Is Boondocking Dangerous? 9 Frightening and Odd Boondocking Experiences In 5 Years Full-time RV Life

[@mrep0201to3]

When I used to camp in my rv, I setup cameras on every side making sure I had the entry door covered. It not only served to see whos outside the door but we would be able to see the wildlife come up to the trailer without them getting spooked. We had a 360 degree view. The kids loved it.

[@dustin628]

What a great idea! I think that'd be essential now, especially if you're parking in the city all over.

[@dennymedeiros4504]

In the early 70's we found a place to boondock. In the dark Tent up and went to sleep with Two year old and baby In the early morning hours we heard voices right outside the tent. We I got up to investigate I realized we tented on a golf course fairway.

[@MortonsontheMove]

Oh my! I wonder what the golfers thought :)

[@BluntressVidaLoca]

😂😂😂😂

[@RAM-BAWN]

I was off-roading a long time ago and accidentally drove across a golf course fairway. The only reason I know this is that I got stuck and had to have the grounds keeper pull me out. Man was he pissed.

[@butwereallsombdyspecial]

🤣🤣 soft ground then !

[@MC-342]

😂😂😂

[@YsabetJustYsabet]

Have to say, you can have the Surprise Local Critters Experience in a campground too. Years ago, I and my then-husband came in after dark to a campground in Louisiana in a National Park (I think?) somewhere nearly to Texas. They had room and we were directed to a spot which we found eventually (we thought) and we set up our tent. It was a wide grassy area with plenty of trees back from us a good ways and while it had an odd smell hanging over it it seemed perfectly fine-- chilly, but it was February, so we just bundled up and went to bed. Just as dawn started to lighten the sky, though, I woke up to the *weirdest* noise-- kind of like if you had a crowd of people around you, a large one, and they were all muttering and kind of whistling. I got a little freaked out because I couldn't identify it, it was actually kind of loud, and when I peeked out a tent window there was thick, thick fog everywhere. So I woke my husband up and crawled to the tentflap and nervously unzipped it to take a good look, ready for everything from zillions of raccoons to howler monkeys. What I got, though, was *turkeys,* first just a few and then dozens, possibly as much as a hundred or more; they were crowded around our campsite less than 15 feet from our tent, staring at us and muttering to each other in agitation. It WAS a crowd, just not of humans, and a few minutes later a park ranger drove up and the turkeys got *much* louder when he started unloading buckets of grain. As he explained, we had set up our tent actually in the wrong place, roughly a dozen yards from our campsite and smack in the middle of where he fed the local wild turkey population every morning. So we were in the middle of their breakfasting area; I guess we should've been grateful the turkeys hadn't started trying to eat us. The odd smell, btw, turned out to be the copious amount of turkey-poop which we'd set our tent up in and had been tromping around in all that evening. >_

[@keepcalmprepon]

I traveled six weeks with my kids in an RV and only one night was creepy - we parked in a Walmart parking lot and got settled in and I could not shake the feeling something was wrong, so we packed up and left, finding a place that felt more secure for the night.

[@purplelove2863]

Yes, always listen to your gut!!

[@beautifuldreamer3991]

Good job

[@my2cyl]

Finally getting caught up with your videos since Alaska. It so great to see how well you two work together as a team and how packed your videos are with valuable information. Keep up the good work!

[@MortonsontheMove]

Awe...thank you!

[@RetiredLover]

Hi Denny, it reminds me of the time I took my two children out camping. It was getting dark and I finally found a nice place to camp, started a small fire and enjoyed marshmallows. Morning, I discovered we had set up on somebody’s front lawn. Very quietly and quickly we packed up, cleaned our area and crept away.

[@rustykatt3870]

lol.......lol.....Thanks for sharing this! Made my day 😁 .

[@stacylynn8494]

Funny

[@Starfish2145]

You couldn’t pay me to Boondock alone without a weapon or other campers in a group. Too many freaky people out there

[@autumngrace3135]

Lol...did it alone as woman with dog in tent on blm land. I was more fearful of bears being in mountain. No gun.

[@richardstorm4603]

^ You probably should be a lot more fearful of people than bears. If violent thugs can destroy businesses and lives within city limits, they sure can do the same thing out in the wilderness. Arm yourself at all times.

[@jerryt87]

@@richardstorm4603 Yep. The savages are on the rise, and they will only understand one thing. ☠

[@jamessolberg6909]

12 gauge for bears. Glock for people.

[@RR-vf8jg]

Long haired freaky ppl

[@jodymooney255]

Our gut is so powerful and a lot of the time we put that feeling aside! Great video guys! Thank you!

[@MortonsontheMove]

Absolutely!

[@lindamartin9781]

Snowflakes shouldn't boondock

[@stacylynn8494]

Everyone gets scared even you

[@gracieg7601]

Oh my gosh. These types of situations are why I’ve never tried camping in a Rv. I’m always worried about being stuck. Either by fences or in sand. I watched two Dooley trucks stuck in the sand at the beach one tine butt to butt. One was stuck first and the other guy said oh I’ll pull you out. Backed his Dooley right into the sand sandy place the one was stuck. Luckily that day there was a guy with a tractor cleaning the beach. He hooked up to the one truck and pulled him out from his front end. Then came back and hooked up to ours and pulled us out. I had told my husband not to pull into that spot that the sand didn’t look too good to me. We got a big laugh out if it of course. We never just drove into soft sand again. Geez! It’s crazy.

