18 RV Boondocking SAFETY Tips: Watch Before You RV Alone!
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- Опубліковано 31 лип 2024
- We have 18 rv boondocking safety tips for you that we highly suggest you watch before you rv alone in a free camping area. We have spent countless nights in primitive areas and have developed some rv boondocking safety tips along the way. These tips include changing how others perceive you, trailer alarms, self protection, how to choose the perfect primitive camping spot for your travel trailer, using satellite technology to stay safe when traveling alone, posted signage, and more! If you have a large rv or a small camper trailer like us these tips for rv newbies and veterans will work for everyone!
Rv camping in free camping areas can be just as safe as camping in a campground. When it comes to rv security you just need to take a few extra precautions in boondocking areas to live comfortably and safely. Rv nomad safety tips continue to grow as more and more people head out on the road in search of freedom and low cost camping sites.
We are excited as part of this community of "Playing with Sticks" to learn from all of you some new rv tips and tricks that you have picked up along the way during your travels. Please share your rv boondocking safety tips for all of us rv newbies and veterans.
If you haven't watched Our 7 Trailer Anti-Theft Tips: How to STOP a Thief in their Tracks! you would probably benefit from watching that one as well. • Our 7 Trailer Anti-The...
Also don't forget to check our RV Safety and Security Playlist for more videos like this.
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I’m a woman and camp with my daughter. I avoid buying pink and purple camping items and I always make sure to have two adult chairs out along with the smaller camp chair my daughter uses.
Great idea to not draw attention.
As a guy, I purchase the odd piece of pink gear…..
I would never keep anything signaling a child was there, out in the open unattended.
That’s a good idea ! Very cleaver
One tip I was given when boondocking is make certain your rig is pointed in the direction of escape as you don’t want to be messing around trying to turn everything around.
I just found your site and subscribed. I am a 79 year widow who converted my minivan into a camper for one. I have camped in New England and the Eastern U. S., almost completely in National and State Forests. I have had many great experiences. I do subscribe to the theory that if it doesn't feel right, leave!! The only time I didn't listen to my gut my vehicle was broken into while I was out hiking, so I learned my lesson! Will be following your site. Thanks.
Joyce we love your resiliency. To have an experience like that and keep going says a lot about your character. Camping in New England would be incredible. We would love to get over to the east coast. Maine has always had a special allure to us. Thank you for sharing your story for others to hear. Have fun out there! Thanks for subscribing Joyce!
Joyce - so glad to read your story. My wife and I traveled the USA for 2 yrs and took a side trip to Europe for a river tour. We met some really extraordinary people -- a guy in Idaho riding his bicycle cross country, pair of teachers in a KOA campsite who built a platform bed in the back of their station wagon and traveled the west coast on their holidays with their bikes on a bike rack on the back - they liked to explore on the bikes.
In Budapest on the river boat we meet a couple from Australia He was 84 she 83 and both widowed They had meet 3 yrs before and decided to travel together. Before doing the boat tour we were on they had driven through Patagonia at the tip of S. America!!!!
I’m 67- but I want to grow up and be like them. !!!!!
That’s a good point, about the theft happening while you were hiking. Sounds like someone was watching you. At home, I’ve always made a point, if I see someone is outside when I’m leaving, to go back to the door, open it and say something like “babe, I will be right back, just running up the street” no one is in there, but I used to live in a neighborhood that went down hill. Couldn’t even have a table and chairs on the porch, they’d get stolen. But no one ever broke in. We also had a beware of dog sign on the fence. I’m sure my pug would have rendered them dead LOL.
A great sign is one that says "There is nothing here worth dying for"
Yes it is :)
Might just make them come in locked n loaded though
Lol
I travel in a small van; instead of a dog crate, I just hang a leash with a large studded collar outside and a couple of large dog dishes are outside my door. Both store under my driver's seat out of the way. I also have a DVD of a barking, growling dog with a man's voice asking the dog what's out there (I'm a solo woman). I secure a webbing strap to both by front doors, tying them together at night, same for the side opening door, with a bell hung from the strap so if someone is trying to pry open my doors they are restrained and I am alerted in time to grab my wasp spray---or the 16 gauge :) I do have a decal of a large dog, also hunter related decals and I got two sets of beach sandals/camp shoes that I not only set out side with a chair and a couple of stools, a couple of cups I put on the larger pair over my shoes and walk around the camp leaving the larger tracks. I have never had any problem in many years of travel
The leash and dog dishes sounds much more efficient than carrying around a large dog kennel. That is great to hear there is a DVD. We have had multiple people on here comment that they should make a soundtrack that has a low dog growl. Looks like it already exists! The webbing and bell is another great idea. We said the same thing, as long as you can buy a little time you have the ability to get to your next line of defense if needed. We thought the Ducks Unlimited Sticker was a good idea. It is great to hear someone is using the hunter related decals. Love how you took the larger shoes even one step further with the walking around. Our favorite part was your last line "never had any problem in many years of travel."
I made the DVD myself with a neighbor's dog and husband.
I like tying the doors together with a bell attached. That using your noodle !!
@@PlayingwithSticks I can send you a recording of my dog barking when she's DEMANDING to be let out when she sees a bear in the yard up here in Canada... 😉 That deep bark/growl is enough to send anyone running... 😱 *grin* Another tip is these small SHRILL alarms, also called "rape alarm" (can buy on eBay or Amazon) that many women have on their key chain or purse zipper, that if you pull the stopper out of it, the alarm is very very LOUD. I have a couple of those. One I attach to the inside of the door to my camper before I go to bed/sleep, so that if anyone opens the door, it will pull the stopper out and SCREAM... If nothing else, it will startle the intruder and perhaps give me enough time to get ready to fight. Another one I attach out of sight, under the door on the outside if I'm leaving my rig somewhere. However, like I wrote above, I also have a large guard dog. She's a German Shepard/Wolf hybrid but in some ways, takes more after her mother the GSD than her grandfather wolf and is not timid. She's 100% guard dog when needed and very friendly and family dog oriented when not on duty.
Stay safe and thank you for all your safety tips! ❤️
//Solani
@@solanisomeni Great suggestions. The alarm for both when sleeping and when out hiking is a great idea. When we were younger we had the loyal, but fierce German Shepherd as well. Heck of a dog. When she was old she became blind and deaf, but somehow managed to find her way home a few times when lost. From our experience with Shepard's they are really incredible.
