Campsite Security: When things go bump in the night while car camping, overlanding, boondocking

Bad things can happen. Taking precautions and having ways to improve your security when camping is a better than being totally blindsided when something does happen.
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[@svakula123]

Just happened to me ten days ago. We were miles from anything. At 10pm a truck stops on the road about 200 yards away. A guy with a flashlight starts walking toward our camp. I had a pistol in my hand and a flashlight. When he was about 30 yards away, I hit him with the flashlight and yelled, "what are you doing ". Caught him completely off guard. He said he was picking up trash. He went back to his truck and left. Who picks up trash in the middle of nowhere at 10pm! He did not know I was holding a gun on him. I had my son with me who was also armed. I'm glad I was not alone.

[@ggg4runner]

People are weird nowadays. Stay vigilant!

[@justsmy5677]

You are correct about firearms being a touchy subject. Glad you had the courage and ethics to cover the topic. I could not agree more, especially in today's World with some jurisdictions refusing to press charges against criminal, thereby encourage more criminal behavior. Cheers.

[@ggg4runner]

Oh man, don't get me started on what you said 😤 Hopefully, things turn around sooner than later. Be safe!

[@peterpiper487]

I don't understand why ANYBODY would camp at a campsite. For 26 years I've found it MUCH better to boondock. I've never been bothered at all this way, but I have heard many people say they have been annoyed and sometimes really frightened when at campsites.

[@ggg4runner]

I think many people are just unaware of dispersed camping and boondocking. I didn't know about this stuff for a long time. And, I'm okay with people continuing to not know so that free camping areas stay less crowded 😆

[@tabithabasye2440]

I like your chill vibe so I am subscribing. Re: firearms: if you are comfortable with the possibility of using it on a human or other animals they are always a good idea. What I always tell people & my kids is if you know yourself and you won’t use it then don’t own it or pull it out. When my former husband brought firearms into the house I knew I could never kill a 16 year old looking to steal my TV. But I also knew if I had to protect myself or my daughter that I would pull that trigger. So I mentally practiced telling someone to “get the f**k off my property” for 14 years and I ran through the scenarios where they didn’t leave or were too scared to. I practiced their freeze response and would imagine telling them to face away from me and interlock their fingers behind their head while I called the police. I also practiced pulling the trigger if they moved toward me or my daughter. Well 14 years later a man and firearm owner who owned a gun shop in town chased me and my daughter into our house through our backyard and door. Once I had the firearm in my hand I pulled back the slide and stepped back and he pushed open the door and stepped toward me. I screamed what I had practiced over and over with the firearm aimed at his chest with my finger next to the trigger. When he stepped towards me again I stepped back, put my finger on the trigger and aimed it at his head. I knew this man was emotional and not in his right mind. He eventually backed off and left as he realized the police were on the way. He left with his life and so did we but at one point I was ready to protect myself and my daughter if he continued to advance. You must be mentally prepared or you will kill someone with unclear intentions or the weapon may be used on you. Even though I did not pull the trigger it was immensely traumatic holding someone’s life in my hands like that. I have been the first on the scene in many accidents and it’s a similar feeling of helpful helplessness. Meaning you are helpful by protecting yourself but also helpless to make that other person keep themselves alive by leaving you alone. If you cannot truly deal with the aftermath and feeling of helplessness firearms are not the answer. Also keep in mind state laws. In Oregon you cannot just shoot someone breaking into your camper even if you are inside or it is your house. They need to be inside and you have to have no other escape. Similar to being in the wilderness if you can escape or get help you cannot just shoot another human. A jury will decide if you could have gotten away or not. So know your laws. 💜💜💜

[@ggg4runner]

It's terrible that you and your daughter had to experience that but I'm glad that you were well equipped to handle the situation. I absolutely agree that proper and consistent training is paramount. I have owned and trained with firearms for about 22 years and I am comfortable with the responsibility that it comes with. Stay safe!

[@theburrus1]

Great advice!

[@1942JADR]

Good video. I think what you covered was on point. I would add that having a mental understanding of your location and having an exit route of the area is also key. This goes on how your park your vehicle and set set up your camp. If SHTF, you might be bettee off driving away even if it means leaving some of your gear behind. For everyone there, like Roger said train and know your firearm. Because if your practice your 2A, then you need to know that in any situation you get there is always going to be a firearm present....

