What do you put in your trunk?

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Originally Posted by uclid

I always try to keep the contents of our vehicle covered with a blanket, bath towels or a sleeping bag

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You must drive a hatch-back or a SUV? Trunk covers keep most prying eyes away from gear -- I have both kinds of vehicles and I usually just use the big, floppy hat that I use for emergency roadside stops. The only gripe I have about plastic containers -- is the lid. I never use them and suggest that you don't either. There is nothing as frustrating as trying to get the lid of in a hurry when the container has expanded with the day-time heat.

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Vandalism is a concern today and keeping your stuff covered is a good deterrent.

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Good point, although the best way to avoid that is to park in "good locations" and make the vehicle appear that breaking in is just too much work.

Mark

Yes an SUV , Jeep Liberty even though the rear window are slightly tinted one can still see inside if they are close enough. This will hold true to just about any vehicle type. Leaving a camera or laptop PC in plane view could be a lure for a thief! Regardless of any “good location” you find to park there is always the possibility something can happen. Just a quick stop at a busy highway rest area can be a disaster. It is just better to be safe take simple precautions if you can.

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Originally Posted by uclid

Leaving a camera or laptop PC in plane view could be a lure for a thief!

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Good advice. As a journalist I often park in "dicey" locations and my vehicles are loaded with all sorts of cool electronic gear. I have logged a little over 1/2 million miles in the last few years and have never been broken into -- precautions are always wise -- but I have found that possessing and acting on an awareness of being "invincible" works about as well as anything.

Mark

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Originally Posted by Editor

-- precautions are always wise -- but I have found that possessing and acting on an awareness of being "invincible" works about as well as anything.

Mark

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You get no argument from me Editor. If something bad is going to happen it’s going to happen. You can not live in fear of something like that. Still if one uses common sense they usually prevail.

When I travel, I take the same kinds of precautions. I have a hatchback with a deck lid that covers the contents in the trunk. The only things I might leave in plain view in the cab are things like tent, camping chairs, sleeping bags, cooler, etc. Anything valuable is in the trunk covered up, in the glove box, or hidden under the other cheap stuff that shouldn't inspire thieves to take a chance.

However, one time I slipped up and it cost me. In my hometown, I often go out to the bay to walk my dogs. I usually put my purse in the trunk when we go walking but, one time, I forgot and left it on the floor in front of the passenger seat. Mind you, I live in a very small town where I've never worried much about theft. Heck, we don't even lock our front door. The dogs would deter any stranger from trying to get in. Anyway, the one and only time I left my purse in view, I returned to find my driver's side window broken and my purse gone. Not much cash but the trouble of cancelling credit cards, my debit card, and replacing the contents of the purse (wallet, a bit of make-up, digital camera, PDA, etc.) really hurt. (Our deductible is $1000 so it was no use turning this in...the camera and PDA were relatively cheap ones so it didn't add up to $1000 to replace everything). But it was still about $400.

So, in all my travels, I've never had a thing lost or stolen. I had to stay home for that to happen because I left my common-sense asleep that day. Bummer.

Quoted from Judy

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So, in all my travels, I've never had a thing lost or stolen. I had to stay home for that to happen because I left my common-sense asleep that day. Bummer.

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I get laughed at a lot for obsessively locking up everything, even in Keithville. But after living in New Orleans for four years and working in downtown Shreveport for 6 I never leave anything out. And I double check that my doors are locked.

Funny though - the rear window in the Buick (see previous posts about this car) failed to roll up and I left it down for about 4 days until I could get it fixed. You could reach through the window and easily unlock the car (I did it a few times out of convenience). I was amazed that no one even thought to take the car.

But - the only real accident I've ever been in happened just a mile from my house. I firmly believe that if I hadn't been so sure of my location that I'd have noticed the truck running the red light (30 mph over the speed limit) before I did.

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Originally Posted by lhuff

Quoted from Judy

I get laughed at a lot for obsessively locking up everything, even in Keithville. But after living in New Orleans for four years and working in downtown Shreveport for 6 I never leave anything out. And I double check that my doors are locked.

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I always wanted to live in Mayberry. Don't think any doors there had locks. Except for the bank, of course. Grin.

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Originally Posted by Craig720

I always wanted to live in Mayberry.

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I must live in Mayberry -- Las Vegas, NV is home and I lock some of the doors in our house some of the time.

Mark

While I haven't covered as many miles on road trips as some of you guys, I know I'm not the only outdoorsman in this crowd of adventurers. Growing up in So Cal, I've never had a trunk without the three day EARTHQUAKE kit. As time passed, it was replaced with the gear for a comfortable 2 week hike. And that's just the backpack. I've added a 5 gallon water barrel(freshened every 3 months), and a few under the bed storage containers. One with dehydrated food(to preserve texture until I really need to put them in my backpack), one with 5 full changes of clothes, and one with light to light/meduim fishing gear. And, for the car, the spare tire and a can of fix a flat(Sure it's a coin toss as to whether or not it will help, but it's better that not having a coin to toss), basic tools, and jumper cables. Oh, and, just so you know, a friend of mine used panty hose as an emergency belt for the radiator pump a couple years ago and they remain tried and true, so a couple pairs of those.

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Originally Posted by Mark Sedenquist

Everyone I have ever traveled with had a different system (or lack thereof) for packing the trunk or, for that matter, the entire car/truck. What kinds of things do you carry? I addressed some of those isssues in my latest MSNBC column called "How to pack the trunk". I would love to know your secrets and ideas too!

Mark

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I just visited your article, but the first list of items is empty? What am I missing?