Anonymity is the best security. If you’re on social media or keep a blog/vlog give yourself a 2-3 day delay on posts so your public audience doesn’t have any idea where you’re at. You can always stay up to date with trusted family and friends via text or email. Keep personal data off your social media including your friend’s list so you don’t have a stranger approach you with a “common friend” ice breaker. Trust your gut ALWAYS! Don’t engage in conversation with folks who may be intoxicated or impaired. Don’t feel like you’re going to offend someone if you pack up and leave. Your safety is far more important than unintentionally offending someone.
Great advice! Nobody has mentioned the social media tip yet. Sometimes we wonder the same thing for UA-cam Creators who advertise at their campsite that they are on UA-cam. I see why they do it, because it would really help get more viewership. What makes us a little nervous about that is they can then watch your videos to see if you have any valuables in your rig worth taking. Also a great tip about not engaging with people who are intoxicated.
Great advice
All of it
Some people still need to be told that:
Reporting that your home is vacant while you are in Fiji
For the next week
Is not good security
Social selfies can’t be stopped but the delay is best option
And limited audiences
Yes, I can't believe these folks who tell on FB, we are leaving at 8:35 on Oct 23, 2018 and won't be home until 4:30 on the 5th of November. Duh!?! Don't announce to the world where you are staying either.
Excellent tips! Camping alone is peaceful but also a tad nerve racking at the same time. Luckily I have a dog, a gun, and I’m 6’5” 280 so I don’t get intimidated easily. But I always get a little anxious when I hear a vehicle approaching my camp, especially at night.
We definitely agree with the "I always get a little anxious when I hear a vehicle approaching comment." It has always turned out fine for us, but it does continue to put us on edge at times as well.
Uzi does it
Used to do wilderness tent camping by myself. Before I started I found a personal alarm. It was on a lanyard and had a hook at the bottom. I could tie the lanyard to my tent zipper and hook it on the bottom. If anyone tried to unzip my tent the alarm would be pulled and set off. Not sure what the decible level was, but it was painful and blood curtailing. If I was staying at a camp ground, I'd always do a quick demonstration with the camp host. That way they'd know what it was and who. I'd also wear it on hikes. Animal deterrent.
Arizona where I did most of my hiking and camping solo wilderness is open carry. So wearing a firearm in a holster was a major deterrent to animals of the human variety. Happy camping. Stay safe out there.
You are the first to share this. Than you Coleen!
I love mine, and most are under $10.
I carry two additional things: a high power flashlight that can temporarily blind someone, and a stun gun that will let you have a little fun with the guy you just blinded.
Great suggestions Eddie. Both are simple, light weight, small, and fairly affordable.
The one no one seems to suggest (as far as I've seen) is a MAG light. That strong beam in your eyes and that metal up side the head will work!
Great suggestion Cindy! You are correct, we haven't heard that tip from anyone. We are big fans of the MAG lights as well.
Lead in the head works better!
Mag light? Try a Manker U12. Light... 2000 lumens...
Definitely check out NiteCore flashlights. I have one that has multiple settings. A plain white been that adjusts from zero to 1,500 lumens, a blue beam, a green beam, a red beam, SOS flashing beam, a beacon setting to be seen by aircraft, a strobe setting and finally my grandsons favourite setting is red and blue flashing lights just like on police cars. I swear he has a bazillion toys and stuff to play with but prefers to play with my “toys” lol
Seriously though check out their flashlights you won’t regret it.
Great advice! My wife and I are elderly and although we are avid campers, we will be heading out on a couple of journeys in the next two years utilizing some boon docking sites and are a little nervous. You have given us some fantastic tips on staying safe that are greatly appreciated. Have wonderful journeys, we're Jealous that you get to do this at such a young age!! Hopefully we cross paths! Good luck! Travel safe! and we hope Peace finds it's way to you!
I have a thermal sight which I use to scan the area before going inside for the night and again before bed. Kind of spendy but so worth it. And I have a AMD-65 with a backpack full of mags.
No surprises that way! Thanks Rick for the good suggestion
For the Apocalypse maybe. That's paranoid thinking to the max.
rick m60 You sound exactly like me.
And the dumb question is what’s an AMD-65?
@@prepperjonpnw6482 It's the Hungarian military's equivalent of an AK. Great guns but terribly ugly. Remember, google is your friend.
Thanks for all the tips. Keep them coming! This channel has been such a blessing for us. We have learned so much from everyone.
Thank you! I'm planning to start Rving for the first time now that both of my parents recently passed and no longer have the role of being their caregiver. I plan to travel alone with my dogs.
Sorry to hear about their passing. Being a caregiver is a hard work. Owning a little camper and getting out on the road is work as well. In our opinion it will probably help ease the transition from caretaker to solo individual. Glad to hear you have a four legged friend along as well!
@@PlayingwithSticks Thank you. I'm blessed to have had them a long time. Honestly, I'm burned out from caregiving for the last 5 years. As enticing it is to start RVing, I agree it's work from the videos I've seen and I'm too exhausted to do more work and would feel too overwhelmed to figure out working the mechanical aspects of an RV. I love my dogs and I'm very thankful that I still have them. 🐾❤
@@MG-bq1uk good luck, God bless you you've got happy trails coming
@@karinlarsen2608 Thank you and God bless you too and your family. May 2021 be better than the this year for all of us.
Nice job ! On my “to do” list is adding an inside the camper ‘panic button’ to activate a loud bullhorn under the camper , & a strobe lite on top. Equally effective for inquisitive bears & nosy bad guys at 3am. Consider how best to use your tow vehicle dash & rear view cams to get a nice video of perps.
But DO enjoy the sights & sounds (or lack of) that nature provides... love them waterfalls !
We never thought about the strobe lite before. Travels with Yoly mentioned the same thing. Also like you said, I am pretty sure a bear would get pretty startled with the horn and strobe. Thanks for sharing that. We also never thought about the dash or rear view cam. Another great idea! There is something about waterfalls that are so magical. East just wanted to jump in and play under it all day.
I have tent camped for thirty plus years...the gut feeling is your best. In all of those years, we had a gun continue to blast 2-3 times on camp road in a state park ( we stayed still...never revisited that park again!) and suspicious activity ( drug dealing) at spot nearby while primitive camping. We took down in middle of night when storm.moved in... afraid to leave before, of course...) I have experienced two other campgrounds where we had to reside and it was an unrestful night...but we escaped. These all make good stories now! Please don't be afraid to camp, those of you hesitant. We have found it's the drive thru folks that are most likely to be wary of...not a fellow camper. Just my two cents. Thank you for the video. Haven't boondocked yet but will eventually.
