Date:         Thu, 10 Feb 2000 09:59:27 -0600
Reply-To:     Chris Smith <chris.smith@AQUILA.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chris Smith <chris.smith@AQUILA.COM>
Subject:      Re: stealth camping
In-Reply-To:  <000b01bf736d$39cc8f00$29e1a9ce@fj6wx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Having been a former "stealth" camper in college (long story, don't ask) I
can relate to many of the stories.  When I bought my '82 a few years back
the 1st thing done to it was to have the all the windows in the back tinted
dark.  In Illinois the front window and the 2 side windows may not be
tinted.  However when "stealth" camping I put the front curtain up behind
the doors to block view into the back.  With the rest of the curtains
closed and the dark window tint, there is no way to see into the van, plus
the window tint hides the fact that there are curtains up.

Last New Years, I had to work here at the hotel.  We were sold out, so
there was no way to get a room, and since the party I was running didn't
end untill 2 am, I decided that it would not be smart to drive the 62 miles
back home with all the drunks on the road.  All I needed to do was to run
an A/C cord to one of the Christmas tree light outlets in the employee lot
and was able to spend a restfull night in my "Portable Y2K Shelter".  The
local cops came around a few times that night, once even shining there
flashlights into the front window.  I stayed quiet and they went away not
ticketing me for sleeping in a car (a $75 fine in this town).

My next move is to put an LP furnace in the van so that I wont need to run
shore power to heat it overnight.  Then it will be one of the ultimate
"stealth" campers.

Peace
Chris Smith
'82 Westy
'74 Thing
A few running cars