Lol I plan on either a slide in camper,pickup topper or van…while working my 3rd shift job… I think day stealthing would be so much easier than struggling to find some where to sleep, at least for urban van dwellers and the like…if on the road stay stealthy friend
I wonder if the step/ladder that is used to access the camper is a dead giveaway to the presence of an occupied camper. Is there a type of access step that is easy to deploy and then remove/fold up to avoid this?
Hey there, im going to live in my van for some time. I was wondering, do you think it’s a good idea to park and sleep at a truck stop? Or Walmart? What are some ways to park and sleep at night, under the radar?
I've got a good one for you. A place that I have stealth camped twice now with no problems (and your going to spit out beer on this one) I stealth camped in a police training center parking lot. Seriously! The mentality of the typical cop is that he doesn't really put on his "cop vision goggles" until he's fueled up and left the parking lot for his shift to start. The last thing he's doing at his training center is looking for criminal activity.
For me truck camper stealth = open blinds in camper, put up windshield and side window blocks and sleep in truck cab. Of course newer trucks don't come with real bench seats anymore so that may not be a comfortable option for a stealth overnighter.
I live full time in my truck and camper (6 years ) and one of the places I park at night when on the road is in front of motels , people will think your staying in the motel 6 . I have never been bothered while doing this . ok that's my 2 cents (ha) happy trails !
Another good reason for having the proper license on your vehicle "ie" a motor home or camper in the state of Oregon you cannot be harassed about an open container in your vehicle with motor home or camper plates on it because the state of Oregon recognizes your vehicle as a house
Well since I know you're in Oregon and if you have camper plates on your camper and you're not impeding traffic and anyway it's legal for you to park on the street for 24 hours . And how do I know this because your camper has license plates on it is registered with the state of Oregon it's legally A house…. That's why I never worry about boondocking on the street ever
I love the suggestions of hospitals, auto shops, and apartment complexes. Makes perfect sense! I really need to get something to blackout my windows though. I like the decor of my curtains and am wondering if I can put something behind them. My window frames are metal and I have thought about something that has magnets on it then I can easily take them on and off. Do you have any suggestions WCR?
in Canada we have camp sites in Cites here in Regina SK there is one in the east end as there is a lot of jobs here some people live there all year round they are just 10 mints from downtown and all the shopping on the east side of town
I conducted a small and decidedly unscientific survey by showing friends pictures of different classes of motorhomes and questioning them on what they thought they were being used for. Most said people were vacationing in the A, B and C classes but with truck campers the assumption was that a man was going fishing or hunting for a weekend.
Upon further questioning they conceded that someone could be living in the A, B or C class full time but they didn't automatically assume that. Most people really do see such vehicles as purely recreational. As for the truck camper, "that's too small for anyone to live in" was the common attitude. Clearly they haven't see the inside of a truck camper lately (if ever). The Host Mammoth, for example, looks like a million dollar yacht!
Anyway, I'm convinced that you can park a truck camper pretty much anywhere for a night or two and nobody will give it a second thought. They might not be as stealthy as a cargo van but they're seen as being completely innocuous none the less.
I did plywood build of truck bed camper all cable locked in bed. Added all the lumber weight, insulation, paneling, 2 small 20watt solar panels & I don't remember now what it was but I remember it was less than commercial one dry. I just did box in bed that went inch above the bed then 7 foot wide box on that and triangle build for wind on front and was storage from inside. Bed went across in wide top part, storage under bed & it was good. Used cooler for food, just re-used water bottles and gallon jugs for drinking, gym for shower. The tanks for toilets, shower, sink add up the weight. I switched from the truck camper to minivan cause I went from 21mpg hwy to 12.5 hwy with the short bed GMC 4.8 motor. Minivan got 22mpg. Not I got 2000 dodge 2500 extended that I haven't checked myself but read it gets 19mpg hwy with 5.2 magnum. I'm doing all the maintenance, paint, undercoat as soon as I can afford it and will be customizing for stealth with queen bed, nature's head toilet, 1 underbody water tank and probably a sink and instant propane water heater and propane dickenson Newport heater. Subscribe if u want to see than van and follow along as I get work done then do the travel adventure. In the future I'd like to get a dodge promaster or similar high roof van so I can do shower because I don't like putting money into fiberglass high roof that will drop mpg. The new van I figure will have more in it, be bigger and the 3.7 motor and not having heavy fiberglass for their high roof I'll get better mpg than I get with what I got now. One thing the slide in i doesn't do is stealth and another is it drops mpg of truck over 30% for sure and probably just over 50% from people I know that have them. My buddy has a 98 dodge with 360 with what he said was 3500lbs slide in. He said empty he was getting 17hwy so he didn't think it could be much worse no matter what but when I drove with camper he only got 9hwy! I'm sure he had water tanks full sometimes and filled up the black tank accordingly but even if he wouldn't have he would of probably only got 2mpgs better maybe. For stealth and mpg van camper is the only way to go. Also I see the commercial class b that are just van campers go for 10g's for 1993-1995. I got 2000 dodge van for 2k and will have maybe 3k more in it when I get done or maybe 4k if I do it bigger than I plan now for solar. Anyway still custom to my utilitarian needs and way cheaper for newer rig. By utilitarian I mean things like class b's have bathroom sinks and kitchen sinks, why do I need 2 sinks in a van? I don't I can have kitchen sink and do hand washing and dishes just fine. Also fiberboard closets, cabinets, counter tops, table, no thanks. Just need duffle bags for cloths and toss under the bed, dishes go in Rubbermaid with knifes in ziplock gallon bag and silverware in half gallon bag and stored under bed as I won't need to cook much anyway and if I did still rather do that than a bunch of heavy wood storage cabinets taking up a bunch of space. Also the the nature's head would keep from needing black tank.
