Do you feel at risk of crime in your RV? Many RVers feel at risk on the road and often wonder if the parking lots, campgrounds and RV parks they visit are safe places to stay.
For many RVers, the secret to feeling safe is to keep a firearm in the rig but because gun laws vary from state to state, anyone who does so must be absolutely sure that state laws are being followed correctly in order to avoid being at risk of hefty fines and potential jail time. Instead of risking an arrest, why not consider these easy steps to stay safe in your RV no matter where you go.
Monitor Your Surroundings
When you pull into a park or other place where you will stay overnight, get your face out of your device and look up. Is anything about the area telling you that it might not be a safe place? Is there trash floating around, graffiti and other messes that indicate people don’t care about this neighborhood? If your gut instinct is telling you that it’s not safe, don’t stay there. Leave and find somewhere that will allow you to sleep at night.
Ask Other RVers
Many RV park websites don’t tell the whole truth about the park. To get the best idea about what a RV park is really like, head on over to RV LIFE Campgrounds where you can talk to others who have had the good or not-so-good fortune to stay at a park you’re considering. While all reviews should be taken with a grain of salt, if you notice recurring negative feedback on specific RV parks, don’t stay there.
Change Your RV Locks
It’s common knowledge that many RVs share the same cabinet and door keys. To protect your possessions as much as possible, get those locks changed. If your RV has cabinets with keys that have code “CH751” inscribed on them, head to your nearest RV dealer for an all-new set of locks and keys for each compartment.
Don’t Carry Valuables
Keeping expensive jewelry and electronics on-board is like broadcasting a message to local thieves that you’re open and ready for business. Leave your valuables at home or if you’re a full-time RVer, hide them in creative places in the RV to make it difficult for thieves to find them. Remember, thieves are lazy by nature and go for the easiest access to their targets. Don’t be a target, leave your expensive goods at home.
Travel Incognito
When you’re self-employed it’s tempting to treat your RV like a rolling billboard and emblazon your company name, website and other sales messages all over your rig. Unfortunately criminals can take your advertising messages as a signal that you have valuables on board. For ultimate safety and assurance that your valuables won’t be targeted, forget slathering your RV in company logos and stickers.
One of the biggest rewards of traveling by RV is the ability to have a carefree adventure. By staying aware of your surroundings, being smart about where you park, what you carry and how you present yourself to strangers, you’ll greatly reduce the odds of becoming another crime statistic.
Often called “The O.G. of full-time RVing,” Rene Agredano and her husband Jim Nelson hit the road in a fifth wheel trailer in 2007, after their dog Jerry lost a leg to terminal cancer. Sixteen years later they are still traveling and sharing their nomadic adventures at LiveWorkDream. As a self-employed wordsmith, Rene shares her expertise for many RV industry videos, publications such as the Escapees RV Club Magazine, and has authored numerous books, including the Essential RVing Guide to National Parks, and Income Anywhere, a guide to earning money on the road. She has been featured in global media outlets including the PBS documentary “NATURE: Why We Love Cats and Dogs,” The Guardian Sunday Edition, and the Dan Pink book Free Agent Nation.
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