Was sitting by the lake in barmera and wondering, as you do when its sunny and fishing line out.
How do you know when it is safe to camp and leave your van for few hours?
We have camped in many places where we have been only ones around like this. No other campers, bit road traffic going past, the odd walker/runner going down the road. Normally we work on theory if other campers around leave their vans unattended we MAY do the same depending on feel. Also we rely on word of mouth, if someone says they did and it was fine then we do. However we have also heard a few horror stories of gear going missing and even one of the guys camper being taken. So what do you use as rules or guidelines?
lol I must look like right yuppy. I sitting on beach with rod hooked in chair, laptop and flat white made in coffee machine complete with froth top.
__________________
Opinions are a persons way of thinking, you dont have to agree with it but respect it
I suppose you could set some "traps" for anyone touching the van - fit a microswitch to the van door attached to a horn that sounds if the door is opened....or similar using a motion sensor inside....same with car. It also would not be impossible to rig up a spare mobile phone to send a pre-recorded text to you if car/van is interfered with.
Catch any fish?
Herb we are a bit like you,probably go by feel. I doubt we would leave the van if we were the only ones there.
We have only left the van twice , Gregory River and Longreach as there were several other vans .
We do the usual security locks even a wheel clamp but never leave anything outside. I suppose if there are other people around you know they would look out for you and you would do the same.
Traps? mmm dont know whether thats legal. Maybe a few fish hooks in strategic places might work. We saw a van at one of our camps. The guys that owned it had everything padlocked to the wheels. Chairs, tables, generator, water cans, gas cylinders. When they got back we asked them why. Apparently they had been in Port Augusta in a cp and every night someone would get their van robbed. They said everything not padlocked down would go missing. We asked the cp owner where we were what the security of sites was in the area and she said, the one I was in was good as mainly permanents however they were well aware of coastal camp ground being hit by opportunist thieves who took eskys, canoes, chairs etc left beside vans, even in the daytime. It always amazes me why people think others hard earned property is theirs for the taking.
Coffee was great fishing sucked lol. maybe tomorrow.
__________________
Opinions are a persons way of thinking, you dont have to agree with it but respect it
A little off topic. Not a trap as such but a way of tracking if the van does get stolen. We have just purchased a Gps Tracker unit for the car. If the unthinkable happens the car can be tracked. It uses a sim card and sends a text to your phone if the vehicle moves. I'm not fully conversant with all the features and set up yet. The younger family members already use this system and of course it can't be seen or easily removed.
How does that go in outback or low reception areas? Is it on a phone network like a modem? Is it wired to the car? Ive seen ones on excavators that if the unit moves outside the set gps coordinates (set by operator) the it shuts down and cant be started and then sends signal out like a beacon so can be tracked on app installed tablet or phone. Good idea. might investigate further.
__________________
Opinions are a persons way of thinking, you dont have to agree with it but respect it
