what to do when severe weather is forecast

Sounds like a plan-- secure stuff outside. 50 mph gusts... no big deal, you drive faster than that all the time. Tornados- I guess get ready to shelter in the CG bathhouse should one approach. Do you have a weather radio ? That would help with warning.

Whenever we encountered severe weather while on the road, we always retracted the levelers and secured all awnings, pulled in the slides, and watched the weather closely. When in "tornado alley" we have left the coach to go to the tornado shelter (which many RV parks in the mid-west have) if it appears that a tornado is about to move through the area.
When in other areas, and if we are just expecting gusty winds, we just sit it out in the coach with the slides, awnings, and levelers retracted. Then we let Mother Nature rock us to sleep. :B

find a place to hide. Rock outcrops are best. Watch out for old trees and snags. I do not like traveling in high winds with an RV.

Many place get a lot of wind like Wyoming. Nevada is windy so we do not notice much until it gets to about 40 mph.

Pull in any slides and awnings.

If lightening, disconnect from shore power.

Go to a safe location.

rgatijnet1 wrote:
and levelers retracted. Then we let Mother Nature rock us to sleep. :B

Why exactly do you think it is better to have the "levelers" retracted ?

I would think that it's much better to have them DOWN, so that they all touch the ground for extra stability.

How I did it when a dude named Matthew Came Calling.. I was 3 miles from the mandatory evac line. the park owner SPLIT.. i'd have liked to but not practical.

Brought in awning.. Secured as best as I could.. If you can bring in slides. Road it out.. No damage worth talking about (there was some "damage" but I'm not sure it was from the storm believe it or not).

Not my first "high wind" have slept in gusts over 100 MPH with no problem. NO awning out, but no problem The awning is the biggest wind issue.

Also if you know what direction the wind will come from park facing downwind but I was "Quartered" (The worst position) in those 100+ gusts.

Best option for tornados (By folks did you know a Tornado makes a Hurricane look tame? Yup. an Class 5 Hurricane is about a 2 on the tornado scale.. Just much much bigger).

Best option on both Hurricanes and Tornadoes (Fire, Flood, Blizzard, Earthquake, Landslide, and all other disasters) is be somewhere else. But that's not always an option.

(note. that last paragraph is the official right answer to an official Government Test Question).

On evening we watched the local TV as a tornado moved towards us showing where it was in real time. Had the RV ready to move as it was moving at a 45 degree angle to the Interstate that was a couple hundred yards away from the RV park. It ended up going across the Interstate about 10 miles west of us so stayed put. If it's track had come our way I would have gotten on the Interstate east bound and down at 70 mph...it was moving at aprox 20 mph.

If 40-50 mph winds are in the forecast I leave the slides and awnings in and roll over and go back to sleep. I will travel with 30 mph crosswinds and higher if on the tail.

If bad weather is forecasted - I pull up anchor and move. If your stuck then I suggest you pull in the slides, fill up the FW tank (helps stabilize rig and give you survival benefit if things get really nasty), disconnect from shore power , pull in awning, secure anything outside, and talk to your neighbors so you can check up on each other.

Make sure you aren't parked close to any tree that may fall or branches that may break off.

Ivylog wrote:


If 40-50 mph winds are in the forecast I leave the slides and awnings in and roll over and go back to sleep. I will travel with 30 mph crosswinds and higher if on the tail.

Yep! Me too! It's those GUSTING crosswinds that will roll you on your side in a second. Strong tail winds are a benefit, but, in a moving storm they don't stay that way for long. In high profile vehicles, special caution is due when crossing bridges or on elevated roadways. Winds pick up SUBSTANTIALLY if you get 15 feet or more above the ground. If you have any experience flying aircraft, you know this.

Best bet, if the weather is going to be really foul, wait it out. I like to watch (wait) for vehicles similar to mine that are coming the opposite direction. Not a guarantee but they just came FROM the direction I'm going. That tells me something.

Chum lee