Community Forums

jamesvinton · 10-14-2014, 04:42 PM

Just curious? Has anyone experienced a face to face robbery, late night break-in ( while in residence), or any major crime, personally, while RVing. DW and I are discussing protection while traveling and this question came up. I don't want a lecture on guns.. this is not that question! Have you been mugged, robbed, broken into while in your MH? If you have, would a firearm have helped or not?

Jim Vinton
jamesvinton@comcast.net
Holiday Rambler 36PFT

Walt Bennett · 10-14-2014, 04:54 PM

Personally I'm more afraid of some idiot near me with an assault rifle or even a 9 mil waking up from a nightmare and shooting indiscriminately. Think about how thin the walls are in ANY rv. If I ever decided to carry a weapon, it would be nothing more than a 38 with hollow points. Don't want to kill someone next door.

MSHappyCampers · 10-14-2014, 05:24 PM

We feel safer in our RV than at home, even though we have a very sophisticated security system at home! There's only one door with two locks, and we bought a simple self-contained door alarm for it. I am fully armed, but don't really feel I need it!

Shellback1 · 10-14-2014, 05:31 PM

I have Abby, so let's see who comes in and gets out in one piece.

GaryWT · 10-14-2014, 05:39 PM

Granted I am in a TT and not a MH but have never felt the need. I generally know where I am, always stay in a private park and have never owned a gun. Maybe if I was traveling far from home I would think differently but so far so good.

Statgeek · 10-14-2014, 05:42 PM

Not so far... I have protection in the event it becomes necessary, but like all the licensed conceal carry people that I know, I do not take the responsibility lightly. It's like insurance...you hope to never need it, but you are grateful if you have it when you need it.

VSPA · 10-14-2014, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesvinton

.....Has anyone experienced a face to face robbery, late night break-in ( while in residence), or any major crime, personally, while RVing. DW and I are discussing protection while traveling and this question came up...... would a firearm have helped or not?

Knowing that the owner/mods are not fond of gun discussions, I'll try to make it short and sweet and no lecturing intended. No to both your questions and though I've talked with those how have experienced problems in the late hours of night with theft and/or vandalism, I personally know of no case where having a gun would have prevented the crime. The responsible owners/carriers I know also carry smaller calibers like .380, .32 or .25 for RVing and some even use frangible rounds so that there is little chance of wall penetration. FYI, a .38 with JHPs is not the one to carry in an RV if one is concerned with wall penetration. I am trained and carry for self defense only, not vermin chasing.

**CLIFFTALL** · 10-14-2014, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesvinton

I don't want a lecture on guns.. this is not that question! Have you been mugged, robbed, broken into while in your MH? If you have, would a firearm have helped or not?

This is the op's question. Let's stick to that topic.
Thanks

**CLIFFTALL** · 10-14-2014, 06:00 PM

If you've found your post deleted , it was me.

pagosajoe · 10-14-2014, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clifftall

If you've found your post deleted , it was me.

Thanks Cliff...we appreciate your vigilance!

Bigd9 · 10-14-2014, 06:16 PM

There is only one time we were scared, and it was a several moons ago. In a remote state forest campground. We, my wife and two daughters, were set up in a popup tent trailer. Early in the AM at dawn we heard doors slamming. Two guys carrying rifles got out and came right toward us. They went around us one guy on each side and kept on going into the woods. After a l-o-n-g hour later we heard several LOUD shots! 15 minutes later out they came with a deer between them. Tossed it into the bed of the truck, took another long look at us and then drove off.

Would protection have helped? My wife and the mother of our daughters was snarling loud enough and her eyes were on fire that would frighten anyone away who dared to invade our camper! We talked about getting something, but decided it was just something we did not want to do with curious kids around.

Like Walt we worry more about wild bullets than intruders.

Mr_D · 10-14-2014, 06:21 PM

Not a "myth" to me as it actually DIDN'T happen to me as I was prepared. Just showed the two Spanish speaking "gentlemen" that I wasn't going to be a victim and they left. I'm sure they didn't report it and neither did I. Thank you Mr. .45 and 12 GA.

HeatAir · 10-14-2014, 06:38 PM

I attempt, with much explaining to my loverly Bride, to keep a can of wasp and hornet spray near the door of the camper.

Perfectly legal and good for open carry. 20 foot range and 15-20 seconds of spray. Hurts like (moderator edit) because of the petroleum distillates.

Easy-peasy.

Dtwallace · 10-14-2014, 06:50 PM

My only incident was while traveling. We had to stop for fuel one night in an automated station with no attendant.

Due diligence and preparation on my part halted the would be muggers from their taking advantage of who they thought was an easy target.

I have no issues relaxing my watch for trouble while in any of the camp grounds we've attended, or any camp ground we plan to visit. It's just not a problem.

Walmart parking lots and places like, are the ones you should never let your guard down. But normally campers are not a target.

Without going into detail, I would advise anyone who is traveling to realize there is a possibility one could find themselves in a situation that compromises self preservation, just plan accordingly.

DTW