Travel Trailer vs. Wind

[tfmdgm]

Anybody have any idea of how much wind a travel trailer can take without going belly up? I have a 30' Salem Cruise Lite bumper pull,

[pismolocal]

It's really hard to give you an exact number, there are way to many variables to factor in. Some things to consider:

The vehicle you are towing with?
Do you have a sway bar?
The road conditions?
The elevation of the road...are you flying down a grade?
Your speed?

Also remember the wind speed may be strong but the periodic gusts might be your real enemy.

I've been forced to slow down to about 45mph in my 32ft class C because the wind was pushing me into other lanes...yet buses, semis and class A motor homes were flying past me like I wasn't even there. My advice is there is no actual number...if the wind pushes you over the line in any direction, it can flip you. Slow down.

[tfmdgm]

It's just sitting in my yard with a hurricane coming in. Slide in, stabilizers down. Forecast 90 mph with 115 gusts.

[youroo]

Originally Posted by tfmdgm

It's just sitting in my yard with a hurricane coming in. Slide in, stabilizers down. Forecast 90 mph with 115 gusts.

What!! Get the HELL OUT!!! Youroo!!

[gulftest52]

Originally Posted by tfmdgm

It's just sitting in my yard with a hurricane coming in. Slide in, stabilizers down. Forecast 90 mph with 115 gusts.

I have a Vengeance 320a 5th wheel and I just rode out Irma in Savannah. I hooked it to my F250 in the yard and it handled it fine. Probably only got 60 mph or so. The winds can be reduced by sheltering in areas with trees, but of course the trees falling can be a hazard as well.

[TheWolfPaq82]

If you want a windtunnel test, drive across Wyoming on I-90. Winds would rock my popup going thru there. My 28' Jayco actually did better last time we drove that area with a EQ wdh on a 2013 1/2 ton Silverado. Popup was towed with a 3/4 ton Chevy conv. van. (Too much vehicle for the trailer...IMO.)

[Brewhedd]

Had TT in side/front yard during Irma here in Orlando with 80 to 90 mph winds. TT probably didn't see the full force due to trees and other houses but it was blowing hard. Came through ok, didn't blow it over and no tree limbs through the side of it. I sure wouldn't want to be towing it through those winds though. I think I would be pulling off the road at winds above 40 mph.

[keith_h]

It turned out I didn't need to but a few years back I used some of those screw in ground anchors to tie our trailer down in addition to hooking it up to the TV. I used an 18" model with two off each back bumper corner and on on each front corner. I don't know how well they would have held up once the rains came but the soil in the area was pretty well compacted.

[Cathcartww]

You get mobile home anchors at Lowes or Home Depot. Use them to secure it with some sturdy ratchet straps over the roof. That would probably be the best you can do without packing up and "leaving Dodge".

[Slow Moon]

Originally Posted by Cathcartww

You get mobile home anchors at Lowes or Home Depot. Use them to secure it with some sturdy ratchet straps over the roof. That would probably be the best you can do without packing up and "leaving Dodge".

You are right. However, sometimes it is not feasible to use mobile home anchors. Faced with Hurricane Irma, no place to run, and no way to anchor to pavers, I devised a suitable tie down "system" that might qualify me as a redneck.

[tfmdgm]

I screwed a couple of anchors in the ground. Ran a 2" ratchet strap with a 10,000 lb. break strength over the spring shackles. Didn't feel good about going over the top. It might crush that tin can. Hoping for the best. I waited too long to leave. I don't want to go through a hurricane stuck in traffic with a travel trailer hooked to my truck.

[D W]

Originally Posted by tfmdgm

It's just sitting in my yard with a hurricane coming in. Slide in, stabilizers down. Forecast 90 mph with 115 gusts.

Well, it ain't gonna withstand that.

[Big Bill]

Maybe fill the tanks?? If the wind wants it , it will take it. 😉

[tfmdgm]

It's tied down, 600 lbs. of water in the tanks and somewhat protected by neighborhood structures and some woods a couple of hundred feet away. That's all I can do. That's what I pay those big insurance premiums for.

[elchilero53]

Just make sure it isn't near anything that could blow down on top of the trailer.

[Wobbles]

Originally Posted by tfmdgm

It's tied down, 600 lbs. of water in the tanks and somewhat protected by neighborhood structures and some woods a couple of hundred feet away. That's all I can do. That's what I pay those big insurance premiums for.

Good luck brother. There is no way to predict what you will get, so just do your best. One idea I heard here is to get gone. It would be real nice to come back to the nest and find it still intact versus any and all shelter that you have is gone.

Best wishes and good luck...

[Life Without Whine]

My camper made it thru Irma (but my 35 yr old oak trees did not)

1. filled fresh, grey & black tanks
2. bought 10 inch vortex screws at Lowes & 500 pound ratchet straps & attached to all 4 corners
3. used painters tape to cover every window seam, door frame & vent in to the camper to keep blowing water out (took that off the next morning to allow anything that needed to dry out it could)
4. closed our vents on top of trailer.

Stay safe tonight ... our rolling retreat had water almost up to the door the next morning but we are able to take her out now in 2 weeks....

[PenJoe]

Hopefully, you have a more substantial building to shelter in for the storm. If you choose to ride out a hurricane in as TT, it is a game of Russian roulette. There are instances where RVs ride out the storm just fine, other instances the campground is flattened. If you have seen any of the RV devastation in the Keys, it wasn't pretty.

We went through Charley that was a strong Cat 4. The neighbor to our rear had a Chrysler van in the drive and a fully loaded 16 ft. cargo trailer sitting next to it. During the height of the storm, the cargo trailer flipped completely over the van landing on the opposite side. The roof of the cargo trailer scarped the roof of the van. The van never moved. His house was nearly destroyed as-well. With these storms, not only are you concerned with straight line winds, but also the many embedded tornadoes.

[tfmdgm]

I’m in a strong brick house. I’m not concerned about it handling it. I’ve lived on the gulf coast for over 60 years. Been through a lot of hurricanes. Since having a travel trailer, I’ve always taken a road trip when one was coming in. Decided not to leave this time. Things don’t look as bad as once forecasted.

[tuckerdog1]

Originally Posted by Slow Moon

You are right. However, sometimes it is not feasible to use mobile home anchors. Faced with Hurricane Irma, no place to run, and no way to anchor to pavers, I devised a suitable tie down "system" that might qualify me as a redneck.
Attachment 153596

Attachment 153597

I like it......A LOT

Tuckerdog1