I worked with a guy who retired a few years ago. He talked about how he traveled the country and would stealth camp in motel parking lots. He said he would camp in his camper and in the morning he would eat breakfast at the motel for free. He said the motel staff thought he was a guest. Craziest thing I ever heard!lol
Hospitals are getting wise to that trick. When Bruce was in the hospital last year, they had security come to see me since I was the one "stealth" camping and they took down the license number so no one (security) would bother me during the night. One trick, hang around the front desk and pick up (listen for people asking for a room number) the name of someone and the floor of the hospital, then if security comes during the night, tell them you were called in from out of town for Mr. Brown in room 210. Sometimes that works.
Don't park by a school, playground, day care, or graveyard.
City think you haven he right idea on stealth camping. I have been full timing for 17 plus years. I have never called it stealth camping, just camping out for the night. Never had a problem in a class a, b or c. My rigs have always looked clean and so do I. Never worried about being stealth so much as just being cool and clean without drama and noise. I keep it up front and real. Stealth campers seem as if they may be doing something wrong. Trek the earth!
Lol I plan on either a slide in camper,pickup topper or van…while working my 3rd shift job… I think day stealthing would be so much easier than struggling to find some where to sleep, at least for urban van dwellers and the like…if on the road stay stealthy friend
lol,you'll never go stealth with a truck camper
I wonder if the step/ladder that is used to access the camper is a dead giveaway to the presence of an occupied camper. Is there a type of access step that is easy to deploy and then remove/fold up to avoid this?
Hey there, im going to live in my van for some time. I was wondering, do you think it’s a good idea to park and sleep at a truck stop? Or Walmart? What are some ways to park and sleep at night, under the radar?
Hey don't feel bad about speaking the honest truth. A beat up camper or anything for that matter will always stand out. good video.
I'm wondering if there's a way to disguise the camper to make it look less like a camper…
I've got a good one for you. A place that I have stealth camped twice now with no problems (and your going to spit out beer on this one) I stealth camped in a police training center parking lot. Seriously! The mentality of the typical cop is that he doesn't really put on his "cop vision goggles" until he's fueled up and left the parking lot for his shift to start. The last thing he's doing at his training center is looking for criminal activity.
Nice video. I like the tips about blending in. I'm going to use the apartment complex mentality when finding places to park.
For me truck camper stealth = open blinds in camper, put up windshield and side window blocks and sleep in truck cab.
Of course newer trucks don't come with real bench seats anymore so that may not be a comfortable option for a stealth overnighter.
I live full time in my truck and camper (6 years ) and one of the places I park at night when on the road is in front of motels , people will think your staying in the motel 6 . I have never been bothered while doing this . ok that's my 2 cents (ha) happy trails !
Another good reason for having the proper license on your vehicle "ie" a motor home or camper in the state of Oregon you cannot be harassed about an open container in your vehicle with motor home or camper plates on it because the state of Oregon recognizes your vehicle as a house
Well since I know you're in Oregon and if you have camper plates on your camper and you're not impeding traffic and anyway it's legal for you to park on the street for 24 hours . And how do I know this because your camper has license plates on it is registered with the state of Oregon it's legally A house…. That's why I never worry about boondocking on the street ever
Why would any human on earth want to live in a WalMart parking lot. INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love the suggestions of hospitals, auto shops, and apartment complexes. Makes perfect sense! I really need to get something to blackout my windows though. I like the decor of my curtains and am wondering if I can put something behind them. My window frames are metal and I have thought about something that has magnets on it then I can easily take them on and off. Do you have any suggestions WCR?
Great video
I live in a stealth cargo van with hot shower and toilet and I never get hassled by the pigs
in Canada we have camp sites in Cites here in Regina SK there is one in the east end as there is a lot of jobs here some people live there all year round they are just 10 mints from downtown and all the shopping on the east side of town
why does the scum bag always wear a suit in court ?? same applies to a newer RV or camper… and ones self !
