Is a Cargo Van a good or bad idea in terms of stealth?

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citytravelfotos

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I'm thinking that a cargo van can blend in in areas close to an urban commercial district (like a downtown), but would be terrible (at least the plain white cargo van) in suburban middle class areas as well as wealthier, safer city neighborhoods (whereas a conversion van can fit in both middle and working class residential neighborhoods).  It would probably blend in more in working class areas, but those don't tend to be the safer areas of cities.  What do you think?
 
People have brought up the idea of staying in areas with a lot of apartments because no one really know or cares who is parking on the streets. I think that would work well because you will be noticed in almost any residential neighborhood where the housing is single family. <br /><br />&nbsp;You're probably worrying a little too much about stealth. We visit cities a lot and usually stay at a Walmart right off of an interstate with good access to the city. Other options are truck stops , casinos or other big box stores. Of course this is not always possible and a few cities stumped us - New York , Boston and San Francisco.
 
Can measures be taken to make breaking into a van more difficult? Locks on doors, special glass?
 
Cargo van is one of the "stealthiest" vehicles to choose in my opinion for the size and mpg. You can blend in very well. You can even make it look like a business van with racks and ladders etc..., or even a sign for a business ( that may or may not exist )... Safety can only go so far... Don't make it look to enticing from any window to a prospective thief. The more boring the better...
 
Well what are the alternatives? Cars obviously blend in very well--but most find they don't have enough room--and there is also a problem of seeing through the windows. RVs obviously suggest someone may be living in them. Box trucks and buses look more out of place than cargo vans.
 
vanvanvanvan123 said:
Can measures be taken to make breaking into a van more difficult? Locks on doors, special glass?


Just one example. This is probably one of the best choices to slow some one down and they are often used on trades peoples vans because of tool theft.
Now that there are cordless cut off saws, there is pretty much nothing that cant be broke into. They used to use large "bolt cutters" to snip off the pad locks.

If you have windows you could black them out and put expanded metal or grills (mesh) over them.

http://www.roadtrucker.com/warlok-truck-locks/war-lok-heavy-duty-van-rear-swing-door-hasp-ph-10.htm

Old news
http://www.businesswire.com/news/ho...ation-theft-catalytic-converters#.UukGL7Qo7IU
 
If you can stand the small size the American minivan is the most stealth vehicle you can buy. They are everywhere, they are cheap to buy, and the get decent mileage.
 
I agree with spd, small mini vans fit in very well, but space and so many windows to cover are the biggest challenge... A small box truck with a van front end and 8-10ft. Box are not a bad choice either.. They are easier to find with a Diesel engine too, which = better fuel mileage for the weight. Maneuvering in traffics and parking is the challenge for them.... Which is why I have a standard cargo van, but am on the hunt for a extended diesel cargo van with a small topper.
 
I agree. You can park a plain white, or silver mini van just about anywhere without raising anyone's eyebrow.
 
aggreed... minivan is best, the other thing to me is... nothing looks quite as suspicious as a white cargo van, and personally kind of sets off all the "free candy" molestor/serial killer cleches. Dont get me wrong, I think they are superior in a lot of ways (no windows to blot out, more insulated, more easy to muffle interior noise, firmer suspension to cut down on rocking when you move around inside) but still... all those bad movies with the killer or criminals driving the older cargo van does have an impact I think on american collective unconciousness and the stigma around the cargos is hard to overcome.
 
Every time to go to Walmart [always early morning] I see at least half a dozen 'cargo vans' that I know are lived in. I think cargo van are only stealthy if they are kept clean, don't have the windows covered and don't have chairs, etc. strapped on the roof. OTOH, if you use Walmart you don't need stealth.
 
Cargo vans do have a stigma, but it think it is getting better. Just need to get the "newer" looking body style...
I challenge anyone here to drive for 2 minutes in a town and not see a few vans.. That helps us stealth vanners blend in....
 
