Whether you’re living in stealth for fun, added adventure, financial freedom, or just because you have no other option, you need to grapple with several important concerns. Laws among states or provinces, for example, can change the way you deal with van life. Sleeping overnight in urban areas has to be discreet to avoid being complained about and reported by locals. This alternative lifestyle has to be carefully thought of to avoid future legal complications.
1. Choosing the Right Van: The Best Way to Start
Not all vehicles can do stealth effectively, that’s why you’ve got to pick the right camper van. A stealth van should look like regular vans, so exercise scrutiny before purchasing your stealth camper.
Unmarked white rigs are good starters. A big Mercedes Sprinter with the roof vent, obvious solar panels, and labels like Sportsmobile won’t really fit. Buying either a white and windowless cargo van or a minivan has to be initially decided. You can also consider an SUV, conversion van, or a high-roof passenger van for your stealth camper. Black panther and Toyota Prius are two of the popular names you can choose.
2. Make Sure that You Understand the Law
States and provinces treat stealth vans differently as some prohibit these while others don’t. In general, overnight camping is allowed in states when you’re in undeveloped, unimproved areas.
Registration of your motorhome is a priority upon purchase. You can’t simply drive around with an unregistered vehicle void of a license plate.
Make sure that you do your research before living in a stealth van to avoid fines or complications. You can read municipal laws via the Internet or if you’re driving with a companion, have your fellow look it up while hitting the road. Reading road and space signages must be intentional for hassle-free trips and parking.
3. Consider Any Possible Legal Issues You May Face
There is a difference in the consistency of law enforcement across states. You can take this to your advantage if you so desire. In the case of San Diego, you can’t inhabit a vehicle between 9 pm and 6 am. Enforcement is consistent unfortunately so you just can’t mess around.
There are areas where you can’t park near a school, like around 500 meters. Enforcement, however, can be inconsistent, despite stricter laws. You either play with this loophole or homeschool your kids if you can’t possibly take them there without parking.
If you regularly drink while on wheels, avoid a DUI or Driving Under Influence ticket. Cops check if the tire or hood is warm so you can’t just slip away. Under DUI, you might pay a $10,000-fine, hire an attorney, or lose your license in any eventuality.
Open container law is another thing. While it varies from state to state if a cop comes and your vehicle with an open container of alcohol, you can be issued an open container ticket. In California, the maximum fine for this violation is $250.
4. Camping Tip: Camp Alone Or In Small Groups
The larger your group, the more likely that you’d be discovered, hence, camping alone is safer! More space is required and more noise can be heard from a crowd. You need not worry when camping alone because as natural as it is when hitting the road, new friends will give hints on where to camp next. Just look at people in their eyes even if you’re new, to make you more appealing and impart a sense of intimacy during your conversations. Don’t forget to smile and be nice.
Many experiences with first-time police knocks were with van lifers parked beside each other. Clustering when camping out has disadvantages, so avoid it as much as possible.
5. Always Know Where You’ll Stay
Your goal is to blend in, not to stand out, so know in advance where you’ll stay. The best stealth spots aren’t always scenic and sometimes, the best site is right out in the open. When you find basic amenities nearby like a bathroom and shower, then, you’re good to go. Having a toilet in your van will bring you anywhere you want.
There are options for overnight parking. Free sites such as BLM lands, national forests, casinos, Walmart, and other grocery stores won’t put you into trouble. Paid sites like private and public campgrounds and others like city streets and industrial areas are also great spots to do stealths.
The city streets are a little trickier to navigate as there are laws that ban anyone from parking overnight at certain places. Some streets have signs that show the allowed parking hours and how long a vehicle is allowed to park. You need to be extra careful when stealthing in the streets.
6. Always Arrive Late And Leave Early
If you set up too early, you might get noticed by people around. If you leave way later in the morning, you’d be obvious too. The goal here is to be in or out of the area without drawing attention to yourself. Plan in advance for a speedy getaway just in case you’ll miss your set timing.
The idea you need to keep in mind is that you need to be out of your overnight spot before anyone realizes that you spent the night there and you need to settle in your overnight spot a little later in the day when people are not bound to notice you.
7. Make Sure to Park At A Safe Place and Go Unnoticed
This is always the prevailing rule, wherever you might be. For example, park in the middle of the rest stop because you can sleep more soundly in the middle than near the entrance. Look for animal tracks in the area such as animal feces when camping out in nature. Beware of the frequent sleeping spots of animals as well as traps, landmines, or whatever hazards around you.
