Saying hello and a question

[carl7]

Hello folks, guess I'd better finally say something. Joined a couple weeks ago and been reading the posts with great interest.

I'm a older guy who recently began wondering what it'll actually be like sleeping in a vehicle on the city streets so thought about sleeping in my pickup truck just to test it out. But found out to my dismay, sleeping in cars is not allowed in my city and certain streets even have vehicle size limitations between 12 and 6am. This is a very strange law to me. What if I chose to sit in my car and read or listen to music between those times? but if I fell asleep, then I'm breaking the law? very strange. How can they extend a law to that extent what you can do in your private property?

I thought hard about this. There are countless cars parked on the streets anytime of the day or night all over the city and they are never bothered. So I figured, even though illegal, if I didn't do anything to make it obvious I'm sleeping in the car, chances of being caught should be very slim.

That said, I do have a question about BLM areas. Is it correct I can just pull off the highway anywhere into the desert and camp there legally?

Thanks, Carl

 

[highdesertranger]

Welcome Carl to the CRVL forums! To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you.

I don't know where you are located, maybe share that with us. basically it is legal to camp on BLM land except where prohibited. you are allowed 14 days in one location then you must move at least 25 miles away, where you can start the 14 day limit all over again. give us some more info and we can help. highdesertranger

 

[eDJ_]

My Dad traveled in his work and when we lived in North  Carolina he had an encounter with some LEO's. 

He was driving home in his camper van which was a built out Cargo Van,  and got sleepy so he pulled over in this
road side picnic park.   There was a parking area in front of the picnic tables & BBQ grills.   He didn't intend to spend the night just get a nap before moving on.

LEO's started banging on the Van and yelling "Open he doors....Police" ! 

Dad woke up instantly and said come to the front of the Van where I can see you.  They didn't like that.  Dad opened the bath towel privacy curtain and they were standing there flashing the high powered flash light in his eyes.  He got in his drivers seat and rolled down the window and asked them what's the problem.

They said you're camping in a no camping area....see that sign over there !

They wanted all the ID stuff as usual and while one went back to radio it in he spoke to the other officer.

Dad explained that he was on his way home and was falling asleep and pulled over to get a nap.  Wasn't going to sleep but a bit so he could drive on home safely.  

Cop looked at him suspiciously.   Then dad told him that the radio was telling people that if they were sleepy not to continue driving,  but to pull over and sleep a couple of hours. 

Cop asked him why he didn't heed the sign ?  

He told him again that he didn't notice it and wasn't from the area,  just passing through.   He was rather drowsy and it was quite dark (not really thinking about anything but getting a couple of hours of sleep)

By this time the second cop came back and said "he's clean".   

They asked him then how long he had been there ?

Dad told them about 1/2 an hour.   So the Cop told him they would be back there in a couple of hours
and didn't want to see him there when they came back.  

Dad said that he nodded his head and thanked them as they left.  Then he waited a bit, started the engine and went to find another place to finish his nap.   Said he found a 24 hour grocery store,  went in and bought a bag of ice to put in the ice chest and asked the manager if he could sleep in the Van for a couple of hours
before moving on.  Manager told him it would be OK and the LEO's wouldn't bother him on the store lot.

So I learned from his lesson.  

Since then I've used all night Gas Stations where I filled the tank and ask the night attendant if I could pull over to the far corner of the lot and catch a couple hours of sleep before I move on.  Today there are Walmarts
and Lowe's with free WIFI even.   But I've even parked where the employees park at these large Grocery Stores and no one ever said the first word.

But if the Town has a City wide ordinance,  just move on to the next.  There are plenty of Cities. (they will just get to lose any money I would have spent there and in time there will be a State by State message board evolve on the Net that list them for travelers) 

But there is an increase in banning sleeping in cars,  or camping in public places.

https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/10-facts-homelessness-2014

 

[Almost There]

Welcome to the forum Carl. Much to learn from all of us here!

I spent 14 years travelling all over the eastern seaboard and parked in a lot of places including rest areas where it's allowed - there's websites that tell you which ones now that I didn't have access to 23 years ago. And now again, on the road for a year next month.

As a woman I've never felt insecure or in danger, not even once.

