Rockwood/Flagstaff hard side campers in windy conditions.

OutAndAbout · 03-23-2012, 10:53 AM

Last weekend I drove 280 miles roundtrip to look at one of the new Flagstaff T12DD hard side campers only to find out when I got there that it had been torn up during a storm the day before. It was at an rv dealer, when asked how that happened they had no real comment except they actually tried to blame it on customers probably unlatching the latches and leaving them.

That made me think, is it safe to set-up or take-down the Rockwood or Flagstaff hard side folding campers in windy, gusty conditions? I’m sure that fully up and latched or down and latched they are ok, but what about being in the process?

has anybody had problems with wind when set-up?

Thanks, Brad

Clarewood Camper · 03-23-2012, 12:16 PM

That actually sounds a bit strange - and perhaps there was a significant super cell or something that blew through with excessive winds. The question really is, were other campers damaged? If not, then it sounds like it's probably owner error. I have a TENT trailer and have had it open during a thunderstorm, in a fairly open landscape with confirmed winds of over 50MPH and it survived just fine. That said, I find it a bit odd that a hard sided trailer would sustain damage unless it had significant winds blow through, i.e. excess of 50MPH - and again if no other campers were damaged then that's just a bit strange.

OutAndAbout · 03-23-2012, 01:32 PM

This was a RV Dealer lot with lots of other units including other A-frames and pop-ups in the up position. no other units damaged - human error I agree with. I have read in other forums that some owners of a-frame units have had slight problems with high winds when the unit is set up. I have a Rockwood Premier 1907 pup and too have had it in very strong winds with no proplems. I'm thinking about going to a Rockwood/Flagstafe hard side A-frame.

Clarewood Camper · 03-23-2012, 04:03 PM

We are actually in the process of selling our pop-up (2008 Freedom 2280BH) and purchasing an expandable/hybrid. Can I ask why you'd look at the a-frames vs. a hybrid? I think those are interesting, but they appear to be small? I think if it were my wife and I that would be perfect.

thehamguy1 · 03-23-2012, 04:49 PM

I've had our Rockwood a-frame Hardside out in three really mean storms last year, including one on the shore of Lake Superior that looked like the end of the world as it approached. We rode it out fine, of course the wind was shaking us around a bit, but we stayed dry and secure. That said, I wouldn't want to be setting up or taking down in those winds. Other brands of hardsiders, Aliners and Chalets, have been around long enough that their owner forums have pictures of storm kits they've made to provide extra security during setup and take-down. They look like they'd work on Rockwood/Flagstaff units too. I carry an extra rope I can secure to the roof sections to restrain them from flipping backwards when setting up/taking down in a wind but so far I've not had to use it (knock on wood).

OutAndAbout · 03-26-2012, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clarewood Camper

We are actually in the process of selling our pop-up (2008 Freedom 2280BH) and purchasing an expandable/hybrid. Can I ask why you'd look at the a-frames vs. a hybrid? I think those are interesting, but they appear to be small? I think if it were my wife and I that would be perfect.

Hi Clarewood, About 8 years ago I bought my first camper, a 21 ft TT. At the time I looked at the available A-frames and didn’t like the quality or $.
When the gas $ went up I sold the TT and bought a pup. My gas mileage almost doubled. Now that Forestriver is making A-frames with a reasonable $ I'm looking again. With me its all about the gas price and mileage. Most of the time I travel alone, or with just one other person. I don’t spend much time in the camper either.

OutAndAbout · 03-26-2012, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thehamguy1

I've had our Rockwood a-frame Hardside out in three really mean storms last year, including one on the shore of Lake Superior that looked like the end of the world as it approached. We rode it out fine, of course the wind was shaking us around a bit, but we stayed dry and secure. That said, I wouldn't want to be setting up or taking down in those winds. Other brands of hardsiders, Aliners and Chalets, have been around long enough that their owner forums have pictures of storm kits they've made to provide extra security during setup and take-down. They look like they'd work on Rockwood/Flagstaff units too. I carry an extra rope I can secure to the roof sections to restrain them from flipping backwards when setting up/taking down in a wind but so far I've not had to use it (knock on wood).

Thanks Lee, This helps a lot. Hopefully I'll be in a A122/12RB soon.

thehamguy1 · 03-26-2012, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutAndAbout

Thanks Lee, This helps a lot. Hopefully I'll be in a A122/12RB soon.

One other thing you can do for takedowns if your campsite is too windy--leave the camper up, pull it to a more sheltered spot in the campground, and take down there. It's no taller than a travel trailer so if one of those can traverse the campground roads the a-framer can too. I did that once on a day with winds gusting to 30.

Or, you could turn the camper broadside to the wind so it wasn't pushing on either roof section.

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