What do you leave to occupy your site?

[adamxcl]

Tired of getting stuff ripped off when I leave my campsite for a bit with my truck camper. It is easier with a bigger rig since it is easy to carry extra junk. I even have had my level blocks taken, thinking that would be a simple common and cheap thing to leave. Leave only one block? Still disappeared.

With truck campers or vans, space and weight are at a premium so I don't want to carry junk. Every ounce has a purpose or it might be something too cool to leave. My chair is nice. I use the only drink mug I carry.

Do I carry a personalized stake sign? Space. A painted rock? too heavy. Can't be too light like paper product or it blows away.

 

[Stalking Light]

I carry a small orange cone if I will be camping in sites that don't have posts for paid slips. I've had lawn chairs and blocks go missing as well.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I bring signs that say the site is occupied, plus I take phone photos of the receipt for the site in case a ranger needs to be involved. Never had anything ripped off (yet).

 

[Alley-Kat]

Although Camco has this "Campsite Occupied" sign on their web site it looks like the on-line RV stores and even Amazon (that I just checked) are all currently out of stock. If you can find it, the message is pretty clear, it is easy to find a storage location in the truck or camper and it is a low cost solution in case it goes missing.

 

[Stalking Light]

I also have a campsite occupied sign but often there is not a good place to put it where it will be visible, thus the orange cone which can be placed anywhere.

 

[Ronin]

I'm probably jinxing myself by saying I've never had anything ripped off in over 40 yrs of camping. I usually leave a water container or cardboard box of firewood to claim my spot if I'm in a campground. Something cheap and easily replaced!! I'm always concerned about a possible theft and make it a point to say hi to my neighbors to let them know I'm OK and to check them out as well. The best strategy is to find those magical places where there's no one else around.

 

[Bseek]

Carizzo Plain | Seekin' My World
https://sierrashadow.wordpress.com/2016/04/10/carizzo-plain/

In this post I show how I use a plastic sign clipped between two water bottles for weight.


Sent from my iPad using Wander The West

 

[Happyjax]

Carizzo Plain | Seekin' My World
https://sierrashadow.wordpress.com/2016/04/10/carizzo-plain/

In this post I show how I use a plastic sign clipped between two water bottles for weight.


Sent from my iPad using Wander The West

Best use of an ironing board I've ever seen

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

I bring signs that say the site is occupied, plus I take phone photos of the receipt for the site in case a ranger needs to be involved. Never had anything ripped off (yet).

I also have a sigh site occupied,actually it's a state park sign I was given years ago to reserve the site wile I went back to pay.
I use it and also take a picture of the camp receipt.
Haven't had any issues.

Although once in Grant campground at Yellowstone,we left for the day and our step stool stayed behind so I guess someone thought it was "free" to take.
No biggie.

Buy I always put out the site occupied sign.
Frank

 

[Rusty]

any nice, single item is often thought of as a left behind (I've lost a couple)...but several bikes, chairs, a table cloth clipped down, the ubiquitous wood box

I still like the corrugated plastic "Campsite Occupied" sign....

of course it could still be looked upon by some people as a "here's your sign"....there are those roaming about

 

[flinchlock]

According to https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/camp

We do not camp.

We almost always find a place 1/4 to 1 mile away from the road. When traveling on the interstates, we might have to stay at a Walmart just for the restrooms.

 

[adamxcl]

Thank you for the great replies. I kind f thought about a cone or some kind of road hazard use object. Course then I wouldn't have it while gone but I am probably not traveling that far anyway. I like the sign idea but can't always stake it so some combo might be needed, maybe the sign staked in a cone or water bottle.

Never have a issue when many others are nearby. It's always when I would love a park otherwise. 40 sites and maybe 2 or 3 are occupied. So no eyes on it and then you know it was only a few options but it could also be the drive throughs we see so often.

 

[XJINTX]

I usually use chalk outline of wife laying on ground in setup area by hookups... and then a piece of Police boundary tape does the trick.


