Where to park with a cargo trailer
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highdesertranger
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1st off I moved your thread to the "newcomers corner"
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sure you can find a place to park but I would like to point out thinking you are actually hiding from people who want to know you are in your vehicle is a fallacy. highdesertranger
Welcome to the CRVL forums! To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips, Tricks and Rules" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you.
sure you can find a place to park but I would like to point out thinking you are actually hiding from people who want to know you are in your vehicle is a fallacy. highdesertranger
You would be running a much higher risk (than just a van) of intrusion by the police, or by vandals/thieves if you park a loaded trailer on a city street. Possibly in a big box store parking lot if you arrive late, and leave early.
If stuck in a given town, say for work, try to make a deal with a property owner.
Many businesses would consider such an arrangement good for security, and they are less likely than residential owners, to be hassled by neighbors / zoning enforcement.
Many businesses would consider such an arrangement good for security, and they are less likely than residential owners, to be hassled by neighbors / zoning enforcement.
Just realize they are targeted by casual thieves in every urban area. Plain white trailers often contain tools which can be quickly turned into cash. In addition the plain wrapper trailers themselves are so "stealthy" and unidentifiable since they all look very similar that they too are targeted for theft. If I was going to have a little cargo van I would do something like put colorful flowers on it with an indication that it was for a florist service. Flowers have a short shelf life and can't survive in a trailer (or van) for long. No one would expect anything to be inside of the van overnight. No one would expect someone to be sleeping in it. It is too easily identified going down the road if a cop spots it. So sometimes being stealthy does mean being visible but at the same time indicating that you are a "good guy" as in a friendly kind of a business that people automatically have good feelings about. Also choose a business that people might expect to see roaming around here and there even in residential areas as well as business areas. Poop scooping service is another good fake cargo trailer business. Put happy, friendly looking paw prints and pet graphics of dogs and cats on it. No one is going to break into a cargo trailer that very likely smells like poop or even has bags of the stuff in it, it is much too off putting. Obviously no one in their right mind would ever want to sleep in that trailer. But you are obviously someone that can be trusted to go to people's houses when they are not home so you are a "good guy".Hodgiefam said:
You could have removable "cling" stick on emblems to slap on the side of the van, and trailer at night if you were parking on a street. When not in use, you could roll them up, and store them in a small space until needed next time.
RoamerRV428
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I think it really is ALL about what urban parking you are talking about. Location matters in things like this.
Some locations you could get by easily, other's are ones where you are in a target focus of concern about why are you there, longer term, overnight etc
So it is about a few circumstances involved but I say, go the heck for it
what will remotely maybe happen, some cop comes and knocks and says move on now.....no big deal ya got wheels and while the cop is there you ask where is legal to just chill out and get some sleep overnight with being legal. Cops can tell ya where is safe and not so you got a resource to ask if you stay cool, calm and collected and chat them up. The locals are the best ones to ask and a cop is usually a local.
Some locations you could get by easily, other's are ones where you are in a target focus of concern about why are you there, longer term, overnight etc
So it is about a few circumstances involved but I say, go the heck for it
what will remotely maybe happen, some cop comes and knocks and says move on now.....no big deal ya got wheels and while the cop is there you ask where is legal to just chill out and get some sleep overnight with being legal. Cops can tell ya where is safe and not so you got a resource to ask if you stay cool, calm and collected and chat them up. The locals are the best ones to ask and a cop is usually a local.In very few built-up jurisdictions is it technically legal to camp in a vehicle on public property.
If you present as a pretty mainstream upstanding citizen temporarily down on his luck but ideally working locally, you **might** just get a friendly sympathetic cop, but these days what are the odds so much they'd give you advice on how to break the law?
If urban van dwelling is the goal, then investing in the right sort of vehicle, stealthy as possible, is IMO the better strategy.
A trailer just won't cut it, unless you're pleading near-homeless poverty in a very liberal-compassionate district.
If you present as a pretty mainstream upstanding citizen temporarily down on his luck but ideally working locally, you **might** just get a friendly sympathetic cop, but these days what are the odds so much they'd give you advice on how to break the law?
If urban van dwelling is the goal, then investing in the right sort of vehicle, stealthy as possible, is IMO the better strategy.
A trailer just won't cut it, unless you're pleading near-homeless poverty in a very liberal-compassionate district.
I would think most urban areas would have several truck stops , health club or private parking lots you could stay one night in and rotate locations daily like Tioga George does, look at his blogs. I think the secret is to stay mobile and move several times daily maybe sleep from 10PM till 6AM go get breakfast and hit day use areas till pulling in to sleep somewhere different at 10PM.
RoamerRV428 said:I think it really is ALL about what urban parking you are talking about. Location matters in things like this.
Some locations you could get by easily, other's are ones where you are in a target focus of concern about why are you there, longer term, overnight etc
So it is about a few circumstances involved but I say, go the heck for it
Well, agree with this.
The worst thing about those late night knocks, is they often come late at night, after we are asleep.
Then, you are leaving in a hurry, driving in the dark, looking for someplace else you can maybe park the remainder of the night.
Now looking for two sites that will accommodate trailer and cargo van, and getting into them, in the dark, and possibly with people of the night out and about who may wish you harm and/or to relieve you of your money and possessions.
When you talk about finding “urban” parking places, doing that in a stealth van may be possible but towing a cargo trailer changes that considerably. Not on a city street seems near certain, to me.
When looking for an overnight spot, I’m about identifying reasonably sure things, like parking lots at WalMart, Costco, Cracker Barrell, etc., and the occasional church parking lot if hospitable.
Good luck.
These tend to be on the periphery of towns.
Then, you are leaving in a hurry, driving in the dark, looking for someplace else you can maybe park the remainder of the night.
Now looking for two sites that will accommodate trailer and cargo van, and getting into them, in the dark, and possibly with people of the night out and about who may wish you harm and/or to relieve you of your money and possessions.
When you talk about finding “urban” parking places, doing that in a stealth van may be possible but towing a cargo trailer changes that considerably. Not on a city street seems near certain, to me.
When looking for an overnight spot, I’m about identifying reasonably sure things, like parking lots at WalMart, Costco, Cracker Barrell, etc., and the occasional church parking lot if hospitable.
Good luck.
These tend to be on the periphery of towns.
Buy two orange traffic cones. When you park in a business zone, on a street, vacant lot, whatever, place a cone in front of your front bumper and one behind the trailer.
Just about guarantees no one will bother you.
Just about guarantees no one will bother you.
RoamerRV428
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I would think cones would actually draw attention, huh
