Nashville KOA serious incident

[Rlates]

All, staying at the Nashville KOA. Wanted all to know who are here and plan on coming through to maintain security. There was a women straggled to death the other night under the 155 bridge on the corner of Music Valley Drive and Pennington Bend. From the news report this was a women straggled at night. So please please keep up and maintain security measures at night.

Lastly, speaking of security I have been trying to find a better deadbolt locking mechanism vs what is on there now. There is not much effort needed to get past the small 1-2 inch deadbolt on the door.

Does anyone know of a better deadbolt lock or technique in order to provide better security?

My research has come up with very minimal results with what I am looking for.

[WeBeFulltime]

I have never been a fan of any KOA but I fail to see why this is titled "KOA serious incident". This happened under a bridge not in the KOA.

[TWP723]

Honestly, a dog is your best alarm. You can't walk around my unit without my dog knowing.

[Rlates]

Ok let’s not get wrapped around “a title”. I wanted people at the KOA to know because it happened just feet from the other side of the fence near our site. So if that is not concerning to you then just move on and don’t reply.

That incident could be very likely to happen on the “KOA” side of the fence. Campers like to walk during night hours so I am just stating be careful.

Not to mention in talking with folks to my left and right cars have been observed moving slowly through the camp ground. So yeah, I stick with my title!

[Mikendebbie]

Never been to Nashville but we have stayed in some campgrounds that were in sketchy areas. The San Antonio KOA comes to mind - but it is our campground of choice for SA. It is gated with a security code so non-guest cars cruising around is controlled.

I like the suggestion that dogs provide a better level of security alarm. My dogs might lick the perp with tails wagging - not stop him...but at least they would warn us of something outside the camper. We just try to be aware of our surroundings.

[Rlates]

Thanks for the heads up on the San Antonio KOA. We might be in San Antonio in the near future and will avoid that location.

[DutchmenSport]

We've stayed at the Nashville KOA a few times. We have a KOA card we renew every year. Most KOA's make lousy destination campgrounds, but they are GREAT for overnight stops. They have full hook-up, and this gives us an opportunity to really flush out the black tank. I suppose we use our money's worth just on the water to clean the tank.

About your deadbolt? Getting a heftier deadbolt will serve no purpose, except cause some serous damage to your camper. Desperate thieves will take a crow bar and simply insert the crow bar near the bottom of the door and bend the thing out destroying the door, gain entry, and leave you an opportunity to have a meet and greet again with your insurance agent. A stronger dead bold won't help... not really. Your camper walls are so thin, if they can't gain access, they'll bust out a window, AFTER they've destroyed your door.

If your camper is in storage, you have no protection at all. If you are in a campground, or parked at home, ..... crazy yappie high-strung, bouncing off the walls little dogs is your best protection to keep ANYONE away from your camper!

[AZ Traveler]

Randall,

I never lock the door when we are inside. Dogs are your best security. I would not want to be fumbling with a door lock in a fire. I lived through one in my younger years.

[Daryles]

Barking dogs alarm?
Good prevention

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gpvBDFMFqys

[AZ Traveler]

Originally Posted by Daryles

Barking dogs alarm?
Good prevention

Absolutely worthless - get the real thing or nothing at all.

[DutchmenSport]

A couple years ago, there was a camper across the road from us that had one of these systems on their camper. Although we were across the road, we could easily hear the dogs barking. The owners were gone. Then we noticed the dogs kept barking and barking, stop for a few minutes and bark again. Then it finally dawned on us, it was a recording on a loop, or something like that. I walked up to the camper and nothing happened. Then a gust of wind blew up and the dogs started barking. I then realized the sensor must have been a motion sensor and then it all made sense. Every time the trailer rocked a little in the wind, the dogs barked. And yes, it was very annoying after a while (and we have dogs too.)

[BB_TX]

A small road in a very secluded area behind the KOA and under the underpass. Woman was last seen with her boyfriend. Sounds all too familiar.

[Rlates]

Thanks for all the feedback. All information has been very helpful. Stay safe out there.

[richfaa]

We prefer KOA when we are in travel. We been using them for years all over the country and never a problem. Bad things can happen anywhere.

[RMcNeal]

Agreed. Unfortunately a sign of the times and it is only going to get worse.
We too use KOA as a stop for the night, but seldom a destination.

[JandC]

There is not much you can do to improve the locks on any RV entry door IMHO, especially when you consider that anyone who has ever worked in the RV industry could have a key to open your door at 3am.

I haven't had a chance to do it on our new fiver yet, but on all our previous RVs I always make a "night safety chain". I get a small heavy piece of chain from Lowes or similar place and make a long loop that goes around the handle with both ends screwed into the frame or wall. This allows the door to open an inch or two but no more. A strong person could jerk a few times and defeat my night chain but they are going to shake my fiver and make a lot of noise. This will give us time to respond and call upon our two friends (Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson).

Just a word about "dogs being your best security". I watch my age group dog owners and how they treat their fur babies as we travel. There are very few of them that would ever put their little love bunnys in harms way if an intruder attempted to break into their RV. Actually they would be more concerned with protecting their little dog then taking action to properly protect themselves I suspect.

[Montana Man]

There is more danger being outside the trailer than inside. Avoiding bad areas goes a long way and a CCW helps with rest.

[DutchmenSport]

Originally Posted by JandC

... our two friends (Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson).

...

I don't have those two friends, unfortunately. I do have 2 adorable Dachshunds that are a year old now and truly found their voice.

But, my other friend is Mr. Walther.

[ChaseTX]

Originally Posted by TWP723

Honestly, a dog is your best alarm. You can't walk around my unit without my dog knowing.

I would have to agree with this statement. We have an ankle biter, that normally wakes up the muscle. Realistically, hes a big softy but the look is a good deterrent.

Don't get complacent, yall stay safe.

[bamakeifer]

I prefer a Smith & Wesson or Colt “DEAD “ bolt. Check local concealed carry laws for permits. To date I’ve not found a better dead bolt than came on our Montana. Also, brothers Remington and Winchester are really good “DEAD” bolts.