[@MaxFriz]

I love this episode. This was exceptional. Fantastic! We haven't tried dispersed camping yet, but are not afraid to do so. I have always been safety-conscious and diligently practiced awareness of our family's surroundings. You brought up some points I wouldn't have considered. Thank you for publishing this content!

[@cametientaucoeur]

In the 70’s we were tent camping in the mountains in AZ. We went walking down an old fire road in forest. An ancient, no paint on it, truck pulled up with 2 creepy guys? They said “you’re out here all alone”. I froze. My husband taller & ex army could see them reach for guns. He had his pack with 357 magnum, cocked off his back, in an instant. My husband said move along. They said “we know we’re you are camped. Sleep tight”. We moved to a campground & never camped away from people again. Stay safe. Always have protection. Jeanne

[@jenisecoronado5555]

That IS a scary story! Hard to believe something like that happened way back in the 70's in AZ. Used to live in the valley. I know that as time went on, rural desert dwellers became aware (especially in southern AZ) that it was no long safe to ride your horse (especially alone) out into a lot of areas of the desert because of the coyotes bringing in illegals, drugs, and who knows what else. What town were you near when you were camping there?

[@mysteryandmeaning297]

Thats right. We always camp now at regular camp places with rangers as had a similar experience. Never remote again

[@garyp9906]

Awesome video and loved to hear your stories! My wife and I are both retired prison guards. Believe me, we have seen the worst of the worst in society. When we are camping in our RV, we stay alert to our surroundings. If someone thinks they are going to come into our campsite or RV unwelcomed and screw with us, it's not going to be nothing nice for them. We are not bad a$$es by no means and will avoid confrontation. It's amazing after working in a prison how you can almost instantly tell if a person is good or bad. 99.9% of people are good. However, that minor percent can ruin your day. Be safe out there, guys!

[@fckjb284]

Do you find yourself doing bed counts in the campground at night out of habit? Do you demand other campers call you sir, or officer?😁🤸 Haha...you don't know about the contraband I have in my motorhome.

[@garyp9906]

@@fckjb284 you don't know about the contraband I have in my trailer, too

[@fckjb284]

@@garyp9906 😁 🐧

[@EarthZeal]

What an episode with melodrama, scary vibes, background sounds... scray enjoyment...all the best with boondocking.

[@wanderingfree149]

68 mph winds when I was in Utah, and I too was freaked out. Great video! Safe travels! ❤

[@MagicSpud]

I was actually creeped out when you got to the 'Stolen Bikes' story and then mentioned my city. I even guessed the parking location correctly in my head once Tom started describing it!!! That was Bastendorff Beach, which is technically in Charleston rather than Coos Bay, but close enough. Doesn't surprise me sadly as our property crime rate is one of the highest in the state, and we have a very handsy homeless population. I don't know what year you guys passed by but camping out at that location has been forbidden for a few years now and sadly you got to see part of the reason why. There are many remarkable places to be seen in the county but I don't blame you one bit for having your impression of our area permanently soured. Stay safe out there!

[@quotidian5077]

We lived in Eugene Oregon and bike theft was a big problem there as well. Sometimes thieves ride around on bikes because they are quiet and take stuff from your vehicles.

[@bob_frazier]

Ha! I recognized Bastendorf Beach too. Always some janky stuff there.

[@luannkelly5071]

Please trust your gut, don't question it. Don't worry about offending anyone.

[@tomcoccia7348]

Great stories! It was very helpful.

[@bettyhouk8727]

My husband an I lived in a RV for meany years ! We enjoyed boon docking or as it was called coyote camping back in the 60s, 70s and 80s we were migrant workers picking fruit from California to Washington State ,Montana to Florida in winter and picked oranges 🍊 through the winter months ! Yes this type camping can be scary so you must “pick”your spots and be ready to move if need be ! With younger people who can do their jobs from a computer you have the freedom to expand your travels ! So I wish you more luck then you will need 🍀(from a song of Jimmy Buffett’s) Love ❤️ 😇 Blessing to you both ! 👍👵🏻😺🐶🖖👽✊🏾

[@butterbean4195]

never go any where without a fire arm. if you cant afford a firearm or are a tree huger get mase or tasers and theirs other ways to protect yourself with out a big boom. you can also run a trip wire around your camper with cans with rocks in them to give you warnings. tons of way to protect yourself and give you a heads up. also we have night vision and that gives you a big advantage over bad guys and critters..

[@13699111]

I've carried hornet spray my whole life operating a crane , dump truck , traveling by motorcycle ,car , etc . I mounted a can of hornets spray on my bicycle water bottle mount it can be dangerous depending on where your riding bikes . Hands down beats pepper spray in defense against dangerous humans .

