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07-24-2014, 11:55 AM
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#1
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NELA
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,221
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ability to anchor our RVs at home
Last night we had horrific winds that screamed in to our area just before dusk, no warning, most likely around 50 MPH.
Sneak and I ran out the back (I heard it roaring down the fireplace chimney) to see what the HECK was taking place.
Buffy was doing a bit of wiggling. It could have been much worse had she not been sitting inside a privacy fenced back yard, which blocked a lot of the wind.
For any of you who store your RVs at home, do you have any sort of earth anchor setup? I was caught between; "I can't watch" and "I have to watch".
Not *one* drop of rain, just wicked tree twisting wind and then it was gone after about 15 minutes.
Mobile homes here are required to have anchors (by insurance) even though the wheels and axles are removed and they are under skirted. IMO an RV is more at risk.
So, anyone here anchoring their RV? If so, what set-up? I'm thinking anchors in cement, with steel straps with a removable attachment to the axles. Or heavy weight (logging chains) hooked to the axle and an anchor in concrete.
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If age is a state of mind, and I've lost my mind, I'm AGELESS, right?
Give me 40 acres and I'll turn this rig around:
Flagstaff 5er 2014 8528 IKWS, Platinum Package, Regency Interior "Buffy"
F250 Super Duty 2013 Tuxedo Black "Biff"
Days camped 2014: 30
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07-24-2014, 12:25 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 881
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Maybe all you need to do hook it up to your truck and put down the stabilizers. That would add some weight and width and take away the flex of the suspension.
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2011 PrimeTime Tracer 2600rls
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07-24-2014, 12:37 PM
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#3
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Alleged curmudgeon
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Southwest Michigan
Posts: 558
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Interesting question, Weezer, and what appears to be an interesting common sense suggestion Arefbee...but I'm not sure I'd want to hook it up and put them down in such a case. I am certainly no engineer, but just to play devil's advocate, I wonder if putting down the stabilizers could actually create a greater chance of property damage (to the rig). The increased "give" which you have in the suspension when not stabilized may actually be an advantage in some winds (letting the unit ride the wind rather than placing pressure on things which could "snap" or bend).
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Lee
2013 Windjammer 3008W
2006 Chevy Silverado 2500HD 6.0L w/Equalizer 4
Nights camped: 2012 (29); 2013 (26); 2014 (40); 2015 (43); 2016 (35); 2017 (34); 2018 (39); 2019 (30); 2020 (16); 2021 (14); 2022 to date (12)
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07-24-2014, 12:55 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: central PA
Posts: 978
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We had a horrific wind storm a few weeks or so ago. My TT is kept at home with stabilizers down. The wind actually moved the footing of the stabilizers an inch or two from the rocking. Im sure glade I had them down as it very well could have been catastrophic.
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2000 Cherokee 29BH with 6V batteries, LED lights & 400 watts of solar power, flipped axles and raised. 2007 Tundra 5.7L DC-LB with lots of mods. C-co, 8/158th AVN Maint.
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07-24-2014, 12:57 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 881
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Not an engineer either. Frankly, I've never really paid attention to what 5ers do for the rear stabilization but I believe the front "legs" can take quite a bit of weight.
A lot of the physics of tipping a vehicle come from the suspension allowing the unit to rock, creating a pendulum affect that can increase the effect of the wind.
I see your point though. It is usually better to bend with the wind than to fight it. Not many oaks survive hurricanes but willows do.
I like the idea of underground anchors, but I wonder where they could be attached that would not risk damage to an axle.
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2011 PrimeTime Tracer 2600rls
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07-24-2014, 01:02 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 691
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A year ago we had 70-80 mph winds in June.We had a TT then.Had it leveled up and stabs down.Keep in mind our drive slopes so the tongue was about 3 feet in the air.The wind slid the front of the TT about eight feet.Bent the heck out of the electric tongue jack and bent the stabs too.I really thought it was going to turn it over.Haven't had that much hit our 5er.To get it level I can walk under the pin box.Hope it doesn't do that to this one.
