Roll your windows up for stealth!

[Blue]

Today I was parked at the beach, luckily I work night shift so I wasnt violating the ban between 10 and 6 when I went to sleep... BUT...

I crashed at around 8:30 AM, I had picked a spot in an upscale neighborhood where vandwellers wernt common because of a high police presence.

Though the fog was fridgid in the morning, I rolled the front windows of the van down just a little bit because from expirence if I dont do that, by noon the van is an oven...

at 11:30 somebody just outside the windows of my van with a female voice says loudly "oh look, the windows are down a bit, why would they do that?" the male voice says "I think somebody's sleepin in there!" the divider between my bed area and the cab has a pencil thin gap and I could see them looking into my front windows, I really wanted to yell something rude or play the sound of a shotgun cocking from my cell but decided though the people had rudely woken me up, and were way infringing on my privacy, better not to cause more problems and let the lookie loos scamper.

ARRRGGG! Total stealth fail. Must get stealthed vents... no substitutions!

 

[sparky1]

I have rain guard on both front windows---I leave both down 2" to vent off, so it doesn't steam up windows.
sparky1

 

[Blue]

yep, planning on that, I also have seen a neat little 12V window fan that will fit within those two inches... might check that out.

 

[sparky1]

I had one of those window fans But it was solar -JC Whitney didn't do much.

 

[[email protected]]

Today I was parked at the beach, luckily I work night shift so I wasnt violating the ban between 10 and 6 when I went to sleep... BUT...

I crashed at around 8:30 AM, I had picked a spot in an upscale neighborhood where vandwellers wernt common because of a high police presence.

Though the fog was fridgid in the morning, I rolled the front windows of the van down just a little bit because from expirence if I dont do that, by noon the van is an oven...

at 11:30 somebody just outside the windows of my van with a female voice says loudly "oh look, the windows are down a bit, why would they do that?" the male voice says "I think somebody's sleepin in there!" the divider between my bed area and the cab has a pencil thin gap and I could see them looking into my front windows, I really wanted to yell something rude or play the sound of a shotgun cocking from my cell but decided though the people had rudely woken me up, and were way infringing on my privacy, better not to cause more problems and let the lookie loos scamper.

ARRRGGG! Total stealth fail. Must get stealthed vents... no substitutions!

---

Definitely use rain guards & invest $50 for 2 magnetic signs for that contractor look. The signs can say anything. Plumbing, 1800laundry etc. Thats what I have on mine. Read my post on stealth.

 

[Blue]

Will do but Im not going for the contractor look, thinking now I might make murder black window inserts for the cab.

 

[Vic.]

Hm. The contractor look. Hadn't thought of that, mainly because I wouldn't want to paint anything.

Do those magnetic signs hold in all conditions, or is it more about placing and removing them as needed?

 

[GotSmart]

I just got in some smoke rain guards. I will have to modify them to fit on my Dodge Ram Van, so watch out which ones you get.

The Original Ventvisor is not a perfect fit for the B~Series vans with window vents.

 

[compassrose]

I don't think anyone would bother you if you put signs for this business on your van.

For ideas, I use ixquick.com, type in a subject and click on "images"

 

[wagoneer]

ON MY BIKE RIDES HOME FROM WORK A SECTION OF ROAD HAS A 45 MPH SPEED LIMIT AND I DO FIND A LOT OF MAGNETIC SIGNS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I CUT THEM UP AND RE-ASSEMBLE INTO WHAT LOOKS LIKE A GOVT. AGENCY, LIKE NUMBERS AND DASHES AND RANDOM WORDS, It's fun and entertaining, my point the big signs will de-tatch but cut up they are great

 

[Lucky mike]

something to keep in mind if your going to go with the business sign route......

if you within the same county doing this all the time and all the sudden you get caught.....the fine for operating a business and operating without proper permits is a whole lot more expensive than it would have been if you get caught just sleeping in your van!!!!


Stealth FAIL ON THIS one !

clean it ....wax it...and dont make it looked lived in!!.....

