Clear explanation of “stealth”

[TWIH]

From a surprising source, rv.net truck camper forums. These are the (usually) old geezers with more dollars than cents who post up their 2017-19 1 ton drw $75K turbo diesel 4x4 rig pictures with a 4500 pound triple slide camper... about as stealthy as parking the Queen Mary on the street.

Anyway the thread was about dark window tinting on his tc windows and if that would keep people from noticing he was inside...

Here’s a reply I liked and copied: (pretty succinct explanation)

NY 
Senior Member 
Posted: 05/15/18 07:46am 

[size=undefined]“Many people just don't seem to understand "stealth" camping. It amazes me that some of those with no understanding also own truck campers.

The concept is really simple. Stealth camping does not make your camper invisible. The idea is to have it look like it is merely parked. Residents often get concerned when a camper stops for the night. They do not want a pack of gypsies moving into the neighborhood. I consider it a courtesy to the neighbors to be as quiet and inconspicuous as possible.  

There is often a concern about local ordinances and how they are interpreted. Resort and destination areas are often highly restricted and staying on the streets is not allowed. For the vast majority of the rest of the country, overnight parking is allowed, but "camping" may not be allowed. Often no one, including the police, knows how to interpret the ordinances. Making a nuisance of yourself is likely to result in a negative interpretation.

In the past I have checked with churches or business owners or even the police about staying overnight. If I ask about parking overnight, I typically get a positive and helpful response. If I ask about camping, the response is likely to be negative. I think the reason is because some people are just boobs. They pull into an area, open up slides, run a generator, play music and might even set up lawn chairs. I try to be stealthy even in areas like a Walmart parking lot where there are no concerns. I pull to the back of the lot out of the way of customers and I keep a low profile.

The parking issue also pertains to city or residential streets. I am careful not to take parking spots that would be in use by the local residents. Parking on the street next to a church or closed business works. Church or business lots might work, but I would first get approval.”[/size]

[size=undefined]End of quote[/size]

[TWIH]

Ha ha, heres a reply on that same thread, he doesnt sound like he likes “us” much...

Begin quote:

“I explored the idea of having the TC windows tinted for the sole purpose of being more invisible at night while laying over in more urban circumstances. Notice I said layover, not STEALTH CAMPING! as the very term provokes unreasonable responses as above. What we do is neither stealthy or camping. Finding no good light blocking solution, I'm back to using the factory Venetian Blinds and using very low or no lights inside. There is no cooking or camping going on inside the box. You simply enter, change into your bedtime attire, if any, and hit the hay. The important part is to 'look like' there is no one home; just parked. No steps in the down position; no campground sprawl; nothing hanging on the outside; no change of shape, as in an erected pop up or open vents. I've never felt i was, "getting away with something" in this mode, which has evolved into kind of a game where your trained eye finds the right spot to pull over, mostly right on the street between two white 18-wheelers. It takes practice and experience to be unremarkable in the surroundings. 
On a related issue, I'm seeing more and more Vagabonds living in the National Forest around our compound in class C's, small travel trailers and even in vans...."down by the river." One group moves around in a 45 foot, white painted school bus, called a "Skoolie" in hip circles with a pot belly stove with a stack in the middle. They all survived the snows of winter. Some of these are itinerant weed trimmers waiting for the harvest. Many are simply city dropouts because of the very high cost of housing and lack of personal internal drive. There have to be a lot of reasons why people resort to living like this. We've always had the fringies, but they are much more blatant and in-your-face than I can remember. We have had a cadre of people living in the city in old broken down leaky truck campers, small class C's and vans for as long as I can remember; moving every 72 hours. Our tiny church (Trinity Episcopal) feeds the homeless every week throughout the year as do many other denominations in town. I don't see this going away anytime soon.”
jefe 

End of quote

[Blacktank]

damn hippies...

[GotSmart]

HEY!  I resemble that remark. 

Sorry Officer, just passing through. Can you recommend a clean place to eat and a out of the way place to sleep?  I would like to get an early start.  

I was never rousted when sleeping in my van. Once I was checked on but allowed to sleep the night in a bird preserve. 

Somehow the cost of the rig does not matter when you are full time.