So you want to decorate your RV for any number of reasons? There are a few things to keep in mind. For every good reason you have to put a certain piece of signage on your RV, there is probably a good reason to keep it off. Crime is on the rise lately and RVs are becoming more of a target.
Don’t get personal
Anything that reveals your name or hometown gives an advantage to a con artist. It makes it easier for them to bluff their way into your confidence. They know your home state but that’s all they need to know.
Home is sweet to you but sweeter to crooks
Don’t put “Home Sweet Home” type stickers on your RV. Or anything else that indicates you live full time in your RV. This tends to announce that you have more stuff with you. More valuable stuff.
Support can support a motive
I love the idea of plastering “Powered by the Sun” on a AllStays RV. But this advertises that I have solar panels, and other nice things that go with it like a charger, inverter and extra batteries. Your personal support of certain hobbies can lead to criminal assumptions whether they are right or wrong. Don’t indicate you are a video game champion, a gem collector or anything that could make someone else think you got some good pawn shop sellers.
Be careful with clubs
On the one hand, you may think that it will scare someone away from your RV. But like many things, what scares one varmint away attracts the eye of the law. NRA and gun club stickers can provide a legal reason for police, in some places, to search your RV at any time. You are providing the reason. You would be better to have a sticker that supports police or military.
Branded for you or branded for (unwanted) attention?
Sometimes we fix up our cars, trucks and even RVs with very nice extras. Those extras sometimes include or offer a way to brag about it. Should we put a high end stereo sticker on our vehicle announcing it? Should we advertise expensive accessories or suspension upgrades? A specific example is RVs that are based on the Dodge Sprinter chassis. These have a Mercedes engine. Owners have many options to re-brand the RV to make it scream “Mercedes” but do they really want to? It all depends on the attitude you want to project and the added risks you want to take with more attention. It may also depend on the type of RVing you do and locations that you go. But sooner or later, you’ll probably be in some uncomfortable locations. In a large storage lot, your RV is always an uncomfortable target.
Can you think of any other things to avoid that you see on other RVs in the campgrounds?
“NRA and gun club stickers can provide a legal reason for police, in some places, to search your RV at any time. You are providing the reason.”
At a time when the Supreme Court recently reaffirmed the 2nd Amendment as a right of the people, the above is a bizarre statement – and a false one.
I agree with you on the law and principle. It just depends on how much hassle one wants to take. In a law class years ago, I was taught to keep something in mind…never POP…piss off police. Don’t give them a reason to do something they wouldn’t otherwise do. If they want to pull someone over, they’ll find a reason. I grew up with the NRA around my house and think the sticker is a benefit in many places but I may not want it displayed in places such as California, New Jersey, New York City or others. I don’t want travel companions to be off the road while I’m testing out laws and appeals.