Stealth in the SF Bay Area ( east and north).

[Jack Grit]

<span><span>NOTE: I POSTED THIS ON THE VAN DWELLING FORUM AND DIDN'T GET MUCH ACTION ALTHOUGH I FOUND A COUPLE OF TIPS HELPFUL. I SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND THIS FORUM AND THOUGHT I'D GIVE IT A SHOT. THE PERTINENT QUESTIONS ARE CONCERNING STEALTH CAMPING IN THE URBAN BAY AREA - EAST AND NORTH. ANY INFO WOULD BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED. <br>_____________________________________________________________<br><br>I wrote a long – almost short story - post, then thought no one here really knows me yet, so I figured I'd write a short post and add info along the way if anyone responded and if/when warranted. <br></span></span><p>OK, to make a long story short I probably need to stay in and around the SF Bay Area for various reasons. In time I want to head out to BLM land on and off and also take long trips to visit family and explore the world but I am no where near prepared for that at this point.</p><p>If I fork the coin for a van and find out that it just wont work in the Bay Area than I may lose a good chunk of change if I need to sell the van. I have been staying in my 1983 Mercedes for about 7 weeks. It's getting quite cramped and chaotic and frankly just isn’t working out for my situation. If I buy a van I will probably have to sell the Mercedes (don't have a place to put it on non-op status).</p><p>Another question is if the p'stb find out I'm living in my Van and they tell me to move on do they keep a record in each city or county or do they only keep records if you are are actually cited? I'm pretty street savvy and have decent intuition but there are no guarantees I wont be “found out”.</p><p>I've read relatively extensively on the subject of urban stealth camping but there are some things I just can't find any material on.</p><p>The two places I want to stay are a big city in the East Bay and a big city in the North Bay. I got rousted out of a smallish town in Sonoma county but my funky Mercedes stuck out like a sore thumb. Dents, missing chrome, etc. In retrospect I basically was inviting trouble. I am a newbie and the town is quite liberal so I pressed my luck. Oops<img src="/images/boards/smilies/sneaky.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">. The experience was quite sobering and no fun, to say the least.&nbsp;<br><br>Thanks.<br><br>~J Grit</p>

 

[dominique21]

Well it sounds like the car your driving basically has a sign posted that says (I'm living in my car). Which is not a good thing, considering most cities frown upon that kind of lifestyle.

I was in the same boat as you about 6 yrs ago, I was trying to live in a old car, and it seemed like everybody around me knew what I was about to do. So I bit the bullet, moved back in with my parents, and saved for 4 years and got a nice looking Chevy Express cargo van with no windows in the back for privacy. That has been a great choice for me, because of instead of paying $1000+ rent I can put that in the bank for purchasing property or a house someday. I park at a different spot each night that I feel safe and won't be bothered. 1 night I'll stay outside an apartment complex where they have street parking. One night maybe a church that has a church van parked in the lot. I also like hotels too.

I've had good luck in So Ca, I've never tried the Bay area, or other parts of No Ca, but the key is to blend in. I will have to go up there and try, because I get a high from parking in supposedly strict areas that are hard to stealth camp in.

 

[freenez2]

I full timed in Berkeley for a couple of years and over nighted in a light industrial area by the Pyramid Ale House just off of Gilman Street. Never got hassled.

 

[wagoneer]

I live in San Francisco off 280 in the sunnyside if it wasn't for PG&amp;E tearing up the streets and have displaced a lot of van dwellers on circular st I would recommend it. Have you ever lost something and realized it was in plain view you just did not "see it" i think that goes for stealthy boondock as well

 

[caseyc]

<p>Even if you don't blend in, and even though your old vehicle sticks out like a sore thumb, you can still pretty much park most any spot overnight as long as you stay only **1** (one) night, and move to a different spot the next day.&nbsp; It also helps a lot if you park your car for the night when it gets dark, and leave early the next morning&nbsp;to go to another spot.<br><br>If you don't blend in with the neighborhood, and you stay for more than a day or two in the same spot, you are inviting trouble. The neighbors will report you to the department of traffic control.&nbsp; At best you will get a "72 Hour" violation notice. At worse, you will get a parking ticket, the "Denver boot", and even get towed away.&nbsp; <br><br>If you get towed, it will cost over $400 to retrieve your vehicle, and you will spend hours going through the process and going to multiple locations across town to get your car back.&nbsp; I've never had my vehicle towed before, but I've helped out others who have.&nbsp; No fun!&nbsp; Expensive too!</p>

 

[Jack Grit]

Thanks for the responses.