Can I say this again, NEVER, EVER felt in danger! I have not been harrassed, bothered, robbed much less raped!

Okay, I'll admit it, I don't ever stay in downtown big cities...that's just asking for trouble!

In all that time I've only ever had to move on quickly twice - once when another vehicle caught fire in a rest area. That was a heart pounding exit!! The other time was to the next parking lot over because the sweeper machine guy was quite insistent on doing every last square inch of the Sam's Club parking lot...all of us there moved to the W/M.

BLM lands sometimes start right at the edge of the highway but truthfully, from what I've seen of the stuff right close to the highway, it's mostly been trashed. I use BLM and NF lands all winter long but go a little bit further back off the highway to get to some better areas.

I collect MVUM for National Forests - available for the asking at a lot of welcome centers and at ranger stations (that's 'Motorized Vehicle Use Maps), they're wonderful. The DeLorme books are absolutely essential IMO for finding BLM land and other wide open places to stay legally.

Here's the websites I now use to find good places to camp in addition to BLM and NF lands:

https://freecampsites.net/ - use the trip planner to find spots along your route or by town



http://www.allstays.com/ - drivers section gives you all the W/M, truck stop etc. etc. possibilities either by map or town, camping for campgrounds

You can also look at casinos as a place to overnight, check each one for the rules.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I've slept all around the country in almost every state and have yet to be bothered. From small towns to big cities. I try to pick a spot i'll blend in and to bed I go. I know it will probably eventually happen but I don't worry about it.

I too understand why it's frowned upon but I don't think it should be. Every city and town in the country should have a public shower/bathroom facility and a place for people to park and rest. But that's not the way the cog works, they don't want people opting out of the system and there are too many people who would set up their living room in parking lots like these and thus ruin it for everyone.

 

[Gadget728]

Welcome to the forum. When I purchased my white van, stealth really wasn't a big issue. I've watched lots of you tube videos about stealth camping in the cities, mostly by people who have jobs there. The free campsites app has listings all over the US, and between those and the Wal Marts, Lowes and truck stops, I'm hoping to not have to stealth camp too often. Although I don't have much respect for gestapo type police, if I'm ever confronted by them, being polite & honest will be my plan. I'll for sure "have my papers in order"!!

Lots of info and great people here, enjoy!

 

[carl7]

Thank you for the welcomes, experiences, and tips. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. Been thinking about getting a van for a while now and there are just so many details that have to be worked out just to live in a van for a length of time, perhaps the rest of my life. I'm in the process of reducing a house full of things of 50 years, a time consuming task. Some things will have to be put in storage. The biggest thing is what to do with the house. Seems to me renting it out would be best as it will bring additional income but it has it's own problems too where I have to be somewhat close by on call incase of a emergency. Selling it will also bring more income and in not having to pay property taxes, insurances, utilities, etc.

Probably the biggest challenge for me would be the mental adjustment. All my life I've been around everything I need in my shop to do many things, woodworking, auto repairs. (my dad the auto mechanic left me with all his tools to do about anything to a car) Question for me is, would it be too much of a change to go from that to nothing? on the other hand, I'm so tired of all this clutter.

Thanks all, Carl

 

[rvwandering]

Welcome to the forums Carl!
Sounds like you have a big job ahead of you! Remember this does not have to be an all or nothing move. Since you're uncertain about a van dwelling life renting your house seems like a good idea. Hire a property management company so that you're free to travel. Store all of the stuff that you actually use and want to keep in your shop if that's possible. Give yourself a set amount of time to try out van dwelling and hit the road!

Good luck with all of your decision making !

 

[carl7]

Hi tonyandkaren, yes it's a huge job, a lot of it I'm so ignorant of many things, I didn't know about a property management company. I had fears if I rented it, I'd be called from 500 miles away to come fix a burst water pipe or something.
As you say, it's become pretty clear to me just buy a van and try it. If I were to do it full time, I'd get a new van to reduce the chances of breakdowns.
So far, the van living that appeals to me is in the desert on BLM areas. Many decades ago I did tent camping at a KOA campground near the Grand Canyon and it was terribly crowded. Was not pleasurable at all.

Thanks and good travels.
Carl