strong winds- tornados

Yup. Leave it hooked up for sure. I had one night in Eastern Oregon with sustained winds of 60 MPH and gusts up to 90. I don't think the trailer would have stayed stationary if it weren't hooked up. I did not sleep much that night.

bruce falink wrote:
Scamp trailor- pickup truck What if- you know there are very strong winds coming and you can put yourself in safety. Is it better to unhook camper from truck or to leave camper hooked up to truck. Or does it really make any difference.

You have too much free time if this is a concern in MN in winter….suppose you could be down in the SE where there may be some tornadoes again here soon. But you’re from MN and haven’t ever heard of what to do in a tornado warning or in a storm?

I’ll give you a clue. If you have time to hook up or un-hook your trailer but don’t think you have time to outrun the tornado, your priorities are 180degrees out of sync with normal thinking. Gtfo of your vehicle/camper and seek shelter.

If this is a hypothetical “what if it gets windy?” IDK

ajriding wrote:
Well, the trailer should flip before the truck flips. The trailer can then flip the truck or give it enough umph that the wind can now flip it.
Being hooked to the truck will not do much to stop the trailer from flipping, but will do damage to the hitch or the truck.
Unhook. Leave chains on.

Never would have thought of that ridiculous response to, frankly, a ridiculous question.
Thanks for the laugh buddy!

strong winds....leave it all hooked up and if possible drop the trailers stabilizers.

squall line 70-90 mph straight line winds....best to leave it hooked up and point the truck/trailer into the wind.

Tornados .....get out of both and get in a shelter.

There is no exact generic answer as every winds from storms will be different and may even blow from more than one direction. Too many variables such as are you on the road traveling or set up in a campground....and expected wind speeds.

Growing up in OK and camping in just a simple rain storm to overhead funnels ....90 mph straight line winds has shown me to be aware where your at in regards to storms path.

I've been in my trailer when we've had 70+ gusts and even with the slide out it's not really a big deal. My nose is pointed to the West where most of our strong winds come from and my house and garage plus a substantial treeline protect it from the North so the second most common high winds that might affect it broadside aren't really a concern. So I'd agree with face it into the primary wind direction and shelter it if possible from your secondary wind direction.

As far as tornados, that's why most campgrounds have strong shower houses, get out of your trailer and into them as they'll offer infinitely more protection. If on the road find a gas station or fast food place and go into the walk-in cooler.

Tornados are a separate matter.

For simply strong winds, move to someplace that provides a wind break if you are concerned.

Well, the trailer should flip before the truck flips. The trailer can then flip the truck or give it enough umph that the wind can now flip it.
Being hooked to the truck will not do much to stop the trailer from flipping, but will do damage to the hitch or the truck.
Unhook. Leave chains on.

Not much you can do with tornado in Scamp and truck. Except run at right angle from direction of travel of storm. For strong winds point front of truck and scamp into the wind. After all they travel down the road at 60 mph or so.

Living in a hurricane region I have learned that the wind does not come from the same direction with every storm. If we are expected to get winds and gusts less than 75 mph we stay put and point the truck into the wind at our sticks and bricks. There is an site to give this info based on location. If greater than 75 mph we head north and make a camping trip out of it.

Addition
Different shapes of RV handle the wind differently.
We have an Airstream and they are among the best in aerodynamics.

I want my trailer connected to the truck and nose pointed into the wind when strong gusts are predicted. My TT was blown off its wooden tongue block at Tuttle Creek BLM a couple of years ago. A rude awakening.