Leaving your car overnight while hiking ?

[Toohp]

Looking at doing an overnight hike in The Yarra Ranges area soon , any problems leaving your car overnight at any of the areas ?
I mainly walk around Murrindindi , Lake mountain , Taggerty etc .

Cheers

[ChrisJHC]

I’ve never had a problem leaving my car for a few nights - up to a week.
I make sure that I don’t leave anything attractive visible but apart from that don’t take any specific precautions.

[crollsurf]

I got back from walking Tharwa to Thredbo once and the car was wrapped in Police tape.

A Holden HSV Grange that I'd flogged on dirt roads. Loved that car.

Never had a problem otherwise but for sure, anywhere within city limits, there would be a small risk.



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[north-north-west]

The worst is when you're walking back to your car after four or five nights on a well known long distance track, while said car is parked at a well-known access point for that track, and you're met at a junction by a police S&R squad who got toey because the car was there for "such a long time".
Nice of them to give me a ride the few km back, but totally unnecessary.

Yeah, you can avoid that by leaving a note on the dash saying you're out walking, but to me that's just a "go for it" sign for potential thieves.

[Aardvark]

Back in the early 2000's i was on a three day hike (four of us) which required a car shuttle. We left a Ford Laser at the top of a valley in the Tweed area, at the base of Butler's Ridge. The ridge descended from the Lamington Escarpment.
When we reached the car at the end of the walk, three wheels had been removed and the car was simply left sitting on the grass. A walk to a shop perhaps 5km down valley we found the details of a car wreckers nearby. We managed to purchase three wheels with tyres and get a lift back to the car.
We've always wondered since how much the wrecker knew of our dilemma before we arrived. It's a strong possibility he was the one who was offered the stolen wheels. We've speculated the thief to be a drug addict in need of a few bucks for their next hit.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

The worst thing that has happened to my car while I was out walking or XC skiing for days was coming back to a flat tyre. Even then another camper helped me with the spare tyre change .

[Xplora]

I left mine unlocked with the window down at King Billies for four days once. I had a note left on the window from Parks. 'Don't park on the grass'. Police tracked my daughter down once because the car had been parked in one spot for many days. Good daughter. She had no idea where I was but said, 'He will be out bush somewhere. Don't worry about him'.

[davidn3875]

I left a 4WD at Watchbed Creek on the BHP overnight and returned next afternoon to find that cattle had used my side mirrors as a scratching post. They obviously enjoyed their rub as both side mirrors where left dangling.

[Xplora]

I left a 4WD at Watchbed Creek on the BHP overnight and returned next afternoon to find that cattle had used my side mirrors as a scratching post. They obviously enjoyed their rub as both side mirrors where left dangling.

Not so much a problem these days but horses can do the same. Never leave your car in a paddock with horses or cattle. I doubt feral horses would come close to cars though.

[Toohp]

Thanks , its just for an overnighter so probally not a problem .

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I have had to dig my car out of the snow :-0. Always make sure you have the right number plate before continuing with the task!!

[neilmny]

I have had to dig my car out of the snow :-0. Always make sure you have the right number plate before continuing with the task!!

Ha ha excellent idea that one.

[jobell]

I have gotten into the habit of leaving a contact number for enquiries about the car on the dash. The number is for a friend or family me,bear who knows my itinerary. They don’t provide this information freely though, only to emergency services that they can identify by ringing back at a listed work number (eg police station). I do worry about leaving my car though I have yet.... ouch wood... to have an issue.


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