy highway and I would NEVER choose to camp there!

[MelissaD]

Guess it would depend on where I was staying. The people that cause issues in my neighbor hood are not likely to be found in the campground. Our home or base campground is a "resort" with security, gate passes and a fence around the whole thing. Since the members have a financial interest in what happens things run pretty well. Can't say that for the rentals homes, apartments and college students enjoying their youth in our neighborhood.

"resort"; allow me to clarify. Lakewood Village Resort (see facebook) bill themselves as a "working mans resort". They run it like the big fancy resort with memberships and all but its not the glamorous facilities you often see in a resort. The facility is using the money to upgrade and make it nicer but it's in no means fancy. We have tent campers which many resorts won't allow and a few trailers that probably would not make it further than being towed to storage area. The owner is out there every weekend making it nicer, even if it has a home A/C unit sticking out the side. We joined because of their focus on the kids. We wanted a safe environment for the grandbaby to meet, make friends and play with other kids.

[Carolinagal]

I wonder if the new adventure of camping, hauling etc. isn't the main thing making you uncomfortable, more so then the safety of it ???. Like Sharon said, safer then in our S&B's. We all have to be aware of our surroundings and what we're doing at all times. I live off of a 4 lane hwy, now that gives me some pause, so many people walking these days and I live way out, close neighbors are always gone, so I think I might have more fears here, then I ever have on the road.

I've traveled alone majority of the time the last 13 yrs. I go west to see my son and family. If I want to go anywhere its alone, unless I've joined a group of the ladies from here or my SIL. So I haven't really been fearful, except that first trip, first day out, think I might have been scared of my own shadow that day. It was 6 months after I lost my husband, and first time making a trip or even driving alone in our RV. Don't think there was much that I wasn't scared of at that time in my life. I am always aware, I watch everyone when pulling into a station for gas even, before I get out. But then I think these days we all should be wherever we are. If you watch the news, stuff happens anywhere and everywhere. I have had no unpleasant or scary times on any of my trips all of these years, and traveling over 100,000 miles by myself, guess I've been lucky on top of being careful. I've boondocked, stayed at Wal marts, rest areas etc. Always with an eye out as to where and what area I was in. Have always tried to get settled in daylight, but a couple of times, found myself still on the road after dark, that's not good. Some areas have no CG's, so you do the best you can. Going out to my son's now, I know where most all of the CG's are hiding now, That first trip, was hard !! I never carry a purse, just a small case in my pocket. Money I carry, I never have it all together, if someone robbed me, they might get some, but money , credit card etc. to get home are always in a different area, hidden.

You will do fine, a wee scared the first trip out and doing all of the hook ups etc. ,You'll soon find, its a piece of cake. You won't be alone, so all will be good. I never had done any of that, but was always there chatting to my hubby when he did (he did the outside stuff, I did the inside) and boy was I glad, because the info was in my brain so was able to do it all without to much trouble. Of course, the first thing I did before trip was read all the literature on the RV, so that helped too.

So, be as prepared as you can be, set your mind to know "you are going to do it" and enjoy yourself. Having a buddy along to help with all this newness is a real plus, so try to just enjoy ok? I know you will once you've done it, you'll be ready for more trips. Nothing like being out, especially in St Parks, Nat'l Parks, or Forest, I very seldom do private, but then to everyone their own thing, some enjoy them.

Welcome to the forum !!! So glad to see you posting right off , where we get to know you better. Hope to see you at a GTG sometime in the future,

CArol

[havingfunnow]

I think the best thing is to practice before you go -- like camping in your driveway. Once you feel comfortable with the RV, it will be easier to evaluate places you stop. Violence is very rare in campgrounds, and theft is unusual.

I always have to laugh when I read those "make people think there's a man around" tricks that turn up everywhere. The only time I've ever been mugged (and at knifepoint, too), I was with a male companion. In contrast, over the last 40 years I've traveled alone on three continents, driving, using public transport, and even hitchhiking. I've never had a problem, and I've received lots of help from random strangers. There are some really nasty people anywhere, but there are many, many more kind ones.

[Bethers]

I always have to laugh when I read those "make people think there's a man around" tricks that turn up everywhere..

And I can tell immediately when someone is using those tricks - as can anyone who would want to be doing something. Makes me laugh out loud.

[etexlady]

On one of my first RV trips I was at a camp ground in Colorado (can't recall exactly where). We were in a small motor home and were going to leave for some sightseeing so we unhooked the sewer hose, etc. and left it laying on the ground along with some chairs. Mainly wanted to show the space was occupied. When we got back the sewer hose was missing. What a nasty thing to steal, yuk. My Dad was traveling with us and later walked up to the camp office and asked if anyone had seen the hose. The guy said he saw some kids playing with a hose earlier that day but didn't think much about it. We bought another hose the next day and continued on our way.

[Bethers]

On one of my first RV trips I was at a camp ground in Colorado (can't recall exactly where). We were in a small motor home and were going to leave for some sightseeing so we unhooked the sewer hose, etc. and left it laying on the ground along with some chairs. Mainly wanted to show the space was occupied. When we got back the sewer hose was missing. What a nasty thing to steal, yuk. My Dad was traveling with us and later walked up to the camp office and asked if anyone had seen the hose. The guy said he saw some kids playing with a hose earlier that day but didn't think much about it. We bought another hose the next day and continued on our way.

That is the most likely time to have something taken. Some think you've "forgotten" the items. Better to find a way to mark the site occupied than to leave anything like a chair or two or even a sewer hose - yucky that someone would take that .... Hope their parents don't know what they were playing with.

[JudyJB]

That's why I enjoy the "Campsite Occupied" sign Sue made me.

The advice to leave out a chair or two I think is bad advice because some campers think you have left and forgotten it and it is up for grabs. My little sign is bright yellow and lets people know I will return.

I do sometimes feel a little bit uncomfortable in campgrounds where there are a lot of permanent residents, especially ones that are in really beatup old campers. In some areas, campgrounds cater to people who cannot afford to live in an apartment or house. While most, I am sure, are honest, you really do not know if these people are alcoholics or on drugs or whatever may cause them to be unemployed and living under such circumstances. You do not know the screening policies of the campground owners, either.

While weekends can be crowded and noisy, I like state and national parks because they tend to attract families. I have had a couple of instances late at night with partiers, but they were mostly just noisy, not dangerous.

And, yes, as a nosy campground snoop, I can assure you that you can tell within two minutes how many people are setting up at a campsite. Those shoes and hat ideas are just silly.

[Teaspoon]

I've never had any problems with theft while camping, however last year at one of our local state parks I camped at there were thefts of lawn chairs and coolers all around me one weekend.We had noticed the ranger comming to a pop up across from us and knocking on the door but no one had answered. We had seen about 7 kids, a man and a woman at the campsite not 15 minutes before that. Immediately after the ranger left, all nine of them came out of the popup. Long story short, that evening, in the middle of the nite they packed up and left along with several campers nice lounge chairs, a cooler or two, and some tools one elderly camper had setting under his motorhome. Apparently they had overstayed their 14 day limit and the ranger was there to have them leave. I got the distinct feeling these people were living at campgrounds in the area.
I usually camp fairly local, not more than 4 hours away from my home. On weekends I am not camping I drive and check out campgrounds I think I would like to camp at. Within a few minutes I usually know by my gut if the "energy" there is good or bad. That's one nice thing about rv'ing, you can always just pack up and move if you dont feel comfortable staying.

Kim