You’re safe to park on streets that don’t have lots of traffic or high-speed traffic. Staying in well-lighted areas also ensures safety. You’ll never know what could happen so it’s better to stealth safely.
Avoid private properties and no-trespassing areas as people are on the lookout for spots like these. This makes reading signages a valuable part of the daily routine. Before deciding where to park your rig, consider the frequency of visits in your prospect parking area so you won’t get into trouble.
8. Follow Traditional Camping Rules and Have a Clear Exit Plan
Traditional camping rules still apply to stealth vans. For instance, park somewhere flat or close to level. Don’t camp under anything that could fall on you in the middle of the night. Don’t park in the wind and bring the necessary gear. These are just a few worthy to mention and a must-follow wherever you’re heading to.
Exits are as critical as your entry. Be sure to know your way out and prepare ahead for emergencies. A wasp spray can help when you’re under threat as it can reach a person up to 15 feet in distance. Have a clear picture of what to do, such as when thieves break in or you’re under assault. Plan how to get out fast should any mishap come your way.
It pays to plan ahead so you get familiar with your location. Have an emergency list in case of inevitable circumstances. Who to call or signal if you need urgent help must be clear from the start of your journey.
9. Keep Lights At A Minimum, Stay Quiet, and Be Aware of Surroundings
Don’t drive attention to yourself by using headlights or flashlights. These things will give away your location and may prompt anybody to call the police. Minimize if not eliminate your use of electronics when in your sleeping quarters. Bear in mind that your sole reason for staying is to get enough sleep and not for any other activity. Reserve that energy for a more appropriate location and time.
Your surroundings have a vital role when stealthing. Beware of certain harms then. Take note of hunting season when with nature. Be careful when staying beside rivers or canals as floods may arise during heavy rains. Be careful around dirt, sand, and snow too.
Watch out also for surveillance cameras as they may create a potential problem. Avoid areas that might suddenly fill with people. An empty space at night doesn’t mean it’s also empty in the morning so make sure to ask. Don’t stay in areas where kids might be playing because they might tell their parents about you. It pays to be alert because you are your own source of rescue many times.
10. Park At Different Spots: Don’t Stay Too Long in One Location
You need to understand that you have to change spots frequently so as to avoid suspicion. The more you stay in an area, the more you’re becoming obvious. Don’t sleep right away too – look and listen first. See if people walk past you, notice what animals are around, or see if other campers are nearby. Just be aware of the great influx of campers in a specific area so you can easily bail out and find another spot.
It is a wise strategy to prepare for sleep in a location other than your chosen overnight spot. This saves the time you can spend resting once you’re in your sleeping camp. You don’t always have the luxury of time when it comes to sleeping.
Never park in the same place for two consecutive nights. It’s advisable to rotate between 3-7 spots in a location, especially for long-term habitation in large cities. For example, you can spend your Monday evening at Walmart, Tuesday at Cracker Barrel, Wednesday at Planet Fitness, and Thursday at Walmart again. Walmart, Cracker Barrel, and Planet Fitness are great choices since they’re in almost every city!
11. Leave No Trace And Be Respectful
A natural discipline in stealthing is to leave no trace. You can do this by covering your track and not disturbing nature as much as possible like ensuring there are no broken branches around. Leave your campsite the way you found it. Carry your trash when you camp out. You do not only maintain cleanliness but preserve the area better by doing these. BLM lands and natural forests usually require you to leave no trace, so practice doing so wherever and whenever possible.
The more you do it, the more you’ll learn what really works. Finding places to sleep at the night becomes easier with experience as you learn what to look for in a good site. You relax and enjoy more when you’ve become accustomed to living in stealth. You also get rid of negative thoughts and feelings when you slowly gain experience.
12. Always Get Out From the Front Door
Getting out from the back or side door creates the perception that you’re living inside. Front door exits are usual for vehicles, so you’re better off doing it. In the case of Marty and Colette, a couple living on wheels, they exit via side doors because they’re living in a small van. The size of the van won’t suggest that two persons can actually live in it.
They stayed in Manhattan for 9 nights with no hassles in any form. Unless you’re obvious, there’s so much going on in densely populated cities for people to care about you. They usually park in a place where they can open the slider with nobody seeing what’s within from either the window or front door.
13. Place Work Equipment Up Front or Use Business Logos In Your Van
A work vest that is highly visible in the front seat or a hard hat in the window can be really misleading when you’re in parking lots, especially near industrial areas. It creates an impression of a busy, working owner so people won’t think of you living inside. This eliminates the chance of being reported to law enforcers, the very thing we don’t want to happen.
