5 Things You Should Be Doing As A Van Dweller to Be Safe

Trust your instincts and be prepared.

Photo by Jocelyn Hsu on Unsplash

I’m a solo van dweller. And I’m concerned about my safety from predators of all kinds. Humans are probably my biggest concern, especially in this day and age.

Since there are so many mentally unstable and drug addicted people in our society, we should all be concerned about our safety no matter where we live.

Some people believe their neighborhoods are safe and many are, but bad things can happen anywhere to anyone. We all know that. I’m not trying to be gloomy here, but so many people are afraid to travel outside of their everyday circle.

Here are 5 tips to use while traveling to be safer.

1. Be respectful to others. It’s important to follow rules if camping in state parks, or even if you are parked at a roadside rest area. Always look before you step outside of your camper at the surroundings. While keep down noise and obeying parking signs, we are showing respect toward others. Should you witness a fight or loud arguments, move away from the drama as quickly as possible.

2. Carry some sort of self-defense weapon. I carry a can of wasp spray, because it will shoot off a deadly spray at a distance of 9 feet. You can carry pepper spray, a whistle, or a gun. But the best self-defense is being prepared and use your common sense to protect yourself. If you are camped in a suspicious area and see unusual activitiy going on, just drive away.

3. Rotate your sleeping spots. Staying in one spot several nights in a row (unless you are staying in a paid camp spot) can be dangerous sometimes. But should someone knock on your door or the side of your camper at late hours of the nights, don’t speak. Just tap on the side of the van to let them know you are aware of their presence. This way, the intruder will not know if there is a woman or man inside.

4. Trust your instincts. Should you see a suspicious person that strikes you as a weirdo, follow your gut feelings and take caution. If you suspect they have a drug addition problem, don’t engage with them. They are mentally unstable and you don’t want to put your security at risk.

5. Test your set up. Are you parked in a place where you can easily get out, should you need to. Don’t let yourself get locked in in case you need to make a fast exit.

   Do you have all doors locked before going to sleep? Are you set up in a relative safe place?

Photo by Jana Leu on Unsplash

Being safe is a concern for many campers who travel alone. And it should be!

We need to be concerned about being safe in our own home too.

I’ve traveled a radius of 1200 miles from my home and practiced the safety tips I mentioned above and I’ve never had any trouble.

It’s wise to be aware of wild animals, such as rattlesnakes, spiders, dogs and bobcats, especially if traveling out west. It’s important to respect their habitat and be cautious.

It’s wise to plan ahead to know what you would do if you had a medical emergency. Would you call 911 and make a report. Would you call a friend or relative and inform them? I would. But it’s a good practice to stay in contact with a friend to let them know where you may be reached. Cell phone signals don’t always work in all areas.

I carry two cell phones from different carriers to have a good chance of getting a signal.

Traveling and getting back to nature is a great way to live your life, but being safe is important and with a little practice you can not worry about anything and enjoy the journey.

Thanks and please leave a comment if you like.

Carol