I never thought of useing the panic button on my key, great idea!! Thx!
Some of the great ways of staying safe are pretty darn simple. We find we tend to overthink things. Many of the people in this community have shared some pretty simple tips with us that have really made a big impact.
I keep mine on my nightstand at home as an extra safety tool.
I travel in my RV with two large German Shepherd dogs. They are a great deterrent to predators, but they do limit some of your activities. You can't leave them alone in the vehicle for very long, and in fact, it is illegal to do so in a lot of places. In summer, it can get dangerously hot in a vehicle if your ac fails. The dogs require a lot of your time to take care of their needs. So it's hard to go to a museum, a restaurant, or any other activity that takes a long time. Those are generally out on my trips. Of course, if you are boondocking, you are probably not doing a lot of those kinds of things. If you are just hanging out in the woods, hiking, fishing, or just chilling while enjoying the scenery, dogs are a great thing to have along. If an area bans my self defense pepper spray, and/or my firearm, I don't go there. There's a unlimited number of beautiful places to see that don't do so, so I will just go there instead. You have some great tips, though. Very common sense, but lots of people don't think about security enough.
Along with my two babies who are now 17 and 19, your babies are honestly the cutest, sweetest and smartest little people. My favorite thing watching your videos is seeing them and May (Other than the well made, packed with usable, accurate information). You have a lovely family. It makes my heart happy to see that.
You are so kind. Honestly it is comments like these that keep us motivated and thankful we get the opportunity to make these videos. It is really fun connecting with kind people who have similar interests to us.
Great advice! Well done. I especially liked the part at the end where you said if you don’t feel comfortable or if you feel uneasy listen to your gut and find another place. There was a large ‘X’made out of sticks right behind you in that shot. This could indicate a “territory” or “turf” marker. If you feel like you’re being watched accompanied by an uneasy feeling this could indicate presence of a predatory animal. We have instincts for a reason. Thanks for the advice.
Glad you enjoyed it Julien. We really appreciate the comment about the instincts and th epresence of a predatory animal. Sometimes I think we forget that we are mammals and have those insticts as well. We just don't exercise them as much as we used to.
Bigfoot made that large 'X' with skinny trees. He is politely saying go some place else, don't leave your food outside, especially meats. Bigfoot will smell it and come take all of it. Be aware, check the campsite for large humanlike foot prints. They don't want to be shot either. :-)
Be Safe out there.
Oh my god.
@@steve4386 Bigfoot is for real
Here's another tip … if you DO answer the 3:00 am knock at the door, put on a balaclava, open the door and say "this one's mine!!!!" And, close the door again.
We laughed out loud at that one! That is really good.
ScubaStevee62
🤣🤣
Well played, sir.
I am struggling not to wake up the neighbors laughing.
I can't quit laughing!!! Glad nobody is around or I'd wake them up!
“Thanks lord for bringing our next meal” works pretty good for me
I have the Garmin inReach which has been a life-saver when I've camped in areas without cell service.
We have been hearing nothing but good things about the Garmin inReach. Thank you for sharing.
This is the first of your vlogs that I have seen. I really enjoy the way you communicate with us thru the camera. You don't stand right in front all the time, in 1 spot.....You move around, you change locations and include your family without making their appearances be distracting to what you are saying... I really appreciate your finess and your technique...I am going to subscribe to your channel.....I know this is an older vlog, I just hope that you get a chance to review my comments....
Hi Joanie! Glad you were able to find our channel. We also appreciate the kind words. We have fun playing with camera angles and changing it up. We occasionally get comments from folks on here that are not big fans of that style. Thank you as well for subscribing Joanie! Welcome to the Playing with Sticks family.
That's why I got a Class C, so I could leave without having to exit my home.
We completely understand that choice. We love our trailers, but it sure would be nice to have access to the steering wheel in an emergency situation.
That is also why I am looking at a small C or a nice B.
These are all great tips. Thanks! I would add to let others you trust know your plans and/or your location. When I trail run solo, for example, I always send my husband my location. If you’re out of range, at least give someone your general itinerary.
Great tip. This is one we really should have added to the video. Thank you Sasha.
I have traveled alone several times when my sister couldn't go with me.
I find that praying & knowing when God tells you where not to park is very helpful. He's also protected me in situations that I couldn't prevent.
If you're paying close attention, He will also show you who you can & cannot trust! God bless you & thanks for the good advice.
Yes, great advice! We couldn’t agree more Gloria!
All great suggestions, thank you for taking YOUR VALUABLE time, to help protect others. Much appreciated. Everyone stay safe out there.I agree with 19, but don’t advertise.
All the best to you and your fam💗
It’s a shame we even have to think of this when travelling ...
May you stay safe and keep exploring this beautiful world of ours
It is a shame isn't it. But, really like I mentioned these are more to make us feel good. In reality the chances of running across these scenarios are pretty slim based on all our travels. Thank you so much for the kind comment. You stay safe as well.
You have some good ideas. As for setting out an additional pair of shoes, I suggest using some good-sized cast-offs from a friend. You want the shoes to appear well-used, not new and shiny. It will give the impression you're going for, and dissuade shoe thieves from stealing them. Also consider taking along at least one "tactical-grade" flashlight (per person), preferably with a variable spot/flood focus and strobe effect.
You are the first person to mention both of these suggestions. Love the idea of a well worn shoe. The flashlight, especially for each person is a great tip!
Well thought out video, great info. Thank you for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it Shelly.
Thanks for the great advise.
We have not boondocked in a long time, but want to get back to it.
Safety from wild animals and nefarious humans has been a concern of ours.
We’ll definitely be using some of the tips and tricks learned from your video, and the comments section.
Happy Camping!
Good deal finally someone who offers “Real life “ suggestions. Nice. There’s also a “carry a big stick” approach, Or carry with caution. Be safe and thank you
Glad you are enjoying the tips. There is definitely the carry a big stick approach. I think 90% of the comments on here are offering that suggestion. Carry, if comfortable is a great suggestion. That is pretty much the mentality of everyone up here, especially with all our bears.
