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The information provided in all "Your RV" pages are only suggestions and anecdotal stories.  The information in these pages is a generic peace of work and is meant only as a general guide, it should not be taken as absolute fact. The information provided in these pages can change at any given day. Please read our RV Manual page for more information.

The times when you could leave your front door unlocked have long since gone. And unfortunately RVing has has more risks to person and property than it did just a few years ago. 

Ways you can get Protection

1. BE ALERT - in all situations use all your senses to anticipate possible problems. Scan the whole scene and take in all the information that will help you understand the situation you face.

2. TRUST YOUR INTUITION - You have a powerful natural tool in your intuition and you must learn to trust it.

3. HAVE A PRE-DETERMINED PLAN OF ACTION - Develop plans for all the situations that you can imagine. Spend time as you drive thinking about all the situations that could come up and develop response plans for each situation. Dry-run typical situations while you travel as a way of making your response to each situation second nature. Have a traveling companion announce a surprise situation as you travel and execute your response as a practice.

4. NOTHING IS 100% EFFECTIVE 100% OF THE TIME - Do not get comfortable just because you have a good dog, an alarm system or a gun. Be wary as a second nature.

When Driving

When driving, there are many things you can do to reduce the possibility of bad consequences. Think ahead and decide to change your bad driving habits. One helpful thing is to change the way most of us stop in traffic. We all drive big rigs and often tow something behind. We also know how hard it is to back up. So just get in the habit of stopping far enough behind the vehicle in front of you so that you can go forward while turning to get out of the situation. This is especially important when you are driving your towed car in unfamiliar territory. When driving on the freeway in stop and go traffic, you may have a few eager drivers get in front of you, but at least you won't have to disconnect the towed car, so that you can back up. Another habit to cultivate is patience. Why hurry or get mad? It will only increase your blood pressure and make you grumpy.

Every day you hear of traffic disputes ending in gun fire. Let's face it, our rigs are big and some people can really lose their cool in frustration at us, even when we are driving well within the law. It is important for us to take some time and think of whether it's really worth it to lay on the air horn at some jerk who just cut in front of us. Don't do it any more. Yield whenever there is any question of right-of-way and plan NOT to get into an argument. You will get to the campground in one piece, and still with a spouse, only a few minutes later.

Pre-plan your route whenever possible, because it can be unsafe if you get your rig going down a narrow road with no way to turn around. We all tend to think that we can keep heading forward, and that eventually we'll reach a place to safely turn around. But many times we drive ourselvess into increasing less desirable neighborhoods in the process. When you leave the highway, stop in well lighted areas to look at maps, and if necessary get out and ask directions. If you happen to get stuck in a bad area, don't stop under any conditions....drive until you find a well lighted shopping center or service station. 

"Bump and Snatch"

There is a technique used by criminals called "Bump and Snatch" where they purposely cause a bump or small crash to stop you and then proceed to either steal your property and money or your whole vehicle. You can respond to this type of situation by:

1. Not get out to look or open the door.

2. Drive to a well lighted, populated location like a service station and signal for the other party to follow. I realize that this might be considered leaving he scene of the accident.

3. Have your Cell Phone up to year ear and call "911" immediately.

4. Try to travel through congested areas in low traffic periods. 

5. Use the fact that you have a companion to assist with your response. It is always good to have a camera that your companion can use record the facts of a situations. When two of you are responding the results will most probably be better than just one responding.

Picking a Place to Park for the Night

Rest areas along the freeways are getting more risky than ever, so if you have to stop because you are falling asleep, there are some things that you must pre-plan. 

1. If someone knocks at your door at 3 am, there is nothing good going to happen. Even if the person knocking has an honest problem, you must be prepared for the worst. DO NOT open the door, until you are absolutely sure that the request being made is legitimate and represents no possibility of harm to you or your property. 

2. DO NOT put your name on the outside of your RV, since that will allow a robber to use your name to get you to open your door. 

3. One of the best investments you will make in protecting yourself is to invest in a cellular telephone. The coverage area today is great, and except when you are driving in places like National Parks, you can get excellent coverage. The cost of having a Cellular Telephone can be controlled, by using it only in emergency situations. A "Fake" Cellular phone is better than nothing. You can tell the person that is knocking, that you will call 911 in response to almost any situation and counter the stated reason for you to open the door. Cellular telephones are also valuable reporting emergency situations while driving, or when your rig becomes incapacitated.

Many truck stops are now providing space and even hook-ups for RV's. Truck Stops may be a little more noisy, but they are a lot more safe than rest stops. Please read our Boondocking page for more information.

