Hard Floor Security under canvas

[Eski]

Hi all,

Probably worrying about nothing but, I have a hard floor and looking at some long term travel.  I am wondering how I would go security wise with just canvas between me and them....  Looking at the free camping type of over night stops and occasional caravan park.   Caravan parks are usually secure but stopping along the road at free camps has me wondering..  Maybe looking at something with walls and a door lock??

What are the seasoned travellers findings - especially single travellers?

[Bird]

I think I'd feel better most times camping in the bush that some of the van parks that have permos in them..

[JCOJ]

I think you are worrying about nothing. What is sound like you are after with walls and a door lock is a caravan.

There are plenty of camper trailer people out there free camping all around this great country and it is very  rare that you hear of something untoward.  Come to think of it, I never have.

[Kit_e_kat9]

What JKohn said is untrue ... I've had a mouse go right through my pantry whilst I was sleeping!!!!     But other than that ... no problems to date.

Kit_e

[gowalkabout]

I think you are worrying about nothing. What is sound like you are after with walls and a door lock is a caravan.

There are plenty of camper trailer people out there free camping all around this great country and it is very  rare that you hear of something untoward.  Come to think of it, I never have.

x2

[Brij]

Have done two significant (for us) road trips in the last two years - one from Vic straight up the centre then left to Kunnunarra, the other from Vic up through western NSW, then Roma, Emerald etc to Airley Beach. Felt more secure at all the free camps on the side of the road than the CPs in the major towns. Most of the free stops are generally so quite after lights out you can hear a pin drop. You can see or hear if someone else is parking up or creeping around. Unlike a CP where there is usually some noise from all directions all night.

The only free stop I have ever been nervous about was about 5km south of Cooper Pedy, close enough to still hear the general noise and see the lights of the town, but more importantly (in my worry wart mind) was we were close enough for any riff raff to come out and harrass us on the way home from the pub.

Mind you this just follows on from where we live - a few kms out of town with no neighbours, where if a vehicle pulls up it is either visiting us or checking us out, and the two very loud dogs soon move them on .

(Can you tell I sleep fairly lightly!)

Peter H

[Eski]

I thought I was worrying over nothing.

Yes Kit_e, I know all about mice and rats...   When we did our Birdsville Trip (2011 rat and mice plague) my daughters camper was raided at Mungerannie...  I warned them to secure their food..   Her partner said he knew better 

They just chewed the bottom of my canvas...     Little bastards..

[HEM19X]

We stayed at Mungerannie last year, the only problems we had was the wind and the  & burgers tasted too good, and the wind.

[GanG]

Have swagged it all over this great country with the wife and kids, rarely go to CP, I prefer to camp free in the bush...........never had a drama aside from the odd dickhead camped next door that wants to party all night and make loads of noise. Have heard a few stories, but generally put them down to urban legend, never seem to be corroborated and on a forum like this I would expect if campers were being harassed it would be getting written up regularly.

edit to add, have a few mates who have had gear nicked from unattended camps and vehicles in the bush........one mate was out for a hunt, had the esky in his ute tray with 2 salad rolls and 2 light beers, came back and the pricks ate his lunch and left the empties in the tray and left the esky

[chester ver2.0]

Look it is like anything you will never keep the professional out

That said most thefts at ca,p sites are thefts of opportunity yes if  you go out and leave the fridge outside and not locked up yes it will probably go missing.

If you are really worried buy one of those little safes and bolt it to the bottom of your camper to put wallets and the like in

[Snow]

For the times when we are away from our Cub I fitted some lock doodahs to keep those opportunists honest. See the link to my camper thread. http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=1477.msg250285#msg250285

 

[BernieS]

You could always get a big dog to travel with..

[Chris-Vi]

Never had a problem free camping in our hard floor camper. I wouldn't leave it and go off sightseeing though. We did setup camp on Fraser and go off everyday looking around without a worry. On our last trip out west the better half got woken up by a sound I couldn't hear and it was a Brolga wandering around camp on the river bank at Boulia. She had me hunting around outside but I didn't see it till next morning. 