Great tips, thanks! I would add an airhorn also. Keeping animals/intruder a safe distance and letting other aware of the danger nearby
Great tip. Affordable, simple, and easy to stow.
When solo camping, In addition to the extra set of shoes, I have also put up a small dome tent to make it appear there is more of a group of people camping.
Great idea. We will even add to that and suggest a pop-up dome tent so it takes you 30 seconds or less to set it up and take it down.
Does everyone leave shoes outside their campers? Is it an RV tradition?
Funnily enough, this is what I do with my extra gear; I don't like to store anything other than my furniture (bed, bedside table, a reading chair, a camp wardrobe for my clothes, a dressing table w. stool + mirror, & a wash stand) in my own tent, because I am claustrophobic + keeping clear thoroughfares through my tent is the primary way in which I manage my phobia while camping (along with having a 3mx3m cabin tent w. a high cieling to myself), when otherwise it would keep me from being able to enjoy this fantastic pastime. But I know that storing it outside puts it at the mercy of both weather + thieves, & leaving it in the car makes it inconvenient to access. So as a woman solo in her tent + also often left alone for long periods at the site, I find it does double-duty to give my gear its own, smaller tent right next to mine.
That tent also has a spare sleeping bag + torch inside, along with a half-read book, & often during the day, I will reposition the gear + then leave the door sort of a quarter-open so that from the outside you can see that "this tent is occupied" stuff, but not the gear, which makes the whole thing a kind of security decoy for me if someone happens to come nosing around, out of my own sight. Hey, sometimes I'll even have a radio going inside it, to really pump up the illusion, & every time I get up from my own position, I'll be sure to stick my head inside that tent & "ask" something, or "say" something + then laugh like I've been told a joke, just in case someone is observing me for an extended period. I've even taken made that tent its own cuppa, before.
Sometimes I feel really silly about the entire rigmarole, I admit. X-D But as scary experiences in the past, in other places, have taught me, it's better to be embarrassed than endangered.
Yup. An extra folding chair is good, too.
Thank you Guys! you are super cool and your baby is just adorable! I still have some months ahead before I can start enjoying the road and videos like yours give me a lot of confidence! Thanks a lot!
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed the video. Please don't let it make you nervous in any way. Like we said in the beginning of the video we have had no incidents. We just like to be good "boyscouts."
Excellent video, great ideas, concise and to the point!
When I first started thinking about what kind of RV I wanted I first started with the possibility of a pop-up trailer. It has the advantage of garage storage. But stealth was important to me and I was told it would take too long to set up and was too obvious (letting others know I was camping, important in a Walmart type situation). So I then thought about a regular trailer but I realized people would see me going from the car to the trailer and know how many people there were, and what I was doing. Then the van idea came to me, and it was the better choice for me because of what you said, you can go from driver’s seat to the RV without exiting the vehicle. No one can really know what is going on and how many people there are. I removed all the stripes and decals to make it more stealth, it is perfect for my usage.
Great post. Thanks for sharing. I was trying to find a comment from earlier on here where someone was describing how they made their van even more stealth by using black sheets and other items inside the van. Going stealth is definitely worth the time to make the minor adjustments to go unseen.
You are talking about Xplorer Steve, he has some great "making the van stealth" RV videos. The one where he removes the decals from his van is amazing, it looks so much better without the stickers/decals/strips. And yes, he has one where he creates and paints the sheets black (I think it was Reflectix, not sure) that cover his windows to make his van even more stealth.
ua-cam.com/channels/07r3BQtJoYYmJuDTqFzWFQ.htmlvideos
Thank you for finding this for us. Xplorer Steve is exactly who I was talking about.
A lot of great content in only 10 minutes! Top notch info! I subbed
Thanks William. Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for the great tips. As always, you made (another) helpful video.
Glad this video was helpful David. Thanks for the support!
I really appreciated this one...ESPECIALLY the mention of BD groups/safety in numbers. 😊
Your other vid on theft deterrent equipment gave me pause in ever bothering to get a TD in the first place.
Thanks for the tips!
Tip: Solar powered motion detector light set in a perimeter around the site. Set the sensitivity so it does not pick up squirrels but bigger things ... and don't forget them when you pack up and go!
Great idea. Thanks for sharing. We didn't know you could set them to be less sensitive. That is great to know.
Tacolayo ..I never thought of this before....but my Mother and her Mother told me of this many many years ago....very good deterant on humans(not BEARS) wasp spray is tops all my sister's traveled w/spray close by while driving before carry concealed permits..it really works.thanks for the groovyburni g too....Lol
Great video, I grinned at a little before 3:50 where the little human is blinded by her own hat and couldn't figure out what was happening. So cute.
Oh my goodness you have us rolling! We never noticed that :) Thanks for sharing.
Great suggestions--thank you so much for sharing! Keep that beautiful family safe:)
Thank you Cat. You be safe out there as well :)
Great work
Excellent security advice
Noise
If you are isolated
That might be the reason
As it might be seen as a weakness by predatory
Criminals
So whistle,flare,horns used in soccer matches
And of course a mag type torch
Or small Bright tactical ones
Thanks for providing some additional information for the community. Glad you enjoyed the video!
Thanks for the many tips 😊. I'm sharing with our group.
Thanks for sharing it Harold!
What was really interesting to me is,,,,, your family travels together. I still remember a 4 week trip of western USA back in 1960. We had a 59 chevy 4 door sedan with a carrier on top and the trunk full. Oh there were 7 of us. I was the youngest and I laid in the back window area. Couldn't do that today! 4,000 and a ton of fun! Happy camping!
Your trip sounds amazing. We have many memories like that as well. Riding in the back of pickup trucks, sleeping up in the truck camper during long drives, etc. Simpler times.
Thank you for this video...my hubby & I will be starting as newbies- although we're empty nesters. This very thing is what has unfortunately made me tentative in this new adventure & somewhat hindered me unfortunately from doing it when my kids were young.😔 I appreciate your videos & also love watching your beautiful family's adventures. I have no desire to rough it as much as you do😅, but Im still drawn to your videos & i appreciate your helpful information. I totally appreciate your common sense & down to earth approach to keeping your family safe. Unfortunately nature isn't as safe as some seem to think... because there are some crazy people that find their way out to nature too & some people act like they're camping in a theme park & nothing bad could happen - they're very naive. I don't wanna be a downer... but we all have to think about what could happen, so we can protect ourselves - all while enjoying the beautiful side of camping.