 

[steamjam1]

I live in and around Santa Cruz. As long as yer parked out of the way and not causing problems, no one cares if you stay the night here and there.

 

[GypsyJoe]

I know this is an old thread.. and I'm new here.

But I'm glad I found it. My plan is to head back to the SF-Bay Area but I'm totally new to Vandwelling. There's a few reasons I want to head back there - even though it's so expensive.

Since the thread is a little old - I'm just wondering if anyone knows of any places that are good for Van or RV dwellers around Berkeley/Oakland?

Or anywhere in the East Bay for that matter.

 

[Vic.]

I've been looking around the peninsula for months. There are various roads that parallel caltrain and the 101 that are in industrial or car-heavy apartment blocks. Also, K-marts and Walmarts.

The general advice of 1 night only is solid. More than 1 night is too long.

 

[Reducto]

I spent 6 months in SF and just South of it and had few problems. I would sometimes stay in the same spot for several days - the few times I did get a knock or notice it was within a few hours of parking. I mostly stayed on the street in residential areas. Across the street from apartment buildings is good. PM me if you want more specific recommendations.

Grab a burrito for me at La Tapatia in SSF! I miss that place so much.

 

[SoulRaven]

The best advice I can give, spending about half of each year on the road, is to make sure you get a window van rather than a cargo van. It was some of the best advice I ever got, I can stay in the same places for weeks without getting hassled.

 

[GypsyJoe]

Thanks for the advice guy. And Reducto - I used to live right next to San Francisco State Uni. So I'm pretty sure I know which La Tapatia you're talking about.

Anyway I'm in Michigan now, but I got things in CA I need to take care of. So Vandwelling seems like a way to avoid the crazy high rents out that way. With my meager income it just won't work. I wish I knew about this way of livign much earlier than I did.. the money I would've saved!

 

[Vic.]

I've been checking out the area west of the airport and coliseum in Oakland. Lots of industrial and office parks, many dead-ends and cul-de-sacs. It's promising. Everything I'd need is within a few blocks.

Plus, I was grabbing a burrito from a food truck off Hegenberger Blvd. An officer happened to be there waiting for his order, so I asked him, "Can I just sleep in my car overnight? Parked on the street. You know, arrive at night, leave in the morning."

He kind of shrugged. "Well, the maximum allowed time is 72 hours. If you're there too long and people call you in, we need to check it out."

"But I can stay there overnight?"

"Sure. Just don't cause any problems."

 

[Belchfire]

What about the East Bay on the 680 corridor ?

 

[GrantRobertson]

Though I have never stealth camped, yet, here is one place where I have seen others who were obviously living in their cars and RVs.


At 3600 Alameda Avenue, Oakland, CA 94601 there is a glass recycling plant. People park along Alameda Ave along side that plant. If you check it out on Google Maps you will see that there is a stretch of Alameda Ave right there that runs diagonally. That is where people park. It directly overlooks the canal between Oakland and Alameda. There is also a 24 Hour Fitness, a Home Depot, and a McDonald's a block east, right along the stretch of Alameda Ave. that runs directly east-west. 

As I said, I have never parked there, and it is Oakland. So you gotta decide for yourself if you think it is safe. 


There also appear to be lots of areas on the west end of Alameda Island, in or near the old naval base, that may be useful for stealth camping. Keep in mind, the Alameda cops, though nice, are determined to keep Alameda a quiet and safe place for residents and tourists. They are known for being more likely to stop people for minor infractions. So, I would only try stealth camping in Alameda if you are positive you can blend in completely and never be noticed.

 

[Janet100]

The best advice I can give, spending about half of each year on the road, is to make sure you get a window van rather than a cargo van.  It was some of the best advice I ever got, I can stay in the same places for weeks without getting hassled.

Glad OP resurrected this thread.  I own a house in Santa Cruz, but always seem to find jobs 1.5 hrs commute from home.  Been thinking about van dwelling during week. 

This post made me think.  I'm in van buying mode right now.  I thought no windows, white van, and put business sign (any business sign) on sides would make the van blend in.  Windows allows people/cops to see in and instantly spot your living room. 

Can you explain your logic?  Thanks.

Nubee

 

[akrvbob]

We all look at it differently, but there is no right or wrong. My thinking is that a white cargo van can fit in virtually anywhere, including malls and residential areas. Maybe not a good as a conversion van, but it's okay. Park in the area of a large apartment complex, especially multiple large apartments complexes, and no one will think anything of a white cargo van. Lot's of blue collar tradespeople there.

