wondring what people think about leaving van in free parks close to towns, to go and do some shopping, good idea or not.
brickies said
06:16 PM Oct 28, 2015
Caravan have gone missing from free camps , Last year when I was in Townsville some stole a caravan from Bluewater free camp , Some do leave there caravan at free camps but that is the situation where i would use a caravan park
PeterInSa said
06:35 PM Oct 28, 2015
Would talk to neighbours and see if they are staying in situ for the day, if so would leave my mobile phone number with them, regardless have towball lock and 2 wheel clamps for our tandem along with a tracking system with a GeoFence setup.
Desert Dweller said
06:37 PM Oct 28, 2015
Don't think a van in a free camping area is any more likely to be stolen than anywhere else. It never worries us. We have 2 padlocks on the hitch but if some-ones really determined to steal it they will. Our insurance will cover it.
Brenda and Alan said
07:48 PM Oct 28, 2015
Since most of our campsites are free camps we don't have a problem leaving the van to sight see or shop. You must use common sense (a rare commodity ) if no one else is camped a roundabout, but in four years of travels had not had a problem. Caravans have probably more frequently been stolen from private homes and caravan parks than free camps.
Alan
Bruce and Bev said
07:56 PM Oct 28, 2015
I agree with the last two comments.
Late last year we stayed at a Big 4 CP and they have card operated entry gates to get into the park. Over the past few weeks 2 caravans had been stolen from the CP - so as Desert Dweller suggests, take reasonable precautions to lock your van from being easily hitched up and have good insurance (ours will supply us 4 weeks accommodation at $100 a day if our van is stolen or written off - enough to make other arrangements or buy a new van with their payout)
Jamjar said
08:22 PM Oct 28, 2015
I wondered this myself when I stayed in Forbes recently. I didn't know if it was allowed.
I bought one of those heavy metal bracket thingies that cover the hitch hole and has a padlock. Are they any good, or just a deterrent?
J.
Happywanderer said
08:38 PM Oct 28, 2015
The last few camps I have stayed in there have been caravans, 5th wheelers and buses left while the owners have gone off for the day. Also as in my case I lock up the van and wander up town in places like Forbes.
Forbes, Ariah Park, Nerrandera Brewery Park and many other have had vans left with no problems.
dishlicker said
09:15 PM Oct 28, 2015
All the comments are true. There is no sure way of stopping a low life scum bag that has set out to steal some other persons property. But you have a duty of care for yourself and your own property so look into systems that can be put in place if you have to leave your van anywhere such as a safeway car park. the more theft prevention put in place the better off. cheers
Aus-Kiwi said
10:08 PM Oct 28, 2015
Jamjar wrote:
I wondered this myself when I stayed in Forbes recently. I didn't know if it was allowed.
I bought one of those heavy metal bracket thingies that cover the hitch hole and has a padlock. Are they any good, or just a deterrent?
J.
They are a deterrent .. A chain through wheel is another .. I used to take the hitch off ..
Jamjar said
10:24 PM Oct 28, 2015
Okey doke, ta.
J.
Onedodger said
05:00 PM Oct 29, 2015
We have stayed in many free camps.
After sussing out other campers we have locked the van placed our locking device on the hitch and with wire rope secured the dish then have asked the other campers to keep an eye on things with our mobile no supplied.
In the many years we have done this nothing has been stolen however I have left stuff behind when departing.
One needs to take as many precausions as one can.
The big if is that battery operated angle grinders are now available.
But I will still do it if waranted and I thought the area reasonably safe.
Vince said
06:51 PM Oct 29, 2015
Everything is safe.....until... the crims come along
Desert Dweller said
08:33 AM Oct 30, 2015
Vince wrote:
Everything is safe.....until... the crims come along
Not a lot of crims out in the actual bush, they tend to enjoy the creature comforts of towns.
jade46 said
03:56 PM Oct 30, 2015
I wonder if there would be an insurance issue?
chicken said
09:16 AM Oct 31, 2015
Just a warning note. I have heard of people who asked their neighbour to keep an eye on things while they went out to have a look around and shop, came back a few hours later and everything was gone - including the neighbours who were "looking after things!"
I am sure this doesn't happen very often, but the scums are out there, so be aware.
Cheers,
Chicken.
HiAce98 said
01:52 AM Nov 1, 2015
I've only had stuff stolen when I camped at a designated free camp IN a small town (and the other campers were all gone before I took the dogs for a walk, so locals I'd say). I daresay opportunist thieves can happen anywhere, but that includes at any house. Be sensible but not paranoid
Aus-Kiwi said
12:06 AM Nov 2, 2015
A blue and white chequer tape around van with breath test sign tends to keep thieves at bay..
Jamjar said
04:15 PM Nov 2, 2015
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
A blue and white chequer tape around van with breath test sign tends to keep thieves at bay..
That made me smile, for the first time, today.
J.
Radar said
06:25 PM Nov 2, 2015
Jamjar wrote:
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
A blue and white chequer tape around van with breath test sign tends to keep thieves at bay..
That made me smile, for the first time, today.
J.
Me also. Radar
HiAce98 said
01:27 AM Nov 6, 2015
Radar wrote:
Jamjar wrote:
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
A blue and white chequer tape around van with breath test sign tends to keep thieves at bay..
That made me smile, for the first time, today.
J.
Me also. Radar
Made me smile too, but not for the first time today
wondring what people think about leaving van in free parks close to towns, to go and do some shopping, good idea or not.
Since most of our campsites are free camps we don't have a problem leaving the van to sight see or shop. You must use common sense (a rare commodity ) if no one else is camped a roundabout, but in four years of travels had not had a problem. Caravans have probably more frequently been stolen from private homes and caravan parks than free camps.
Alan
Late last year we stayed at a Big 4 CP and they have card operated entry gates to get into the park. Over the past few weeks 2 caravans had been stolen from the CP - so as Desert Dweller suggests, take reasonable precautions to lock your van from being easily hitched up and have good insurance (ours will supply us 4 weeks accommodation at $100 a day if our van is stolen or written off - enough to make other arrangements or buy a new van with their payout)
I wondered this myself when I stayed in Forbes recently. I didn't know if it was allowed.
I bought one of those heavy metal bracket thingies that cover the hitch hole and has a padlock. Are they any good, or just a deterrent?
J.
Forbes, Ariah Park, Nerrandera Brewery Park and many other have had vans left with no problems.
All the comments are true. There is no sure way of stopping a low life scum bag that has set out to steal some other persons property. But you have a duty of care for yourself and your own property so look into systems that can be put in place if you have to leave your van anywhere such as a safeway car park. the more theft prevention put in place the better off. cheers
They are a deterrent .. A chain through wheel is another .. I used to take the hitch off ..
Okey doke, ta.
J.
We have stayed in many free camps.
After sussing out other campers we have locked the van placed our locking device on the hitch and with wire rope secured the dish then have asked the other campers to keep an eye on things with our mobile no supplied.
In the many years we have done this nothing has been stolen however I have left stuff behind when departing.
One needs to take as many precausions as one can.
The big if is that battery operated angle grinders are now available.
But I will still do it if waranted and I thought the area reasonably safe.
Not a lot of crims out in the actual bush, they tend to enjoy the creature comforts of towns.
Just a warning note. I have heard of people who asked their neighbour to keep an eye on things while they went out to have a look around and shop, came back a few hours later and everything was gone - including the neighbours who were "looking after things!"
I am sure this doesn't happen very often, but the scums are out there, so be aware.
Cheers,
Chicken.
That made me smile, for the first time, today.
J.
Me also. Radar
Made me smile too, but not for the first time today