This guy stealth camps with a Class B and hasn't been hassled in two years. Does this blow away the notion of the white

[magentawave]

This guy http://www.tosimplify.net/ has been stealth camping (and often in cities) for two years in a Class B and I'm pretty sure he hasn't been hassled by da man the entire time. Does this put to rest the notion that the plain white cargo van is the only way to stealth camp? Or does he get away with it because his Class B is really nice looking which doesn't make him look all homeless and destitute? In fact, he mentioned in a blog post that he could hear some security guards outside his vehicle one night talking about whether they should hassle him or not but decided against it because one of them said "that is too nice for a homeless person." What do you think?

 

[thinker]

no, it has to do with the city you're stealthing in.<br />think of the guards' attitudes. what difference does it make whether the guy is homeless or not??<br />here the cops don't care if you are openly living in your vehicle if you aren't bothering anyone.<br />in another city you can't park on the street outside your own house!

 

[magentawave]

I was only relating an example of the perception many have. If the vehicle is crappy looking then they assume the person is "homeless" and up to no good. The perception most have of the homeless where I currently live is that they are dirty smelly humans with mental disorders and/or are alcoholics/drug addicts that leave behind trashy messes wherever they hang out. Sadly, that perception is based on reality. For what its worth, my personal feeling is&nbsp;if you aren't violating someone rights then I could care less how you choose to live.&nbsp;The guy at that website thinks that besides having blacked out windows at night that he always keeps his Class B really clean and feels that contributes to not being hassled.<br /><br />So that is the question...<br /><br />All things being equal, meaning you black out your windows at night, and aren't setting up your BBQ next to your van, or have dogs leashed to your van with water and food bowls, etc., etc., then is there less of a chance being hassled while stealth camping with a new looking clean vehicle than an old looking one?

 

[SirJoey]

All things being equal, meaning you black out your windows at night, and aren't setting up your BBQ next to your van, or have dogs leashed to your van with water and food bowls, etc., etc., then is there less of a chance being hassled while stealth camping with a new looking clean vehicle than an old looking one?

<br /><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>I definitely think so! U pretty much nailed it.... if U LOOK trashy, authorities assume U ARE trashy. Conversely, a nice, clean-looking vehicle (and person) give the appearance of employed, responsible citizen. JMO, FWIW. YMMV. <br /><br /></strong></span>

 

[thinker]

oh, no question!<br />but that goes for the white stealth cargo too.<br /><br />to that end, in some areas the white cargo attracts more attention on a street than a conversion as you may not be allowed to park a commercial vehicle overnight; at the very least when a po spots the cargo, they check the plates and or reg.&nbsp;

 

[rvwandering]

&nbsp;I think that you are exactly right. His RV does look nice which is a big help in calming any fears or perceptions about him being homeless and causing problems. He has managed to stay in some places amaze me -like a parking lot right near the center of Santa Fe , for over a month! <br /><br />&nbsp;We don't park on streets often unless we're visiting someone so if we're in a city it usually in a big box store lot. No need to be stealth and we've only been asked to leave a few times over our 19 years of fulltiming.

 

[magentawave]

Good stuff guys and thank you for responding.<br /><br />I'm thinking of setting up my address and vehicle license in South Dakota.&nbsp;I know in California the DMV charges a lot more for commercial plates so&nbsp;I will call that place in South Dakota tomorrow to see if I can do this without commercial plates.

 

[Grounded]

Cool rig but the awning and wide ness would be a dead giveaway steal thing I would think.

 

[magentawave]

But the point of me starting this thread is that he hasn't had any problems at all in two years in spite of the fact that he has been camping in urban areas in a big Class B with awnings, etc.<br /><br />Most of us have been conditioned to become very uncomfortable with deviations from the cookie cutter status quo so I think the key for stealth is to look as "normal" as possible.<br /><br />I wonder how many successfully do real urban stealth camping (i.e. no hassles) in old funky looking vehicles?<br /><br /><br /><br />

Cool rig but the awning and wide ness would be a dead giveaway steal thing I would think.

 

[JohnnyGutz]

probably not tooo many , @ magentas last comment.. also i wish there were more pics of this inside.. i love it for a "smaller" set up. (i want a step van/bus rig)

 

[magentawave]

I think I recall his rig is a Chinook so you could probably Google the model and year to see photos.

 

[JohnnyGutz]

cool thanks <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[psytechguy]

"I'm thinking of setting up my address and vehicle license in South Dakota. I know in California the DMV charges a lot more for commercial plates so I will call that place in South Dakota tomorrow to see if I can do this without commercial plates."

Please post up what you find out! I'm curious about the whole idea of setting up a mail drop/residency in another state.

thanks!

 

[magentawave]

I called that place in South Dakota and she said that even if the van I buy in California has commercial plates that I can register it in South Dakota with non-commercial plates. She told me to call her right after I buy it and she will help me through the process of transferring everything.<br /><br />I also contacted Glenn at&nbsp;<a style="color: #000000; text-align: left;" href="http://www.tosimplify.net/" target="_blank">http://www.tosimplify.net</a>&nbsp;to ask a little more about his success at stealth camping in a Class B and he thinks the fact that its a nice rig and he keeps it clean makes a difference and he also said he pulls in at dark and leaves early.

 

[JohnnyGutz]

in my own opinion, i would feel like a sore thumb.. and a total creeper driving around the country in a blank white van..lol!!!

 

[magentawave]

I guess if I really try I can understand if the van is a nasty looking thing but&nbsp;I don't understand how you could have that perception with a nice clean van. Can you explain why you feel that way? I'm not trying to put you on the spot here but I'm just curious where that comes from.&nbsp;<img src="../images/boards/smilies/confused.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /><br /><br />&nbsp;<br /><br />

in my own opinion, i would feel like a sore thumb.. and a total creeper driving around the country in a blank white van..lol!!!

 

[psytechguy]

It's all a matter of context...<br /><br />this would look odd parked in front of McDonald's<br /><br />... or just about anywhere for that matter!<img src="../images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /><br /><br />

 

[psytechguy]

but this nice, clean van would probably not even get a second look...<br /><br />

 

[magentawave]

Hah hah! I'b be reeeeeeally concerned about seeing BOTH parked in an area with kids...and especially the "FREE CANDY" one!<br /><br /><strong>EDIT:</strong> I just noticed that the old funky van said "FREE CANDY" on it too. So yeah, I get your point. If the psychopath looks all Charlie Manson-ish then he is a walking bust. But if the psychopath looks like your typical clean cut politician in a suit then he can get away with literal murder.

 

[JohnnyGutz]

exactly. magenta sees what im talking about and so does psytech <img src="/images/boards/smilies/tongue.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">.. what i was saying wasn't meant to be insulting..but depending on where you live.. and or van dwell..certain things can appear unlike they actually are.. perfectly innocent people doing perfectly innocent things.. in..suspicious looking vehicles in the wrong area.. all a matter of context.. as i grew up in the suburbs of chicago... any suspicious white van with no markings especially.. around these parts.. is just a bit off.. and i am sure any dweller in a plain white van around here would be hassled by cops in a heartbeat.. but context is what its alla bout and how you look at it.. sorry if i caused any friction <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">