Are solo RVrs safe?

[2xIronman]

YouTube has loads of info on your subject as well as lots of other great RV related info. Some of it is quite helpful and quite a bit of the so-called useful info is just that... so-called. But sometimes it can be quite entertaining.

I added a couple of links below for you to check out.

https://youtu.be/2xFzt4EZaa8
https://youtu.be/BNFOsrUXJuY

[dix39]

While I think it would be better to go with another person I have gone many times by myself.

In about 40 years of boondocking which includes an annual coast to coast trip overnighting in rest areas, truck stops, Walmarts, etc., as well as stays in the outdoors, there have been two times when I felt threatened enough to retrieve a firearm and watch/wait. One of these was in a rest area and the other at a Flying J. Nothing materialized either time and I was thankful, but I have always carried protection just in case.

As others have said, don't let these concerns affect the enjoyment of your trip/outing.

Steve

[swagn]

wasp/hornet spray...I have a can by the front door...my wife put it there

[astrnmrtom]

Some perspective:

I'm going to say you are no less safe in your RV than I am in my house in the country. Right now I'm sitting alone, in a single story home at the end of a private gravel road surrounded by trees. My house cannot be seen from the road. My living room windows are less than 3 feet above the front sidewalk as are my bedroom windows. The whole back of my house faces unoccupied land, and someone could drive a truck into the back yard, throw a brick through my sliding glass door on the deck, and empty my house in broad daylight without being seen or heard. In the summer we sleep with windows open. An intruder could step right in through our lower windows. While your RV door is flimsier than many household front doors, it provides more security than a sliding glass door.

The overwhelming odds are a woman is more likely to be attacked by a person they know than by a stranger.

As for firearms - RV forums are full of debate on that subject so I won't add my opinion here.

Secondary defense objects, bats, sticks, knives etc, are a personal choice. I think any self defense expert will tell you your best protective weapon is between your ears, and good situational awareness is your best friend. Distance is the primary action to reduce risk. I like the suggestion someone made for leaving the key in the ignition at night to be able to start the vehicle and quickly drive away. There's no perfect solution to every situation but the odds are waaayyy in your favor that nothing bad will ever happen. My number one rule for evaluating risks in life is to understand the greatest risk to your life on a daily basis is driving down the road. You are much more likely to be hurt or killed while driving, than by a person breaking into your motorhome while camping, yet we are all happy to jump in the driver's seat to head to our next destination. We fear the unknown more than the known even though the known can be more dangerous. It's an ancient, primal fear based on our survival instincts.

I want to take this opportunity to talk about the suggestion for using wasp spray for self defence. In a word: Don't! - use pepper spray instead, for the reasons below.

1. Pepper spray is designed for self defense against another human being so it's legal use against a human and it's specifically designed to incapacitate.

2. It is designed to have no lasting effects to the person sprayed.

Wasp spray's active ingredient is a neurotoxin in a petroleum based carrier, not designed to incapacitate a human. It's a Federal crime to spray another human with a pesticide. If anyone doubts this, read the label on the can, it will say: "It is a violation of Federal Law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling." By using it against another human being you are clearly violating this law. Sure you could argue self defense, but the last thing you want is to have to fight a lawsuit against you by the person you sprayed who inhaled or swallowed several ounces of pesticide whether you think they deserved it or not. Wasp spray may be considered low toxicity, but the true risk to a person is determined by toxicity X exposure. There's difference between spraying a wasp nest and having some mist blow back at you, and being sprayed full stream, in the face, where it can be inhaled and/or swallowed.

In a nutshell; The reasoning is simple - Why use a product for self defence that wasn't designed for that purpose, when you can use one that is? The argument is it'll spray 20 feet but pepper spray can hit a person at a distance just like wasp spray, and its sole purpose is to incapacitate. Wasp spray is designed to kill wasps. Yes, certain areas require permits or regulate pepper spray, but it's illegal to use wasp spray against a human everywhere!

I hope this offers some perspective on the question.

Enjoy your boondocking!

[jcussen]

Interesting info on pepper spray vs bear spray. I carry the pepper. https://www.selfdefenseninja.com/bea...ts-difference/

[docj]

the

Originally Posted by Podivin

That said, I wouldn't think that meth-heads are going to be hanging out way out in the boonies (or the desert). *I* would more expect to find them in an RV park than in the desert.

