Community Forums

Duster73 · 12-15-2021, 11:04 AM

So another thread is reporting high winds in the states this week.

Got me thinking, what do you do to prepare for the winds while camping? Obviously bring in everything. But should you move your MH or trailer inline with the direction that the winds are coming from? Also, if you have a trailer, should you hook up your truck so it doesnt flip the trailer? Do you need to lower your antenna?

I have a MH but had TT in the past. Just trying to have info and ideas for the future.

Stay safe!

dizcom · 12-15-2021, 11:19 AM

Guess it would depend on how high the winds are expected to be. There's no harm in being prepared. I use several apps to check out wind and weather conditions when we're out. We bring in everything we aren't comfortable losing when the weather's going to show up and take other precautions like unhooking early if there's going to be weather at the time we expect to leave. When we had boats, they got anchored to the ground when there was going to be severe weather that might blow it or wash it away. I suppose you could use those on your rig also if you were that concerned. Don't know if your hitch would do much to prevent a blow over, but I guess it depends on how severe it gets. Turning into the wind is a bit of a myth and not something you can do easily with a trailer. Our policy is to avoid extreme weather to the greatest degree possible and if it's unavoidable, go over our escape plan.

Old-Biscuit · 12-15-2021, 11:45 AM

Been in high wind conditions when traveling FT
Gusts to 65/70 mph
So I did hitch truck/5vr and reset the front landing gear legs and rear stabilizers

Didn't do anything else except stow lawn chairs/table & BBQ
Checked that awning was fully retracted/locked in place

Then sat back and waited it out while watching DVD

jenandjon · 12-15-2021, 11:55 AM

If possible try to face the front of the camper into the wind.

UTTransplant · 12-15-2021, 03:28 PM

Point into the wind if possible. It minimizes the rock and roll. We bring slides in when we hear the metal awning cover start rattling. That is well before damage to the toppers would occur, but I can’t stand the noise. Antenna down.

Keith55 · 12-15-2021, 04:30 PM

Look around your campsite for any trees that might come down.

We pulled into a campsite after dark one windy trip and in the morning there was a huge limb down. That limb would have went through the roof without slowing down!!

Dutch Star Don · 12-15-2021, 07:57 PM

This was a few years ago at Pismo Coast Village RV Park on the California coast. It was cloudy and rainy late in the evening and then about 2:00am, they had what they called a Windnato. The small trailer was two spaces from us and the long trailer was across the road. The tree that crushed the small trailer blocked our friends door of their Monaco Camelot. I had to saw a branch away so they could get out. Still stormy that night, we moved to a site with no nearby trees.

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HighDesert · 12-15-2021, 08:03 PM

We bring in the slides if the wind gets so bad that the slide toppers start slapping.

dons2346 · 12-15-2021, 08:28 PM

Bring in the slides,bring in the awning, lower the antennas and if possible point into the wind. Reason for pointing into the wind is to protect the AC covers. They are shaped to take wind from the front but not from the rear. Ask me how I know this

Duster73 · 12-16-2021, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dons2346

Bring in the slides,bring in the awning, lower the antennas and if possible point into the wind. Reason for pointing into the wind is to protect the AC covers. They are shaped to take wind from the front but not from the rear. Ask me how I know this

Never thought about the AC covers. Good point

Fattner · 12-18-2021, 09:45 PM

Great thread ,I'm learning a lot !!

Triangle Drifter · 12-19-2021, 07:29 AM

Depends on where you are. If in a CG surrounded by trees I'd be more concerned about the trees blowing over than the camper. Can't do anything about the trees except judge their age & wonder how many wind storms that they have been through before without blowing over.

Not much can be done about the camper either except stow all outside loose stuff & retract the awning & hope that the neighbours do the same. If in a CG you are where you are. Deal with it.

If out in the open dry camping you can't swing around like a boat on anchor & face the wind. The best you can do is judge wind direction &, if there is room, move to face it. The problem is that as a storm passes the wind will change direction. Some weather understanding will be required to know which way & how much it will switch.

Sitting in the camper with it rocking & rolling is probably a whole lot less than what it does going down the highway.

When the wind is broadside I guess that you can do what small boat sailors do, hike out to the windward side. Put the slide on that side out & retract slides on the leeward side.

PKI · 12-20-2021, 07:43 PM

Pull in the slides, lower the coach onto the tires. Stow all your gear. Buckle up and move to a location with less wind in the forecast.

Stay away from trucks with trailers that are moving sideways. They may be empty and prone to lay down on you in a high wind.

Saw a video of a fellow park next to a big box store for shelter from a storm, but take care. In news stories over time, I've seen tall store walls pancake on cars parked next to the building when the building structure is weakened by a storm.

We have an RV park just off 505 that is sheltered by a huge grove of trees. Grove is far enough from the park that the trees will not fall on you, but close enough to stop traffic noise and the wind.