Anyone here stealth park in urban areas?

[Haraald]

I'd like to sleep in my F-150 conversion in urban areas along the West Coast of N. America... anyone here with experience with that with their expedition vehicle?

I purposely designed my truck to have no visible signs that it's a living quarter, except for a vent on the back of the A.R.E. canopy and a hitch box.

I talk to the vandwelling people a lot but they're a different breed... most of them don't have generators and have little more than curtains up on their older rigs so they emit zero noise. I don't emit noise either ( I have a large battery bank), but it would be nice to park in areas where I could turn on the air-conditioner or generator without standing out like a sore thumb.

I realize I may have to resign to driving to the outskirts to truck stops and walmarts, or at least find an acquaintance in each city whose house I could park in front of... There are vast empty industrial areas close to downtown Van, Seattle, pdx, etc ?

 

[Haf-E]

Do you really want to be in a major town for some reason? Lots of options in smaller towns/areas. How important is free cost?

I've stopped for the night at lots of resttruck stops on I-5 and have also stayed in the parking lots of airports. Tend to be noisy though.

Lots of state parks not too far from Seattle and PDX also.

The industrial areas tend to have a lot of homeless/scrappers/beat up RV dwellers in them - they wouldn't be my choice of a location.

 

[Haraald]

The paid parking of the airports? I would have thought they'd have a lot of security going through. I don't mind paying up to around $15 if it means I don't have to worry about being hassled.

Yes I'd need to be in the city; social connections/errands etc

 

[LR Max]

Go back and check on the van guys. I've heard a lot of them do exactly what you are saying.

If you park, and then hop in the back and black out your windows, should be fine. No one would mess with it. I've heard the best place to park is under a street light.

X2 on avoiding industrial areas and really, avoid commercial areas. Big office buildings and shopping centers will have security guards walking around, waiting to tell someone to buzz off. But near residential areas with lots of street parking would be fine.

I just think of where I live. Parking on the street and camping for a night is completely doable. Especially if you get going before too late in the morning.

 

[haven]

People park overnight on the street a lot in my town. As long as you're parked legally, stay quiet, and don't leave trash, no one will notice for a day or two. Stay more than two days, and someone is likely to call to report an abandoned vehicle.

I've noticed a couple with an newer Econoline van, no windows but big solar panel on the roof, who roll in for a day or two, then roll out for a couple of weeks. There's a Sprinter camper that parks over by the police station regularly.

One place to avoid is the parking area for a 24 hour gym. Thieves watch as people arrive and go inside, then burgle the car, knowing the driver won't be back for an hour.

 

[Haf-E]

Another good one I've used a far amount is hospital parking lots - I had a daughter do a 6 week stay at children's hospital and I would bring down my van so I could take naps outside of the hospital or stay the night when I needed to be there early in the morning. They actually have an area for people to bring in RVs and trailers there - but I just used the regular parking area.

Airports have security there - but they aren't looking or worried about people sleeping in vehicles. I've done it a number of times where I had an early morning flight and didn't want to spring for a hotel room fr just myself and the bed in my van is more comfortable.

I have a brother who is a fire captain and he has parked his RV at fire stations all over the west coast for single nights - usually bums a shower off of them as well. Helps probably that he is also a union leader as well.

 

[madmax718]

There's pretty much no way to run an AC without a genny or running your car. They make 12V ac systems, but you need a good size bank for that. (both in batteries and money). 24 hour truck stops are a sure ticket- but in urban areas, you get a lot of pan handlers.

Find a noisy area- not noisy as in people, but noisy as in equipment- power plants, dams, water falls- the noise will mask generator noises.

I've found that vehicle heat at night is largely due to the lack of air movement. But nothing will help if its 95 degrees at night at high humidity.

 

[SDDiver5]

Similar to what Frenchie said...... I live right by the beach and can always spot the vans or trucks/camper that have people camped in them. If you can, find a place that has a lot of 20/30 year olds. Like by a college. I live in Pacific Beach and it is full of college kids, young professionals and drunks. I have seen vans parked in the same spot for weeks at a time without ever getting towed, ticketed or hassled. If you go to more of a family residential place, like frenchie says, you will almost for sure get hassled in one way or another. Most beach parking lots in CA close at 10. Sometimes, the dirt areas by the train tracks are ok to park...but you'll have to deal with train noise.

I actually sleep in the back of my truck 1-2 nights a week to avoid driving for work. 160 miles a day will eat up your patience and gas/money. I stay parked in the parking garage at work that I pay for monthly, stay late at work and then slip in to the bed, watch a movie or read a book and then its lights out.

Good luck!