A business logo or signage makes people think of your van as a work vehicle. Using a BBB Accredited Business logo or chemical signage will definitely fit. A K-9 sticker when you’re living with a dog also does wonders. Think of it as simply your cover-up to stay hidden.
As protection against possible theft, logos can be used to imply nothing expensive can be found inside. You can use junk hauling or painters’ logos for this purpose. Remember that you need to stay protected at all times especially when you’re in remote or new territories.
Logos on magnets are functional accessories in stealthing. You can remove them when no longer needed and use them as timing dictates.
14. Find Parking Via Phone Apps
Phone apps are here to make life easier, even when you’re in a stealth camper. You can find parking slots via iOverlander, RVParky, and Campendium. Campground options can also be viewed via Ultimate Campgrounds, AllStays Camp, and FreeCampsites.net. Parking apps in states like New York City help confine searches in respective places. A number of online resources are actually available to keep you going.
If you want to know more about van life apps, here is an article that I have written for you.
15. Keep Your White Van Looking Like A Work Van
Colored vans may draw attention easily so if you don’t want logos, make your white rig look like any work van. Usual work set-up such as a dashboard and office table strategically placed inside the camper tends to feed anyone’s curiosity when passing by your parked vehicle. You’re sure to prevent complaints from coming when a work van is what people see.
16. Keep Hand Brake On Overnight and Roof Ven Down Low
Keeping hand brakes on naturally reinforces your stealthy intentions. You might not notice that your van moves as you move inside but people close to your vehicle might observe it. Keeping your hand brake on stops your van from moving back and forth while you rest securely. We don’t want to disturb others and have them call the police for assistance.
You must be always on guard not to be reported to the authority for any possible ground. Keeping your roof vent down low is a crucial step to achieving this. Just open it for a little airflow and not high enough for others to see. In this way, you increase the chances of successful stealth parking.
17. Test Your Volume Levels From Outside The Van
When the vent is open, the sound is naturally heard clearer from outside. Testing your volume levels from the outside will help regulate any noise, especially with a sound system or TV inside.
Simply put the speakers on, close doors, listen outside, and adjust controls accordingly. You don’t want to bring all ears on you just because of an unchecked audio system.
18. Do Not Park Near Two or More Storey Buildings
People can see your vent or solar panel when they’re on elevated positions. It’s best to park near single-storey buildings.Getting noticed by someone who is living in the second storey, which could potentially lead to further investigation gets eliminated when you consider this tip.
19. Do Not Park Directly In Front of Somebody’s House
To avoid getting complaints from residents, never park directly in front of someone’s house. This is applicable when you’re camping inside residential spaces. Park on side streets instead to avoid getting caught.
20. Do Not Hang Out In Broad Daylight At Residential Parks
Hanging out is better done near beaches or other scenic spots. When someone from the subdivision gives the police a phone call, you’d be in trouble. Don’t live in the place where you sleep. It pays to make sure your spot during daylight isn’t your spot at night. You can do this by moving frequently.
21. Dealing With A Police Knock
Considered as the biggest deal for van lifers, a police knock is the most dreaded thing when stealthing. You won’t like being reported, much more when cops come investigating or asking you to move out. In case you’ll encounter this in your journey, here’s a list on what to do.
Do Not Panic. The truth is they’re just doing their job. Cops merely respond to complaints, that’s why they need to knock and bother you for inquiry. Stay calm and relax. Panic usually brings more harm than good. Always remember that we fool random people so they won’t complain, not the cops. Just take it easy.
Treat Them With Respect. When talking to the police, act in a professional manner. They might just check for unpaid tickets or ask if you’re doing something illegal. They’re sure to probe based on the report they’ve received. If the police ask you to move out, ask politely where to park next. Cops are normally happy to be of help.
Don’t Run Away. Always remember to stay put. The police might follow you, and that’s more scary! Talk to them instead and do not argue. Make sure to cooperate by giving them what they ask, such as relevant personal information or your IDs. At times cops do get curious how you live in your van and if you’ve converted your van into a proper living space, give your friendly cops a tour inside of your home. This will also eliminate the suspicion of you doing anything illegal.
Conclusion
Whatever purpose you may have for living in stealth, there is always a story from someone else’s journey that will help you get started. Knowing the basics and learning the lessons from past experiences dispel fear and uncertainties ahead. You just have to understand the dos and don’ts, navigate through all possible what-ifs and apply them in your own journey. Challenges may be ever present, but you can always change the way you face them. I am confident you will agree.
