MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: WogsRus on May 02, 2011, 01:21:08 PM
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Ok so well i have read a few topics but not quite what i am after.
We are going to the cape next year and then into the outback.
I am a little worried about robbery or stuff like that, particularly in the middle of nowhere. So what do we all do for security, you know, baseball bat and all.
I am not what you call a big guy so am certainly a little worried
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We travelled through the Red Centre and up to Kakadu/Litchfield last year and never had any issues at all. I have never had anything stolen from me at a campsite - I don't know if this is the norm or not.
I have read previously that you close up your camper zips, leave a table and chairs out so it looks like you are going to be back any minute, and don't leave things like ipods, laptops laying around, so we have done that when we have gone out.
In saying this, if ever I did see someone rummaging through my stuff, they had better pray that they can run faster than I as I believe that stealing is the lowest of the low and I would break every finger on each hand to permanently remind them not to do it again.
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The more remote ...the less chance
Only leave out on show, stuff you are prepared to lose....and unless you have remote operated chairs or something, you won't have any probs..
Only time I ever saw any probs was in a van park when some local lads were sneaking around stealing eskies...same story, don't leave anything out ....especially the most important stuff ( beer !! )
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Its one subject that i always think about. Having three young Girls and not a son for back up, it doesnt concern me when im around its more whats going to happen when im not.
Like Kjohn said you can always take valuables with you but there is always some hero who takes adavantage in those situations.
Thats why i always try and travel with freinds.
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Keep in mind anything you use for protection ie baseball bat etc can be taken from you and used on you so be prepared to use it if you pull it out.
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I hear all your comments, still thinking i will need something, just in case, better to have it and not need it as they say.
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As we walk away from our camp, I alway call out in a nice loud voice " shouldnt be to long, see you soon" to give the impression someone is still in the camper.
But we have been travelling for years and have never had a problem. I always try to camp out of sight and with the Tambo, the brown stained red dust canvas camoflages it well.
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(http://www.moneyteachers.org/images/Machete.jpeg)
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Felling_axe.jpg/450px-Felling_axe.jpg)
(http://image.made-in-china.com/2f1j00yejaQDEzutrl/Shovel-with-Long-Handle.jpg)
Any of the above is legit to carry with you... but do you want to use it?
What about:
(http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00794/alsatian280_794892a.jpg)
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You need nothing... FFS.... this isn't America....
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I agree with Darren BUT when in areas prone to "red-necks", I leave a note on the camper " Just gone for a short walk to sight in the rifle, won't be long, put the billy on.
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I normally have SWMBO with me. That's protection enough.
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I think the best idea is to take normal precautions around towns and larger parks that you stay at, but as far as up the Cape and outback go you tend to find like minded people like ourselves that look after each other, in 35 years of doing this I have never had a problem, worry about this to much and you will forget to have a good time, enjoy your trip,
cheers Andy
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Dont worry to WogsRus
get out there & enjoy yourself
But if u go to wolf creek & run into John Jarratt Run for the hills
:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
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We did the cape last year, just me and the Mrs, only one place i didnt feel 100%, starke creek.
Had the Kukri beside the bed, but that was it.
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Just use a bit of common sense...if you bush camp then find a spot that is NOT in sight of the road and not close to a town.
Bush camps are the best part of a holiday, as previously said get out there and start enjoying yourselves.
In all the years we have bush camped, have had no problems.
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Stumbled across this on eBay
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/HERE24-7-BEATS-BURGLAR-SECURITY-HOME-ALARM-SYSTEMS-/180631516889?pt=AU_Security_Equipment&hash=item2a0e7a36d9#ht_2451wt_855 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/HERE24-7-BEATS-BURGLAR-SECURITY-HOME-ALARM-SYSTEMS-/180631516889?pt=AU_Security_Equipment&hash=item2a0e7a36d9#ht_2451wt_855)
It's a CD of a couple of blokes having a conversation, you put the CD on when you are away from your camp.
Gave me an idea of recording the next campfire conversation, that crap that gets spoken around a campfire would keep anyone away. ;D
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If you go camping expecting trouble, then it will probably find you. I have found most people do the right thing.
A simple positive attitude will go a long way toward keeping you safe and sound. It will also lead to less stress while camping.
Secure the stuff you cant continue without ie camper, car and personals. Insure the rest and accept that although it will most likely be ok, even if it isnt you still have the main things and your life.
