One time we were camping in our truck and camper and we chose a site that was the highest in the campground. Over the afternoon and into the evening a massive thunderstorm rolled in. We were in "Craters of the Moon" campsite.We were in a truck camper, and I was a bit concerned. My stairs run from the back of the camper and rest on the ground. At the time, I thought it would be best to remain inside the camper, and bring the stairs in. The jacks were up and the truck was resting on it's tires only.Other than packing up and moving to a lower location so our neighbours had the highest site, any experts have an opinion on the stairs and/or whether the jacks should be up or down?Thanks, it was an incredible show.

you may have been in the highest campsite but were you the highest object in the entire CG? i'm under the impression that lightning will usually (always?) seek the shortest path to ground which means telephone poles, towers, buildings, homes, trees, etc.

It does not really matter because you are in a faraday cage anyway. A good idea to unplug you rig if you have it plugged into 110. Even then a direct hit will fry most electronics in your rig.

Jacks down and grounded. So the energy can go to the ground.

I doubt several million volts will have any trouble jumping the span of your tire profile to the ground, so jacks up, jacks down...meh. I doubt it matters much. You can be sure there's precious little empirical data to prove either way. Lightning does some silly things. There's really no reliable predictor.

FYI Lightning does not always strike the highest point. I watched as my neighbors house was struck. the lightning went right past several trees and struck a curtain rod above a window in the inside of the garage.

Lightning strikes! | Good Sam Community

29 Replies

ScottG
Nomad
Jun 25, 2014
The jacks, steps or anything else makes little difference. Nor does being the highest or lowest in the CG. Lightening strikes go in odd directions that are sometimes very hard to understand. It can easily jump from the TC or even an airplane in flight, to earth.
Fact is you are safest inside a metal box like a camper or auto - even if the skin is non-conductive but it has a metallic frame.
TucsonJim
Explorer II
Jun 25, 2014
It is only a Faraday shield if the frame and/or skin is metal. If you remain in a wood framed, fiberglass RV, and experience a direct lightning strike, it is a possibility that you will be injured or killed. Even then, if the skin is not metal, but the frame is, you stand the chance of injury or death.

If you have the camper mounted on a truck, you'd be much safer if you move into the truck itself. Roll up the windows, and move as close to the center of the truck as possible.

Even better is to move to a sturdy building and stay away from pipes, windows, doors and appliances.
BB_TX
Nomad
Jun 25, 2014
When lighting can travel thousands of feet from the clouds to the ground it is not going to care whether your steps or jacks are a few inches off the ground. It is going to strike where it is going to strike no matter what.
powderman426
Explorer
Jun 25, 2014
That is a really great campground you were at. Lightning doesn't always strike the highest point as seen in the video here. This guy was blown out of his shoes.:B
jmanatee
Explorer
Jun 25, 2014
FYI Lightning does not always strike the highest point. I watched as my neighbors house was struck. the lightning went right past several trees and struck a curtain rod above a window in the inside of the garage.
mosseater
Explorer II
Jun 25, 2014
I doubt several million volts will have any trouble jumping the span of your tire profile to the ground, so jacks up, jacks down...meh. I doubt it matters much. You can be sure there's precious little empirical data to prove either way. Lightning does some silly things. There's really no reliable predictor.
Vulcaneer
Explorer
Jun 25, 2014
Jacks down and grounded. So the energy can go to the ground.
Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Jun 25, 2014
It does not really matter because you are in a faraday cage anyway. A good idea to unplug you rig if you have it plugged into 110.

Even then a direct hit will fry most electronics in your rig.
rk911
Explorer
Jun 25, 2014
you may have been in the highest campsite but were you the highest object in the entire CG? i'm under the impression that lightning will usually (always?) seek the shortest path to ground which means telephone poles, towers, buildings, homes, trees, etc.

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Lightning strikes!

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