Wolf Creek 850 roll over story
Well, Since I opened this can of worms here is the entire story. First let me say I have been a long time truck camper owner and I am no rookie. I have gone trough several truck campers. I recent...
Forum Discussion
I did a rough calculation of the wind force side load on my 845 camper and with a 50 MPH gust the force is about 844 lbs., which is not all that much and countered largely by the weight of the camper. But with a 70 MPH gust the side load nearly doubles to 1660 lbs. of force. It's the gusts that will get you.
The problem is that all that force needs to be resisted by the two windward hold downs on the camper. The turnbuckles are designed to provide 300 lbs. of holding force or 600 lbs. per side so even a 45 MPH gust could overwhelm them.
This wind force loading is exacerbated by the height of the camper off the ground and it does not help to have a less than rigid platform with the truck's suspension and tires flexing. Had the truck been parked while the winds were blowing it is likely that the separation would not have occurred.
Plywood or other sheathing is to provide shear strength to a structure. It is the framing that serves to hold the structure together whether it is a house or a camper. Clearly Northwood Manufacturing did a shoddy job of designing and building the camper and older Lance campers are little better in this area with their thin wooden framing.
Not any different with other RV's out there. Roll a motorhome or trailer and the framing is going to collapse. Probably better to be in the "crash cage" of a modern pickup than in any RV.
What the accident demonstrates to me is the need to exercise more caution when high winds and strong gusts are predicted and possible alter my travel plans so as not to be out on the road.
The problem is that all that force needs to be resisted by the two windward hold downs on the camper. The turnbuckles are designed to provide 300 lbs. of holding force or 600 lbs. per side so even a 45 MPH gust could overwhelm them.
This wind force loading is exacerbated by the height of the camper off the ground and it does not help to have a less than rigid platform with the truck's suspension and tires flexing. Had the truck been parked while the winds were blowing it is likely that the separation would not have occurred.
Plywood or other sheathing is to provide shear strength to a structure. It is the framing that serves to hold the structure together whether it is a house or a camper. Clearly Northwood Manufacturing did a shoddy job of designing and building the camper and older Lance campers are little better in this area with their thin wooden framing.
Not any different with other RV's out there. Roll a motorhome or trailer and the framing is going to collapse. Probably better to be in the "crash cage" of a modern pickup than in any RV.
What the accident demonstrates to me is the need to exercise more caution when high winds and strong gusts are predicted and possible alter my travel plans so as not to be out on the road.