With all due respect, I don't know what kind of RV parks you stay at, but I've been pretty comfortable with the clientele at the ones we frequent. These days many parks do have long term/permanent residents, but at the kinds of parks we choose, I haven't been concerned by their presence.

We've been full-timing for ~8 years and have traveled over 60,000 miles in the process. I've never stayed at a park where I felt unsafe. If I felt unsafe, I wouldn't have stayed there.

[NITEHAWK]

Had a police officer tell me that he/they would protect me as soon as he/they got there. Until then it was up to me to protect myself.
There are many deterrents to help you protect yourself. Take a self-defense course. Be aware of your surroundings. Never leave anything of value out where it can be seen. There is safety in numbers.
A small, yippy dog. A cellphone with emergency numbers programmed in. Well light areas. Hard to climb IN a tall Class A coach.

The list goes on and on. Common sense.

[hamm2018]

We, wife and I, carry an OC called FOX. I have used several different brands and to me FOX was the best I used. There are 2 types, fogger and steamer. Fogger comes out in a cone shape fog pattern and floods the immediate area.
A streamer comes out in a stream and is good for 10-15 feet.
If you get one get the steamer.

One word of caution, OC will not work on everybody. If an individual is on heavy mental health drugs, it may not work on that person. (experience on this).

But some people will say why bring OC to a gun fight.

[Mr_D]

Are cars safe? No, people get injured and killed everyday in them, same for motorhomes.

[Ret.LEO]

This is what I carried. Never used it on the street but would get called in when there was a "problem" in the Jail. We housed women for the City of St Louis, ICE Detainee's, Federal Inmates, Local Idiots. It never let me down no matter how big the inmate or how ticked off they were. I had to be sprayed with it to use it.............believe me............it works!
https://www.sabrered.com/

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by NITEHAWK

Had a police officer tell me that he/they would protect me as soon as he/they got there. Until then it was up to me to protect myself.
There are many deterrents to help you protect yourself. Take a self-defense course. Be aware of your surroundings. Never leave anything of value out where it can be seen. There is safety in numbers.
A small, yippy dog. A cellphone with emergency numbers programmed in. Well light areas. Hard to climb IN a tall Class A coach.

The list goes on and on. Common sense.

What immediate protection is a cell phone? As you said they can't protect you till they arrive, until then you're on your own.

[pasdad1]

Definately get a class A motorhome.

They are very tall and people on the ground would have a hard time reaching up to the windows.

Retract the steps when you are in for the night. Have motion activated lights on the outside.

Only use the roof mounted ventilation fans instead of opening windows at night while sleeping.

Keep keys in ignition while sleeping so if you had to you could jump in driver seat, start engine, and get out of there in less than 30 seconds.

Large air horn will make lots of noise also and probably scare away potential intruders.

Keep a large set of mans boots outside near the door, will make bad guys think you aren’t alone.

Better to always camp near other people that you know as well. Make some traveling companions that might caravan with you.

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by nicole14

I am a solo woman and I like rural areas. The last time I went camping in southern Nevada, I came back to some very worried people. They were terrified that I was alone in the desert, no phone service, no gun, etc, and warned me that there are meth addicts out there.

Is this a real problem? Is this actually something I need to really worry about?

My trailer door lock is pretty flimsy, and I often leave my windows open with just the screen covering them so I can enjoy the fresh air.

I'm looking into switching to a new set-up, so I'm open to choosing something that would be more resistant to thieves or whomever. I read that school buses are very safe because they are designed to protect children, but that they are hard to park in cities and many other places. What are the options for a new home on wheels that is also safe enough that my family won't need to worry so much?

In my opinion you're asking the wrong people. I would contact the irv2.com singles group "solo RVer's"forum, and/or Loners On Wheels, an RVing club for single people, most of them are full-timers.
You will be just as safe in an RV as in your car in a strange setting, if you follow your usual precautions and feelings.

[Gordiegaffer]

There a several groups of single woman traveling in an rv in this country. Check for these groups in the forms they will be very helpful. Sprays are good and safer for you and don't keep your keys in the ignition to drive off in a hurry you have too much stuff hooked up to do that.