No. 19 take two buddy s with you Smith and Wesson
That seems to be the majority suggestion on here! Glad you added point number 19!
Or mister Colt!
tip 19 have a glock 19!
Racking the slide on a 12 ga.870 beats dialing 911 in the middle of freaking nowhere.
Bear spray. Odds are in a panic situation you won’t be able to aim a gun. Way easier to fog your enemies and dip out. That being said I still camp with a glock just in case the spray doesn’t keep someone away haha.
I carry a firearm while camping. I suggest that anyone that decides to do the same make sure you receive some training first on how to properly use that firearm. Also, make sure you get night sights on your firearm or it is almost worthless at night. I have a mag light, taser, and bear spray as well. You cover many great ideas in the video. As an active duty police officer, I feel like you covered this topic very well. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing Ramey. Great suggestion on ccw and firearms training. Also great suggestion on the night sight. We never would have thought of that. Love to hear that you come prepared in more ways then one. Drew's brother is a Trooper so we highly respect and appreciate what you do to protect our communities everyday!
The night sights are virtually useless at night while shooting. I’m not saying you shouldn’t have them but after doing extensive training and shooting from the dark I have come to realize a weapon mounted light is the only effective way to win a fight at night.
@@franksmith8210 , it's odd that you find night sights virtually useless when used at night. I'd like to hear more about your experience. In my department of 1200 officers(who all use night sights) we find them to help us do our job with good precision. We also have weapon mounted lights or lights we carry to assist. I know I shoot at approx. 96 % accuracy during daylight and using my night sights I shoot at 99 % accuracy when shooting at night. So they are definitely not useless to me. I've been in several night time related shooting incidents and the night sights helped me and other officers survive. I've been working the job for almost 34 years and as I said, I'd like to hear more from someone who regularly shoots at night to know why they feel night sights are useless. I can tell you or anyone else, a handgun is useless at night without night sights.
First off let me start by saying that what I’m about to tell you may sound condescending and that’s absolutely not how it’s mean you sound. But I have worked for 3 PDs for a combined total of 17 years in 3 states and I can say without a doubt in my mind that the police department’s have some of the worst training by far. The only training that I’ve had that was worse than the police was through the military. The accuracy ratings don’t really mean much to me when they are shooting such easy scenarios for qualifications. I have talked to literally hundreds of people who have been in fights at night some were LOE some were civilians in self defense and some were like me soldiers over seas. In my eyes the use of night sights is just simply not a thing I do, at the point it’s too dark to see your sights then that means it’s too dark to identify a deadly threat and take action. As soon as you activate your weapon mounted light the sights become visible and the night sights are no longer used. I don’t shoot things I can’t see. After the first round down range the night sights become virtually useless because the muzzle flash is too blinding in that much of a low light situation. I’m more interested in understanding what the useful part about them really is because I would say around 99% of the people I have trained with and talked to who have used their weapon at night have all said they virtually never needed the night sights after all. They used the light and that was what helped. I can’t really think of a scenario where I’m going to be hiding in a place so dark that I can’t see the sights 2ft in front of my face and am going to attempt to use them to line up a shot. I could see it in an extremely close and fast situation but then there’s no use for the sights and you should be able to instinctively hit them at 0-10 yards anyways. Like I said in the beginning I’m sure this May comes off as rude or argumentative and that’s not what I mean to do. If the night sights are something that you think helps you then please by all means use them, but people simply don’t need or use In a real world scenario that I can think of. I hope this is somewhat constructive to you.
I should add too that every handgun I carry for protection has night sights installed on them. I’m not attempting to say not to get them just that after having them and training with them they are of no use to me.
Straight up awesome tips guys ...you learn something new everyday!
Glad you enjoyed them!
These are some really great tips, just wished I watched this video before I was assaulted and robbed in the middle of the night by three guys while car camping. I was lucky that I got away but the lingering effects of that event have prevented me from doing solo trips.
Thanks for the great tips guys very helpful
Glad they were helpful guys!
Beautiful family! That kid is going to have the best life having parents that keep him/her outside enjoying nature! 🥰
Thanks Catt! We really hope he develops a love for the outdoors. And if not, we hope he just develops a good trusting relationship with us. Taking our child outdoors has been such a great experience for our family. We just had baby #2 and are really looking forward to a larger family camping experience.
Thanks for the info. I am a solo female and I am commenting on the part where you talked about solo females who might feel a bit apprehensive about having to come out of their trailer to the car in case of an emergency. I have a SUV and I am going to have the seats taken out the back and put a bed, a make shift toilet, and a sit down shower in it. My TV will also be there. The kitchen and other storages will be my small trailer that I small going to buy. This way if I feel uneasy about an area I can still be in my vehicle where I can just hop in the front and drive on.
Glad the info was helpful Phyllis. Drew had a very similar setup to yours about 13 years ago. A Jeep, seats out the back, a bed with slide out drawers, but no shower or toilet. Love the idea of a sit down shower by the way! He had no problem traveling all over. Only a couple of times in Canada was he asked to move on by police officers when he was forced to park in public for a night. We often toy with a very similar concept as yours. Our version is a truck topper (not a camper) where you can climb through the window into your vehicle, but tow a small teardrop like you said for the storage and cooking. We think you have a great idea with the setup you are moving towards. You are going to have amazing adventures ahead!
In addition, love the country side. Just beautiful
Glad you enjoyed the scenery Micheal. The scenery is what makes putting these videos together the most fun.
I like this video! Great job! I am so upset by all the trash in that one site though.
Glad you enjoyed the video. Yes, super sad about the trash. We shot this scene near the elementary school May works at. They used to have the kids periodically clean the area, but now there are so many used needles laying around they can't even have the children pitch in.
@3:19 You speak of SAFETY tips, then pull in forward. Try backing in to park. Quicker loading/unloading. Quicker leaving.
Glad you caught that! Great suggestion. I'm currently looking at that video wondering "why did I pull in forward?" Thanks again for adding another tip for everyone.
or find a place to pull through
Your family is adorable. Thanks for the useful tips.
Thanks for the great video, you can never be to cautious. Your tip on joining a boondocking club is something I am going to follow up on.
Glad it was helpful Brian. Forgot we mentioned the boondocking club. Another new one we have been dabbling in is using Hipcamp. Like boondocking, but with the added safety of being on someone's property.