[@ggg4runner]

Great tip on knowing your exits and parking to get out quick if needed (forgot to mention those)! Thank you for commenting and safe travels!

[@WayneTheSeine]

I just read your post. I recommended the same. Always leave room for maneuver both front and back.

[@robertryan1965]

All good tips here. I know not everyone is up for camping with loaded firearms and the potential responsibility that comes with that but I did just see a pistol by a company called Byrna that shoots a variety of non-lethal projectiles such as a pepper spray/tear gas combo. Seems to be a very effective way of immobilizing someone for a decent amount of time. They say it’s 50 state legal and no license required. Definitely considering one myself.

[@ggg4runner]

If you respect the 2A, I respect you. Be safe and happy trails!

[@peterfernandez3135]

2A👍🏽👍🏽

[@svakula123]

Absolutely be armed!

[@ggg4runner]

amen brother

[@kengeroo]

thank you for confirming my concerns,, being from Canada our ability to arm ourselves are limited. It's sad that we have to be concerned about our safety when we are venturing to relax and get away from it all. We recently returned from a trip from Yellowstone and was followed for over 20 kms by someone in Idaho.. We lost him after a number of stops only to find him following us again. By the time we got to our awesome campsite in Washington, I was too spooked out and decided to drive back to Vancouver, BC at 1 in the morning. Lots of unstable people out there, take away from this would be prepared and strength/defense/deterrence in numbers. stay safe everyone !

[@ggg4runner]

Damn, sorry you had to experience that. Safety in (trusted) numbers for sure. I wish you safe travels in the future!

[@tacoshenanigans4585]

Another great topic. Glad you are prepared. When seconds count help is minutes/hours away. Hope you are doing well! Keep the videos coming we very much enjoy them

[@ggg4runner]

Thank you! You be safe out there!

[@stevebratten6592]

Thanks Roger! Always have the brightest light, something to spray like a skunk (POM, Byrna, 🐻spray, serious⛑ first aid, 🔫where legal. and TRAIN, PRACTICE & HAVE PLAN!

[@ggg4runner]

Truth! Like Ben Franklin said "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."

[@mikel.5850]

You can also push your seat forward and see if you can put a padlock on the runner under your seat so that large person‘s not gonna be able to sit in that seat and driveway. You can also while you’re setting up your camp put a dog bowl outside your campground put some water in it throw a doggy toy and let them think you’re out walking around with your dog, I’ve heard of people putting out dog crates

[@careym8437]

Excellent video, thank you!

[@DMHRC]

Great video!

[@ColoradoSolar]

Well done!!

[@sudamericanrockers6616]

Thank you for taking the time! ... not many videos about this topic.

[@jyo8914]

Thanks again for all of the good content! Keep it coming bro.

[@ggg4runner]

Thanks as always!

[@1000PerCentHuman]

Great information, Roger. Thank you!

[@ggg4runner]

Thanks for watching!

[@redroosterazrc]

Great information and good vid! Stay safe!

[@ggg4runner]

Same to you brother!

[@instantlunch24]

We love you GGG4Runner!

[@ggg4runner]

Aww, thanks!

[@heavymokeaction]

New subscriber and looking to start overlanding. this was a concern of mine and glad you addressed it. Can't wait for my first trip. Your channel has been a huge help!

[@ggg4runner]

Thanks and happy trails!

[@user-jg5ch7bp9d]

Great Content! Recent Purchase Toyota Sequoia Busy Outfitting Currently Your Channel has been inspiring. Thank you

[@ggg4runner]

Awesome! Thank you for commenting and happy trails!

[@clintonparrish9142]

Great video Roger. We’ve had a couple incidents with sketchy people driving up to our site. I also practice the 2A and the site of my open carry likely convinced them to move along.

[@ggg4runner]

Yeah, too many sketchy people nowadays. Stay safe out there!

[@mclucky7086]

Safety first. Excellent reminder, Roger.

[@ggg4runner]

Thanks for commenting! Be safe out there!

[@Okierover]

I'm packing too. Good on you.

[@ggg4runner]

👊 fellow 2A supporter

[@ltbrutusq6202]

NEVER go into the wilds without a weapon, you are your ONLY line of defense cops & rangers will not be around or able to get to you in time.

[@rustyanddebbieperkins]

Outstanding video - we've carried wasp spray over the years.

[@ggg4runner]

Thanks for watching and safe travels!