[@charisma-hornum-fries]

That depends on where you are camping. Research the laws of the country you are traveling to because a lot of countries doesn’t allow fire arms and some doesn’t allow pepper sprays or tasers.

[@History_Coffee]

When I boondock I strap a claymore mine to my chest, if anything disturbs me a grab the detonator and run towards the danger nude and screaming.

[@butterbean4195]

@@History_Coffee wait! you been watching my videos .....bro!

[@dementiabidenfallingontheb6712]

That's why I'm glad I have an AR-15.

[@dustin628]

Pepperball launcher?! That sounds amazing. Next you're gonna tell me there's a pepper bazooka! 😄🤣

[@chrisrose5740]

Awesome video

[@MortonsontheMove]

Thanks!

[@terrywhite9232]

Shotguns are a wonderful thing.

[@davidgodley521]

When I rest my head for the night my Ruger .357 is loaded!

[@terrywhite9232]

I hear ya...because CRAZY people are CRAZY!🤪

[@bunsonhoneydew9099]

@@terrywhite9232 The Mortons seem like they may be submissive pacifist types and easily eaten

[@SKBottom]

@@bunsonhoneydew9099 That was my thought.

[@jenisecoronado5555]

@@bunsonhoneydew9099 As I have discovered for myself many times, there is a good reason not to make assumptions about others.

[@thomfisher1100]

Boondocking is probably no more unsafe than normal backpacking in remote country; probably less so. Not that some strange people occasionally show up, "mostly harmless"...but annoying. I camped at in a remote canyon a few years back after passing up my usual spot because another group was in it. Shortly thereafter, they moved their rig up close to mine (after I had deliberately avoided them) because they were afraid of the bears in the area. I packed up and moved further up the canyon where their rig couldn't follow, in order to lose them. It's about solitude....I boondock to avoid having neighbors next to me....not to find them following me. Sometimes Forest Service campgrounds are far more dangerous...I've certainly found my share of nutcases wandering about in those. BTW, motion sensor spots on the RV can be of great use if you worry about someone walking up on you. Not an expensive investment, easily installed.

[@wcarlhepker4806]

I was in the Army and just got home from Vietnam. My wife and I Ioaded up our car and drove to my next duty station which was an artillery training base. I was to be teaching electronics and radar. We took a motel room for the night with plans to go apartment hunting the next day. After we had been asleep about an hour, there was a very loud boom. My wife woke up and found me under the bed. A year of conditioning in Vietnam had made that an automatic reaction. From that day until the day we left, I had to wait for the first boom to go to sleep if there was to be any sleep at all for the night.

[@rubyus7332]

Sir, Thank you for your service! 🇺🇸

[@SPCLPONY]

My dad was a Corpsman serving with a Marine air wing in what he called 'The sunny Southeast Asian Paradise.' He too had snap reactions to sudden noises or metal clicking sounds. I got the hairy eyeball from him when I was a little kid in the backseat going someplace with him. I was unconsciously looking outside the window while flicking the lid to the back seat ashtray open and closed. When I was 19, he was asleep in the passenger seat while I was driving. 4 hours into his sleep I hit a deer. By the time I looked over at him, he was already outside, crouched down and moving fast with both hands on his .45 auto pointed in the air. It was 4am with nobody else around. The deer got up and ran. A few minutes later we got underway again and he went back to sleep like nothing happened.

[@sandy89107]

Get wasp spray too, in case you need to spray in the eyes of an intruder *(human). It can spray further than mace

[@lisabergman3779]

Wow that’s a great idea

[@bubbatime]

Absolutely, positively, DO NOT buy wasp spray for self defense. It does not work. That is an old wives tale. I have attended numerous years worth of police defensive tactics classes, and I have personally sprayed hundreds of people with real police pepper spray, called OC spray. Real pepper spray is cheap, like $12-$15 a can, and it absolutely works. Its engineered with a 100 years of data, to work on people. And it works exceptionally well, most of the time. There are many videos on KZbin of people getting sprayed with wasp spray and it does absolutely nothing. It does not disable people, it does nothing. PLEASE buy real pepper spray if you are not willing to buy a gun. And based on my real world experience, if you care about your life and want to live, and you live in America, then you should procure a gun for self defense. Period.

[@davidgodley521]

I retired from trucking this past April of 2020. I know all about open ranges and high winds. I bought a Ford Transit van outright. No payments! I then moved into it. I was already used to living on the road. Slab City is weird.

[@Petertrottierrealtor]

Boondcking where I come from is riding your snowmobile off trail. It can often result in a bent snow machine. Happy New Year !

[@ThePattycake144]

I envy your optimism in humanity. Sad to say, I no longer have it. Kudos to you for keeping the faith :)

[@RVFreeDa]

Great stories! I’m always moving if there are scary people or dogs loose. I’m goi g to pick up that device. Thanks for the info and stories.

[@MountainRoots]

Hello Mortons! KZbin just recommend your channel to me. Glad it did, your content looks great!! We have a roof top tent ourselves, but considering a travel trailer/rv in the near future. Subbing your channel now!... gotta get caught up on your videos ;) -Josh

[@MortonsontheMove]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@thurstonpowell8687]

You guys are at that immortal stage still. I live in a safe neighborhood but I bar my door at night.