If you find yourself stuck in a big city at night looking for a Campground and can't find one, many of the parking lots provide for dry-camping overnight for a nominal fee. Some people try well lighted shopping center parking lots, but it's not pleasant being woken up by the security personnel, and being asked to leave. In some cities, its OK to park on a side street with the permission of the homeowner. It is also possible to park with permission at a local Church parking lot. If you have to try a free parking lot, try to get permission. If you really get stuck, stop a local police officer and ask if there is any area that it is legal to park. Many smaller cities allow overnight parking near or in their City Parks. It is always safer to park with another RV if possible. Some large hospitals allow RV's to park overnight, so even if you don't have someone in that hospital, you most certainly be safer there with other RV'ers than on the street.

The safest places to park overnight are obviously, in a private, public, or commercial Camp Ground where some security is provided. Well planned travel will allow you to use these facilities.

Leaving your RV Unoccupied

There is unfortunately some real risk to property when you leave your RV unattended. Here again planning can greatly reduce your risks. First of all -- Don't Advertise --. personal and property loss happens when a perpetrator has knowledge and opportunity. Knowledge comes from someone overhearing you talk in checkout lines, at telephones, in service stations, etc. Don't give anyone knowledge about yourself or your possessions unless there is a genuine "need to know". Don't leave money or valuables, especially those that are not replaceable, in your RV.

In a recent theft, the RV's window was broken to gain entry. When the owners returned they found the microwave, TV, VCR, cameras, etc. gone, as well as all their clothing. Thieves know that many of us stash cash in a pocket of something hung in the closet. So they just took all the clothes, later discarding most of them, just to look for cash at their leisure. They also know that favorite places to hide cash, are taped to drawer bottoms, behind the drivers seat, in a front compartment, under the couch or bed, under the sink, etc. It's best to just not carry cash. Use a cash card periodically instead. Crooks don't like light and sound or anything that will draw attention to their activities. 

Storage Compartments

Storage compartments are vulnerable and we must all realize that there are just a few master keys that open almost every RV storage bay lock used today. Just ask you RV repairman and you'll be surprised to know that, each mechanic carries a few keys that will open almost every brand and type of storage bay. In Southern California, a favorite target of thieves is the auxiliary generator while the RV is parked at an all day amusement facility parking lot. They come into the parking lot with a van, paying like all of us do , and then find the easiest generators to remove. Generators bring a good price in Mexico, and can be removed from most rigs in a matter of minutes. They weigh about 300 lbs., so it is possible with a portable transmission jack to load one into the thieves' van in a matter of a few minutes.

Mall Parking Lots

Mall parking lots are another favorite place for burglaries to take place. You will be in the store for 20 minutes or more -- and that's plenty of time for them to break in and steal TV's, etc. In most mall parking lots, we tend to park away from traffic, so as to be out of the way. That's just the place the thief wants us to park.

Guns in RV's

Many RVers choose to travel with a gun in the RV. Doing so puts you at risk of breaking the law in some states, Mexico and Canada. An unloaded hand gun stored in a drawer in the RV with the ammunition, is against the law in California. A concealed weapons permit from one state is not valid in other states. So here are some thoughts about Guns in R's: First of all, if you are going to carry one make sure you know how to use it, and are prepared to use it if you have to.  Check out the laws of every state or country that you plan to travel though before taking the gun, whatever type it is.

Animals for Security

Many people like a noisy or trained security dog as a traveling companion. And they do provide some measure of protection. Pets become vulnerable to fire when left unattended, as well as other health risks like overheating. Most seasoned thieves know how to handle animals, and pets have proved to have limited effectiveness. How often have you heard of a pet being a "real" guard dog. True guard dogs have to be trained to be mean, and then kept separate from people to be effective guard dogs. Please read our Traveling with Pets page for more information.

Outside the RV

Protecting your person and property outside your RV requires some planning too. Whistles, personal alarms, pepper spray, flashlights and other devices if carried properly, and if you are knowledgeable about their use, are all good things to consider. Self-defense training is also very good. Learn how to get out of a choke hold, or away from someone holding your wrist. Learn where to hit your attacker effectively if you choose to defend yourself physically. Learn how to avoid or de-fuse situations altogether. Local police and community colleges regularly teach these skills. Practice standing in a defensive posture and yelling "NO" as a method of avoiding contact. Learn how to walk away from corners and doorways and how to carry yourself with confidence. Study your map inside a building instead of on the sidewalk. Wear comfortable shoes that you can help you move fast. Watch consumption of alcohol. Use steel lined fanny packs in front of you or a money belt or similar device to keep valuables. Don't keep blank checks with IDs that contains your signature. Carry a fake wallet that you can readily give the mugger.