Storms

I lasted with 80 mph gusts, but it was in the desert, so not a lot of problems with trees. The bag awning was a pain - obviously, it was rolled up, but the winds kept lifting it up and then it would thunk down - ALL BLOODY NIGHT! :-)

So, we started using bungy cords when it was windy to keep the bag in place.

In a storm with high winds a great concern is trees and tree limbs falling on top of your camper. I have had to abandon my campsite due to falling limbs and headed for the nearest motel for the night. When I returned many large trees were down but fortunately not on top of anyone. A limb did penetrate the roof of a hard side camper but fortunately the State Park Rangers had made everyone get into their vehicle and wait out the storm in a field away from the trees. Scary!!!

I've ridden out some 50+ mph winds in my Aliner (on the top of the mountain in Queen Wilhelmina SP in Arkansas.) They buffeted and shook the camper pretty good. Much more than this and I would seek shelter - and that's with secure, hard sides. But again I probably wouldn't want to be in a TT in winds much over this as I'd be afraid it might turn over (unless it was facing into the wind). At least there's less chance of this in my Aliner, as there's less wall area up high for the wind to push on.

Chip

We were out in one severe storm where winds came up suddenly then a huge black cloud with torrential rain. We each sat on a bed end while the PUP rocked and started to lift up. Hubby said "If we go roll over, I've got my pocket knife and I can cut out the screens. Luckily it only lasted a few minutes and we got by with only the canopy ripped off and a bed roof support bent. Others near us had more damage some less. One reason we bought a TT last fall.

If that bad, I would seek shelter if available even with our class C motorhome.

radio reports telling you to seek shelter

A PUP is not shelter in this regard.

Every RV is up off the ground, meaning wind can get under it. A PUP has wings in addition to being relatively light weight. Don't chance it - get out and seek real shelter.

If your spidey sense is tingling and others are telling you to seek shelter, better not wait for the weather to say "told you so."

We've ridden out some very strong thunderstorms in the PUP. Once, with the winds going but not enough to mess with the PUP, we got out because there were trees above us and branches do fall under those conditions. Everything was fine but there's no guarantee.

Last week we were in Shreveport La when the bad weather came through. We had been getting alerts on our phones all day. At about 6:30PM the Airstream shook real hard and we started scrambling to get out. We were at a casino RV park and there was a parking garage near by. My plan was to go there with the wife and dogs until it was over. It seems the first blow was the hardest and from then on it was just a rain squall. According to the weather bureau that first puff was 60-80 MPH. It pays to be prepared and have a plan.

If it is 45MPH winds or more I head for the better shelter... My POPUP side flaps starts moving around big time when the winds gets this high. Knocks down things I have setup in the portable shelving I use here when setting up. Had microwave and HDTV knocked to the floor one trip...

Always aware of the WX situations when camping in the OFF-ROAD POPUP...

Roy Ken

If the reports are telling you to take shelter and it's blowing that hard, head for the bath house with a lantern, some water and a folding chair