[@timboslice8194]

That was the best video I' be seen all month. You are an adorable couple and your smiles are absolutely imspiring! Thank you!

[@MortonsontheMove]

Thank you for watching!

[@BlackdogADV]

I’ve been on Canol road several times but on my motorcycle. I met a guy in northern Nevada that said I could camp next to his house. He was drinking whiskey at 10 AM and he gave me a couple other red flags to the point I slipped away when he wasn’t looking. Ended up paying $60 for a motel but I slept great.

[@MortonsontheMove]

Glad you were able to get a good nights sleep!

[@donrimel7500]

The video is very informative. Your stories resonate with me. You guys are inspiring story tellers. I love your story telling and the technical side of how you tell your stories. While we have not boondocks much yet, I had an experience last December parking after dark on public land near Port Charlotte. Let's just say a partially dressed man approached me as I was setting up and it turned out he was living in his pickup truck. I was by myself. Since there were at least 5 other RV's within a couple hundred feet, I chose to stay. It was not a good night. The next day a ranger came by and asked about the campers. The person I met had left that morning. I did pull our towed close to our entry door and kept everything locked. I can turn on my tower's lights remotely and can use the backup camera and side camera's to check outside. As you said, be prepared and move on if your gut tells you to. Your story in Episode 9 is a must see too.

[@MortonsontheMove]

Thanks for the kind words Don! Sometimes there are just weird people out there, but most of the time it has been great. I feel like certain areas (especially near cities) bring out the weird ones.

[@TheTracystella]

Thanks for sharing! Always, always listen to your gut! Lessons learned and so glad you guys were safe! A lesson for couples...listen to your wife! Great job!

[@andrewrivera4029]

My wife and I have been living on the road for 5 months Boondocking and we have had no bad weird episodes.

[@fishing4happiness610]

Two years and so far nothing as well, but don't get complacent. Ninety percent of the people are decent... it's that 10 percent you need to be cautious of. That being said, living in fear is not really living.

[@rubyus7332]

Although you are pursuing a “free” life, maybe better to plan in advance?!

[@mysteryandmeaning297]

Your a couple not likely. Especially if have big rv

[@fishing4happiness610]

Good to see a new video from you guys. You definitely need a great sense of humor when boondocking... this was a fun video.

[@MortonsontheMove]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@joesphx54]

In rural Florida you will find at least chicken wire will surround homesteads. It's common to have livestock especially goats and of course, chickens. Dogs running free protect the owner's land and more importantly, the barn or shop where expensive tractors and other equipment is kept. Not unusual at all to lock fences here.

[@DesertRaven365]

Really well made and interesting video, awesome

[@MortonsontheMove]

Thanks!

[@annecaulder9495]

This is why I would never boondock in a trailer. Van is the way to go, so I can drive away. 🚐🐶❤️

[@tominftlthomasp3559]

I would have to agree. If in a van, you don’t have to go outside. Just drive away.

[@albertmiller7331]

Really enjoyed the video! Great advice .

[@MortonsontheMove]

Thanks!

[@RobertShroder]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Be safe out there!

[@MortonsontheMove]

Thanks, you too!

[@charliegijones]

I work for the BLM in Idaho Falls in the recreation department. Let me know when you come back this way and I can give you some tips on some good boondock sites..... without drug deals. Or at least let you know which ones to stay away from

[@charliegijones]

@Neal Head Bureau of Lady Managers but that is a good idea

[@jenisecoronado5555]

Hi Charlie! I'm from there! I was born in the Sacred Heart Hospital by the river before it was torn down. Idaho is where my heart will always be but I live in the mtns of southern NM now. Not considering going back at this point with the grossly inflated housing and invasion of people fleeing cities of western states!

[@CarlosRodriguez-hb3vq]

@@jenisecoronado5555 On the flip side, the locals are selling a lot of that housing and benefiting from the business generated by newcomers. “Invasion” and “fleeing” are hyperbole. Why can’t you just welcome your new neighbors as fellow citizens of your country. After all, they tolerate you.

[@jenisecoronado5555]

@@CarlosRodriguez-hb3vq In a perfect world, that would certainly make sense. However, many folks fleeing the cities, instead of contemplating the fact that the liberal policies led to the degradation of their city/state, bring the same thinking to their new home thus leading to the same degradation at their new location.

[@tomking5358]

@@jenisecoronado5555 its too many people..overpopulation...thats the problem.. it needs to be addressed immediately.

[@davidbooth5851]

A friend and I were going to Indianapolis to see the race , we left after work on a friday with our camping gear strapped to our bikes ,rode till we were tired then pulled down a dirt road and pitched our tents, About dawn we heard this unbelievably loud noise we stuck our heads out of our tents and realized we had set up camp about 20 feet from the runway of Wright Patterson Airforce base ...LOL ...I cant believe the MPs didnt roused us , obviously we quickly broke camp and moved on

[@MortonsontheMove]

Wow! That must have been freighting!

