Safe traveling tips for RVers in uncertain times

[Buly]

Joe,
It is like knowing which days to use your seat belt, and which days to relay only on your air bags.
Be ready for the worst, and hope for the best. Having a firearm does not mean you have to use it. But it can change the other party's demeanor very fast. Me thinks ?

 

[Joe Dutchstar]

It is like knowing which days to use your seat belt, and which days to relay only on your air bags.
Be ready for the worst, and hope for the best. Having a firearm does not mean you have to use it. But it can change the other party's demeanor very fast. Me thinks ?

My training is that the only time it leaves the holster is when it will go bang. I do not believe in using a firearm for persuasion. In my opinion threatening with a firearm is a very good way to get dead.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

In my opinion threatening with a firearm is a very good way to get dead.

Or jailed.

 

[Buly]

You should tell all that to the cops. Tell them not to touch their gun unless 100% ready to kill.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

You should tell all that to the cops. Tell them not to touch their gun unless 100% ready to kill.

When they upholster their gun they are ready to kill. I submit that you would be ready to deter.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

I had an interesting discussion on this subject last night with my grandson, a police officer in a small Washington city. His take is that pepper spray "hurts," but doesn't stop most people. As part of his training he has been sprayed with the stuff several times and was required to continue subduing an assailant. He said that while not pleasant, every officer in his academy class (around 75) was able to do it. "And, none of them were on meth!"

As for Tasers, he said that the field failure rate is at least 40%. The connecting wires are fairly fragile and break relatively easy. Heavy clothing on the assailant can prevent proper penetration and, again, they won't work. He carries one when on duty because he is required to do so. He also said that department policy requires that he not deploy it if the assailant has a deadly weapon and is advancing unless there is at least one backup officer present and ready to use lethal force if the Taser doesn't work.

It is, apparently, the generally accepted opinion of LEOs that they would love to have an effective non-lethal force option, but nothing on the market is reliable enough...at least yet...to bet your life on!

TJ

 

[Joe Dutchstar]

I am going to leave with this, I am not a policeman, nor do I pursue people for whatever. If I see a problem, 911.
Nor do I take an aggressive stance in any situation, unless there is immediate danger to me or love ones.
Avoidance is First, Retreat is second. If an aggressor leaves me no choice, I will attempt at deterrence, if they persist, then and only then will I consider deadly force.
If an aggressor is within 20 to 25 feet, you cannot draw fast enough before they are on you and in my case, chances are good that I will lose. Even if your weapon is out, any delay and you are in hand to hand before you can pull the trigger.
This $hit happens fast.

I am only trying to protect me, my love ones and potentially my possessions. Let's leave it at that.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

I am going to leave with this, I am not a policeman, nor do I pursue people for whatever. If I see a problem, 911.
Nor do I take an aggressive stance in any situation, unless there is immediate danger to me or love ones.
Avoidance is First, Retreat is second. If an aggressor leaves me no choice, I will attempt at deterrence, if they persist, then and only then will I consider deadly force.
If an aggressor is within 20 to 25 feet, you cannot draw fast enough before they are on you and in my case, chances are good that I will lose. Even if your weapon is out, any delay and you are in hand to hand before you can pull the trigger.
This $hit happens fast.

I am only trying to protect me, my love ones and potentially my possessions. Let's leave it at that.

Good points, @JoeHogan! We have two sayings in our family that sums up our approach. The first is "If you put yourself in a bad place, bad things are likely to happen!"

And the second is "Consequences!" You need to understand the consequences of your actions; good or bad.

Your points cover both very well.

TJ

 

["EZ"]

Here is where I got mine.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002BMOJXE/?tag=rvf01-20

I'm not sure I want to have to carry a big can like that around with me the whole time I'm getting fuel. A smaller pocket sized option would be better. Did you notice that it is only 2% Capsacian??? (pepper) That must be some bad stuff!!

 

[Joe Dutchstar]

I'm not sure I want to have to carry a big can like that around with me the whole time I'm getting fuel. A smaller pocket sized option would be better. Did you notice that it is only 2% Capsacian??? (pepper) That must be some bad stuff!!

Here is what I carry. Note that it is a gel not a spray. There is pro and cons with this. However, if you are in a confined space, a gel is much better than a spray. Or if the wind is blowing in your face, with a spray you end up spraying yourself.
The gel is a stream of Pepper material. Like silly string. You can send it out 15' or so. In my case, the more distance the better. Also the cons are you need to hit a vulnerable area. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004NKSPR8/?tag=rvf01-20

 

["EZ"]

Here is what I carry. Note that it is a gel not a spray. There is pro and cons with this. However, if you are in a confined space, a gel is much better than a spray. Or if the wind is blowing in your face, with a spray you end up spraying yourself.
The gel is a stream of Pepper material. Like silly string. You can send it out 15' or so. In my case, the more distance the better. Also the cons are you need to hit a vulnerable area. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004NKSPR8/?tag=rvf01-20

That's better. You could put it on your belt and be ready in case some Yahoo walks up and starts something. I'm still digging something like this..........
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FHDZGGM/?tag=rvf01-20

 

["EZ"]

Question:
What does it mean to not discharge the stun gun into the air for more than 1 second
Answer:
Just in case you need the same question answered for the 56th time, don't press the button for more than 1/60th of a minute because it'll create a ripple in the ozone layer and cause a chain reaction
By Pedro Rivera on December 20, 2019

 

[Kevin D Pem]

What the heck travel in teams, and use one of these.

 

[Jim]

I probably don't carry as much as many of you, but we feel were adequately prepared should we run into trouble. At the front of the line are 2 German Shepherds. They are great psychological deterrents and although neither of them has had any formal training, past experience indicates they would perform well should the need arise.

I also have a Taser Pulse stun gun which rides in the coach where I can grab it in time of need. But to be honest, if there ever came a time that I needed to STOP someone from entering the coach, I think the situation would require a more lethal response. I sure hope that never happens, but these are strange times. I also keep a Para Ordnance P13-45, attached with a MagTuff magnet, by my right knee when driving. It's easy to access and not obvious to the average person, in fact, nobody has ever noticed it that I'm aware of.

In the rear of the coach, I store a MKA 1919 12 gauge shotgun, modeled on the AR platform with several 5 and 10 round magazines. And on my hip (for the last 35 years) I carry a Kahr .9mm which makes me feel better when wandering around in some of the rest areas at night. Never had the need to deploy any of these and hope that my good luck continues.

​

 

[NGC 613]

I'm not sure I want to have to carry a big can like that around with me the whole time I'm getting fuel. A smaller pocket sized option would be better. Did you notice that it is only 2% Capsacian??? (pepper) That must be some bad stuff!!

That big can is not so big and can be handled easy enough. It weighs a lot less than most any fire arm. They almost all come with a holster to wear on your side to grab it fast for bears. It would work on humans too in a pinch . Unlike normal pepper spay you will stop that person with bear spray. I will use it if I really had to and before I break out the real show stoppers . It's all last option for me to use them anyway.