Camper slides and tornados

I'd pull in the slides then leave and find a tornado shelter. A motorhome is no place to be if one is very close by!

Ride out a tornado? IN A RV? NO Find shelter. If a tornado hits your RV, slides in or out will not matter.

I was initially thinking a Wal-Mart parking lot would start looking real inviting when under a tornado watch but then found this article:

Joplin Walmart

We do have wheels and engines. If there wasn't a very solid building to take shelter in where we were camped, I would drive to somewhere there was. I'd also rather be moving than stuck in a campground if I had to be caught in the coach. I always wondered how fast this thing can go....

Alabama is under a tornado WATCH...!!! much different animal. A tornado WATCH simply means unsettled weather which may produce tornado activity. It's in effect until 12:30AM tomorrow. A tornado WARNING means a tornado(s) has been spotted. In that case, the proper procedure is to get to shelter immediately.. meaning bath house, club house or some other permanent structure.

As one who rode one out last year, they're not fun for sure but with some caution you'll be ok. We had our slides out as the tornado came without warning of any sort. It tore off all four of our slide toppers and flipped a 30' fifth wheel injuring three. No motor homes were severely damaged but several trailers and fivers were moved off their pads....bottom line, my slides stay out, and I'm in Gulf Shores Alabama......Dennis

There are times when the forecast is so bad that a hotel may be a good idea. Take the motorhome and park away from the wind and enjoy the stronger structure. May protect both you and your property. I read here some folks who snuggled up to a school when a hurricane hit and it provided great protection. I think the OP really meant what to do in strong winds and slides in makes sense. Sand storm in desert we pulled slides in and were glad we did because others spoke of fine grit inside.. With all the humor no one suggested fastening the seat belts on the couch. If no choice and you hear the roar I would think value of getting down low and hanging on. Hope this is all just for exercise.

I would leave.

Wunderground weather site is amazing:

http://www.wunderground.com/wundermap/?lat=34.05456&lon=-87.14353&zoom=06&type=roadmap&units=english&pin=Arley%2C+AL%2C+USA&plat=34.05456&plon=-87.14353&tl.play=0&tl.spd=2&viewportstart=now-3912&viewportend=now-312&groupSevere=1&groupHurricane=1&groupFire=1&groupCamsPhotos=1&groupRealEstate=1&eyedropper=0&drought=0&extremes=0&fault=0&favs=0&femaflood=0&fire=0&firewfas=0&fissures=0&fronts=1&hurrevac=0&hur=1&hur.wr=0&hur.cod=1&hur.fx=1&hur.obs=1&hur.hd=0&hur.mdl=0&hur.gpce=0&hur.img=0&hur.opa=70&hur.opa2=40&labels=0&lightning=0&livesurge=0&mm=0&ndfd=0&rad=1&rad.num=1&rad.spd=25&rad.opa=53&rad.type=00Q&rad.type2=&rad.smo=1&rad.noc=1&rad.stm=1&dir=1&dir.mode=driving&sst=0&sat=0&seismicrisk=0&svr=0&ski=0&snowfall=0&stateLines=0&stormreports=0&tor=0&tfk=0&tsunami=0&riv=0&wxsn=0&cams=0&pix=0&PrecipStart=0

Slides in, jacks up to the point where they are firmly on the ground (for stability) but the tires are also carrying a lot of weight, and get your butt into an approved shelter.

Chuckf1 wrote:
we are in Alabama and the weather pattern suggests tornado warnings in the area for the next few days.
We are wondering whether it is better to ride out a tornado with slides in or out.
We have a 36' motorhome with 2 slides: 1-driver-side living room and 1-passenger-side bedroom.

Thanks in advance

You cannot possibly think that it would ever be safe to be in a camper during a tornado.