[@sandyruther2936]

When I was in my early 20's my family went on our 1st "vacation" ever to Colorado. Dad drove until he got tired (we were lost), so he parked the car. I had my baby with me and 5 siblings plus Mom and Dad. Sleeping was a wee bit difficult. Between having to sleep sitting up with a baby in my lap and my siblings twisted all over each other. During the night I kept waking up to a horrible sound and bright light. In the morning we got out and looked around. Somehow my father had driven off a paved road and within a few feet of a railroad track.

[@davidbooth5851]

@@jimsamolczyk3774 Dont care if you believe me or not honestly .....

[@aboyandhisdog]

What an awesome video! Thank you! Would love to see more of these kinds of videos. I've had 3 bikes stolen over the years and it is indeed a terrible feeling. I suppose having anything stolen would lead to that "violated" feeling though.

[@MortonsontheMove]

Thanks Tom, bummer about the bikes, yea I think having anything taken is a violation. So frusterating!!!

[@santini1953]

Good bike racks save bikes

[@philc.9280]

We enjoy boondocking but we always like to know that there are other campers around us and not alone. We have a choice of vehicles and if security is an issue I'll take the Class B RV that is solidly secure when we are inside. A class B can take off in minutes if danger happens. We always carry weapons ( including a hand gun) that is locked and secure all the time.

[@IowaLanguages]

Hard to find a four season class b

[@besttodayever1916]

We have some doozy stories about boondocking. If you’re in Michigan your always welcome on our property. Full hookup, private on a river. No fence.

[@laurazamora529]

We just did our first RV road trip across Michigan UP, beautiful country!

[@janicem9225]

I'd be too afraid of an invitation like that. Your own property? Private? On a river? Already has hook ups? "Wrong Turn" comes to mind. 😱

[@besttodayever1916]

@@janicem9225 we love it here. We love traveling too. Anytime y’all are around let us know.

[@carlaifera5254]

...... nice couple 💜....... professionally done vid ✨

[@MortonsontheMove]

Thanks!

[@nealamesbury1480]

Damn- slab cy seems awesome ! How funny. Good stuff !

[@dustin628]

That would be so COOL to see the tracers from helios and bombs from jets! Also, petty theft and crime is rampant in Oregon. Thats pretty bold to cut the lock right by your bed though.

[@davidpowers6867]

I've been backpacking down to South America and back 10 times I've traveled around the world in a sailboat I wrote a bicycle across the United States I now live in a camper van at 67 years of age I can honestly say I've never had the life-threatening situation in 50 years on the road I've lived in the worst slums of Brazil all over I'm not saying it can't happen but I'm saying the world is way safer than a lot of people make it out to be I have never ever ever owned a gun in my life and never will

[@mysteryandmeaning297]

Your a man no problem

[@tomking5358]

I agree...situational awareness is key ...the most important "tool" you have for staying safe.

[@terrylarkin690]

Your great story tellers. I bet you could scare the little campers I know because when I was growing up in Minnesota I worked at the Boys Club camp as a counselor and we tell scary stories. The only problem was some of the campers got a little to scared. It wasn't uncommon for them to scream for mom or dad.

[@Surfrz3]

Too bad there are so many weird creepy people out there. Thanks for sharing.

[@ABQdoubleG]

When I was a kid all that I knew was boondocking. One time while in Colorado we got snowed in, overnight a couple of feet of snow fell. We kept warm because I had 5 siblings and we were packed in like sardines and our dog was like a radiator. My father had a cooler in the snow that contained meat. In the middle of the night there was a loud noise and my mother was waking my father saying there was a bear just outside of the trailer. My father told her we wikk be ok. In the morning all of our meat was got and large bear tracks in the snow remained. We stayed another week untik the snow melted and we fished, it was both fun and scarey.

[@MortonsontheMove]

Wow!

[@Webendowed]

At the beginning I had a strange sense of finally finding Waldo!

[@stout_tossme7541]

Some.of these made me giggle. Some odd things happen. But for the most part, I have not been "freaked" by anything while boobdocking.

[@stevegunowner2610]

Boobdocking?! Is that actually a thing?

[@stout_tossme7541]

@@stevegunowner2610 in some culture somewhere. Lol. I am not even mad. Lol

[@owen5640]

I'm building my first van right now and strong wind is something that I've never thought of. I have a winch on the front bumper but now I'm also going to buy some ground anchors, some auto grade ratchet straps and weld clip points on each corner. Anchor the van to the ground or trees if the wind gets too crazy.

[@gregbishop1381]

Hi Mortons on the Move, I'm a Kiwi (aka New Zealander) and I apologize for your bad experience, My greatest regret is that I can't get my hands on the perpetrators and teach them some manners,please beleave me when I say us Kiwi's are a pretty friendly bunch who thoroughly enjoy making new friends.

[@Reaper4367]

ok, so what you call ' boondocking' is what most folk call camping.

[@MortonsontheMove]

Essentially, yes. Boondocking is off-the-grid RVing, where you have no hook ups like at a traditional campground.

[@alikawhite6903]

Reaper4367 Boondocking is the new term for free campsite.

