This is the tenth and final article in the series, “Convert a Van Into a Campervan.” This article will discuss living free, stealth camping and staying safe.
Many vandwellers live a lifestyle they have coined as “living free.” It does not mean that they do not work for a living. They pay for gas, internet, phone, insurance, food and all of their expenses. They do not beg on street corners.
Living Free
Living free means that they are free to live and travel as they please. There is no need to have someone house-sit, as they take their house (the campervan) with them. Living free also means that by parking overnight in areas that do not charge money, they live free from rent or mortgage charges. This allows more money to use for traveling, saving and so forth.
Stealth Camping
This was discussed briefly in another article in the series. “Stealth camping” is a misnomer. It is not camping per se, as camping involves staying in one place for more than 24 hours at a time. Weekend camping trips are perfect examples.
Stealth camping is really overnight parking. Since the campervan has no outward appearance changes, it blends in perfectly with other vehicles. Parking beside the curb in a neighborhood is not illegal for a passenger vehicle. Parking that vehicle overnight is legal.
The “stealth” comes from staying undetected while getting a good night’s sleep.
Here are tips to help understand and practice stealth “camping:”
- · Pull into a parking space late in the afternoon.
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- · Eat dinner before you park for the night. This eliminates any smells, smoke or other signs someone is in the van overnight.
- · Use headphones for TV, music or internet entertainment.
- · Pull curtains closed over the windows and the front of the van behind the driver’s seat.
- · Use window shields for the windshield and side windows.
- · In the morning, pull out of the parking space and leave. Do not return to the same spot night after night. That is especially important.
- · If suspicious neighbors knock on the van’s door and ask you to leave, do so without arguing. You don’t know the history of the place, so it’s probably safer if you go.
- · If the police knock on the van, explain that you are tired and just want to sleep and move on. They may or may not let you stay. Remain polite at all times, no matter what- that goes further with the police than anything else. If you have to go, ask them for advice on where to find a hotel (pet-friendly if you have a pet), RV park or Wal Mart.
- · Have an alternate place to sleep mapped out beforehand in case this happens. You will have somewhere else to go, so it is no problem to move.
There are businesses that allow RV’s, trucks and other vehicles to park overnight. The businesses know it is a good practice as the folks who park spend money at the business. A few such businesses include:
- · Wal Mart
- · Cracker Barrel
- · Flying J truck stops
- · Other various truck stops
- · Lowe’s DIY stores- this may depend on the individual store
It is important to stay for ONE night only. The next day, move on. The RV park industry has fought to keep overnight parking from taking place throughout the country. The thought is that RV’ers are not spending money at their businesses. They have nicknamed Wal Mart America’s “campground.”
This is because a few RV’ers have taken advantage of their stays, or stayed more than one night. Others have put out their slides, lawn chairs, barbeques or other items. This is not allowed in any business parking lot. Dumping waste water is also not allowed; it is illegal. This practice has led many businesses to ban overnight parking. Slowly, true OP’s, or overnight parkers, have worked to regain trust and respect.
Rest stops, country roads, forest roads and other places are great for over night stays. Do not empty a porta potty into anything that is not approved.
Emptying a porta potty cassette into a cat hole (a latrine dug into the ground), is illegal because of the chemicals most often added to the tank. These chemicals reduce smell by retarding bacterial growth essential to the breakdown of waste. It can adversely affect the bacteria in the soil; digging a hole too near a stream will affect the water.
You can have a campervan without spending tens of thousands of dollars on a trailer or large RV. You can live free, go to RV parks, national forests and reserves or wherever the wind blows you.
Source: The author of this article has over 40 years of experience in diverse forms of DIY, home improvement and repair, crafting, designing, and building furniture, outdoor projects, RV’ing and more.