Alaska everyone is strapped
Very true Jed!
I'm a hazmat chemical tanker driver. I find that a small bottle of caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) sprayed on any skin or eyes will immediately stop any threat. Unfortunately their skin will melt off and they will be blinded instantly, but the threat of harm will immediately cease
Wow, that would do it.
I always travel armed. A nice folding 410 in the back pack! And 12 gauge in the camper, your Chauffeur, J Bruce, Hollywood North 🇨🇦
Nobody’s messing with Bruce! Haha
Great tips! Thanks for making this video.
Glad you enjoyed it. You are most welcome!
Excellent. Love your transition footage. Subscribed.
Glad you enjoy the transitions. Without the transitions we probably wouldn't enjoy doing this UA-cam video thing. We love capturing the little details. Thank you for subscribing Norma!
Am I the only one concerned about the pile of trash?
Super concerning. Our neighborhood elementary school where May (my wife) works picks it up constantly. Lately we can't even have children help because of all the needles. Really sad to see people treat such a beautiful place like this.
Absolutely sickening
I was glad to see someone else commenting on that. I'd say something ugly about the people who trash natural spaces but I'm trying real hard not to be that guy.
Orwellian Horseman of the Apocalypse I’ll be that guy for you lol. Where I boondock we keep a couple of pre-dug holes big enough and deep enough for any bad guys that want to be closer to nature lol
There I said it lol
I’m that guy lol
very good solid advice. Thanks
Excellent tips for safety! Excellent editing, production, crystal clear audio and video...well done! Now subbed....
Glad you enjoyed the tips. We have learned quite a few more since making this video from all the comments. Making these videos is really fun, but we get most of the enjoyment learning from others after we put them out on UA-cam. Glad you enjoy the style of videos. We have purposely gone for more of a run and gun style video on this channel. For fun we are going to change it up a bit this summer and go for more of a polished look (tripod shots, panaromic opening shots, time-lapse, etc). That is how we usually shoot home videos, but we thought it would be fun with this channel to learn how to shoot more hand held and on the fly. It has been a fun experience and we have learned a lot from it. I think this summers filming will be more of a combination of the two style. But, we won't sacrifice the sound, editing, and story.
Wasp spray, solar powered outside lights, park heading out, tape with big dog growling & barking to go with large kennel, marine signal air horn
Outside lights and air horns would be great additions. Many people have mentioned the growling do audio as well. Thanks for the great tips Cindy!
@@PlayingwithSticks 👍 ur welcone✌
There is a recording app for phones ( voice recording) just record someone's big dog, and deep male voice. Even the sound of a gun being cocked. Easy to play when needed.
Thanks for the TIPS ! 🇳🇱❤️🇺🇸
You are most welcome Guido!
Great episode as always!
Thanks we really appreciate the comment! We still have your "getting your teardrop out of the garage video" queued up to watch. For those of you who see this comment check out his channel. His home built teardrop is a work of art!
you brought up important safety topics.. we have gotten very soft in our cushy modern world... Life used to be tough up until 100 years ago before electricity, phones and cars. Big guns and tough dogs protected the homestead in those days!
Hard to beat man's best friend and Smith and Wesson :)
From what we are reading online and on this forum , we see a need for a safe quiet place to stay overnight or even a couple of days while visiting an area . Anyway we have 16 acres in Upstate South Carolina that has woods and pasture available for Boondockers passing through our area. We have no idea how to set up travelers knowing there's a safe place while passing through. Thinking we would need Boondockers to call not only to see if there is still space for them but also for combination lock on our gate. We'd also ask then to give us their license plate number (just to protect us in case someone isn't honest). It's free but we are going to ask that everyone leave a donation for the use of the land. We wont be charging just only asking that our guest donate something to help us keep up the land (We plan to installing a drop box with envelopes in hopes that all our guest will help us in some way). One day we hope to be able to offer water and power and even that will be offered in hopes of donations and gifts to help offset our expense. For now if someone must have power or water, we can come offer it on a limited bases in cases of emergencies , like with generator problems or what have you. Mainly we have our pasture empty and wont be using for a few more years. And even when cows are on on the land, we only raise 2 each time, still leaving so many places to park on the pasture not being grazed. The land is very nice and no dung remains in the pasture. It's all composted. So anyway if anyone has ideas on how to go about this please let us know. We won't be offer this on craigs list or the like. We only want to offer it on good RV community forums. We want to keep our soon to be fellow Campers, RVers and even tent dwellers safe, where they can get a good nights sleep without worry but we also want our property respected. So however we do this we will need plate numbers , so we know who is who and if anyone disrespects us or our property , we will be able to leave feedback on forums. Please let us know what you think and give us any advice. Thank you, Wirly
I received a message to go to boondockers welcome. The problem I see with that web site and others like it is that they are all paid sites. We wanted to help those who don't subscribe to these clubs and sites just so they can find a safe place to park. Not to mention we want to offer our property free with the hopes that each of our guests would offer something to help offset our costs. I don't think the paid boondocker sites allow that from their registered hosts. For us a kindness should be blessed with like kindness. Nothing in life is free but if we all work together , life can be grand. So naw boondockers welcome is not for us as hosts. We want to bless others with a safe place to stay and hopefully they leave behind a little something to help with our costs. We have to mow, weed it all , maintain fences and pay taxes each year and so if we offer our property as a safe harbor we would hope each guest understands that and helps us in someway. Maybe they help my husband stack lumber , or trim the fence line or leave a donation in the drop box but all in all we help them and they return the favor. Everyone is blessed that way. A leach never feels good after draining someone, it just feels stuffed and goes on always searching for another free ride. We don't care for leaches , we are looking for real people with real dreams in a real world. And so how we go about offering our land to like minded people is still a mystery but hopefully word of mouth will work just as it has for hundreds of years. And if our property never sees a camper, RV or tent, all is well, it will see a couple of cows again and those cows will use the land and then pay it forward with a full freezer. ahaha So anyway if someone has ideas how to get the word out throw them our way or hey just pass along the info and soon word of mouth will do it's thing.
Love it! If we ever make our way down to South Carolina we will definitely e reaching out to you. Sounds like a you have a great piece of land and a great plan to utilize it for not only your own benefit, but for the benefit of the boondocking community. Unfortunately we do not know where you would post your invite to others, but like you said maybe word of mouth would be enough.