[Strider]

Just don't go to Wolf Creek

[hargs]

We've never had a problem and leave the cub for the day all the time. Usually get to the know the fellow campers if there are any...than wave on leaving the camp and let them know that we are going to be away for a while and would they keep an eye on our gear.

A hat on the table and a little radio going inside,...........and a LARGE size 12 pair of boots on the camper step !!

[MR MAC GU]

Never had a problem.
My kk even has a safe under the bed but I have never used it.

Are you more concerned about your safety or theft of goods?


Sent from Behind you...BOO

[Eski]

Snow - same as me I have a few locks for the zips..

MR MAC GU - I was more thinking getting rolled while sleeping inside..

Strider - I took a lady from Wales through central Australia and she kept going on about Wolf Creek???   In Oodnadatta she got freaked out and wanted to leave quickly, talking about Wolf Creek.   She showed me the movie after we got back and I reminded her it was a movie...

BernieS - I do have my daughters dog as a travel buddy but national parks and places don't allow dogs..  I noticed a local beach has a $2000 fine taking a dog past the gate...

Looks like I can wipe the expensive hard campers off the needed list (TVAN, Vista RV, AVAN, Jurgens, ETC) and spend on some travels..

Maybe now that I HAVE seen Wolf Creek it has made me paranoid too...   

[jetcrew]

Eski,

If someone wants to harm you in the remote outback far far away from any help, doors won't save you a well placed fire or smoke will have you exiting in no time.

A good sized dry powder fire ex is a great self defence item , most people don't want to play with a face full of dry powder , and the bottle is great for finishing up  and very legal.

Best self defence is being self aware , so you are already safer just by being aware

Gee I hope my mrs don't read this as she just thinks I,m super fire conscious with all the extinguishers lol

Jet

[Turbojohn]

We have never had any problems. Although have chosen not to stay at some spots and moved on, more due to not having a good feeling about a place. I must be a bit paranoid! Have a look around and check out the area as in are youin the path of  the drunks wandering around or if there was an abundance of riff raff nearby etc. Reminds me of our   
trip  through the red center last year when my alternator crapped itself at barrow creek! I would have stayed the night but the girls had one of those feelings! Can't understand why! It was no fun driving back to alice in the dark with only parkers on and the tail lights of the other car with us to follow. 
You will probably find with the popularity of free camping these days that on the majority of your stops you won't be alone very often anyway.  Get out there ant enjoy yourself

[Kit_e_kat9]

A Cattle X is excellent safety whilst on the road ... not many people argue with a Cattle X.

Kit_e

[Yoda42]

We had our turbo blow up 70 km S of Barrow Creek 2 years ago, Mrs Yoda hitched a lift with a German couple to get help, and the folks at Barrow Creek couldn't have been more hospitable. Never seen Wolf Creek, no bad vibes, just annoyed ones, and sore heads after being pumped full of red wine!

[GanG]

If appropriately licensed there is always one of these to keep under the bed.......

http://www.stoegerindustries.com/firearms/stoeger-double-defense.php

But as said before, never had a drama, don't know anyone who has and haven't read any first hand accounts of it either. I would concur with Jet, being self aware and situationally aware is important for any self defense/security setting.

[Eski]

Kit_e_kat9

I only have a killer Pommy from my daughter - see attached.   Never try to get his bird toy from him. 

GanG

Not bad but have a personal like for a 50 Cal Snipers rifle.   

[cruisindub]

We've moved on from some free camp areas after having a 'feeling'. We've also moved on shortly after setting up camp after the wife didnt feel comfortable.
I do have to learn to trust the wifes gut feeling.

But as some of the suggestions above also hint at, we ensure we cant be blocked in easily, we ensure we know the surrounding area doing a quick reci, we try to be away from areas easily seen from the roadway, (plusses and minuses there), we also keep a clear head. No piss ups or benders. We also ensure we can rest peacefully by finding the spots that make you feel at ease.

[GanG]

GanG

Not bad but have a personal like for a 50 Cal Snipers rifle.

I wouldn't advocate a firearm really...........that post was tongue in cheek, and by the time you got it out of the safe, and then retrieved the other key and unlocked the separate cupboard to get your ammo out, it would be all over anyways.