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you could allways wear one of these but its a bit uncomfortable in bed though
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Well said Jon . I have camped all around Aus never lost any stuff except for the stuff I lost . It happens every now & then ,so go enjoy . By the way has anybody seen the missing VB cans I took camping over the last 25 years ???
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You need nothing... FFS.... this isn't America....
So why drag in America?
36 years living in the US and I never had a thing stolen from me.
9 years living in Australia and had my bar fridge emptied and stuff stolen off my back patio.
We have never had a thing stolen on a camping trip...
Bill and Morag
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Because of the insecurity and paranoia of Americans who think every body in the world is out to get them, both at home and abroad. That's why they all arm themselves. I am a member of a lightweight hiking forum based in the US, these people cut the outer edge of their maps off to save weight but carry handguns in case they meet the boogie man.. If you criticise this on this site you get attacked with god guns and USA
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Yep what ever you have, be prepared to use it and if you loose it to them then be prepared to have it used on you.
But a 6 D cell mag light shines light as well as being heavy.
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So why drag in America?
36 years living in the US and I never had a thing stolen from me.
9 years living in Australia and had my bar fridge emptied and stuff stolen off my back patio.
We have never had a thing stolen on a camping trip...
Bill and Morag
Plus 1, recently was in south Carolina smaller town called Lexington. Went for a walk at 9pm past the local produce/farm supplies store. I thought ah it's open as it's small pot plants and fertilizer and feed bags were still out front under the awning. Nope shut up at 6pm, he just leaves his stock out the front!
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but carry handguns in case they meet the boogie man..
...or bear.
There's been a few reports of dogs recently in the High Country - not sure if they are getting gamer or just more people out to see them.....and of course the media love the hype. But I reckon there's still more ferals with 4 legs in the bush than 2 like elsewhere. 8)
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ok so got to find me something heavy then.
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ok so got to find me something heavy then.
Mother in law.
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There are plenty of things around a camp site that you can use for protection without the need to carry anything additional to provoke an awkward situation further.
Just be aware of your surrounds and where you have you things like shovels, axe, hatchet, machete, chainsaw or some long solid branches that you can swing better than a baseball bat etc etc.
Having said that in over 25 years of camping never had an issue and we tend to came in bush sites and leave our things out and about but nothing of real value to worry about. If someone really wants my jocks and socks out of the camper or my stuff that is laying around my campsite they can have it if they are that desperate for it. Carma will pay them back in the end.
Don't over think it get out there and enjoy it.
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Ive got a pick handle in the camper with the head trimmed down so I can swing it faster, its the baseball bat we use for games, wink wink.
Ive only had 1 problem when camping and sorted that pretty quick but i had told my wife if it blows up get the girls in the cruiser and go, run them over if you have to.
Reminds me of my dumb father inlaw, he said to me when Sue and I first started going out, (hes a weady nerdy type) He said if you hurt my daughter I will take to you with a baseball bat, I laughed and said please dont come anywhere near me with a weapon because if you do I will take it off you and SHOW you how to use it. It was a very interesting dinner but he never did threaten me again lol.
To be honest you have to ask yourself could you hit a man with a bat until he couldnt get up? If you cant then dont arm yourself. In most cases use your brain, think safely and if trouble comes talk your way out or leave.
Ps My limited knowledge of the law is you can only use REASONABLE force to defend yourself, chasing a guy then whacking him will get you in trouble same as flogging the tripe out of him after hes down, Revenge isnt self defense.
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"To be honest you have to ask yourself could you hit a man with a bat until he couldnt get up? If you cant then dont arm yourself. In most cases use your brain, think safely and if trouble comes talk your way out or leave. "
It would only take one hit, but yeah i know what you mean.
Thanks for the advice guys
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When some go camping & sit around the camp fire some have a drink . Some get so many drinks that they sleep well . If stolen they could wake up in the hold of a cargo ship on the way to who knows where ??? Not that I am 1 of these chaps 8)
Lighten up just how big a stick do you need to carry as said use you brains usually they go with you where ever you are :cheers:
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a couple of Xmas's ago we went camping for a few nights not far from home up at Goldsborough.......... when we drove in we spotted this fella with one of the craziest looking camps, he had crazy looking wind chimes hanging out of trees, something that looked like 4 foot high R2D2 from star wars out the front of his set up, then mixed in were Halloween Type decorations hanging from his tarp, he also had some cardboard sign out the front with biblical quotes, and warnings of the end of the world etc............. anyway we found a spot as far away from him as possible....... a day or so went by and the family and i were swimming in the river and the fella that owned the camp came down with his Mrs......... i thought .. here goes, this'll be interesting..... anyway i said g'day...... and we started yarning on....... turns out him and his Mrs were really nice normal people...... the reason for the mad stuff hanging from the camp was so they didn't have people set up right beside them, and on the very rare chance anyone turned up looking to make trouble they'd be less likely to walk into a camp owned by crazy people........ ;D .......... not a bad deterrent i reckon.