[@TheTandumbs]

Boondocking as a term has been around for at least 20 years. Nothing new.

[@Reaper4367]

@@TheTandumbs maybe for yourself. Im in my fifties and only heard it for the first time in this video. :)

[@emeraldcoastgardensfl7323]

Boondocking is not just camping. People boondock on city streets, store parking lots, with permission. And they are permanently living in their vehicles, not just camping.

[@Chris-js6oz]

So glad I found you guys tonight. You're awesome and what incredible stories! I would not stay on anyone's property, especially in Florida. I came down to Florida to help my mother out from Arizona about a year ago and immediately regretted it. Crazy people here, but the bear spray and pepper ball gun is a good idea for anyone traveling. I'm about to move to Boise, but I'm going to try to live in my SUV for a while. I've been watching hundreds of videos about car living and think I could save up and buy something bigger in about a year or so. Oh, and by the way, I'm a former cop, so I always have a Glock 19 with me, along with my TASER, OC spray and expandable baton. 😎💪🏼

[@digitalawareness4282]

Boondocking in the national forest and at around 2:00am a truck with a posse of motorcycles parked 200 meters down the fire road. Odd opera music in Russian blaring and echoing through the entire forest. So I am now awake and getting ready to be annoyed then all of a sudden there is automatic weapons being fired into the forest. The only thing I’m thinking is what is between us and them and the other campers also boon-docking nearby ....scary night...

[@MortonsontheMove]

Yikes! That's a crazy story! Weird they would do that so close to you.

[@jenisecoronado5555]

What national forest were you in an where was it?

[@thejudge1445]

You Mortons are crazy. Be safe homies..

[@Thecatnamedkiwi]

Story #3: I wouldn’t be scared at all I would be cheering with excitement!!! That would be SO cool!!!!!! Except for when you need to go to sleep lol

[@lakeseminole]

I just came across your video. You two tell a great story! I love your enthusiasm and it makes it so interesting!

[@MortonsontheMove]

Thank you so much!

[@TravelswithYoly]

Similar experience while motorcycle camping in high school in the middle 60s. Three of us had ridden down to the Mt. Palomar area east of San Diego and after dark decided to just pull off the road into a protected area and crash of the night. The three of us were asleep on the ground in our sleeping bags when we were awoken by rustling and noises all around us. We didn't have a flashlight of any kind but we split a box of Ohio Blue Tip matches between us and on the count of three, we all struck them against the striker and held up our torches. We saw the same thing you did ... dozens of pairs of red eyes staring at us. Yes, we had camped exactly where you had, in a pasture of sorts. As for having your bikes stolen like that, those thieves must have been ninjas or your doggies need to go back to doggie school ! As for the slab city experience, I would have found it entertaining. I used to watch that nearly every day for a year in Vietnam in the 60s. We've had two boondocking experiences traveling part time for the last 11 years where our gut instincts told us that moving on might be the best alternative in the big scheme of things perceived or real. Never be afraid to follow your instincts :-)

[@trkrla5113]

Travels with Yoly...You's split a box of matches between three and the end result were torches. Well kinda! 😂

[@TravelswithYoly]

​@@trkrla5113 Ohio Blue Tips are large wooden matches from back in the 1960s when this happened. They're about 3 inches long and a dozen of them together actually does resemble a "mini torch" :-)

[@trkrla5113]

@@TravelswithYoly ...Yep! I remember those big match boxes. I mean I've not seen a gas stove for some time now. And you could fire up all burners with just one match. One box probably contained a hundred or so mini torches!

[@TravelswithYoly]

@@trkrla5113 They were great for starting campfires and I still have my white gas Coleman camp stove (with the hand pump cylinder) from then also :-)

[@louiselebow6643]

Poor Coos Bay, used to be a beautiful logging community, I was born and grew up there. It's just not the same anymore.

[@populistparty2010]

I camped at Oceanside Beachfront RV Resort in 2008. As a single woman I would never boondock. But even at that RV park I was creeped out from the moment I arrived, but it was too late to find anyplace else to camp. My gut was in knots and I was hyper alert all night. The events that unfolded that night are too long to detail here, but it involved a crazy homeless woman, and a couple of creepy men with laughter like voices from the bowels of h3ll, that camped a short distance from me.

[@terrylarkin690]

I like how you simulated cars driving up on the drug dealings and your looking through the slit in the widow. Onlyva Old Navy Photog would notice the technique.

[@garyschultz253]

Dog's if you can manage. Are the best first line of defense. NOTHING gets within 100 feet without them letting me know. And if that door should open ? God help them !

[@luannkelly5071]

I have 2 large black labs, getting a third puppy this coming summer. They all have their special jobs. Nobody has messed with me. They can be very protective behind that happy go lucky disposition.

[@mrs.c5471]

Oh great, Florida would be the #1!

[@karenpolansky9097]

I was half expecting you to talk about the crazy lady who came running up to you all excited near Dawson City Yukon! 😂 Stay well you two!

