Dangers of boondocking?

[dallasmobile]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

I am aware of my surroundings, beyond that I carry other methods of protecting myself.

Are those other methods your vicious attack cats?

[birddog2you]

I would say look into boondockers welcome. Might give you a way to ease into the real thing. Good luck!

[6x16inside]

Originally Posted by MisterT

I doubt that most of us referring to 'boondocking', if that's the word used, really means that we are out in the 'boonies', as you fear. No, we are at the ***mart parking lot, and they have security!

The reality is that you would probably never park somewhere, so remote, and off the 'beaten path', or in an urban area, where you would worry about such things. You would not be stopping there to start with!

Their security is a joke, honestly. And if anything happens on their property, any video or camera documentation magically disappears. The employees and managers both will tell you that. The only time any evidence of anything is available is when it was clearly your "fault".
I worked for one of their DC's, trust me, I know.

[dix39]

Truth be known, I think most of us share your concerns to some degree. If there were no concerns, why would anyone, myself included, carry protection? IMHO, the real question is does that concern override the desire to explore something new? I think for most of us, myself included, the answer is no.

If you do choose to explore some remote areas of the country, just be certain your RV/toad is capable of navigating the roads you will need to travel in order to reach your destination.

Not counting 10+ years of local WV "boondock" camping with tents and canopies, we've been doing cross country (rest area, store, truckstop, and wide spot) boondocking as well as "in the woods" boondocking for hunting, fishing and exploring for the last 40+ years with TCs and a MH.

During the cross country travel "boondocking" there were a couple of times I felt it was prudent to have our protection real handy, but nothing materialized. There was also the time I parked our TC on a busy street in New Orleans in the middle of the afternoon. On our way back to it after a visit to the French Quarter I watched a person dodge between cars to get to the other side of the street with our shotgun in one hand and our camera bag in the other. That was it for 40+ years and over 300k miles of that kind of travel/camping.

The majority of our "in the woods" boondocking was spent during the time I was bow hunting for elk in OR. Prior to '94 when I retired we would spend one month of my vacation on cross country and one week + weekends "in the woods. After retirement it was 2-3 months cross country and a month "in the woods".

During the "in the woods" time I had a 5 gal. can of gasoline stolen. I also had to drive a considerable distance once to retrieve the spare tire I loaned a fellow hunter that I didn't know who promised to bring the tire back the next day. Luckily, I had my wife write his license plate number down while we were replacing his flat with my spare. Some gratitude. That's about it for "in the woods" boondocking, except for being awakened by a very close Screech Owl at 2:00 AM and other similar incidents. There were also opportunities to help others who were truly grateful. Also pictures and memories that could be gotten nowhere else.

I think if it something you would like to do then you should at least try it. IMHO, about the same thing you did in AK.

Best of luck.

Steve

[grousehunter]

Here in Newfoundland, camp wherever you can find a place to park your rig. You have better chance of winning the lottery then being attacked in the night.

[96 Wideglide]

Originally Posted by luckyd

I noticed quite a few references to guns.
We boondock quite a bit in Canada without
even a thought of needing them.

We have been asked several times if we were afraid
to travel in the MH and the answer has always been "NO"

We meet up with the Monaco group each year, have met
many people from all over the country, learned many new
things, and would hate to give it up.

RVers always wave, say hello, offer help, ask for help, and
this has always amazed me that people live in S/B homes
and are afraid of their neighbors.

Thanks to all of you that has made our RV lifestyle a great
experience.

Let's not forget the elderly couple that dissappeared in Alberta 6 or 7 years ago. Their RV was found burned to the ground. Bodies never found.
Rare, but it can happen up here as well.

[klspahr]

Statistically the most dangerous part of boondocking probably is driving to and from the site.

[ByeTheWay]

Originally Posted by grousehunter

Here in Newfoundland, camp wherever you can find a place to park your rig. You have better chance of winning the lottery then being attacked in the night.

Welcome to the group. Good to have you!!!

We spent almost 2 months in Newfoundland and just loved it. And you are so right about boondocking in Newfoundland, we did not spend a dime for parking.

[NRF]

I love camping where there are few -to-no people. My wife, however, always said she would be scared. We have never had any security issues of any kind ever in 20 years of RVing

[Tony Lee]

Originally Posted by MisterT

I doubt that most of us referring to 'boondocking', if that's the word used, really means that we are out in the 'boonies', as you fear. No, we are at the ***mart parking lot, and they have security!

The reality is that you would probably never park somewhere, so remote, and off the 'beaten path', or in an urban area, where you would worry about such things. You would not be stopping there to start with!

We do often overnight at Walmart (or Home Depot since they have better wifi) but our preference is to get as far from everyone else as possible - as you can see

https://get.google.com/albumarchive/...aDxXw-TqICg7hF and despite all of those nights in remote locations, the only time we have had a slightly alarming incident was because of a pair of keystone kops in Argentina. Actually I guess a black bear trying to climb up the back of the MH up north was also a little alarming until I realised what it was. And yes, I have to admit that a couple of Tasmanian Devils having a friendly conversation under our rig last week did get the pulse rate up a little for a second or two until I realised what they were

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3RjAh8PRTQ

so yes, I guess boondocking does get a bit exciting at times.

[RVNeophytes2]

Originally Posted by klspahr

Statistically the most dangerous part of boondocking probably is driving to and from the site.

Hear, hear.

I grew up in the 1970s, with a much higher crime rate than we see now. As you can see here, we peaked in 1994 at roughly double of the current rate.

My sole camping encounter circa 1973 in rural Maryland: hearing thuds on nearby trees followed by a telltale "pow" with doppler fade. Rednecks from across the valley, somehow threatened by a longhaired kid unstrapping his bike from the top of his Fiat for a solo weekend trek down the C&O Canal. Other than that one easily escaped encounter, no problems, ever. Now, such things happen a third less often, says FBI. News suggests otherwise, but facts are facts.

My last two boondocking excursions have been alongside another Class A in South Dallas, in the Fair Park Music Hall parking lot. Two of the most secure, restful and utterly peaceful layovers I've ever had. We simply coordinated with local authorities, were in a gated area, and strategically anchored where the gate attendant could see us, throughout her shift.

That said, I'm a Walmart and rest area virgin. Have never done it.

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by grousehunter

Here in Newfoundland, camp wherever you can find a place to park your rig. You have better chance of winning the lottery then being attacked in the night.

Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

Thanks for your comments! Keep her between the ditches!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

Merry Christmas!

[ike66]

Originally Posted by MisterT

I doubt that most of us referring to 'boondocking', if that's the word used, really means that we are out in the 'boonies', as you fear. No, we are at the ***mart parking lot, and they have security!

The reality is that you would probably never park somewhere, so remote, and off the 'beaten path', or in an urban area, where you would worry about such things. You would not be stopping there to start with!

For us getting away from everyone else is the whole reason to boondock it. If someone does come by we usually have targets out for shooting so they'll probably see that and know that we are armed and can protect ourselves.

[hohenwald48]

Originally Posted by grousehunter

Here in Newfoundland, camp wherever you can find a place to park your rig. You have better chance of winning the lottery then being attacked in the night.

That same thing is true for 99.99 percent of America. The news media tend to blow negative occurrences totally out of proportion.