I always camp with my Glock 26. I'm alarmed 24/7. When going deeper in the woods I camp with my AR15 pistol. Great for larger predators and of course the 2 legged kind. In the woods YOU are 911. YOU are the paramedic. YOU are the first responder.
I also carry a well stocked medical bag in my car at all times. I have come across burning cars on the highway. Roll overs on the highway. Seizures on the highway and bad crashes in general. I may not be a doctor or nurse but there might be one on scene who could use the gear I have.
I have stopped tent camping too. Van camp, car camp or trailer camp is all I do now. Its safer, warmer, drier and up and away from the critters.
Hey good to hear from you Mixflip. I had a feeling this video might hit your feed based on your interests. Looks like you had a great time at the overland expo West. Love the idea about carrying the stocked medical bag. Glad to see your channel is still going strong. I know you have that family to feed, but I bet you are getting pretty close to going full time on here. Take care!
@@PlayingwithSticks yeah still chugging away lol. We are moving to the Tahoe/Reno area so even more camping and gear vids coming. My day job is pretty sweet plus I'm 9 years away from my pension so I wont be quitting for UA-cam anytime soon.
Keep up the good videos.
That definitely makes sense on the pension and if you have a job you love. We really enjoy all the content you put out, we have seen a lot of new things through your channel that we wouldn't have found anywhere else.
get some help
I carry a Taurus Judge poly loaded with .45 long colt. Definitely will ruin someone's day that tries to ruin mine.
Great info, very well done video! Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it Jim. Thanks for the positive comment!
Thank's some good tips, I always check a campsite for beer can's etc.
And especialy close to town, the party kids get drunk and raze havoc, especially on Fridays and Saturday nights, been there and done that beleave me.
Yep, we do the same! Great advice Eugene.
I spend a lot of time in the woods alone. And I always have a gun on me and usually a long gun close by. And my two shorthairs. I sleep like a baby and don't worry about anyone .
With that protection we would sleep pretty good as well. Thanks for sharing Gary.
👍 excellent, thank you 💪
Glad you enjoyed it Melissa!
Thanks for the video. Just common sense advice which we forget at times.
As a tent camper I have a self defense box that I keep in my tent. I have recently added a pair of good quality fabric shears with pointed tip. I thought if for some reason, and there can be a number of reasons, that I needed to cut my way out of my tent, then I have the tool. Little did I know that I used the shears right out of the gates. Our adult son became ill and I went to check up on him in the middle of the night in my children's separate tent. I went to unzip our tent and the zipper was totally jammed closed in the extra fabric that covers the tent zipper (for rain protection). It had been catching a number of times before but this time wouldn't budge. We tried and tried but it would not move. I got out the fabric shears and cut off some of the extra fabric around the jam. Then my husband pulled super hard and it unjammed. We opened it up and I cut off the rest of the rain shield. If it were an emergency situation and we couldn't leave our tent...I learned to listen to my instincts for protection and think out of the box.
These are great ideas and tips Janet. Glad to hear everything turned out with your son. Totally unrelated story, but I have never really had the chance to tell it. I made a really poor choice and after a really long day of backpacking decided to camp under a bunch of "widow makers." (An area of burned forest with trees that could easily fall on you with wind or earth movement. I thought I was just too exhausted to move on as the last 30 minutes to an hour was right in the middle of the fire territory and it had been dark the entire time. Because of this I was sleeping on edge. In the middle of the night a storm blew in and a large tree fell on the center of my tent. In a panicked state with my bare hands I ripped apart my tent, which I never could have done in a regular state, looking for my brother's friend Allen. In the middle of it I was able to throw the tree off the tent, which again I would not have been able to do without all the adrenaline. The adrenaline finally calmed down and I came to my right mind. That is when it hit me "I am pretty sure I came out here alone?" For some crazy reason I had dreamed up that someone was with me at camp and I completely ruined my first and favorite backpacking tent for no reason. But, in the end I was just so lucky the tree did not land on me. One of the poorest outdoor decisions I ever made was sleeping in that area.
@@PlayingwithSticks Wow! Amazing story! Sounds eerie the area you were in. And thank goodness you were not hurt.
i have been using spot for about 10 years. helps keep family notified i am ok. using the ok check in feature ( no cost per message ) it also gives a gps location where you are on google map.
i also have a solar flood light with motion sensor which I mount on top of the RV. those LED'S really light up the night. my batteries in my SPOT lasted about 2 years.
Thanks for the feedback on the SPOT. 2 year battery life is impressive! Good suggestion as well on the LEDs.
I used to Build Homemade Teardrop Campers on my Channel, but I now Camp in a Van so I can get behind the wheel in the night if I need to, without exiting in the dark like I had to with a Camper.
Great decision. Our channel is dedicated to small camper trailers. We love almost everything about them. But, the one thing we don't love about them is that you can't hop into your driver seat from within your camper.
Great video! Thanks!
This video has a lot of good advices but it makes me stay at home and not wanting to go anywhere!!
For places that you can't use bear spray. Wasp spray works. The foam kind works best.
Thanks Patrick. Great tip.
also use the fire extinguisher. they shoot pretty far and cover the person.
After watching that, I never want to camp again LOL. Just kidding, camped all my life and never had a problem. I do bring by 9mm amd my dog on every trip, it's great for a good nights sleep.
We love camping next to people like you, it makes us sleep better too!
Great tips and video! Thank you for sharing.
You are most welcome. We enjoy making these videos for folks. UA-cam has always been a big source of knowledge for us, so we thought we could do our best to repay the favor.
Thumbs up.. I normally do not like videos like this, but you gave a good presentation.
Thanks Jay! We are not really fans of making videos like this either. However, after reading through so many forums we see quite a few people don't boondock because they feel it is intimidating. We were hoping to share some of the tips and tricks that we learned along the way which give us a little more peace of mind.
My grandparents have a sticker map even though they are VERY part-time, but over the course of 25 years, they managed to fill in the whole of the lower 48. They don't want to go to Alaska because they don't feel like passing through Canada, and the RV hasn't been to Hawaii for obvious reasons.
All 48 states that is impressive. I must admit we bleed red, white, and blue but Canada is a great place to travel through. Really friendly people, most of it is very rural so plenty of space, and such beautiful mountains, rivers, and lakes. You may have to convince them to make the drive :)
The Alaskan Marine Highway is fantastic and they will not have to drive through Canada. I figured the cost was about the same to drive or ride the ferry in my 14’ vehicle. I took a month to go from Whittier to Washington state making lots of stopovers.
