High Winds

Dennisf · 03-09-2017, 06:58 AM

I was traveling in Wyoming and Colorado without my TT this week and got to thinking about the affects the wind would have on my unit. I saw what it did to trucks on the interstate but I was wondering what impacts the wind may have on a parked unit. At what point do the winds become a danger when in a campground? Also do any of you try to tie down your units?

Stan · 03-09-2017, 08:44 AM

I have only had one experience with high winds and that was when I was traveling in New Mexico with a direct side wind of 40 plus MPH. Spooky. High winds in a campground will have to be real high (60 plus depending on size of rig) to make me concerned but if you have your stabilizers setup properly you should be OK. Flying debris would be another concern if in a heavily wooded campsite. I have never had to tie down the rig and if that was a concern I would leave the area before the winds pick up.

dedmiston · 03-09-2017, 10:04 AM

Wyoming can be hellish. My daughter lives up there and she's an ultra marathon runner (100 mile trail races). Training is rough up there. Sometimes she runs with partners and they take turns leading out front to break the wind, like cyclists in a peloton. One time she was running and the wind and snow got so bad that she ducked onto a construction site and hid out in their disgusting porta-john until the wind died down. That was a doozie of a selfie.

We mostly camp in the Mojave desert and we've been stuck in horrible winds before. Driving a bumper pull trailer is horrible. Just slow down and/or pull over. Camping isn't pleasant when it's too windy to hang out with the gang out at the campfire, but we've never felt unsafe inside the trailer. It rocks and rolls, but it's not going anywhere.

Dayle1 · 03-09-2017, 12:04 PM

With stabilizers down and slides closed the trailer should be good for about 100 mph winds. I've seen units on a dealers lot (w/o stabilizers) that were unaffected by a hurricane with 100 mph winds.

**Lloyd** · 03-09-2017, 01:33 PM

That ain't no way I would want to ride out 100 mph winds in an RV.

Dayle1 · 03-09-2017, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lloyd

That ain't no way I would want to ride out 100 mph winds in an RV.

Lloyd , I wouldn't either, I'd go to a safe building, but the Rv should still stay in place. The big danger is trees falling on the unit

**Lloyd** · 03-09-2017, 03:08 PM

We had winds in the 40 to 50 on up to 60 mph yesterday. We suffered a power outage that lasted some where between 16 to 18 hours. The local news showed an 18 wheeler laying on it's side along the freeway south of us.
I have no faith in thinking an RV would not be in danger of being turned over in 100 mph winds.

Dayle1 · 03-09-2017, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lloyd

We had winds in the 40 to 50 on up to 60 mph yesterday. We suffered a power outage that lasted some where between 16 to 18 hours. The local news showed an 18 wheeler laying on it's side along the freeway south of us.
I have no faith in thinking an RV would not be in danger of being turned over in 100 mph winds.

Lloyd, the OP's question was about a parked RV which is different than a vehicle driving in high winds. Just guessing, but most of the 18 wheelers than tip over are probably empty at the time.

**Lloyd** · 03-09-2017, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dayle1

Lloyd, the OP's question was about a parked RV which is different than a vehicle driving in high winds. Just guessing, but most of the 18 wheelers than tip over are probably empty at the time.

Larry, you are correct the OP was talking about a parked RV. I guess I got off topic with my post.

Steve and Char · 03-09-2017, 07:23 PM

This could also be a little off what is being asked since it wasn't a TT but a few years back when we had our 36' MH we were in Nashville at Yogi Bear and a storm was coming. They said gusts were up to 70MPH. It was about midnight and we could actually feel the jacks lifting off the ground and bumping down again. We were trying to decide if we should run to the bath house. Shortly after it calmed down but never forgot that feeling.

Steve

travelin texans · 03-10-2017, 08:20 AM

A couple years ago we spent the month of May in the Texas panhandle at our sons & had winds 40+ day & night with gust from 50-75 regularly & dust storms so thick visibility was about 0, we spent lots of time with all the slides in & away for the day, but never felt like we were in danger of tipping just not very comfortable. Traveling in heavy winds is a total different story, if cross winds get much over 30 I'm stopping for the day somewhere, it's much too dangerous.

Pro BSer · 03-10-2017, 08:39 PM

High winds took a heavy toll here in Kansas this week when it was accompanied by fire. Wildfires driven by 70mph winds destroyed massive amounts pasture land and 10's of thousands of head of cattle. The worst hit county had 85% of the entire county blackened, and over 41,000 cattle died.

sleepyT · 03-10-2017, 09:43 PM

I would have to say it would all depend on where the RV was parked...If it was parked on a site on a hill top with nothing to act as a wind breaker, I would say it would be more susceptible to be blown over, but on the other hand if it had a tree line to break the wind it should be much more stable...That's my story and I'm sticken to it...

You may also like: