Amazed how many stealth vans I see

[David]

Yesterday, was my first official day in my van as a full timer. Between yesterday and today I've seen three vans that I could tell were stealth dwellers.

I know there are a lot of vanners out there, but surprised to see that many my first day. In new England of all places.

Guess the weather is good.

 

[Staying Put]

If you can see them they aren't really "stealth" vans, are they?&nbsp; I mean, if I'm the invisible man and you can sense my presence (bet you didn't know there was going to be presence) how invisible am I really?<br><br>These are things we should ponder to keep us all awake at night.&nbsp; I know I won't be sleeping until I figure it out.<img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">

 

[creationode]

I see vans all the time, but I do not know if they are 'stealth'.<br><br>I do believe some people just drive conversion vans because they got them at cheap prices and probably use them to haul crap inside, or large familys of...large sized people.<br><br>A true stealth van, is very hard to notice.<br><br>Even when you look into my front and side windows, you cannot see into the rear, and nothin in the front gives it away.<br><br>It really has to be a cargo van to be truly stealth.<br><br>Some are not as concerned because they know their area so well, and for whatever reasons, they have conversion/passenger vans.&nbsp; I like those, too.<br><br>Parking at the local library, though...sort of gives me away today.<br><br>And performing shopping in the van...sort of gives it away.<br><br>And my clothing, when stepping out of the van...can give me away.<br><br>The fact is, that nobody cares about your car unless it is filthy or broken all over.<br><br>Did'nt mean to steal your topic, but a stealth van is very hard to notice unless it is just in the wrong place.&nbsp;&nbsp; Even then, that driver might just be using the van to move things, and happens to be in the area with the van.&nbsp; Doing chores on the way to and fro.<br><br>5 months ago, when I just started...I drove by a newly built Starbucks...and a college dude was washing dishes in the trunk of his red sedan, in the Starbucks parking lot.&nbsp; If I had not seen him do that, I would have never known.<br><br>That is a dedicated stealther!

 

[David]

You don't look just at the van, you look at what they are doing.

First was a Ford cargo, with no side windows
and very plain Jane looking. His mistake, that made it obvious, was parking out at the end of the parking lot.

It looked obvious to me that he was using the wifi. I was inside, the fast food joint, doing the same, but I could see his van.

About 20 mins went by and out he came from the side doors. He ha a full partition between the front and back, which is what peaked my interest.

The other two were easy. Was a pair of long sprinters, parked together at a truck stop. One had his rear doors part way open, so you could see inside. It was a a camper inside.

The other has signs on it and was closed, but you could tell they were traveling together.

I noticed all 3 by what they were doing, not by how they looked. Just food for thought, that bad habits can give you away.

 

[Staying Put]

You are observant, David, but it's also likely you see what you are looking for and for most people who know or think nothing about stealth camping they don't see as much.&nbsp; Another thing is like when you get a different vehicle.&nbsp; Back in the 90s I got a white Corsica and then I started seeing them everywhere when I had never noticed them before.&nbsp; Now that I know about stealth camping and white cargo vans I am seeing them everywhere.<br><br>You know what to look for and so now you see and notice it.&nbsp; Others see dead people.&nbsp; Myself, I see, therefore I am.

 

[IGBT]

<p>Ok, maybe a silly question here, but what is the reason to be so concerned with stealth?&nbsp; Is it worry about thugs?</p>

 

[Staying Put]

I don't believe it is so much being worried about stealth as it would be being observant about it and learning how to do it better for when it may matter.&nbsp; Before any of us knew anything about stealth camping it's likely we saw people doing it without noticing it much or even really caring one way or another.

 

[Ziggy Moon]

I see them too, David.<br><br>You can be stealthy in anything that doesn't attract attention, but more so if you don't attract attention to yourself. <br><br>I've been successful in a grey Hyundai Accent (2 door hatchback - back seat removed and back half set up for hiding a sleeping body). Who would ever think of someone sleeping in something like this... and it blends in regardless of where you park. But the biggest thing to remember is when it's time to go to bed - Stay There and Do Not Attract Attention!<br><br>Also, I'm not so sure of the stealth-ability of the plain white cargo van anymore. Seriously, do these vans really seem to blend in with the surrounding, other vehicles? I honestly think sometimes my, 'not so converted anymore' conversion van, blends in better. <br><br>But maybe I've also made myself too aware of the possibilities of the plain white van.