That sounds like a great trip! And all our years we have never taken the ferry with a vehicle
Great tips brother,I enjoy your all's videos. I've never been to Alaska so I'm not sure how it works there but
in mid Missouri everyone has the right to conceal and carry so we don't have to worry to much about the crooks messing around with people because they know 90+% of the population is armed everywhere they go & have big farm dogs to protect the animals as well as the vehicles so they stick to the 4 big cities and away from the country communities.
May the Lord lead you and your family on years of amazing adventures.
You are right on with that comment in terms of how Alaska works. EVERYONE up here carries. May God's blessings be on your family as well!
@@PlayingwithSticks thanks brother, make the most of your time with the kiddos, seems like yesterday my daughter was that age & she just turned 16 on me the other day and is driving me around in my Jeep XJ 😩.
Keep the tires aimed toward the ground and your eyes toward the Lord & enjoy the beautiful things God has blessed us with in the great outdoors 😁👍
2:45 For a serious emergency I wouldn't worry about my camper, everybody get on the truck and let's get the hell out ! BTW ----> VERY GOOD VID AND THANKS A LOT FOR YOUR TIME.
Great advice. You are a such nice person.
Thanks Mario!
Good stuff, thanks! I'd guess more people are struck by lightning than murdered in their campers. Don't golf in a thunderstorm, don't camp down the creek from the guy cutting firewood wearing a hockey mask, but sometimes lightning just strikes. Probably best to get a cattle dog and bear spray.
Well said. Love this comment!
Yeah, lightning is quite the killer. Bear spay is good for bears too! Dogs are good too. FBI research found burglars are afraid of dogs and will skip houses with them. In reality, most dogs would show them the safe, give them the combination, and help load the stuff in the get-away car for a treat 🤣
Hmmmm....so the mask might be why no one visits me camping....
@@mikemead2315 Dogs well trained are the best 'burglar alarm/security guard' in the world, but few people take the large amount of time nor have the knowledge to train the puppy to know and do what you want without you giving them orders.
Crooks fear big dogs- small dogs are only good for warning you of trouble but a 50 pound dog can stop any human, and will get more respect than you standing there with a gun in hand. You might hesitate to use the gun but the dog can be on them in a flash and once started won't stop till they win. The only problem with dogs is that you get attached to them and we forget that our old dog just can't fight like they used to even though they will try. Got to bring in the next generation before that time comes. And if they tangle with a wild animal and begin losing the fight they're going to run straight to you seeking your help with the wild animal right on their heels. You have to have the mindset that it's your job to protect them too, just as they do for you.
"Man's best friend" is more than an old saying... a good dog is the most priceless thing in the world after human life.
Taser from amazon = $25
I used a boat horn while camping in bear areas. Scared the krap out of the neighbors.
Always carried a thumb- flip pocketknife
Plugged in an old cellphone in back of van that was on our ‘Find your Phone’ app. Verizon covers all states and most of their counties. Traveled the USA for 2 yrs Worked great when you can’t remember where you parked.
Leave your screens up on your van/car etc rear winds plus buy - $8- set of black bed sheets and always cover everything in the back - van looks empty
Always travel with a couple of money belts - with money and list of contacts and phone #s. And wear one. You get robbed of wallet and phone you still have $$ and contacts
Trust your gut and intuition- You only need to be wrong once. That said in 2 yrs in campsites, motels, AirB&Bs etc we never had a problem. Maybe luck but we also kept our eyes open.
Ken these are great suggestions! Love the idea of plugging in an old phone. The black bed sheets is another great idea. We are also big fans of the money belts. They've saved our bacon many times overseas. Mainly, because we are forgetful not because we were being targeted.
Playing with sticks. - LOL. Yup. That’s really the only time I’ve needed my money belt - when I needed for few dollars more than what I had in my wallet !!!
Something else I did while traveling- I ordered an ID bracelet on a stretch band. Has your name, very brief medical info and 3 contact names with phone #s. In fact we still wear them since you feel naked without them after awhile. That way if something should happen a first aider, etc has a family member’s phone # to call.
The one we bought is from a company called RoadID but other companies make them too
Great advice for us newbies!
Glad you enjoyed it! We got a lot of good advice from all the comments in here as well. Learning something new everyday 🙂
Thank you for this!!
You are most welcome Mary!
Great tips! I've been planning to do some solo camping. Gonagain recently highlighted a solar powered motion detector.
I don't think we have ever heard of Gonagain. Is it a UA-cam channel? We have had quite a few comments on here about motion detectors. Most folks complain about the squirrels setting them off all the time. But, I bet at night those squirrels calm down a bit for the motion detectors to be more useful.
Playing with Sticks Gonagain is a UA-cam channel. It an older couple who use a self-designed box trailer.
We are going to have to check this channel out. Maybe we have already seen them? The name sounds really familiar.
I used to shoot competitively and it is very common at the larger shoots for people to park there rv at the range for the 3 or 4 days. The fact that there is a known people trying to break into RVs parked at the range tells me that carrying is not going to solve all your problems.
This is a very interesting point. Great perspective there Harry. Thanks for sharing.
Yes. Very good point.
To add to that, I only know three people who have used their hand gun to confront intruders. All were disarmed by the intruder. Yikes! I don’t know anyone who admits to apprehending or driving off an intruder with a gun, but I always lived in low violent crime areas or in “the sticks” where guns are only used for fun and the idea of shooting someone is just unthinkable.
I also shot competition. I have seen every kind of gun and shooter failure. My takeaway is guns and people are unreliable, and I am far more afraid of someone “accidentally” shooting me.
Thanks for the reality check!
Good info and things to consider. I travel the country 4 to 5 months each year. No serious problems, very occasional jerk, but like you say, just move on. Trust your gut is the best advice, there is more to that then you might think. Anyway, well done. 😊 -Mark. PS, I’m still not removing my stickers! 😂😎
Glad you enjoyed it. It is good to hear feedback from a semi-full timer. We tend to run into a few tough crowds as well. But usually you can feel them out pretty quickly. If we had the stickers I don't think we would remove them either. They are badges of honor, but more than that they are great conversation starters at the campsite!
Loads of great advice. The dog kennel was a good one.
The dog kennel tip is pretty new for us as well. Glad you got something from this video!