What to carry on a road trip when you can't carry

D

DMK

New member
I need to go visit LI, NY for about a week. I was raised there and have pretty much avoided the area whenever possible for my entire adult life, but this trip is not avoidable.

I'll be alone for about a 1,000 mile road trip and I'll be staying in a hotel for a week. Obviously, I can't carry my CCW which makes me feel kinda naked.

I'm thinking I'll stay alert, keep situational awareness, carry a cell phone, Fox Labs pepper spray on me and keep a baseball bat (plus glove and ball) in the car.

Any other ideas?
 
I carry:
axe
knives
Raid wasp killer. It squirts more than ten feet and would be very-very nasty-nasty to get in your eyes or mouth.
CS spray.
 
Marlin 1894 carbine in .357 magnum. Something nice and compact to have with you in case you need it. Not something you can carry ON you, but it does have the two big advantages of not being a handgun (avoiding permit laws) and not looking like an "assault weapon".

Of course, you still have to avoid those areas that require a permit (FOID) for ANY gun (like IL, NJ, MA, etc.)

My father-in-law kept one of the little Marlins in his camper, just in case. Even took it to alaska, drivingt through Canada, and back. Although this was a couple decades ago. Not sure if you could leagally do it today.

Still, even if it has to stay cased in your trunk the whole time, its better to have it, so long as it doesn't cause legal problems. Not the best thing for imimediate defense, but if you are going to obey the law, what else can you do?
 
Is a long gun in your car or hotel legal for a non resident in NY?

I do have to drive through NJ unfortunately. :(

I like the Wasp spray idea. Hmm, I wonder if that ignites with a lighter. If you hear about a home invasion and a hotel burning down, you know the answer. :D
 
I think the most effective "weapon" I have in my vehicle would be a German army entrenching tool.

I put weapon in quotes because it's really there for digging out, etc, if I get the 4x4 stuck. I have other tools as well. But the entrenching tool, with shovel blade extended, would pack a mean, axe-like hit. It also has a folding pick.

Of course, in the back of the truck, it isn't exactly accessible. But of my run-of-the-mill tools, that would be the best make-shift weapon.

The most accessible make-shift weapon, fully legal pretty much anywhere, would be the D-cell Mag-Lite.
 
Get a high end Surefire flashlight you can carry on a pants clip. Knife also.

Also, check out the wasp spray - it is poisonous and some states have specific laws against its use. OC is much better. There was thread on THR about that.

CS is tear gas - not a common spray anymore but some OC have mixtures of such. If that ads efficacy, don't know.

Check out club laws - the ball and glove won't fool the law if they want to get you.
 
Glenn, some thoughts there:

1) the knife... don't know about NY or NJ, and would recommend suggesting the knifelaw website. In South Carolina, of all places, non-leatherman type folders are restricted to 2" blades, if concealed... In Florida, 5" or less is ok for concealed without a permit. Laws vary widely.

2) the baseball bat... if you want a club that won't be a problem, one possibility would be The Club. It's a device for locking your steering wheel. It could also be used defensively. But I still like the Mag-Lite. (My SureFires are good for blinding, and possible use as a kubotan, but are too small for use as impact weapons.)
 
TLDR- Big Maglite and Kimber Pepperblaster


being an IL resident my daily carry is a Maglite

The big triple D-cell or quad D-cell, cant remember which. Im pretty sure its the biggest one they make.

Theres a reason why security personnel and many police dont carry nightsticks anymore. save the space and go 2 for 1 on your belt with a maglite. I know my municipal cops just carry a big flashlight and no melee weapon.

Id recommend a big nasty flashlight over the baseball bat, the glove and ball trick is the oldest one in the book and the cops and god forbid prosecuter wont care at all. theres nothing suspicious about having a flashlight in your car, especially on a road trip.

Also im a big fan of the Kimber Pepperblaster. Check that out.
 
Thanks for the feedback. I do have a 4-D Maglight. Good idea. I always carry my G2 Surefire or E1 Executive. I need to pick up a G3 one day to keep in the car.

I'm curious about the bat though. Is it actually illegal to have one? What if you really do want to play softball?
 
A heavy duty walking cane can put a hurt on ya. It's even legal to carry on airplanes. I forgot who makes them but, one company makes an unbreakable cane.
 
Designed for truck drivers to check their tires quickly.

q8C9z.jpg
 
I generally have nothing but a flashlight and the tire iron in that's in the trunk. Drive through NJ regularly. I think you are worrying over nothing, unless the part of Long Island you are going to is particularly bad
 
Today, 12:34 PM #4
DMK
Senior Member


Join Date: November 18, 2001
Location: Over the hills and far, far away
Posts: 2,217

I like the Wasp spray idea. Hmm, I wonder if that ignites with a lighter. If you hear about a home invasion and a hotel burning down, you know the answer.
__________________
DMK
Click to expand...

That was funny! :D

You couldn't pay me enough money to hold a lighter near one of them type aerosol containers. I never took chemistry, so I don't understand why the flame wouldn't ALSO go back INTO the Wasp spray & just blow the heck out of the person holding said aerosol! :eek:
 
Road trip self-defense gear

1. 4" COLD STEEL "GUN-SITE" TANTO (tucked into my pants top)

2. COLD STEEL IRISH BLACKTHORN WALKING STICK

3. COLD STEEL 42" SJAMBOK

4. 18" COLD STEEL KUKRI MACHETE

BTW: I AM STEALING YOUR SUGGESTION ABOUT THE WASP SPRAY---GREAT IDEA !!!!

GURU1911
 
1. 4" COLD STEEL "GUN-SITE" TANTO (tucked into my pants top)

2. COLD STEEL IRISH BLACKTHORN WALKING STICK

3. COLD STEEL 42" SJAMBOK

4. 18" COLD STEEL KUKRI MACHETE
Click to expand...

Most of which in NY can cause you legal issues
 
OK, I just ordered a Surefire G3 ($29 on sale at Midway USA - grab one!), added an optional 200 lumen P-91 bulb and got 2oz Fox Labs pepper spray (and a little one for my keychain too).

I'll also take my 4 D cell Maglight (I'll get rid of the B-bat), and 3" flip open SOG 'Twitch'.

Not nearly my Colt CCO or S&W 642 for the comfort factor, but it will have to do I guess.

Thanks for the suggestions folks.
 
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