 

[David]

I think value of a plane white van is more in it not standing out. It's not that you can't tell they are campers but that people won't notice a white van as being the same one.

Meanwhile, if it has a destintive look it will be noticed if you stay in the same area a lot.

 

[Ziggy Moon]

But that's just it... I think they do stand out. And at a glance no one notices the details, only that they have seen a plain white van! Which looks just like all the other plain white vans. So why wouldn't anyone assume that it's the same van they saw any other time!<br><br>Isn't it better to blend in with the surrounding area in a way that the vehicle is not noticed at all. <br><br>But maybe it's like I said before; "<span id="post_message_1278275008"><em>maybe I've also made myself too aware [...]</em>".</span>

 

[David]

Vans will only blend in so much. I'd rather them think it's a work van and ignore it, than think it's a conversion van, that someone is sleeping in.&nbsp;<br><br>All three of the vans I saw looked like work vans and in any other situation would have blended into the background.&nbsp;

 

[MrNoodly]

<strong>"</strong><span style="line-height: 20px;"><strong>Ok, maybe a silly question here, but what is the reason to be so concerned with stealth?"</strong><br><br>There are places where it's illegal to sleep in vehicles. So the chances of being rousted by cops is less if your vehicle doesn't look like someone is living in it. &nbsp;An RV obviously fails that test.<br><br>The other goal is to not look suspicious, to not look like a criminal about to do something illegal, like break into a place, or dealing drugs or whatever. That means choosing a sleeping spot where you blend in.<br><br>Being spotted in the day is less of a big deal unless you happen to raise suspicion of police and they keep tabs on you.&nbsp;When people see unusual things during the day (washing dishes in the trunk of a car, guy in Hawaiian shirt putting groceries in a cargo van, etc.) they're far less likely to freak out. But the range of non-suspicious behavior narrows quite a bit once the sun goes down. Bad guys work at night, right? That's what we tend to think. So an unfamiliar vehicle parked on your street in the day is just someone having visitors or having work done. But the same vehicle parked there at night raises our suspicions.&nbsp;<br><br>So stealth campers try to blend in. That means passenger vans and conversion vans tend to blend better in residential areas and cargo vans tend to blend better in commercial areas. There are areas where the two types of vehicles are likely to cross paths at night, like at a Denny's or other 24 hour business.</span>

 

[Ziggy Moon]

I agree, MrNoodly!<br><br>I was thinking out loud, not trying to be argumentative, just questioning what actually does <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Blend in Better</span> (correct me if I'm wrong if this is what is meant by Stealth)? Also.. "Excluding" the person making it obvious that they are sleeping in the van.<br><br>Example: <br>If two vans (a conversion and a cargo) parked close to the doors of a Super Wal-Mart at 2 am in the morning (just suppose) - would it really seem suspicious that a family type van (conversion) was there, or would it seem more suspicious that a work type van (cargo) be there? Based on experiences, we all have our own opinion as to what would seem more suspicious, and so does a local police officer.<br><br>I've been shopping at Wal-Mart in the middle of the night, driving my conversion van. People do go grocery shop in the middle of the night, else a lot of Wal-Marts wouldn't stay open 24/7. I also realize that this is more common in certain areas, ie, a tourist/resort area, like a beach. Also, I live in Florida, in my particular area, late at night, it wouldn't be uncommon to see a <span id="post_message_1278279641"><span style="line-height: 20px;">guy in Hawaiian shirt putting groceries in any type vehicle - Not at All! Now if he was cooking up some chicken on a grill set up by his van - that would be a different story. I suppose, when trying to blend in, in any area.... it doesn't really matter what type vehicle you're driving.... it's more like, becoming a chameleon.... or maybe - When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do.<br><br>Like I said, It's just what I was thinking and to me it's just an interesting thought.... and as I said before, maybe these things just stand out more to those of us who have an interest in Vandwelling.</span></span>

 

[creationode]

I believe the conversion and the cargo van are both equally stealth.<br><br>I see lots of conversion vans and always attempt to sneak a peek as they pass me, but the windows are so tinted it is hard to see...<br><br>The problem I have seen with the conversions, is the driver will have all of the window shades pulled down.&nbsp; But then again, these are probably not stealth vans.<br><br>I like the cargo van because you absolutely cannot see inside it from any angle or point.<br><br>I bet I have never actually noticed a REAL stealth passenger van...but I want to!<br><br><br>It really is WHAT you are doing with the van rather than which van are you using.<br><br>And right now, with my van in the parking lot of the library...stealth is a very minimal concern for me in my current city.&nbsp; There are some very overt vanagons and chevys that are not trying to hide a thing about their occupants.&nbsp; And they are not bothered by cops or anyone else.<br><br>But in cities further south...I absolutely must maintain stealth.

