Community Forums

Maury - Lisa · 03-13-2021, 06:25 AM

I am new to RVing. I should be getting my new Newmar ventana this May.
I am just wondering what do you do during bad weather? When do you just 'batten down the hatches' or when do you pull out and move to safer and higher ground? Any advice would be very helpful.

New2road · 03-13-2021, 06:38 AM

Welcome and best of luck with the new coach.

Learn your systems, and understand where your exposures come from. Then you can look at the pending weather and know what your best answers will be.

for example:
High winds and rain you may need to pull in slides and protect your toppers, while preventing wind driven rain from getting pushed through the slide seals.

Freezing temps will have you disconnecting water and sewer lines and ensuring you have heat in critical locations.

Everyone's threshold for pain is different and different coaches have different challenges.

Learn as much as possible on delivery, and keep learning as you enjoy you new coach.

See ya in a campground.

j

exrench · 03-13-2021, 06:43 AM

Invest in a weather radio. Since that source often gives location-specific information my coping strategy may vary. Think flash flood areas vs tornado prone areas. There is no "fits all" course of action.

jfskeet · 03-13-2021, 06:44 AM

Like above said, pull in slides , disconnect water, and If winds are bad and under trees, might want to move to a open parking lot.

Mr Lars · 03-13-2021, 06:55 AM

As for traveling during bad weather, it all depends on your personal tolerance, and not being a safety hazard on the roadways.
Last week we traveled from Rising Star, TX to Midland, TX. On a normal sunny day it is a 3+ hour drive on I-20, but it was steady 25-30 mph winds from the south, we were heading west, and that side wind and the traffic blowing by, it was a ‘rocking ride’. After we topped off fuel in Merkel, TX., I stayed on the side frontage roads for the remainder of the trip. Took and extra hour, but felt a lot safer.

momdoc · 03-13-2021, 07:23 AM

I agree get a weather radio for severe weather.

High winds are probably your worst enemy and do not feel bad about pulling off the road or pulling in your slides. Also if traveling in tornado country know where the closest shelter is and how to get to it. We had to spend an evening in a storm shelter in Texas hill country this last spring.

Maury - Lisa · 03-13-2021, 08:26 AM

Thanks. I'm always afraid I'm not going be asking the right or the right amount of questions when I pick up the RV. I guess this forum is my best resource for information.
Hope to see when the road.

Maury - Lisa · 03-13-2021, 08:27 AM

Thanks for the advice. It's simple but it's very practical.

pasdad1 · 03-13-2021, 08:35 AM

If you have a full wall slide, I have found that I frequently have to pull that slide back in if the wind is blowing in the direction which gets under that topper and start to lift it. Since that topper is so large, it acts like a sail....the other smaller slides are usually fine.

Look at the weather forecasts, as the wind can really increase overnight or periods when you are away from the coach site-seeing.

New2road · 03-13-2021, 08:38 AM

When you pick up, take your time. Test every system. Make sure you are comfortable with how to operate each component. Learn how to operate you entertainment system, how to get feeds to each TV. how your hot water and HVAC systems work. Delivery goes fast, try to get the most out of the learning. Camp at or near dealer for a few days to shake out systems and take care of any surprises.

We went from a gasser to a DP and learning curve went vertical.

Oh yea, have some fun as well.

j

wolfe10 · 03-13-2021, 08:38 AM

If a thunderstorm/lightening is forecast/imminent, disconnect from shore power. Easy for a nearby lightening strike to travel through shore wiring.

Persistent · 03-13-2021, 08:45 AM

I use 10 day forecast websites. I try to be somewhere else. I try to travel on different days. I park nose into wind when possible. I tend to stay out of the desert south west in summer and leave Kansas and South to Dorthy and the locals during tornado season. Hurricane forecasting gives me a few days to vacate.

Tornado forecasts often don't give enough time to flee. Find shelter quick. Any decent tornado can drive a 2x4 from a destroyed home through both walls of an RV.

Wisconsin state campgrounds have preformed concrete pit toilets. Walls and roofs will stop a falling tree or flying branch. It is a little disgusting, but safe.

https://www.wunderground.com/forecas...m/43.46,-88.84

https://www.weather-forecast.com/maps/Wisconsin

https://forecast.weather.gov/product...C&issuedby=MAF

Outbound · 03-13-2021, 10:00 AM

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your new purchase, looks like everything has been covered.

SomeDay · 03-13-2021, 12:04 PM

High winds we tend to point nose into wind and all slides are in. With a severe warning many years ago in Florida, we ended up going an hour inland towards Tampa and located ourselves at the back of a large solid building for some protection, and were very glad we heeded the warning.

If winds are predicted or become highish during travel blowing us around a bit, we will pull over somewhere for however long need be. Had a few scary days driving in our "road warrior" years, and now realise it's just not worth the risk of life!

Happy Travels good weather app, check forecast along route upcoming and go enjoy