But, a white cargo van will also fit in very well in an industrial or commercial area--and every town has them-- while a conversion van will stand out like a sore thumb. Which would you notice in front of a Heme Depot, Sams Club or warehouse first, a cargo van or a conversion van?

So for stealth I give the edge to a cargo van because of it's greater flexibility. I now have a cargo van and have never regretted it. I lived in a big city for 6 years in a box van and I just never stayed in residential areas. It was no loss. I'd go to the commercial area to run my generator because all kinds of things would be running and no one noticed. Plus, it's nearly deserted at night so it's quieter other than the white noise and I liked that.

But just as important is will you be claustrophobic without windows? I'm not bothered by not having them but lots of people are!
Bob

 

[Janet100]

Thank you for responding to my question. I thought anything I converted into a home was a conversion van. I did a search on it.

I see what you mean about the business van being spotted in suburbia. I'll have think this one over. Being a short woman, I don't think parking in industrial areas long term would be a good idea for me.

Good question about the windows. Actually, I would feel safer in a vehicle with no windows. I don't get claustrophobic in a small metal cave. And I know me - I would end up putting insulation over the windows to keep warm/cool and stealth would be a mute point.

Thanks for the education.

 

[SoulRaven]

Glad OP resurrected this thread.  I own a house in Santa Cruz, but always seem to find jobs 1.5 hrs commute from home.  Been thinking about van dwelling during week. 

This post made me think.  I'm in van buying mode right now.  I thought no windows, white van, and put business sign (any business sign) on sides would make the van blend in.  Windows allows people/cops to see in and instantly spot your living room. 

Can you explain your logic?  Thanks.

Nubee

My experience  is a bit different than Bob's.


I've had everything from Class A's, Class C's, Bus's, and vans.

I had more trouble with parking that cargo van than I ever had with anything else.  Commercial or industrial areas, cops or security within an hour.  Residential areas cops between 1:00am-2:00am.  They might blend in well during the day, but at night is a whole different story.  People seem to be much more afraid of what they can't see than what they can see.

In the cargo van I was either regarded as homeless, a criminal, or both.

I can park my window van darn near anywhere and nobody gives it a second glance, and if they do and possibly the most important to me, is I am considered a camper and treated as such.

The claustrophobic point that Bob brought up is very important as well, and even if that isn't a particular problem, I am not typically scared of much, but being stuck without windows and not being able to see what is going on, or who is pounding on your van was terrifying to me.

In my window van, not only can I see who is around my van, but if a noise wakes me up, I can look out, see what's going on, and then go back to sleep.  In the cargo van, I could not dismiss it as inconsequential and would lay awake the rest of night worrying about it.

I am no longer a "STEALTH" camper, I came to the conclusion that everybody knows what you're doing anyway, the cops know it, security knows it, and the neighbors know it.  So the only person you're fooling is yourself.  I don't care if people see lights on in my van late into the night, I'm not doing anything to be ashamed of.  Cops drive by me all the time, I wave, they wave, and they drive on.  If they do stop, we  have a nice polite conversation, and at worst I'm asked to move on.

In my window van, I have never received a ticket for illegal camping.  One summer in a cargo van, I racked up a LOT of tickets for doing the same exact thing.  My cargo van also got impounded 5 times, and searched more times than I can remember.  The cop's whole  mentality seemed to be totally different when I had a cargo van vs. a window van.

Another huge advantage of window vans is ventilation by being able to open the windows.  I prefer not having roof vents due to the possibility of leaks.  With windows, you don't need roof vents, and if your windows are the type that open outwards at the bottom, they can be open in the rain as well.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I will NEVER own another cargo van.  The good news is that if you decide you don't like your choices, you can always go a different route.  I've been very happy with window vans, even high top obvious camper vans.

Good Luck!

 

[Janet100]

Thank you for sharing your experience. I can see your point also about the cargo van being targeted by police or neighbors. The hidden always makes people want to know more and makes them feel uneasy.

I guess I'm not as opposed to window vans as I was in the beginning. With a heavy tint, they are almost impossible to see through. In California, it is pretty hard to park and not be rousted by the police if they know you are sleeping in your car. I think it may be illegal in most cities in the Bay Area to sleep over night in your car on a street or in a parking lot. For this reason I thought the cargo van would allow me to have lights on in the back with a black out curtain behind the cab.

More food for thought. Thanks for giving me some tips on how both vans might work out.