Safety on the trail

maine-woodsman

maine-woodsman

Rank I
Launch Member

Contributor I

233
Maine, USA
First Name
Michael
Last Name
Davis
Member #

21215

Hi everyone, I’ve been wondering if any of you have ever had anything stolen or vandalized while your Jeep was parked at a trailhead and you were hiking? What about trouble at a campsite at night? My wife and I are heading to AZ next winter. Just curious.
 
It's always a risk with a soft top since a box cutter can get you inside in about 3 seconds. I wouldn't say it's a common problem but it's all going to depend on where you are parking.
 
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Any visible valuables attract thieves. The obvious are Maxx Trax on the side. Mountain bikes on the roof. But also the "hidden" treasures. Any IT device which is not powered off sends out a signal. A simple phone app will tell a theif exactly what that device is, and he can figure out front seat, back seat, left side, right side. Then he just breaks that window and rummages till he finds it. He doesn't even need to look in the windows, he just stands beside your truck, you figure he is texting but he is actually casing his next hit.
 
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Honestly, I don't like to leave my Jeep and trailer unsupervised for any length of time. Too much stuff attached (including the trailer!) that could disappear in short order. If stopping to eat at a restaurant, I park it to where I can see it from inside the restaurant. If I'm camping, I'm there with it (unless I go to a latrine, and then I'm gone just a few minutes). If running into Walmart or a grocery store, I park where there are no other vehicles around, and make my trip quick. I'd never leave it at a trail head unless I was with a group, and someone was staying behind. And I'm paranoid if staying at a motel with the Jeep and trailer in the parking lot.

Honestly though, the place I'm least worried about it is at an organized campground where there's a fee to camp. I figure most folks are there to get away, and nobody's going to mess with you.

And I sleep easier knowing I'm armed in some way (firearm, bear spray, etc.).

For the record, I've never had anything stolen, messed with, had any scary situations, etc.

Overland Adventure.1.jpg
 
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I understand your concern. I have always been weary of leaving my campsite alone. I moved to AZ a year and a half ago from Miami. I have camped numerous times and here in AZ nothing has happened. Lost of people camp in public land here. Not saying it couldn't happen but from my short experience it would be rare.
 
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I'm not typically too concerned with it. I figure most dirt bags are "shopping" at more populated areas than a secluded dispersed site down a dead end Forrest Service road. Then again some of the "local dirtbags" might know where to find these secluded spots as well. I figure it's always a crapshoot. I don't really leave my camp area for extended periods of time unless it's short hike but anything could happen in that time. I used to setup my campsite in Socal and jump on my motorcycle and go ride for a while and comeback and I never had anything come up missing.
 
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