Theft...in parks or free camping...Experiences?

Denise · Senior Member

Theft...in parks or free camping...Experiences?

gray nomad · Veteran Member

Unfortunatly, there are some very dishonest people around and leaving things unattended, even in a caravan park, let alone a "free camping areas" can be quite "liberating" in the worst possible way. I would not leave anything loose in a "free camping area" ever.

Many caravan parks do have security cameras installed. As far as "privacy issues" are concerned with security cameras: They are only used to record what is happening in open public areas.

One of my first BIG changes will be the installation of security cameras in the Lake Bolac Caravan Park. It will help keep the riff raff in check, maybe never to return biggrin

and to keep the honest people safe. That can't be a bad thing.
Best regards
Frank

Denise · Senior Member

Hmmm.....Thanks Frank!

Delta18 · Guru

During our trip around the block 2 years ago with another couple in another van, the only loss we suffered was our companions lost their near new Baby Q barby from Jacob Creek Caravan Park. The thief was seen on CCTV but from a distance so was un-identifiable.

We had more time in free camps than parks and were never worried about security in them. There is usually someone in the camp area who will be staying on the site while you go exploring. Make yourself known to them, suss them out & if happy leave your camp under their supervision. It worked for us.

The only problem I have heard from free camps was the person with his new honda chugging away in the evening with the owner inside under the A/c watching tv. Not til he want outside to refuel did he find an El-Cheapo GMC rattler in place of his Honda. Then he recalled a little 'hiccup' in the power supply but ignored it as it immediately came good again. That was when the switch was done.

May be urban myth, who knows?

Moral? Chain your genny up to something.

-- Edited by Delta18 on Thursday 18th of February 2010 02:41:44 PM

Denise · Senior Member

For sure ....thanks :)

Onedodger · Guru

After three times around the block and many many other trips.
We have never had anything stolen either from van parks or free camping.
Yes we do make sure to have everything secured when leaving the camp site unattended although we seldom leave the free camping site unattended.

We also do not camp near large towns as the local trouble makers may appear. disbelief

Our biggest problem is leaving things behind even though we practice the emu inspection before departure. confuse

In van parks we always make sure only the chairs and perhaps the camp table are left out at night. wink

If we are using our free standing solar panel as we did in Ningaloo reef camp it is chained to the van. biggrin

I have heard of a few instances where there has been gear stolen but it is not the normal thing if one is a little carefull. evileye

I should add that we have insurance to cover theft of camping gear so Murphy's law may apply here.

Denise · Senior Member

Dodg is the insurance a standalone thing or an extension of a comprehensive policyfor car?

Helen · Veteran Member

I used to camp with an OzTent before the van -loved it with a passion- and never had a problem and have not had anything taken from around my van in 2 1/2 years. It does, I think depend somewhat on where you are.
Wanted to keep the tent but too long and too heavy. Now have a cheap nylon one in case I need it. Unless you are going to live in it I would think it an expensive exercise for storage.

Firefly · Guru

We never leave anything in a free camp. One couple near the Bungle Bungles, uncoupled their van and went touring and all was fine but I couldn't.

We have left gear out in van parks and never had a problem but we stayed in a motel one night and the car was stolen from. We keep a fridge in the back and they stole our beer, a chair and a cordless drill. Could have been worse, they could have taken the fridge. smile

Denise · Senior Member

Hi Helen, will use oztent as an annex as I have a campervan...not much room! Did you sell your oztent? Cheers Denise

Pam · Guru

we have a tent style camper so we cannot lock up so anything of value we 'sleep with' and put in the car when we are playing tourist for the day.

Quite a few years ago when we had tents we lost fishing rods from our 6 x 4 trailer. it had a canvas canopy and the thief had very quietly undone all the clips. the esky would have gone too but it was too big to get out through the top bars thank goodness. After that we used to secure an old but noisy tarp across our trailer

As someone else said use common sense and don't leave things in sight.

xina · Guru

Denise wrote:

Hi Helen, will use oztent as an annex as I have a campervan...not much room! Did you sell your oztent? Cheers Denise

Hi Helen,
I was going to do the same thing, 'till I felt the weight of one. Too heavy for me later on, so I've decided to get an RV Shade, from BCF. $129.00, so lighter on the wallet too.
Cheers,
xina.

dreamchaser · Member

Hi Xina,
Love the look of that rv shade attached to your mitsubishi..please excuse my ignorance what does BCF stand for. So is the shade actually built to attach to your rv.. I drive an xtrail and while I am working on buying a van I have been going camping now and then ,sleeping in the back of the car and using a big blue tarp for
shade. It is very annoying really especially when it is windy etc. Your shade looks great. Can I see a tarp at the back or Is the back closed in from the shade.
Thanks Jude

jimricho · Guru

"BCF" is a "Boating, Camping, and Fishing" chain of stores owned by Super Cheap Auto. they are relatively new and have branches in many towns. click on http://www.bcf.com.au/ for more info

(xina, I hope you don't mind me answering the question for you),

Jim

Ron and Shirley · Senior Member

xina wrote:

Denise wrote:

Hi Helen, will use oztent as an annex as I have a campervan...not much room! Did you sell your oztent? Cheers Denise
Hi Helen,
I was going to do the same thing, 'till I felt the weight of one. Too heavy for me later on, so I've decided to get an RV Shade, from BCF. $129.00, so lighter on the wallet too.
Cheers,
xina.

