A couple other tips I just thought of...

When stealthing in a residential neighborhood, DON'T just drive and park and set up camp for the night.� Normally, I "prepare" by pulling most of the curtains shut a few blocks away, so I don't have to attract much attention once I'm at the final "site".� Also, I will drive up, park and shut off headlights, exit vehicle and take a walk around the block...by then, Mr. Jones will have seen you park, get out, and walk away, and probably forget all about it.� Plus, it gives you a chance to scope out the neighborhood, stretch you legs, and become aware of other things like barking dogs, etc.

And, READ those parking signs on the street!� The ONLY time I've ever been caught stealth camping was in Zion National Park back in the 80's; I failed to notice the NO Overnight Parking sign outside of the Visitor Center.� Well, about 11 pm, Mr. Ranger and his flashing blue/red lights with a tap-tap-tap of his giant Maglight on the window got my attention.� Anyway, he kindly informed me that I couldn't park there, but graciously said that if I drove back to town (Springdale?) that I could park on the street and wouldn't have a problem.� Whew!!

Yep, I've made mistakes...but that's how you learn.� Doing the math, I've been camping in a VW van of some sort for 36 years, and assuming maybe 4-5 nights/year of stealth, so that's about 150 nights.� All free!

Rich 
San Diego

--- On Thu, 11/11/10, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET> wrote:

From: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Stealth Vanagon Camping
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Thursday, November 11, 2010, 9:01 AM

Other places I've used:� hospitals, Starbucks, McDonald's (free wi-fi at those).� Yes, big cities are tough...so many parking restrictions...so usually stealth camping in the suburbs at night and then venturing into the city for day exploration is the way to go.� When in a residential area, I pick a dark street, and park on the property line between Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones (they each think the other has out of town guests, and by morning you're gone anyway).� Places that are open 24 hours (Safeway parking lot) are good...lots of coming and going and you just kind of blend in with all the activity; but be sure to have quality contoured foam earplugs (not the cheapo cylindrical kind, painful after all night).

Motel parking lots are great!� I don't believe all that hub-bub about your license plate number when you check in as a paying customer....I really doubt there is a guy driving around all night with a clipboard checking plates.� Least it's never, ever happened to me.� Kinda wonder why they ask for it when you check in.� 

The basic concept is to "try" to put yourself in the mindframe of whomever's neighborhood or business you're temporarily invading.� Will they be watching?� Do they even care?� What might be the potential consequences of discovery?

Other notes:� bright lights in a parking lot (like Walmart) are your friend!� You can watch your DVD or computer or even turn on interior lighting and it's very hard to detect from the outside (at least with my non-Westy with homemade curtains and a cross-curtain behind the two front seats...and I made a light fixture using a dozen mini-Christmas light bulbs...just enough light to see, not too bright to attract attention, low battery consumption).� In a dark neighborhood, interior lighting is a no-no...would surely attract attention.� So it all has to be done on a case-by-case basis.

Modest middle-class residential neighborhoods are usually my favorite, with plenty of other cars parking on the streets.� An advantage of Walmart, Safeway, Starbucks, McDonalds is the access to breakfast, hot coffee, clean bathrooms the next day when you really need it.

I won't elaborate on my approach to taking care of "business" (both number 1 & number 2) during the middle of the night, but you've got to be prepared for those situations, too, because "it happens".

After you do it a few times (I've been doing it since 1974 with my first VW bus), you get skilled in "the art" of stealth camping and it becomes second nature.� Sure, I prefer campgrounds and wilderness, but having options available depending on the situation is the beauty of these rolling hotel rooms.

Rich
San Diego

--- On Thu, 11/11/10, Brian Honan <cartruckbus@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

From: Brian Honan <cartruckbus@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Stealth Vanagon Camping
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Thursday, November 11, 2010, 7:55 AM

 Michael Rasmussen, Portland Oregon

>
> Could the urban stealth campers share some tips on spot selection?
>
> --
>
>
VW repair shops. On the roof of a Parking garage if you can get the van in.
Industrial areas. Motel parking lot, or a 4 star Hotel parking lot where you
can go in the lobby and use the rest room. I would also think legal street
parking alongside a city park would be nice. I have a spot (friends lot) in
Pittsburgh that I can see the skyline through the trees, listen to the local
collage radio station clearly and watch deer walk around the van.
hope I trimmed up enough.

Brian H