Dangers of boondocking?

[nineoaks2004]

The least of my worries is boondocking, I feel less safe in the urban areas, I do however carry a couple of somethings to assist me if something comes up
that I feel the need including crazed wild animals or big foot , I have never worried about or felt the need to worry. I solo canoe camp sometimes for a week or more and have only met nice people just as I do in any type of camping.

[luckyd]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

I would love to do some boondocking, but will all the bad things happening now I just don't think I would ever be comfortable doing it!

I can imagine us set up out in the boonies, well away from close neighbors, and have some druggies out having a good time happen to discover us. If they got the drop on us, they would be free to do whatever they pleased without worrying about being discovered!

Do you folks that boondock have these concerns?

Where do you normally go and what was your last major trip.

[saddlesore]

Too many conflicting weapons laws state to state and local jurisdictions...
Baseball bat,glove and a baseball....
"Flatbedder" winch/binder bar with 3 lbs of lead shot in the tube...
Extra large Cans of hornet spray and a long reach BIC lighter...
Otherwise..Olin makes a very nice disposable 12 GA.marine flare pistol....

[DSL417]

Joe/Annette,

Might I recommend spending a couple of weeks or a month between Oct and Mar down in Quartzsite AZ. There is plenty of space (other than during the show week), to spread out, and still be a somewhat close to others if you want to share a glass of wine. You've got a dump and fresh water as well. A perfect place to first time boondock, and have an absolutely dark night, to look at the stars. You have the added benefit of a slight BLM fee to park for 14 or 180 days, this maybe very few non-campers. And during non-show weeks, there are a couple of dives, beer joints, and a pizza place if you want to go "into" town JMHO

[Peto]

All I can say is that the OP has no clue about Boondocking. It's not a parking lot and it's not full of punks wanting to rape your wife and take your shizzle.

It's peace and quiet in the mountains all by yourself.

[DSL417]

All the OP did was ask a question...need to reread his post.

[Steve Ownby]

Originally Posted by Peto

All I can say is that the OP has no clue about Boondocking. It's not a parking lot and it's not full of punks wanting to rape your wife and take your shizzle.



It's peace and quiet in the mountains all by yourself.

Not really fair to Joe. There are many definitions of “boondocking”. There is also “dry camping” and both terms don’t really have firm meanings and can be used somewhat interchangeably.

Both terms can be used to describe Wally docking, truck stop parking or many other places with no infrastructure for camping. It can also be out in the desert by yourself as at Quartzite, with 10 thousand of your closest friends.

In 11 years of full time living and many over nights at Walmart or other big box and many truck stops, I only consider that I have boon-docked a couple of times. Once at a roadside pull out west of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory and once at Powder River Pass on US 16 on top of the Big Horn Mountains.

[Cloud Dancer]

In just a few weeks, my list of concerns broke the speed record in growth. However, No more boondocking is not a new precaution for me. I know what you're talking about.

[twogypsies]

Boondocking in the boonies was always our first choice. Yes, miles away from towns. Quiet... peaceful...star-filled nights and great opportunities for Jeeping. We boondocked or dry-camped 90% of our 16 years of full-timing and never had an uneasy feeling doing so.

Boondocking - out in the boonies (Yes. People actually do that.

Dry Camping - in a campground without hookups (national forest campgrounds, some state parks, etc.)

Pavement 'parking' - WalMarts, etc.

There definitely is a difference.

[Searching_Ut]

I’ve boondocked to include years of solo backpacking my whole life and never been bothered by anyone. Statistically, you are more likely to be murdered by someone you know than you are by a stranger. Just use common sense, and take some comfort in knowing less exposure so people which you have in the boonies means less chance of encountering someone truly evil.

[gruelens]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

Do you folks that boondock have these concerns?

No my wife and I do not have these concerns. If either of you are not comfortable with a boondocking location, by all means move on. With all the crime that occurs in sticks and bricks, I am happy to stay in my RV.

Boondocking provides us a way to travel about, not need reservations, and save money (works easiest in the western 1/2 of the USA). All the best.

[ByeTheWay]

Boondocking with another RV is best, even if I don't know who is in the other RV.
Listed below are some precautions I use as needed:

Lock the door and bring my automatic step in at night. Keep my keys at bedside so I can sound the car alarm from bed. Keep my cell phone bedside, Never park my toad in front of the MH. Keep my rv keys at the drivers seat. Park so that I can drive off it need be. I would go with the slides out if needed. I turn on a motion detector scare light on each side of the rig. Never open the entry door at night. If I hear something outside, I would not turn on an interior light. I am usually armed.

[Sunastar]

I'm new to the forum, but we've been boon docking for over a decade. No people have ever bothered us. We have had a bull bump us. A few coyotes howl at us. More then a few black bear sniff our camp fire when we cooked out. And a less than sober, but nonetheless nice, camper ask if we had a spare beer (we did and he told us of some amazing hikes). But, we do lock the door at night, no matter how remote we are.

FYI, we boondock WAY in the boonies and right next to urban areas.

[Scarab0088]

Several posts here were removed for violating the Community Rule about discussion of guns. Guns are a polarizing topic and therefore mostly prohibited.

Some general mention of firearms has been left in the thread as those posts also directly related to RV's and the thread topic - boondocking.

Any further discussion of guns after this warning will also be summarily removed.
Thanks to all who posted within the CR's.

Site Staff