Living full-time in an RV means encountering every type of weather condition. I’ve been through some crazy wind storms over the last six years, experiencing wind gusts up to 70 mph/43 km. Sitting in your RV in the desert with raging wind can be a terrifying experience. Today, I’m going to share tips on how you can prepare for and stay safe in a windstorm. I’ve learned a lot in six years! Check out this video from when I first started: https://youtu.be/B3wUldsSCuk.
RV Safety Tip #1: Don’t Drive in a Wind Storm.
If you don’t have to drive, DON’T! Stay put and ride out the wind storm. A Class A or Class C RV is hard to control in high winds, so you are better off staying parked and waiting to travel. Even winds as low as 10MPH can be problematic for large-profile vehicles and RVs. And winds over 40MPH make controlling your RV, 5th wheel, or trailer difficult, and risk being blown off the road, into other lanes, or even getting flipped over. Play it safe! Wait it out.
Tip #2: Point the NOSE of your RV into the Wind.
It takes a lot to flip over a Class A or Class C RV. So you will be safe. But with the largest areas of your RV (back or sides) facing the wind gusts you’ll feel a lot more rocking and swaying. And trust me, that can be scary! The nose of your RV is the most aerodynamic, since it’s meant to take you down the freeway at 75 mph smoothly. Pointing the nose in the wind, you will be more stable and experience far less rocking.
RV Safety Tip #3: Be Mindful of WHERE you park during a Wind Storm!
This should be obvious, but in case it is not, for RV safety during a wind storm, don’t park under trees or powerlines. Find a clearing to keep you safe from falling limbs or at worst, a whole tree falling. If boondocking, make sure if a tree comes down, you have a way to leave the area. How remote are you? Either stay closer to town or carry a chainsaw or an ax to remove fallen tree branches.
Tip #4: Secure everything down and bring in anything you don’t want to lose!
I’ve lost storage containers, awnings, and other items during high winds. Make sure to secure anything outside or bring it in to keep it safe. The last thing you want is to go out in the middle of a windstorm and risk injury to save your favorite camping chair.
RV Safety Tip #5: Prepare yourself and stay calm during the Wind Storm.
The best defense against fear is staying informed about the weather. You can use alert systems and apps to stay up to date on current weather conditions. You can use NOAA Radio and the CLIME App. This App is the NOAA Weather Radar Live app. It is an all-in-one weather tracker and uses your GPS signal to alert you on conditions where you are in real-time. Make sure you have supplies and clothing/shoes ready that you may need if conditions become unsafe. Stay calm and alert, so you will not be surprised by changing weather conditions.
Be sure to check out my blog, where I share tips for all types of extreme weather: Extreme Weather Safety Tips, or watch the video below:
Looking for RV products to help keep you cozy in the winter? Check out RV Winter Products I use.
DISCLAIMER: Carolyn’s RV Life and Carolyn Higgins share her experiences, thoughts, opinions and ideas in this blog post and on this website for entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, instruction or guidance. Viewers/Readers should consult with professionals before pursing any actions or behaviors exhibited in this video. Carolyn’s RV Life or Carolyn Higgins cannot be held liable in the event of any accident or injury that may occur as a result of application of procedures and information provided in this video.