 

[exitinn]

If you saw them in a truck stop , they could be on vacation traveling together . My buddy and I used to do that when traveling . Saves money and a good place to stop for the night , or just look over your vechile , fix some lunch etc. .

 

[DollarJoe67]

I think the concepts of stealth and camouflage are being confused.&nbsp; With stealth, we don't want to be noticed.&nbsp; With camouflage, we can be noticed but want to blend with our surroundings.&nbsp; I think most people go for the camouflage but think they are stealth.&nbsp;<br><br>I like my conversion van because it can be parked among other vehicles and just be passed by.&nbsp; Shades up.&nbsp; Shades down.&nbsp; Day or night it doesn't matter because when its hot and sunny it looks normal.&nbsp; Same with tinting the windows.&nbsp; In hot sunny climates it is expected.&nbsp; Camouflage.<br><br>I can't wait to finish building my cloaking device.

 

[James AKA Lynx]

Good discussion on stealth. My fist time was in a WalMart parking lot. I put up towels in the windows to block the light. I was parked away from the R/V's. Nobody noticed until I went into the store, then everybody did. I did shave before I went inside and I dress well enough. I have a hanger so my shirts are not wrinkled.<br><br>I have a panel van on one side with windows on the other none. Now my bed is up to the height of the windows. I can pull the white curtains (towels) it does looks stealth and nobody can see inside. At least from 100 feet away.<br><br>Stealth is always a limited view. I drive up to a business and they think I am going to work there until they see the other side. Sometimes good and sometimes no.&nbsp; People are on the lookout for out of place things. Tags are important and well washed and if you are sitting outside under an umbrella.<br><br>A panel work van is a great way to go unnoticed for a little while. People are doing it. Do expect for the police to notice you. If they suspect something is wrong or have the time, You will get a call.&nbsp; <br><br>I see more and more vans on the road and people living out of them. Cheep way to live. I hope they are honest.<br><br>James AKA Lynx

 

[Ziggy Moon]

Why Yes, of course! Why didn't I think of that - A <span id="post_message_1278285133">Cloaking Device......... lol <img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"><br></span>

 

[Staying Put]

A cloaking device would seem to be a great idea until people start running into you because they can't see you.&nbsp; The law of unintended consequences comes back to bite you in the keister.&nbsp; It just goes to show, it's always something.<img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">

 

[Pikachu711]

IMHO a "stealth" van is a van that doesn't appear&nbsp;to be lived in by a person.&nbsp;Now there is no absolute way of hiding the fact that you're living in&nbsp;your&nbsp;van. But you can minimize&nbsp;the chance of&nbsp;being noticed if you park you van the right way.<br><br>By this I&nbsp;mean parking your van in an area you plan on sleeping by arriving late &amp; leaving early.&nbsp;It additionally helps to have the van look somewhat clean&nbsp;so it&nbsp;won't be&nbsp;noticed. If you arrive at your sleeping location and start moving around in the van that&nbsp;may get someone's attention. Arrive at your sleep&nbsp;locations &amp; go to bed. That's it!<br><br>I used to be&nbsp;security guard who patrolled an older residential neighborhood. I noticed several vans that would&nbsp;arrive in&nbsp;this area and&nbsp;park and no one exited the van. These two vans&nbsp;normally were never there&nbsp;at the same time. These two vans would suddenly leave the area early in the morning so&nbsp;I'm fairly certain that these two&nbsp;vans were van dwellers.&nbsp;Probably the only reason I spotted these two&nbsp;vans was the fact that I was preparing to make this my lifestyle in the future. I knew what to look for&nbsp;when I saw these two van&nbsp;arrived in my area.<br><br>I never had a problem with either of these two vans spending the night in&nbsp;the neighborhood I patrolled. They arrived late &amp; were there only to sleep. They did a good job maintaining their&nbsp;"stealth" mode. This&nbsp;was an older part of&nbsp;Las Vegas that had older homes so seeing vehicles parked on the street was a regular thing&nbsp;to see.