[@JamesSmithForSC]

Thank you, Roger! Great content - on my 80 Series I mounted 4 blink cameras tied to a mobile wifi which is continuously kept charged through a solar supported battery supply... I can check on the rig anytime and get notifications of Motion and recordings of that motion 360 degrees around the rig. I share your belief that cameras are really not much of a deterrent but hopefully they might provide good evidence of what took place, should something go wrong. As always, first class work - thank you and happy trails. Cheers, J

[@ggg4runner]

Appreciate your experience and insight on that topic! Adventure safely brother!

[@mikealvarado654]

I like 👍 your video on security. May I suggest battery powered security cameras? I have one on each corner of my van wherever I camp. They're quiet, and only scare two legged vermin. Which is what you want. Secondly, I also carry a personal lead propulsion device. I live in an open carry state 😊

[@G0MERP3]

I haven’t personally had a bad experience camping but I have always considered options if things went sideways. If I were to ever have a negative interaction I felt wasn’t resolved or could escalate later in the night I would attempt to leave and find a new place. If it was a dead end or for some reason wasn’t able to leave immediately my plan would be to get off the X, perhaps offset from the campsite, likely within visual range but with some cover and concealment. It’s too easy to sneak up on a campsite, a dog would be my number one tool as an early alarm but also the addition of some trip wire alarms could bring some peace of mind. Edit: I forgot to mention, always have a firearm present. Preferably with a weapon mounted light and suitable optic for night time use.

[@TomorrowIsNow]

I backcountry a lot here in Colorado. I never really think about it, kind of like sharks when I swim in the ocean. Last trip one of my friends who lives in the 4 corners area was telling me about a bear attack near where we were. That made it more real. Now looking to get/carry a 12 gauge. I have had stuff come up missing a few times in State Park campgrounds.

[@ggg4runner]

Lots of good videos on which 2A tool(s) to carry for bear defense! Love your state btw! Adventure safely my friend.

[@darrenhili6623]

Love your video buddy! Always very interesting and the way they are just calms me down! I'm new to overlanding (bought myself 2 80series 🙈) build one slowly for some adventures with my partner😊 You're videos are of so much help mate keep it up 😊 When it comes to some security I do have the motions sensors bought them from my local hardware store they are mainly for home uses but managed to install them 😁 and my dober roti mix girl sure gets on high allert when someone (day/night) approaches uss 😅 Once again thanks so much man for your content and keep it up buddy... Love your rig mate 😉

[@ggg4runner]

So mathematically you have a 160-series! Dogs are pretty much the best alarm. Thank you for commenting and I wish you two rewarding adventures ahead!

[@darrenhili6623]

You can say that 😂 thinking of getting a 4runner instead of one of them... Will see 😊 Happy trails mate!

[@ggg4runner]

I love my 4Runner don't get me wrong, but keep both 80s imo!

[@mapsandnavigation433]

Left my Mazda 3 last year with roof tent on near Austria - Germany border. FW2F+QJW Ehrwald, Austria, where a lot of people hiking and cycling passed by. Bags inside, cameras, roof tent on top without security locks. Left for 10 hours hike to Zugspitze. Nothing happened, not even a scratch when i returned.

[@ggg4runner]

Wish it were like that here still but it's just not anymore

[@WayneTheSeine]

It definately is the journey that matters. I think you pretty much covered it all. As you pointed out, be sure you know the laws of all jurisdictions you are driving through. Almost all states I journey through recognize my conceal carry, except one, New Mexico which has no reciprocity with Louisiana. I have to unload and stash my weapon. One point I would add is to always be aware of how you park. Leave yourself an out, both forward and backward. I always try and park facing out and leave space behind me in the event I was to get blocked in, much like eating at a restaurant, I never sit facing away from the door.

[@ggg4runner]

Agree with everything you said.

[@Pro4xexpeditions]

Since i live here in Arizona, we have lots of things that can harm us including humans. Every time we go out at least one of us if not a few us carry firearms or some of us even have semi autos because we can here in AZ. FAFO lol

[@ggg4runner]

😩 I do wish we had more 2A tool selection here

[@Pro4xexpeditions]

@@ggg4runner I lived in Cali, West Covina for many years I know 😢. Arizona has some really cool trails and an awesome high country. If you ever want to come out this way and explore let me know.

[@ggg4runner]

@@Pro4xexpeditions appreciate that, will do!