[@nancypaws6901]

I all of the things you mentioned. I got them for when I used to work in my yard. I am 77 and physically can't do that anymore. But I have them if I need them. As being an older woman don't let anyone tell you that you belong in the kitchen 🤬. I have watched almost all of your videos and heard most all of them. I have heard things from you first and then later from someone else later and what you said turned out to be true. 🐈🤭. God bless you and stay safe.

[@bengmelea8646]

6:16 yeah rural areas and quiet towns of NZ can get kinda boring for young people, especially on Friday or Saturday nights, so they hoon around in their cars looking for 'fun'. Where did this happen?

[@largelarry2126]

Something to think about that we did was to buy some of the cheap driveway alarms sold at Rual King. I hot glued some strong magnets on the back of each motion sensor housing and would place them around the outside of our RV. They are battery operated so at night all you need to do is turn on the alarm portion inside and we were covered 360. I placed two on the back bumper, one on the entry door, one on the center hub on each back wheel then on one the front license plate. They worked like a champ, and we always tested them before going to bed. You will be getting some false alarms with critters but things blowing past in the wind won't set it off.

[@JenMarco]

Not to self: buy heavy duty bolt cutters so I don’t get chained in anywhere. When I was a kid in the 80s we went to see fireworks in Philly. We paid for parking and when the fireworks ended the car was locked in the parking lot. They chained up the entrance and exit. Hundreds of cars were now trapped. My mom’s boyfriend at the time popped open the trunk, pulled out the bolt cutters and opened the lot so everyone could get out. He was a hero to a lot of people that night! They were cheering and clapping and honking their horns.

[@insanemainstream3633]

Woot! Finally found Waldo!

[@flexjay87]

You gotta keep an eye out for sure. I feel if i am close to my RV, i will be ok, because i am quite prepared to defend myself, and practice often. Nuff said :)

[@seviregis7441]

It could get very dangerous out there. Stay safe. God bless you and your dogs

[@ifor20got]

5 years and only 9 issues. That's Amazing. Ask anyone else who has spent 5 years outside of their "Bubble" and they will tell you more like 5 a month. Good job on picking safer places...

[@MortonsontheMove]

Lol, yea we try and follow our gut, but ya still end up in weird situations.

[@ifor20got]

@@MortonsontheMove So True there.... After being a Nomad for a few years we actually feel safer then when we lived in a major city. Chicago for me and Tampa Bay for her.... I feel much safer in the woods at night then a back street at night.... lol

[@360icon]

We had our trailer ripped from our van and thrown across the parking lot and smashed into the Hardees building at the truckstop on the topeka turnpike- i learned a valuable lessen about wind- turn it all facing the wind not sideways… like a sailboat

[@MortonsontheMove]

Wow, that sounds awful! Facing the wind is exactly right!

[@360icon]

@@MortonsontheMove we were headed to breckenridge co to sail on dillion- the Highway patrol helped me flip the boat back over- it cracked the hull the entire length - i looked at my wrecked boat for a week in co, towed it back, ended up i gave it away to a friend and bought a used 22’ sailboat….

[@danthesquirrel]

We were warned in the road trip adventure movie Joe Dirt from 2001. One minute humans are all sweet, the next they shove you into the whole in their basement and scream down: It Puts the Lotion on the Skin!!! In situations like that you just have to use the Joe Dirt school of hostage negotiation to keep your cool so you can keep on keepin on.

[@oregonbytheseaholt492]

Coos Bay is on 101. Highway 1 is in California. Parking at Bastendorff was not a great idea as tweekers were camping just about one mile from there. They have been removed now but when you were there it was not a good place to spend the night with anything of value outside.

[@MortonsontheMove]

Yea we learned the hard way there!

[@wendyannh]

Hwy. 101 is in California, too, LOL! All the way from the Oregon state line to San Diego! Yes, Hwy. 1 is there also, and they do merge from time to time.

[@robwestley7370]

Sandra Westley we had to stop using French rest areas overnight when we motored downs to Spain in our caravan as we call them in the UK, because gangs were targeting night stop overs and robbing them of there goods and holiday money, by pumping sleeping gas into the MotorHome or caravan vents, then breaking in and robbing the occupants. So these things you do have to be careful of, since that started we always make sure we stay on a secure site overnight

[@ericaman5393]

My wife and I have lived in our bus for over 3 years. Given my opinions on security from my military days I feel most deviants weve run into at various sketchy spots have been more inclined to stay away from me than me being overly concerned about them.

[@draco4540]

you probably have that vibe of "don't f##k with me." it's a nice vibe to have, if you want to be left alone. :)

[@ndrew19]

My worst experience boondocking was in New Zealand...some dirty foreigners brought the virus into the area...then it seemed like they had an issue with us doing donuts, thought they were going to call the police on us, but thankfully they eventually just left

[@notyouraverageexplorer]

We have been full-timers since 2009 and not got brave enough to boondock. We NEED to do it.

[@MortonsontheMove]

We love boondocking! You should give it a try!

[@notyouraverageexplorer]

@@MortonsontheMove I’m afraid we are not set up enough. We only have a generator but at some point would love solar.

[@joewoodchuck3824]

Stay vigilant and armed, even if it isn't a firearm.

[@bunsonhoneydew9099]

These people seem like they may possibly be anti-violence weirdos. Bullies are attracted to this type.

[@bunsonhoneydew9099]

@Slim Shady You have a cool name

[@DanoSeer]

You think you do not need a gun, until you need one. Why give any criminal an upper-hand? A firearm used legally and responsibly is a tool, just like an ice pick or a hammer. And it can save your life. The amount of deadly threats that are quickly aborted every day is all the proof any serious researcher needs. Only the states that support tyranny and violate Americans 2nd Amendment rights cause timid folks to think that a firearm always equates to something negative. Nothing could be further from the truth, and in point of fact, every day across the country firearms prevent horrendous crimes from happening to innocent people, and they save innocent lives. That's a fact. If you were in a dangerous situation, without a gun, and nothing happened to you - you just got LUCKY. Luck runs out eventually. Just as you would wear a seatbelt when driving, carrying a gun whenever you can - legally, makes perfect sense. And you are about 600 times more likely to die from some type of medical abuse: mistake, overdose, infection, etc., than you are of being killed by any type of assault weapon. That's a fact too. Just check FBI official statistics. Opinions are one thing. But facts are another.

[@LifeonOURtime]

We stayed at a Walmart in Maine, arrived around 10pm so had no other options but to stay. My gut said “sketchy” but all turned out fine.

[@MortonsontheMove]

Yea sometimes that happens, especially at walmarts,lol

[@robertanderson5334]

Traveling in Southern states is different. They tend to size you up before talking to you.

[@buzzowen7193]

With a straight face, no emotion...”my dogs eat dogs”. OMG...I laughed out load.

[@MortonsontheMove]

Lol we laugh at it now too.

[@terrylarkin690]

Pepper ball launcher I'm heading over to Amazon again.

[@JKTrail]

My number 1 was not in an RV, but in a tent, in the Great Bear Wilderness, NW MT. About 3am I was answering natures call when my headlamp picked up the eyes of a bear, probably a grizzly, head towards camp. Fortunately he apparently didn't like my cyclops look, made a 90º turn and ambled off. Sideways to the wind in an RV park, not good Glad the houseboat folks wasn't anyone I know, but I have camped at Hungry Horse with some friends that lots of people may consider weird. Our only strangers in the night were a group of teenage boys enjoying some beers, parked on the bridge over the river in front of our campsite. Not too scary, but pretty funny to watch.

[@MortonsontheMove]

Yikes! Glad the bear ran off! Thanks for watching!

[@divah01]

Boondock came from the Filipino word Bondok which means mountain or « middle of nowhere ». American soldiers brought the word home from the Philippines after WW2.

[@angelac273]

Do you know how the word is pronounced in the Philippines?

[@divah01]

@@angelac273 Boon-duk ?

[@angelac273]

@@divah01 Thanks for the info, very cool fact! 🙂

[@MortonsontheMove]

Thanks for sharing! :)

[@darthvadar2757]

It's safe if you have a 45 long colt revolver on your hip. And a 4-10 and barritt 50 cal. in the RV. O and a turret on top.

[@dancoleman8467]

I can really relate to this. I too have been robbed while sleeping. Is there any way we can talk?

[@trkrla5113]

Boondocking into the winds? Are you serious? I would have found that fascinating and exciting. Exhilarating and completely cozy and comfy!

[@tandcookiesbytiajones7036]

Do you remember which part of Hungry Horse Res. you were at? It’s super beautiful!! There are so many campgrounds around it, but I’d love to find that same area. Love the channel!

[@MortonsontheMove]

We were near the west entrance of Glacier National Park: mortonsonthemove.com/best-boondocking-spot-ever-hungry-horse-montana/

[@tandcookiesbytiajones7036]

@@MortonsontheMove Awesome! Thank you!

[@visumexcipio]

Glad all those worked out. Sorry about the bikes.

[@ruthlyons54]

Wow, at 11:29, (great photography☺️). I have not heard about this as well, my zen would have been zapped leaving a quivering jello mound!😂.

[@williamsrdan]

Just a few weeks ago, parked near a library, middle of the night, I hear two guys yelling at a distance, then hear one of them coming closer to where I was, yelling to his girlfriend to grab his pistol..... Thankfully she didn't, but they proceeded to argue and cuss each other out for the next few hours... And that area was "safer" than where I had been the rest of the summer... You wouldn't think the parking lot of a nude beach would be crazy, but arguments and fights most nights, and loud music even more often. I almost got in a fight with a girl's abusive boyfriend that six months after I first heard him threatening to smash in her van windows, she still hasn't let go of..... Did get in a fight a few nights ago defending a friend that got attacked over a misunderstanding of ownership of a bong.....lol! I'm too much of a peaceful person for all that. About to head up CA Hwy 1, hopefully that will be peaceful after the election........ Safe travels!!

[@Riverrat720]

I tell you what. When y'all brought up porcupines the first thing that went through my head was really porcupines of all things lmao but with that being said. Thank you guys for helping to amateur or beginner out I really appreciate your guys's experiences

[@MortonsontheMove]

You're welcome! Glad you're enjoying our content. :)