 

[Zil]

You are breaking the law by sleeping in an area the LEO feels is not acceptable. You try fraud to hide by using false business signs. You catch the wrong LEO and they will not help you, they may think you are up to no good. And you are up to no good. Expect harassment. I always was told to move and most often told a better place to sleep. I have had a few good conversations late at night with bored LEO. I do not do stealth.

 

[compassrose]

You can't be fined for operating a business if you are not operating a business... Posted as I sit in an RV park with a "business" vehicle parked next to our bus that hasn't been in "business" since last summer. Also, it has traveled thru many states where it was not "in service" including parked in parking lots overnight ("Are you open?").

 

[caseyc]

Installing rain guards (or whatever it's called) is an absolute must, in my opinion. Get the dark smoked (or black) color ones that are at least 2 to 3 inches thick, so you can crack your window open a good 1/2 inch or more on both driver and passenger sides. These are relatively inexpensive, considering all the other modifications you can do. Totally worth it. Do it today, don't wait.

 

[Vic.]

I was just checking those out yesterday. I'm definitely gonna pick up a set.

 

[caseyc]

Plus the rain guards help to keep the rain from hitting your face while driving down the freeway. Also helps with less wind drag while driving at freeway speeds, you get nice air ventilation without harsh wind smacking you. Even helps with shade when the sun comes down at a low angle from the side in the evening hours. Plus you can keep your windows cracked down at all times while parked and not worry about outside intruder trying to pry open your window for entry. The dang rain guards are useful for sooooo many reasons. GET THIS NOW! Seriously!

 

[MK7]

You can't be fined for operating a business if you are not operating a business...

It still looks fishy to cops. This is how cops get promoted and salary raises, by making sweet arrests. Even if you won't get any tickets for the fake business, you'll still get hassled extra and probably a ticket for sleeping in a vehicle. Maybe pick a business that doesn't require certain certifications nor licenses nor specialty tools, etc. like housesitter, dogwalker...

 

[compassrose]

Of course you could get real and operate a (web-based) business and perhaps make some money rather than being on the dole. Or maybe do a windshield chip business.

A few words of caution.

I have heard of some campground who will make you remove any business signage from your vehicles in order to stay there. I have not been in any of these places. But I have heard the ones with painted one business signage being turned away. Seems they are afraind someone might conduct business in their campground.

My Dad had magnetic signs on his trucks and would lose them every so often. The magnetic sheets sometimes were't all that great. So while traveling at high speeds (like interstates), you might want to pull them off. Also some folks just like to steal them (he lost a few in parking lots).

---

here is just one example of a windshield repiar business supplier. There are LOTS if you do a search. I found so many while looking into how to repair the cracked windshield on the bus. Most places only require a city business license (locally in Roswell, NM that would be $25 to $35/mo forget which). Some of these places can get you set up to handle insurance claims too. I would post others but this forum software would boot me as a spammer and if sanyone is really interested, they can do a search themselves.

http://www.windshieldrepairkits.com/

---

Here is a FAQ for one company I had looked at....
http://windshieldrepairkits.com/Learn_more.html

 

[Lucky mike]

You can't be fined for operating a business if you are not operating a business... Posted as I sit in an RV park with a "business" vehicle parked next to our bus that hasn't been in "business" since last summer. Also, it has traveled thru many states where it was not "in service" including parked in parking lots overnight ("Are you open?").

if you post on your vehicle your a business ....than that means you have the intention...

Your absolutely right, but you can be harassed....you can be brought to court and spend attorney fee's...just because where you are at right now no-one has bothered you in this way doesnt mean it wont occur...all it takes is a nosy code enforcement officer....A Deputy Sheriff.... a Town official that doesnt like the idea your parked in his neighborhood...

why leave yourself open to more problems and explanations...

 

[accrete]

One thing we do with our van conversion (it's not stealth at all) is put a pair of Weather Tech side window deflectors in the front cab. The windows still look closed, but rain won't get in and there's good airflow.

_link to what we use_

My wife also put up some _no-see-um netting_ with velcro inside the glass so when the window(s) are cracked there's no bug intrusion

Thom