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There are thieves about! >:D This story will shock you, so be warned! :o The scene was a beautiful camping area at Cockle Creek, Tasmania, there were several campers but all were out for the day. It was the middle of the day, very quiet and the air was still. I had injured my back so I was in my camper having a quite lay down, I then spied a person (female >:D) walking past our camper towards a shared fire place, I was shocked to see her pick up some of our wood!!! As she walked back past our camper I yelled out, female apologised and said she thought the wood was just abandoned! She put the wood back and left. I did warn you, a shocking story! (She was camping by herself and I later went over and made a joke of it all and invited her to share our fire that night. She never did. My wife reckoned she probably thought I was just a grumpy old bugger. :-[)
It was only wood, but it is amazing how you value wood when camping. Mind you, we have offered wood to other campers to help them. And, if that is the worst thing that happens to us while travelling, we will be very happy. ;D
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eyed this cupboard of wares for sale in a "sporting store" in that same trip to the US. This would certainly be good for getting rid of unwanted pests, feral animals etc? The lefthand side are silenced so they wont distrub the peace.
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Sorry but I think the USA is a different planet
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Sorry but I think the USA is a different planet
Why? There is no road rage there as you never know what the other driver is packing.
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My wife and I were robbed by a pair of females at a popular camping spot.
They came and demanded money for nothing in return, and threatened us if we didnt do what they said.
In order to keep the peace we paid up. When they left to rob the next victim we got a glimpse of the number plate.
It said-
NPWS.
;D
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That's gold Jon :cup:
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You have more chance of being robbed in your own home than what you do out in the bush, but just incase ensure that you have adequate cover with your insurance policy :cheers:
As previously mentioned, if you have an item that could be used as a weapon are you actually prepared to use it ??? ??? because you may come off second best and would that be worth it ???
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A bloke i know carries a handgun with him while camping, nice bloke not a looney and i remember that bloke who saved his mother in-law from croc up the cape 2 years back, he shot the croc with a 9mm handgun. There's plenty of people who carry them while camping it seems.
cheers
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It would only take one hit, but yeah i know what you mean.
You would be suprised how many hits some men take to go down, some can die on the first head blow, some keep fighting. 2 drunks took on one of my neighbours about 3 months ago, neighbour used a baseball batt on them and he recons it took several blows to settle them down and apparently they were a mess. Most cant do it and bluffing with a batt is bad news.
I was at a fishing comp once and 1 of the blokes in our camp had a hand gun, apparently he always carries one, I wasnt impressed lol.
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I hope none of these people that feel it necessary to carry firearms when camping belong to this forum, you obviously need to seriously consider who you you could be camping with these days and it makes me wonder exactly what kind of situation it would take for these people to feel it necessary to bring out their firearm to deal with what they consider an issue. (especially after a few :cheers: :cheers:)
These people are obviously not ordinary, everyday, responsible or sane members of the community to think that they need to be carrying around hand guns etc ??? ??? >:( >:( makes you wonder what there afraid of, or maybe they have just watched too many movies ???
I have used firearms since my early teens and have never found it necessary to take them camping or anywhere else besides hunting or pest control for farmers.
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We have camped all over Australia for years now, never had an issue with anyone pinching stuff or threatening us.
We have however had a few occasions where we have camped near inconsiderate idiots who play loud music to all hours, one decided to start the chainsaw and cut up firewood at midnight and a few other similar incidents. Probably a good thing i don't carry a baseball bat or a handgun, otherwise i might be in goal.
Cheers Andrew
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I hope none of these people that feel it necessary to carry firearms when camping belong to this forum, you obviously need to seriously consider who you you could be camping with these days and it makes me wonder exactly what kind of situation it would take for these people to feel it necessary to bring out their firearm to deal with what they consider an issue. (especially after a few :cheers: :cheers:)
These people are obviously not ordinary, everyday, responsible or sane members of the community to think that they need to be carrying around hand guns etc ??? ??? >:( >:( makes you wonder what there afraid of, or maybe they have just watched too many movies ???