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07-24-2014, 01:05 PM
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#7
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NELA
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,221
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Arefbee
Not an engineer either. Frankly, I've never really paid attention to what 5ers do for the rear stabilization but I believe the front "legs" can take quite a bit of weight.
A lot of the physics of tipping a vehicle come from the suspension allowing the unit to rock, creating a pendulum affect that can increase the effect of the wind.
I see your point though. It is usually better to bend with the wind than to fight it. Not many oaks survive hurricanes but willows do.
I like the idea of underground anchors, but I wonder where they could be attached that would not risk damage to an axle.
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OK, so I've got gears grindin' in brains much smarter than mine.
Arefbee, so there's risk in damaging the axles, but wouldn't that be better than the whole kit and caboodle being flipped? What about anchoring to the frame instead of the axles?
__________________
If age is a state of mind, and I've lost my mind, I'm AGELESS, right?
Give me 40 acres and I'll turn this rig around:
Flagstaff 5er 2014 8528 IKWS, Platinum Package, Regency Interior "Buffy"
F250 Super Duty 2013 Tuxedo Black "Biff"
Days camped 2014: 30
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07-24-2014, 01:43 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 10,833
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I would not anchor the frame same reason we do not put bike racks on the back. The wind would twist the frame, better to leave it on the tires. If it goes over knowing it is a total loss as opposed to a bent frame breaking while travelling is better in my mind. At our park where we keep our park model several trailers where write offs last year due to ice storm damage. Those that had just repairs have ongoing issues. Apart from human/ K9 injury a write is better IMHO.
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2022 Venture RV SportTrek STT 302 VRB Travel Trailer
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07-24-2014, 01:54 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Seaford, De
Posts: 2,377
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anchoring the frame might just leave you with a frame on one side of the yard and the rest of the rv on the other
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David & Lynn 2014 Coachmen Chaparral Signature 327 RLKS 2016 Ford F350 Lariat CC Dually
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07-24-2014, 02:35 PM
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#10
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Always Learning
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,891
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My knee jerk reaction is that I wouldn't anchor it down. If it flips, you know it was damaged. If it's secured and really gets rocking around, you could damage the axles or frame without knowing it.
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Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
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07-24-2014, 02:54 PM
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#11
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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I think there are ways you could anchor it down on the suspension without damaging the axles. There are several places on the suspension that could have attaching points bolted to them using existing bolts on the suspension on the torsion axles and just having 4 anchors in concrete and throwing a chain over the axle between the spindle and the springs on a spring suspension would still let the suspension work but still hold the axles down.
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07-24-2014, 02:56 PM
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#12
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Phat Phrogs Incognito...
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: North Central Texas
Posts: 200
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Ours gets stored in the backyard and has the 6 jacks down and leveled. If it goes... it's insured.
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Tina + Dutch and Bell, Bobo, Harley, Buddy (the dogs)
2011 F350 Lariat 4x4 DRW SuperCrew 6.7L (B&W setup w/Air Lift 5000 Ultimate)
2014 Columbus 365RL (Airflex and Voyager package)
Nights Camped 2014 - 154, 2015 - 32, 2016 - 4
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07-24-2014, 03:01 PM
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#13
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NELA
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,221
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OldCoot
I think there are ways you could anchor it down on the suspension without damaging the axles. There are several places on the suspension that could have attaching points bolted to them using existing bolts on the suspension on the torsion axles and just having 4 anchors in concrete and throwing a chain over the axle between the spindle and the springs on a spring suspension would still let the suspension work but still hold the axles down.
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Thanks for this OC. Maybe you and Sneak can "chew on it" a bit while we're up there next month.
__________________
If age is a state of mind, and I've lost my mind, I'm AGELESS, right?
