Stealth in parking garage?

[LongInTheTooth]

Hey there everyone!

I'm getting ready to attend a university which is a few hrs from my current location. Naturally van dwelling was my first choice to keep my already burgeoning expenses low.

I recently learned that there's a 24hr well-lit (and cameras) parking garage not far from school that charges .50/hr. If I park from 8pm - 6pm, that's only $5. I wouldn't do it all 4 of the nights I'll be down there each week, but thought I could do 2 nights at Walmart and 2 nights at the garage, alternating one night at each in rotation Walmart #1, garage, Walmart #2, garage (There's 2 walmarts in the town)

At $10/wk, it would be worth it bcuz I would feel much safer in the garage and would welcome the idea of not having to shovel out my van once the snow starts to fly!

Has anyone ever stealth parked in a garage? Is it feasible?

Since I'll be working and taking a full load of classes, I won't be doing anything but sleeping in the van once I park. I will cook and study at a local park before I go to garage and I'll shower at the school gym bfor classes in the morning.

Thanks for your input

 

[PastTense]

How cold is it going to get in the winter there?

 

[offroad]

Are you prepared to be woken up at 4am because they know you are sleeping in your van? Have maybe several alternatives

 

[Zil]

My van, not a high top, will not fit in a garage. I did use a outdoor lot with a coin gate while living in Phoenix for 5 weeks (1974).

 

[jeanontheroad]

As soon as they realize you are returning to sleep, they will throw you out. It's not that they might mind just you. It's that they figure you will talk and soon they will end up with a whole community of people living and prowling around there.

 

[offroad]

Good point jean. Effectively a don't ask don't tell policy. Likely also a security issue. As anyone could tamper with other park vehicles if inside the gate for extended periods. This you are encouraged to park and leave.

 

[caseyc]

Welcome to the club. First problem is, will you van fit in the indoor garage? My low top van won't fit in most garages, so I don't even try. Another problem is all the security cameras you mentioned. That means they are monitoring you going in and out of your vehicle. At some point in time, they will figure out you're living in the garage. Plus most private garages usually have security guards walking around to make sure things are "normal". I'm sure you can get away with doing this say once or twice a week, but I wouldn't do this on a daily basis. You need other alternatives that you can rotate in and out of.

 

[Patrick46]

I'm kinda seeing things from her side.

Come in late, leave early, once you get parked, hit the sack and go right to sleep. No fooling around in or around the van...AT ALL! NONE!!

I can't see why they'd bother with her...if they don't know she's in there.


and snow??? I thought you were in Florida??

 

[caseyc]

The risk is worth the reward, I'm guessing. So you may as well give it a try at the garage spot, especially for the low cost. Worst they could do is tell you to stop. Best outcome is you end up doing it for as long as you like.

 

[LongInTheTooth]

Thank you everyone!! This is such a great site!
Now to respond to the points mentioned:

I'll be V-dwelling in the wild wonderful mtns of West Virginia, yeah it snows a lot.

I was born and raised in Fla but now live in Pittsburgh, (by way of CO, TX, VA, Korea, Germany, India, Kansas and a few more I've probly forgotten! I've had the travel bug since I was old enuf to go backpacking across Europe one summer after I got out of school and I've never looked back!) I will be van dwelling Mon -Fri while attending school in Morgantown, WV.

Ive already recon'd many other options including 2 Walmart Supercenters and a multitude of other 24hr stores, restaurants, a Pilot truck stop, and a veritable smorgasbord of student apt complexes (plus a free campground but it's a half hour drive away from campus so that'll be my last resort). The garage is close (and covered! Yay!) and seemed like it would be safer than parking in a random lot. I would only use it once or twice a week if it turns out to be a quiet and safe place to park. I'll only be there from about 9:30pm to 6am. I have classes starting at 8am so need to get to day-parking spot then hit the gym on campus to shower and get ready for school.

I've accepted the risk of someone knocking on my door at 4am no matter where I park to lay my head lol

My ultimate goal is to make some friends from school or work who will let me park in front of their residence, thereby removing the need to be in stealth mode.

Thank you all again for responding to my post. There is such a wealth of knowledge and experience within these forums that I don't know how anyone makes it without being on here! I hope to meet many of you over the coming years! If ur ever in Morgantown send me an email!

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GS fish...no contract...it's just an hourly pay rate 24hr garage used by business folk during day downtown and the arts/restaurant/entertainment community in the evenings. By the time I get there it should be pretty cleared out I would think...?

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Ive pretty much lived the last year at pilot and a park and ride in wv. The pilot is nice and usually busy enough that i feel safe and tho they all know by now im living in the van, they are too busy to care i think. The park and ride did get me a cop knock, but once the sheriff dept all got a good look and marked me as cooperative, ive been left alone for a long time.

Morgantown is a little different then where im at, less rural and more crime so you can expect more scrutiny. for your safety, avoid a strip called' the mileground'. I lived in a gated community across the street from the stadium, but we traveled thru there. I personally saw 1 robbery in progress and went to gas station just after another happened. its not nearly as bad as charleston or a real city of course, but just be careful.

---

The kroger down by eat n park is 24 hours i think, probably would go unnoticed there too for a few hours.

 

[LongInTheTooth]

This is a city garage, actually there are 4 total in the city, 2 of which are affordable hourly, so I could stay one night a week at one and stay one night at the other.

I don't have my van yet but I'm not looking for a high top at this point altho I'd sure like one. I'm aiming to sport the white, nondescript, cargo work van look. Jazzy huh? Lol

I'm going down for a job interview tmrw so I'm gonna check out the clearance at both garages whilest I'm there.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

White has big advantages tho. Its cold in winter, but a mr heater little buddy handles that. Even tho its wv, it still gets hot. My van is dark blue and instantly warms when the sun hits it, even tho i insulated. I wish it was white.

 

[Reducto]

I've taken naps in parking garages a few times and never been hassled. It can be very hard to sleep, though - those things can be very loud and bouncy! Feeling safe may be enough to make up for that. Give it a shot, if you do get kicked out that's likely all that will happen - you'll be kicked out.

 

[Zil]

Some garages are high enough, but most will not fit a cargo van. I have a friend sleeping in the campus parking lot at a state college.

 

[ZOFCHAK]

Longinthetooth, Just a word of advice. If you're going to be stealth parking you may not want to be so specific as to where you will be (City, specific location, etc). These are public forums and anyone can read them including some people that may not have the best intentions. There's a RV dweller on Youtube that just went though some serious problems after he posted specifics about his location and parking situations.

 

[akrvbob]

You might want to consider running an ad on craigslist looking for a driveway to park in for a small amount of money like $50 a month. If it's central to school you may save that much in gas by not having to drive around to different parking places. Plus the peace of mind can be priceless! I have a friend who is a student who did that in Phoenix and got a place near campus for $125 a month but that included running an electrical cord to the van. He is very happy with it!
Bob

 

[offroad]

Bob - always the smartest alternative.

 

[Free Range Chicken]

Agree with zofchak, I'm avid reader so far and love this forum but , I feel like if I post anything then either crooks or authorities will have an easier time tracking me... same as Facebook or Twitter I keep my van dwelling ideas to myself.. sorry for hijacking your thread.

 

[Taj]

Hi all, being a hunter for good places to sleep while on the road... the only think Im thinking is the noise factor, granted at night there probably wont be much, but garages echo like crazy, and is it patrolled at all? She could get away with it easier of she could find the blind spots and park there. Id stick with the walmarts, or a 24hr super market, just part in that general area if she blackouts her windows she'd be safe near over head lamps.