Denise

I have had an OzTent since they first came out when they only had one model. It is the model they now call RV-2 and for me it is fantastic and thoroughly recommend. I use it 2-3 times a year when I go 4WDing in the Victorias High Country or Desert areas. http://www.ronshirl.net/OzTent.htm

The OzTent would be ideal for what you have in mind, however bear in mind when packed up it is a big (2m long) and heavy (around 17kg & more if wet). I carry mine in a pod on the roof of the vehicle so have to lift it above my head to put it into the pod. You may have enough room in your campervan to just slide it on the floor of your vehicle, which would make life easier.

Once unpacked from the bag, yes 30 seconds to erect, then it takes a bit of time to peg it down (wind depending) and set the awning with its poles and guy ropes. When 4WDing I am set up completely, bed (stretcher/sleeping bag)/stove/pantry/table/chair/etc, in less than 20min.

BTW to stay on topic we have not had any problems with gear going missing whilst camped either in the bush or in Parks.

-- Edited by Ron and Shirley on Friday 19th of February 2010 09:58:19 AM

-- Edited by Ron and Shirley on Friday 19th of February 2010 09:59:45 AM

Denise · Senior Member

Thanks Ron and Shirl, thats encouraging, I'm checking one out this afternoon at BFC . I would slide it under the bed ...couldn't put it on roof....(rotator cuffs). I love the light thingie xina's decided on too but theres no floor for really wet weather. Did you ever use a fly on the oztent? Denise :)

Ron and Shirley · Senior Member

Denise wrote:
Did you ever use a fly on the oztent? Denise :)

Denise

No I dont have the Fly. The tent is only used a few times a year on 4WD Trips which in the main are moving camp every day and it would be a bit of a pain to setup/pack up every day. I have not experienced any leaks with my tent and have camped in some pretty ordinary weather from heavy rain through to snow.

I do however have a piece of shade cloth as a ground sheet for under the tent floor. This reduces/eliminates the amount of dirt sticking to the outside of the tent floor, particularly if the ground is damp.

-- Edited by Ron and Shirley on Friday 19th of February 2010 03:37:14 PM

Onedodger · Guru

Denise,
Our gear is covered by Our C.I.L. insurance policy under caravan contents.

dave06 · Guru

I lost a camera up in Alice a few months back, yep it was covered but the photos on the microdrive are irreplaceable, a lot of our friends are dead now that did that trip with us, makes me as angry as all hell to think the drive was probably just wiped

I've never lost anything in free camps but I'm very weary around c/parks

Denise · Senior Member

Just figured a way to stop the oztent from being stolen in a hurry yesterday but decided cos of cost to get a cheaper stand up height tent on sale...$99. ...at BCF.

It will do the job for a while and is pretty quick to put up ....plus a thing called an "event tent".... $199 also on sale.The span between legs is about 3m . Its like a bowl upside down with 4 sides cut away and is high enough to put the other tent under being about 2.5 m high at the centre plus if i raise one side a bit with some star picket bits i can back the van under part way .
Both are ok for one person to put up and I like the idea of a really high fly for airflow and shade.
I think it will be a good and flexible setup depending on length of stay.I may well buy the oztent later, our winds and storms are only going to get worse so flimsy stuff won't hack it in the end.

Helen · Veteran Member

Yes I did sell the tent. I was besieged and could have sold it 10 times over. Good luck with your new arrangement.

Denise · Senior Member

Thanks Helen, thats another thing in the oztents favour ....the resale value.. which I doubt other tents would have much of . Just don't have the $ for one at present .Cheers

jimricho · Guru

My recollection of Oztents from travelling in 4wd tag-alongs is that they can be a pain to stow as they fold up into a long package. They were usually carried in a weather proof bag on a roof rack.

Denise · Senior Member

Would put it on the floor of campervan in the back door, under the bed...not a problem there Jim..

xina · Guru

Hi Dreamchaser,
Jim has answered part of your question already. That shot is from a Gumtree site, and some-one was selling that unit. I liked the look of the shade, so saved it, to try and find out where I could get one. I believe it has suction pads to attatch it to the top of the camper, and that is all shade you're looking at. Did you blow up the shot to get a better look? You can go up to 400% with that one. Got Rates and a couple more bills to go before I get mine.

Cheers,
xina.

xina · Guru

jimricho wrote:

"BCF" is a "Boating, Camping, and Fishing" chain of stores owned by Super Cheap Auto. they are relatively new and have branches in many towns. click on http://www.bcf.com.au/ for more info

(xina, I hope you don't mind me answering the question for you),

Jim

Hi Jim, I certainly don't mind any-one else answering for me. As it was, I didn't get around to checking here for two days, so it's probably just as well you did. Thank you.

Cheers,
xina.

jimricho · Guru

Denise wrote:

Would put it on the floor of campervan in the back door, under the bed...not a problem there Jim..

To paraphrase a saying.... One person's pain is another person's gain

One of the "tag-alongers" on a couple of the trips had all the extras, fly, awning, gazebo complete with fly screen, etc, etc. It took them longer than anyone else to set up and pack up because of all the extras. He used to call it the 30 second tent that they had converted into the 30 minute tent! They had to set it all up even for a one night stopover because his SWMBO would not cook and eat outside because of the flies (whether there were any or not). But she was from NZ wink

(sorry Kiwis wink

) They were able to fit it all into the back of their Patrol which was just as well as they had so much crap on their roof rack!

Denise · Senior Member

I figure I have 4 options with what I have now and will depend on length of stay and weather.I want to travel pretty light but with options for different circumstances. :)

dreamchaser · Member

Thanks Jim saved the site BCF in my favourites..looks great.
Thanks Xina...know how you feel bills bills and more bills guess we just have to go on window shopping heh..

Thanks Jude