Give me 40 acres and I'll turn this rig around:
Flagstaff 5er 2014 8528 IKWS, Platinum Package, Regency Interior "Buffy"
F250 Super Duty 2013 Tuxedo Black "Biff"
Days camped 2014: 30
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07-24-2014, 03:04 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Western Connecticut
Posts: 1,587
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"Gees Toto, we're not in Kansas any longer".....
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2010 Cedar Creek 5th Wheel 34SATS "The Beast"
2006 Ford F350 Lariat 6.0L Diesel
2003 Harley Heritage Softail "Hogzilla"
1986 Marriage to "Wifey" (patience of a saint)
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07-24-2014, 03:14 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,460
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Our dutchmen fiver was in a tornado about 15 yrs ago - yes it went directly over our yard - house and barn and our fiver and parents MH - it lifted up the front of that fiver about five feet straight up and proceeded to set it right back down about two feet over....DH watched the whole thing unfold from the barn ( thinking THERE IT GOES ...) all while calming our horse from the hail coming in the barn doors straight line hitting them at the back of the barn - watched it twist the tops of some huge old oak trees like a weed whip as it went thru the woods behind us - bottom line lots of hail damage to siding and insurance covered it all - no loss of lives or major property - VERY LUCKY 🍀
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07-24-2014, 03:28 PM
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#16
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Engineer of Crazy Train
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Tiverton, RI
Posts: 1,585
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My friend's camper got tossed in the Massachusetts Tornado a few years ago, while he was loading it. They took shelter in their basement. Came upstairs and the camper was gone and they could see their neighbors houses for the first time. I don't think tying it down would have saved him.
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TV - 2015 Ram Truck EcoDiesel
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07-24-2014, 03:33 PM
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#17
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NELA
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,221
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Folks I realize that nothing will save an RV in a true tornado or hurricane. Huge oaks are ripped out of the grown and thrown around like pixie sticks.
We have never had a tornado here and Ivan came through here at its waning stages. We *do* get somewhat frequent straight line winds, and like yesterday "swirling winds".
We had planned to have an RV shed constructed in our back yard. Don't know that one of those would actually help. Our quandary at this point is that we're considering selling our home and moving further out into the country. Sneak saw the set up that BigJohnD has and it set him on fire...again. That is exactly the set up he's been planning for a long time.
So, we have put our plans for building the "RV port" on hold for now. Just a brain storm folks, something to add stability while we decide what our next step is.
__________________
If age is a state of mind, and I've lost my mind, I'm AGELESS, right?
Give me 40 acres and I'll turn this rig around:
Flagstaff 5er 2014 8528 IKWS, Platinum Package, Regency Interior "Buffy"
F250 Super Duty 2013 Tuxedo Black "Biff"
Days camped 2014: 30
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07-24-2014, 03:34 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Hattiesburg, MS
Posts: 1,658
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My vote--use OC's awning poles!
Had a friend before Katrina hit us fill his holding tanks with water(for weight) and put his stabs down. Didn't work. The wind lay it over as pretty as you please. Insurance totaled it of course.
I'd say park it next to a wall of the house or near the bottom of a hill of some sort to deflect the wind. I'm no engineer either, but you won't be tying it down when you camp. With the broad, flat sides (these boxes we call campers) will catch the wind anyway.
Pay those premiums and !
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2012 Flagstaff V Lite 30 WRLTS
2005 Dodge Ram 2500 5.7 Mag Hemi 3.72 Rearaxle
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07-24-2014, 03:39 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,570
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Weezer I'd advise you to keep your TV or Toad full of fuel and if one approaches, get out of Dodge! The RV will have similar damage either way....
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07-24-2014, 04:01 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Idaho
Posts: 9,839
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Too much work to build the anchor points IMO.
If it goes I call the insurance agent and wait.
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2016 F350 6.7L LB CC Reese 28K 2014 Chaparral Lite 266sab
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." 2014 19 days camping 2015 17 days camping201620 days camping
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