Aliner high wind kit installs fine on FR hardside

[thehamguy1]

A fellow named Chris Mendola sells the stainless hardware and instructions needed to install a high wind kit on Aliners. You supply the aluminum bar stock for the long pieces--I paid $19 at Tractor Supply Company for the two I needed. I bought a hardware kit to try the idea on my A128 and found to my pleasure that the parts and procedures are identical. It even clears my ham radio antenna mount--3rd pic. I had tried finding the special low-clearance-headed stainless bolts locally but had no luck. On talking with Chris in Florida he wasn't surprised. They're not only hard to find, you need to order 300 or so to get them. That's why he has extras to sell. Here are some pics of it in the travel position. When set up, you undo the wing nuts on the forward end, swing the bar down and back, and attach it to the bolt you can see sticking out of the rear roof flange.

Yes I know it's better not to have the roof up if there's going to be that much wind, but my answer is that you don't always know if or when the wind will come up, such as during the night or when away from your campsite.

I may paint the aluminum bars white to blend in better. I'm not a dealer for this stuff, but if interested PM me and I'll sent you Chris' contact info.

[rawlus]

Pics of it in the up position?

[thehamguy1]

Yep, here goes!

[rawlus]

Looks good!

[backpacker3]

I just finished installing a Hi Wind Kit I also ordered from Chris Mendola and as thehamguy1 said, it went on the Rockwood A128S just fine and looks rather good. Had to make the same adjustment at the top because of the pop rivits but other than that, went on easily. I agree with hamguy that you never know when the wind may kick up so I feel a little extra precaution goes a long way. I'd post pictures but my Rockwood looks like hamguys so his pictures are the same as I would post. I got the aluminum bar stock from Menards. They didn't have 6' lengths so I got 8 footers. Both came to $24.58

[thehamguy1]

Glad to hear it went well for you too. Maybe because we both live in plains states and close to Tornado Alley, we have greater caution about sudden winds. Here's hoping neither of us ever needs to rely on the wind kits but they're there if needed. Cheap insurance.

[backpacker3]

Amen to cheap insurance.

[m.ed]

I’ve seen multiple references to Chris Mendola’s wind lift kit but no links or address to contact Mendola to purchase the kit. Anyone, please, help me contact Chris Mendola.

[pgandw]

I had put the Forest River A-frame roof latches on my A122 to the test in Wyoming with sustained 60mph gusts. Held fine. Raising the roof was a little scary as the panels literally tried to "fly" up. Raising driver's side partially against the wind required waiting for a wind lull. Was impressed with how tight everything is with all 4 side latches and the roof channel latch.

Plastic chocks were useless, the wind actually blew them out from under the tires, no matter how tightly I pounded them in. Rubber chocks from Harbor Freight solved that problem.

just my experiences
Fred W
then 2014 Rockwood A122 A-frame
now 2019 Flagstaff T21TBHW A-frame
2008 Hyundai Entourage minivan
camping Colorado and adjacent states one weekend at a time

[abdiver]

When I first got my trailer I found out that setting it up and lowering were the dangerous times since if the wind catches one of the rooftops it turns into a sail. I have learned to only open or close it during small breezes but for insurance, I have a long strap or rope that I toss over the trailer from front to back and tie off on bumper and tow hitch.

Now I have been in extremely windy areas with the trailer up and locked and have never had a problem but it never hurts to cover my bases.