I have used firearms since my early teens and have never found it necessary to take them camping or anywhere else besides hunting or pest control for farmers.
I wished someone had carried a firearm to Port Arthur many years ago besides Michael Bryant, then there might have been only one dead instead of many!
Side arms were popular with many in the NT years ago especially around Croc areas.
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you obviously need to seriously consider who you you could be camping with these days and it makes me wonder exactly what kind of situation it would take for these people to feel it necessary to bring out their firearm to deal with what they consider an issue. (especially after a few :cheers: :cheers:)
These people are obviously not ordinary, everyday, responsible or sane members of the community to think that they need to be carrying around hand guns etc ??? ??? >:( >:( makes you wonder what there afraid of, or maybe they have just watched too many movies ???
Pretty sure old mate was concerned about protecting his white powder >:(. Im guessing that because later on that night 20 blokes around a camp fire and 3 blokes where in the shadows sniffing an esky lid, had me tossed at the time until one of the others told me lol.
I seen the same guy a few years ago in a tournament, he owns a million dollar boat :'(
I fished with a guy recently who had made himself a stainless steel single shot pistol, just incase he got in trouble at sea ???. His rational was we are 30 miles to see could be pirates or anything lol. He was a 60 year old well respected man ;D
You never know whos carrying what
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Pretty sure old mate was concerned about protecting his white powder >:(. Im guessing that because later on that night 20 blokes around a camp fire and 3 blokes where in the shadows sniffing an esky lid, had me tossed at the time until one of the others told me lol.
I seen the same guy a few years ago in a tournament, he owns a million dollar boat :'(
Just what you need, high on coke and carrying a handgun!!!!! >:( >:( >:( >:(
That would make you feel safe ??? ??? ??? ??? ???
Cheers
Parry
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Not looking like a victim is the first and most important part... the smallest person can walk the darkest street at night without trouble if they walk like they aren't afraid of anything. Well, within reason.
Anyone considering pilfering your campsite will be encouraged if you don't look like the type who would give them any trouble. You don't need to look tough, you just need to have confidence. So if there are people around who you have concerns about, stand tall and openly appraise them; don't steal furtive glances or allow them to see you discretely hiding stuff away. In some cases it may be worth approaching them to talk - just ask how their trip is going etc. Don't ask if they know good swimming holes etc. because by letting them know you are out of your comfort zone you are taking that step towards looking like a victim. You might mention that you saw some dodgy types at your last camp stop and that they should be careful with their gear - shows them that you are awake and responsive to theiving. Say it in a manner that leaves no doubt that you'd have brained the dodgy types (but don't go overboard!).
Above all, don't worry too much about it, you are there to relax and enjoy yourself, and gear can be replaced.
As previously suggested, don't even think about having a weapon of any type unless you are prepared to use it (and are capable of doing so, know your limitations).
A mate has a small metal box with one of those black domes on it that hides surveillance cameras, an antenna, and a blinking red light. He made it from a Jaycar kit for about $20 in materials, and he leaves it on a table when he's out of camp - it would certainly make a tea leaf think twice about lifting anything...
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A mate has a small metal box with one of those black domes on it that hides surveillance cameras, an antenna, and a blinking red light. He made it from a Jaycar kit for about $20 in materials, and he leaves it on a table when he's out of camp - it would certainly make a tea leaf think twice about lifting anything...
I like that idea
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Geez, alot of different ideas have been presented. The licencing requirements to carry a sidearm are certaining strict in NSW, as I imagine they would be in the rest of OZ. I cannot, for the life of me, imagine a LEGAL reason someone would have to carry one in the bush or National Park??? ??? The thought of children, the firearm holders or anyone elses, finding the handgun unsupervised defines imagination! Certainly not something you will find locked in my glove box. It's my opinion that carrying and form of weapon is asking for trouble, sure if a situation turns pear shapped then most guys would grab a tent pole, lump of timber or anything else that comes to mind, mostly to protect the kids and co pilot.
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If you must use a weapon........ try a pressurize air horn can.
bloody anoying and almost harmless if taken from you.
You shouldn't need it. Just go and enjoy.
Cheers Ian.
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I just use my personality, it keeps most at bay :laugh: