I see this as a legitimate vanagon topic.
Personal safety while camping in your vanagon. 
It cant be more sensitive than synthetic oil, can it?

My girlfriend while snow camping with me in Lake Tahoe was 
seriously concerned until I convinced her we would likely be the first folks ever to be 
killed in that campground in the middle of the winter if it happened so we'd be famous.

I always lock the doors, leave just the black ignition key in the ignition, put the trans in first,  and keep a clear path to the drivers seat.
I have heard many stories and in every one of them I believe pepper spray would have been a very good option. It can allow that bit of time for a quick get away.
I would also try to leave earlier rather than later if I felt bad vibes in a place.  

I have met many fellow campers who I highly respect that do discretely keep firearms in their RVs while camping. 
I do not have any problem camping next to them.

It can get scary out there, the best protections to me would  be to know the history of an area, stay in groups, 
use your head, develop a plan / code with your fellow campers or crew. Carry pepper spray. Keep the vw in gear. 

Keep  a roll of dollar bills in a money clip so you can toss it?
Wear kevlar?
Learn to shoot a .45?

You folks, I am sure can add some good stuff and experiences to this for all of our benefit.

Doug

---- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jack 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Friday, June 18, 2004 8:20 PM
  Subject: Re: Friday Wal Mart standoff - real risks

  Forget about political agendas.  That's nonsense!

  The risk of camping in unknown areas may be much higher than some would like
  to believe.  There are areas around Los Angeles including the foothill
  mountains surrounding us, with beautiful looking campgrounds, that I would
  NEVER camp at alone.  I grew up in this area; I KNOW what goes on.  I'd sure
  hate to have some innocent listee blunder into one of these.  Do you know
  that in some areas, Forest Rangers won't patrol these campgrounds at night?
  Don't blame them - they didn't hire in to the FS for that kind of danger.

  So, why is this a verboten subject???  How do the rest of you protect
  yourself when you wake up in the middle of the night with someone trying
  your door and then find you've been blocked in.

  Sorry to be an alarmist but I get the impression some of you don't know the
  real world out there!

  file://Jack