I conducted a small and decidedly unscientific survey by showing friends pictures of different classes of motorhomes and questioning them on what they thought they were being used for. Most said people were vacationing in the A, B and C classes but with truck campers the assumption was that a man was going fishing or hunting for a weekend.
Upon further questioning they conceded that someone could be living in the A, B or C class full time but they didn't automatically assume that. Most people really do see such vehicles as purely recreational. As for the truck camper, "that's too small for anyone to live in" was the common attitude. Clearly they haven't see the inside of a truck camper lately (if ever). The Host Mammoth, for example, looks like a million dollar yacht!
Anyway, I'm convinced that you can park a truck camper pretty much anywhere for a night or two and nobody will give it a second thought. They might not be as stealthy as a cargo van but they're seen as being completely innocuous none the less.
I did plywood build of truck bed camper all cable locked in bed. Added all the lumber weight, insulation, paneling, 2 small 20watt solar panels & I don't remember now what it was but I remember it was less than commercial one dry. I just did box in bed that went inch above the bed then 7 foot wide box on that and triangle build for wind on front and was storage from inside. Bed went across in wide top part, storage under bed & it was good. Used cooler for food, just re-used water bottles and gallon jugs for drinking, gym for shower. The tanks for toilets, shower, sink add up the weight.
I switched from the truck camper to minivan cause I went from 21mpg hwy to 12.5 hwy with the short bed GMC 4.8 motor. Minivan got 22mpg. Not I got 2000 dodge 2500 extended that I haven't checked myself but read it gets 19mpg hwy with 5.2 magnum. I'm doing all the maintenance, paint, undercoat as soon as I can afford it and will be customizing for stealth with queen bed, nature's head toilet, 1 underbody water tank and probably a sink and instant propane water heater and propane dickenson Newport heater.
Subscribe if u want to see than van and follow along as I get work done then do the travel adventure.
In the future I'd like to get a dodge promaster or similar high roof van so I can do shower because I don't like putting money into fiberglass high roof that will drop mpg. The new van I figure will have more in it, be bigger and the 3.7 motor and not having heavy fiberglass for their high roof I'll get better mpg than I get with what I got now.
One thing the slide in i doesn't do is stealth and another is it drops mpg of truck over 30% for sure and probably just over 50% from people I know that have them. My buddy has a 98 dodge with 360 with what he said was 3500lbs slide in. He said empty he was getting 17hwy so he didn't think it could be much worse no matter what but when I drove with camper he only got 9hwy! I'm sure he had water tanks full sometimes and filled up the black tank accordingly but even if he wouldn't have he would of probably only got 2mpgs better maybe.
For stealth and mpg van camper is the only way to go.
Also I see the commercial class b that are just van campers go for 10g's for 1993-1995. I got 2000 dodge van for 2k and will have maybe 3k more in it when I get done or maybe 4k if I do it bigger than I plan now for solar. Anyway still custom to my utilitarian needs and way cheaper for newer rig. By utilitarian I mean things like class b's have bathroom sinks and kitchen sinks, why do I need 2 sinks in a van? I don't I can have kitchen sink and do hand washing and dishes just fine. Also fiberboard closets, cabinets, counter tops, table, no thanks. Just need duffle bags for cloths and toss under the bed, dishes go in Rubbermaid with knifes in ziplock gallon bag and silverware in half gallon bag and stored under bed as I won't need to cook much anyway and if I did still rather do that than a bunch of heavy wood
storage cabinets taking up a bunch of space.
Also the the nature's head would keep from needing black tank.
It's kind of hard to be stealth when after you park you have to get out and go around to the back and gain access to the camper.
Unless you are right in the middle of the city it seems there are a lot of places to pull over. Wide spots in the road and such.
A lot of good info. Thanks for the video.
I worked with a guy who retired a few years ago. He talked about how he traveled the country and would stealth camp in motel parking lots. He said he would camp in his camper and in the morning he would eat breakfast at the motel for free. He said the motel staff thought he was a guest. Craziest thing I ever heard!lol
Good Video ..My Westy always stands out like a sore thumb . LOL
Do you have cameras so you can see while in your camper who might be snooping around your truck? I liked your video and attitude. Good job!
Hospitals are getting wise to that trick. When Bruce was in the hospital last year, they had security come to see me since I was the one "stealth" camping and they took down the license number so no one (security) would bother me during the night. One trick, hang around the front desk and pick up (listen for people asking for a room number) the name of someone and the floor of the hospital, then if security comes during the night, tell them you were called in from out of town for Mr. Brown in room 210. Sometimes that works.
Don't park by a school, playground, day care, or graveyard.
Boat docks are another good place to stealth.
City think you haven he right idea on stealth camping. I have been full timing for 17 plus years. I have never called it stealth camping, just camping out for the night. Never had a problem in a class a, b or c. My rigs have always looked clean and so do I. Never worried about being stealth so much as just being cool and clean without drama and noise. I keep it up front and real. Stealth campers seem as if they may be doing something wrong.
Trek the earth!