We are contemplating living as "migrant retirees" in caravan parks, private campgrounds, SANPARKS, CapeNature resorts, etc.  We did do this for five years, a few decades ago, but the world has changed since.  

Caravans come with automatic security floodlights and some even with burglar bars nowadays.   Anyone living like this in 2022 is welcome to offer advice, based upon actual experience.  Opinions irrelevant. 

I have not seen the flood lights and burglar bars that you talk about.

Yes security start with yourself but if you pick a resort that has fair to good security you would not need this.

Leon wrote:

I have not seen the flood lights and burglar bars that you talk about.

Yes security start with yourself but if you pick a resort that has fair to good security you would not need this.

Trust me, I have seen them in three parks indeed, no, four.  All in the better governed Western Cape.  Which is where we saw a little sedan with burglar bars inside its rear windows, Wellington. 

We have installed a 360 degree dome HIKVISION camara on the rear and in the center at the door.

It is connected to a WiFi router if you wish to view it remotely.

Ideal fir towing with the rear on

You can set the recirding time.

You can also set it with a motion detect function  which will warn you if there is any motion detected. 

We are doing this now for 2-years and never had any problems.

Maybe we are just lucky or this all depend, which resort you choose.

We do not have security lights, burglar bars etc... nor the other campers around us.

All safety equiment I have is a Daisey pistol with the gas cannister, which shoot pallets and can be set to shoot 15x pallets on rapid if required.

I only use this for target shooting or snakes, which are in places where I cannot get in with my snake catcher.

I was never forced to use it for intruders.

Gerden wrote:

We are doing this now for 2-years and never had any problems.

Maybe we are just lucky or this all depend, which resort you choose.

We do not have security lights, burglar bars etc... nor the other campers around us.

All safety equiment I have is a Daisey pistol with the gas cannister, which shoot pallets and can be set to shoot 15x pallets on rapid if required.

I only use this for target shooting or snakes, which are in places where I cannot get in with my snake catcher.

I was never forced to use it for intruders.

My intruders can be glad I didn't greet them with my 7.62mm sporting rifle, it is very accurate over a thousand yards.  

Four very dark hands came in under the canvas and were met promptly by expertly handled fondue forks.  I like to hide these in handy nooks and crannies.  Burglars beware.  

You can't choose a better site as criminals enjoy mobility.  We were robbed in some of the best, upmarket sites in Cape Town. 

The Daisey accurate range, which I measured is 193 mt's, meaning if we get an intruder he has to run very fast to avoid 15x pallets in his "Lower" back end (LOL).
(This is not a fake, because during National Service, I used to received my Gold emblem in shooting with a R4 rifle and after National Sevice, I was chosen for the Head of the Army shooting team where I received another 3x Gold, 5x Silwer and +/- 20x Bronze).
I am not allowed to use a license rifle, pistol etc.. anymore due to my " Quick Temprature" reaction.

Gerden wrote:

The Daisey accurate range, which I measured is 193 mt's, meaning if we get an intruder he has to run very fast to avoid 15x pallets in his "Lower" back end (LOL).
(This is not a fake, because during National Service, I used to received my Gold emblem in shooting with a R4 rifle and after National Sevice, I was chosen for the Head of the Army shooting team where I received another 3x Gold, 5x Silwer and +/- 20x Bronze).
I am not allowed to use a license rifle, pistol etc.. anymore due to my " Quick Temprature" reaction.

We are of similar mettle when it comes to shooting, I did the same with the R4, and then at provincial level Bisley shooting.  

So that Daisy gun is kind of a "sequential shotgun."

I once disarmed a man that wildly fired 9mm pistol shots in a caravan park.  Never argue with a man who argues with a man with a gun. 

Blootvoet wrote:

We are of similar mettle when it comes to shooting, I did the same with the R4, and then at provincial level Bisley shooting.  

So that Daisy gun is kind of a "sequential shotgun."

I once disarmed a man that wildly fired 9mm pistol shots in a caravan park.  Never argue with a man who argues with a man with a gun. 

Wat was die vraag nou weer........

Chuck Norris wrote:

Wat was die vraag nou weer........

 

Aanvanklik hoe dit is om permanent te kampeer, totdat iemand praktiese advies gegee het hoe om van misdadigers ontslae te raak.  Ek sou verkies om in vrede potjie te maak en nie te begin skiet nie. 

Sharp.

Ek en Berdien ook op die punt om semi permanet te kamp doen maar jou huiswerk kyk na terug voer vra uit oor plekke wat nou wel pla is huideige brandstof pryse 

AGV die brandstof prys het ons besluit op Å„ permanente basis, daarom het ons Å„ 3x vertrek Lagoona Cabin tent aangeskaf indien ons somtyds Å„ wegbreek wil neem.

In die toekoms sal ons kyk na Å„ Camplite of klein karavaan vir daardie naweek of midweek wegkoms.

Tans is ons hoofbasis beskostigbaar asook baie veilig.

Hier sluit ons nie eens deure nie.

Dit is hoekom ons besluit het om te belê het in ons eie privaat badkamer gerief reg by ons karavaan om ons maandelikse se huur so laag as moontlik te hou natuurlik op Å„ kontrak basis tussen ons en eienaar.

Vir die volgende 5-jaar het ons geen tarief verhoging nie.

Sou ons oppak en aan beweeg binne die 5-jaar is daar 50% kostes vanaf sy kant af.

Indien ons die 5-jaar uitstaan is daar Å„ 15% terug bataling vanaf die eienaar vir die opgradering by ons staanplek.

Alles is so aanvaar en so oorhandig aan die prokureers.

Om die heeltyd die hoof basis af te slaan en weer opslaan gaan redelik baie moeite verg.

Sterkte met julle besluit.

Werklikbaar, dit is wat ek sou aanbeveel.

 I was attacked by three armed gooks very recently,i was parked in as dodgy area trying to make a urgent call when they opened drivers side door with a 9mm in my face i decided,iv been shot before and being a Christian not afraid to die decided to against go against normal advice and give them what they wanted, I went over to defence and fought them off ,the one hit me with 9mm on side of my head but praise the LORD I got away .....so what is my point....what did i do wrong?....WHAT SHOULD I HAVE DONE?

We could debate this all day, but to make a long story short and to answer the original question,

1)Stay away from shady areas, there are very safe caravan parks and others you need to be careful at-----think defensively at all times.

2)Don't relax on security ever, when you have to stop in bad area, keep windows closed, check you mirrors continuously super vigilant, keep vehicle running ready to pull off etc

3)In  shady caravan park,  have some sort of weapon, baseball bat ,9mm anything, close at hand, dont  get too brave but be ready to get aggressive, some basic self defence technics can save your life.

4)Those with military back ground remember the basics, buddy system etc.

5)cameras and alarm systems can definitely save the day.

thats my 5 cents worth,i know theres many guys with great ideas.