But I hate parking in walmart, I'm mostly nocturnal, I work night shifts because the jobs are really easy to find just about anywhere in security or at hotels, and the only requirement they typically have is you can stay awake. When you go to sleep at the walmart durring the day, you got carts banging around, and cars and screaming kids... no thanks.

As to blending in it sorta depends on where your parking, sometimes it helps you to blend in, sometimes it sticks out like a sore thumb (like if you try and park that cargo at night anywhere above median income housing).

As to the newer styles, like the sprinter... well if I had 14-16k to drop on a van I'd probably do it but as it is I can buy a 90s-2000 dodge caravan for less than 1,500 bucks and repairs are dirt cheap (lots of used parts), gas milage is great, handling and acceleration is WAY better than a big cargo van, and it steaths better than anything I've driven so far... and no stigma. I'm even considering sticking a bunch of those kid praying, family holding hands stick figure decals in the back window, I would bet money you'd be hassled 90% less with those as much as I hate them. Loving married mommy of four generally is not assumed by the PD to have warrents or be on parole... avoiding the profiling the cops do to vandwellers... priceless.
 
Let me set up a scene for your comments
Ford Cargo Van only window is windshield
just behind the driver and passenger seat is some kind of metal or wooden "wall", associated with work trucks where eyes cannot penetrate.
Color is whatever the prevailing opinion is.
A Ladder , a sign that has a phone number for a business.. open to suggestions of best business.
Plates would have to be commercial I suppose.
You pick 10 spots over time that are lower income, but non ghetto. I live on just such a street NOW. There are 4 or so cargo vans with ladders now.
Why would I be hassled EVER if I was in the space once every 10 days for the night only?
If cop knocked, would I answer, no.
 
Malibusurfer said:
Cargo vans do have a stigma, but it think it is getting better. Just need to get the "newer" looking body style...

I've actually noticed this. We recently bought a mid 90s Dodge for the business with the rounder front end than most 90s vans, and people look at it differently than the more pug or square nosed vans. Also, people look at a conversion or passenger van much differently than a cargo. The cargo may be easier to convert, but a conversion or passenger van may arouse less suspicion in a casual observer if you use a bit of stealth when blacking out the windows.


vanvanvanvan123 said:
A Ladder , a sign that has a phone number for a business.. open to suggestions of best business.

The issue on that is attracting people that might want to break into your van thinking there will be tools to steal. In another thread, I half jokingly suggested, "Auntie Em's Yard Cleaning Service- They Poop 'Em, We Scoop 'Em!" I might have also suggested a diaper service.

The best business would be one that does not make thieves think there is something inside worth stealing.
 
well vanvan, its fine as long as you want to stick to that lower but non-ghetto area, personally I prefer moving around a bit more than that and dont want to have to look around too much for suitable a place to park after a long drive, I'd much rather park anywhere I please and fit in just about everywhere, which minivans do quite well of (almost) any year.

but to invent a scenario... um you move around in the van late at night, somebody notices the movement and reports that either somebody is stealing something out of the van, somebody is stalking them, or somebody is living back there late at night. That could happen to anyone.
 
I'm glad that a minivan works for you, Blue, but please remember that there is no 'one size fits all' in vandwelling.
 
Unchained... The name of this thread again... "Is a Cargo Van a good or bad idea in terms of stealth?"

my answer was "bad" and I gave my reasons why I felt minivans were superior stealth vehicles.

Is there a reason why you are coming down on me for it?
 
Blue said:
Is there a reason why you are coming down on me for it?

Easy there, relax ...noone's coming down on you. (MOD)


I do, however, like your idea of the 'family' decals in the back window, and your explaination of why.

My friend, who's the president of the local M/C, bought a nice Astro van to haul bike parts around in. It had a bunch of those Christian fish and similiar decals all over the back, and he took 'em off...but I told him he should leave 'em on there for your very same reasons.
 
I was watching "Tosh.0" yesterday he showed a video of a guy trying to get a jet ski in back of a cargo van and said "a windowless van AND a jet ski?!? All the rest of the molesters will be jealous!" Anything to distance myself from that perception (which isn't going away) including decals and truth fish etc I'll do it.
 

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