Community Forums

Zigzag03 · 08-29-2019, 03:03 PM

Here we are enjoying another major storm here in south Florida. My thoughts go to images of overturned rigs. My qiestion regards jacks: up? or down? Make it solid and stable? Or allow it to ride the breeze on its own suspension? Any one with thoughts or experience in this manner I'd be grateful if you would weigh in.

**JohnRR** · 08-29-2019, 03:17 PM

I sat in mine for hurricane Irma in Lehigh Acres (I’m sure you remember Irma) and to tell you the truth I really saw no difference with the levelers up or down. Same unit as in my signature

Edit;
Needless to say awnings and slides were in.

Reacher · 08-29-2019, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zigzag03

Here we are enjoying another major storm here in south Florida. My thoughts go to images of overturned rigs. My qiestion regards jacks: up? or down? Make it solid and stable? Or allow it to ride the breeze on its own suspension? Any one with thoughts or experience in this manner I'd be grateful if you would weigh in.

Jacks up and get the heck out of there. lol

RKins · 08-29-2019, 04:45 PM

Did Irma go right over you John? I know it hit Marco which caused it to wobble right a little before it started up the state. That jog may have put it right over you. Rough ride I bet.

I had our coach parked on a slab on the east side next to our home in Sarasota - Irma was East of us but still put a whooping on our area - lots of trees were cleaned out (and dumped in my yard). I had the jacks down and my coach is sitting only 9 inches or so off the ground when level - so I feel that the way my coach auto levels and dumps air suspension helps it stay more stable. Other non air ride systems may not make any difference since the coach is still up at ride height.

OP - If you must stay, hunker down, maybe get some mobile home tie down stakes and strap your RV down?
My Sister and BIL are new to full timing in their 5er and they're in Clermont FL right now - They are twitching and will make a decision on what they are going to do after the report Friday morning. North Alabama or Mississippi is looking good right now but will take a good day to get there - so if you have no reason to stay, hit road before they become parking lots.

We're staying put because I have other toys (2 boats) and a house to safe guard. I am not too fond of putting up shutters over our 18 windows but luckily we only have to do this once every few years. Two years ago was Irma. Sept 10 is when it finally hit the west coast of FL.

av8tor2 · 08-29-2019, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reacher

Jacks up and get the heck out of there. lol

FatChance · 08-29-2019, 05:44 PM

You still have time to get to Arizona.

Zigzag03 · 08-29-2019, 06:46 PM

We went up to Arcadia for Irma, sat tight behind Walmart with a couple of others, one slide out, jacks up. We rocked a little but no big deal. Eye went right over us, but much diminished. We only left because of surge possibility, not an issue this time. We'll ride this out at home.
So far the consensus is let it flex, don't drop the jacks?

aether_one · 08-29-2019, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RKins

Did Irma go right over you John? I know it hit Marco which caused it to wobble right a little before it started up the state. That jog may have put it right over you. Rough ride I bet.

I had our coach parked on a slab on the east side next to our home in Sarasota - Irma was East of us but still put a whooping on our area - lots of trees were cleaned out (and dumped in my yard). I had the jacks down and my coach is sitting only 9 inches or so off the ground when level - so I feel that the way my coach auto levels and dumps air suspension helps it stay more stable. Other non air ride systems may not make any difference since the coach is still up at ride height.

OP - If you must stay, hunker down, maybe get some mobile home tie down stakes and strap your RV down?
My Sister and BIL are new to full timing in their 5er and they're in Clermont FL right now - They are twitching and will make a decision on what they are going to do after the report Friday morning. North Alabama or Mississippi is looking good right now but will take a good day to get there - so if you have no reason to stay, hit road before they become parking lots.

We're staying put because I have other toys (2 boats) and a house to safe guard. I am not too fond of putting up shutters over our 18 windows but luckily we only have to do this once every few years. Two years ago was Irma. Sept 10 is when it finally hit the west coast of FL.

Friday may be too late unless they have a full tank of gas with extra 5 gallon cans. My wife traveled late this afternoon from Williston to Lake City and saw many gas stations out of gas and long lines at the others. It's only gonna get worse from here on out.

aether_one · 08-29-2019, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zigzag03

Here we are enjoying another major storm here in south Florida. My thoughts go to images of overturned rigs. My qiestion regards jacks: up? or down? Make it solid and stable? Or allow it to ride the breeze on its own suspension? Any one with thoughts or experience in this manner I'd be grateful if you would weigh in.

Manually lower the jacks to stabilize the rig like you would with trailer jacks; don't bother going for a true level or putting too much weight on them.

gatorb8 · 08-29-2019, 07:03 PM

We rode out Michael inland cat1
pointed into wind, away from trees, slides in, jacks up. When the eye went over, rotated into new wind direction. Next time I will skidaddle....

geordi · 08-29-2019, 07:12 PM

Have a house in SE Fl... Taking the meows and leaving that, going to get the RV and find someplace with nothing more than predicted tropical storm force winds. Did the same for Matthew and Irma. Getting tired of that kinda nonsense, hope to have the house sold before the next one.

Probably will sit with the jacks down and slides in, either up against a building or in the middle of a truckstop surrounded by other big rigs.

It's not the wind that is the problem, it's the crap that blows IN the wind that causes all the mayhem.

Rubirose · 08-29-2019, 07:26 PM

Glad I'm not there. Take care everyone.

FatChance · 08-29-2019, 08:58 PM

Never point into the wind! The windshield is the most vulnerable side of the coach to flying debris. Once breached, the wind blown rain will fill the interior. Point the front of the coach away from the wind if you want a chance of it surviving.