[@bren6773]

One item that I haven’t seen mentioned for personal security is Kimber America (firearms) has a pepper blaster that looks like it would be a great option as well. I personally have found that with the small sprays one has to be extremely mindful of wind 😮

[@ggg4runner]

Hmm, that's a pretty interesting one! But unfortunately, my overlords here in CA have deemed devices that expel tear gas by any method other than an aerosol spray to be illegal 😑

[@bren6773]

@@ggg4runner oh gosh 😬

[@Pamela_PNW]

A a solo female overlander, thanks for this video! I conceal/carry a 9MM, have bear spray tucked away in strategic places, and I also have a German Shepard trained in protection services with big teeth and a ferocious bark. What you reminded me that I still need are two things: small portable pepper spray for hiking/MTB’ing and a EDC Tactical Flashlight. Do you recommend the little flashlight you linked? How do you like it?

[@ggg4runner]

Love that Olight Warrior Mini (both the 2 and 3 versions). I've looked at several others but haven't found any that I like better feature-wise. The main draw for me is the two-position tail switch so I can have both a strobe and a regular beam with one-touch and you have both beams in either constant or momentary with that same tail switch as well. The only slight downside is that it's at the maximum size of what I would carry daily although they now make a shorter version, albeit lower output, called the Warrior Nano. :Edit: forgot to mention that if you're looking at the Warrior Mini 2 or 3, yes the 3 has higher output but the other difference is that the 3 does strobe/medium on the tail switch (or turbo/medium) and the 2 does strobe/turbo on the tail switch (or turbo/medium).

[@elijahdondada]

I've been considering security a lot recently since I've been doing more solo camping. What are your thoughts on non lethal alternatives like a Byrna? Thanks for making this vid btw!

[@ggg4runner]

Thanks for watching! My personal opinion on non lethal devices is that until one is proven to be 100% effective at completely stopping a hostile threat and has a long track record of doing so, I am not interested in relying on one. That being said, if you can't have or don't want a firearm (I'd be curious why but this is not the platform for that) having something is better than having nothing. Either way, be safe out there!

[@tommysimmons5266]

Air horn, battery operated security lights, never ask for directions near your campsite or tell anyone where you’re going. And last but not least, listen for Banjo music in the distance

[@DriftaholiC]

Being armed, I'm way more worried about a bear than a person :P

[@ggg4runner]

I dunno dude, people hurt more people than bears hurt people. Also, just watched your recent video, glad you guys weren't hurt. I had a gentleman who had a heart attack while driving ram through my fence some years back.

[@SuperDuty23XL]

Great job of covering this topic, and not shying away from your 2A stance. Lots of others from other countries that would like to have the rights that we do here ( actually God given, protected by our constitution!) , so we should proudly acknowledge them. Thanks.

[@tamiturbes3328]

What do you think about using a can of wasp spray? Or a taser?

[@ggg4runner]

Wasp spray on a person? I'm sure I wouldn't enjoy being sprayed with that but I'm also sure there are more appropriate things to use. As far as tasers, I have zero experience with them and my speculation probably isn't useful information for you.

[@HM-vu9zw]

Devos light ranger with motion sensor

[@ggg4runner]

Just looked that up, thanks for the suggestion! 30 ft sounds pretty good. I'll ask Santa for one 😁

[@theweaselcat3564]

I recently purchased 2 Devos Light Rangers with the motion sensor. They work great. Hopefully Santa brought you one.

[@evanhammond7305]

I pack a 30-30, but being Canadian, i would never pull that on a person if you know what I mean. Be mindful of pulling a gun on the wrong person.

[@ggg4runner]

For sure, hope I'll never have to. Be safe!

[@Okierover]

Your flashlight link doesn't work.

[@ggg4runner]

appreciate the heads up! fixed it fxo.co/HPRH

[@notracecamper9133]

Is your "Furry Friend" a Bouvier des Flandres? We've always had Bouviers and they can be a formidable camp companion.

[@ggg4runner]

Good guess! But, she's a Giant Schnauzer.

[@PittiesAndMore]

Question: did you or KZbin delete my comments on non-lethal self-defense tools? 🤔

[@ggg4runner]

I don't ever delete comments so...

[@PittiesAndMore]

@@ggg4runner It must have been KZbin censoring the comments. I left a comment on a non-lethal self defense tool that is CA complaint.

[@ggg4runner]

@@PittiesAndMore I think I remember that