OK I'm kidding but seeing as some of you have had issues I may pickup a marker cone or even the sign (easier to store).

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

I usually use chalk outline of wife laying on ground in setup area by hookups... and then a piece of Police boundary tape does the trick.


OK I'm kidding but seeing as some of you have had issues I may pickup a marker cone or even the sign (easier to store).

I think you are on to something about the "white outline" and police tape.
It would get attention.
Frank

 

[Backroad Joe]

Like Ronin I usually camp where others would be very rare. But I will make an occupied sign to help those that may not understand the triangular road reflector I put up.

I normally post the triangle reflector for when I'm in camp, which usually has a short "approach" road. That way I know if someone drives into my camp they have run over my reflector/sign and I will emerge wearing my sidearm. Otherwise I'll wave and walk over to say hi.

 

[Durango1]

Cheap garage sale easy pop-up tent.

 

[PackRat]

This is a two-fold post....first, how to keep site poachers from setting up in your site and second what about thieves.
First, I have a 4" x 16" plywood "OCCUPIED" sign strung on about 30' of cheap plastic "rope" to string between trees/rocks or whatever. I also have an old stake to drive into the ground to hold it. If you get a reservation in advance you can print out, then attach a cop of that to it in an envelope with a clothspin. Do not make this setup too attractive or someone will "borrow" it.

Second, there is a problem in many camps where local yahoos come through with nothing more on their minds than to steal what they can to sell at flea markets or to fil out their own camping gear. With that in mind we have left nothing but a cheap plastic throw-away table cloth in the site in some sites.

This never used to happen...but now it does...the alternative is going further out into no-man's land or to campsites far from towns.

A sad commentary on today's state of recreational camping isn't it....

 

[rando]

For us it depends on the type of camping. If we are in an established fee to camp type campground (USFS, BLM, NPS etc) then we typically just assume the tag on the post is enough, but sometimes leave out a camp chair if we are setting them up anyway.

On the other hand if it is dispersed camping (ie camp where ever you want) our thinking is that if we are not there, then the campsite is up for grabs. In the close in NF areas around here there is an increasing trend for people to pop up to the mountains on a Thursday or even Wednesday and throw up a paper plate saying 'occupied' and/or a few crappy chairs to 'reserve' their campsite then not come back to occupy it until Saturday. In some areas I have seen folks drop of a trailer and leave it there for a couple of weeks, only using it on the weekend. In the campgrounds with hosts at least, they have had to make a rule that you must occupy the site on the first night or they pull your tag, regardless of how many nights you paid for, in order to clamp down 'site reservers'.

 

[CougarCouple]

I like this thread for a couple reasons.
1) I recently saw a home depot bucket with the words "occupied " on it. Hay that's cool and a good idea.
2) it got me to thinking why the need to tell someone driving by this is your site? You could leave a chair or something, let's say you just have nothing to spare. I liked the bucket idea.

Now here is a second gift to me I get a couple of pages on y'all's perspective about this. So I think it's a good post.
I have no bucket, and recently left a table cooler 2 chairs and a coffee cup in a space we left for a few hours. so guess we got lucky.

Russ

What about crime scene tape, with the chalk outline just beyond

 

[klahanie]

I've been a little unsure if all of you folks are talking about fee to camp sites so I am glad to see rando's post (#18).

Where there is no tag and post clip I have spread a table cloth (assumes there is a picnic table) but wouldn't want to see a cooler on it (appearing as an animal attractant). The cone is a great idea as I carry some already. But in practice we usually just overnight leaving the vehicle and walking to register, shower, visit lake shore etc. Typically we would not leave anything out of the vehicle if not present (or even when sleeping inside).

For no pay sites and bush camping I agree with rando - leave it and you forfeit it. For these places I dislike the practice of "reserving" early. Especially when the sign is never taken down ! I've also seen this occur with multiple sites, one camper "holding" for his friends. Happens a lot during hunting season as well as the trailer left for the "season" - much cheaper than buying a cottage I guess.