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**Country Campers** · 09-14-2023, 03:14 PM

The best advice that I have seen is nose of trailer in to the wind, fill holding tanks and slides in.

Brian

**Cate&Rob** · 09-14-2023, 05:40 PM

Nose into a 60 MPH wind is essentially the same as travelling down the highway. That wind on the side would be a different story.

Rob

**TucsonJim** · 09-14-2023, 10:00 PM

Earlier this year, we had approximately 200 rigs at the rally in Quartzsite Arizona. One night at approximately 2am, we had wind gusts of 72 mph. No one tipped over.

Run your awnings in
fill your water tank
turn into the wind.
run your slides in
Hook up to the tow vehicle.
Put down your stabilizers.

Jim

**TheNescios** · 09-15-2023, 06:23 AM

I've had a few different occasions with high winds in the 50-60 mph range with gusts above that and agree having the water tank full, holding tanks at 1/2 or so is all that's been necessary. It's not always practical to change how the RV is facing, but have found parking the tow vehicle on the upwind side to help create a windbreak of sorts has helped with the buffeting you'll feel.
Not sure of the actual math, but my gut is telling me it would take a wind closer to 100 mph to be in danger of being tipped over?
Chris

**Jlawles2** · 09-15-2023, 09:12 AM

During one of the gulf coast hurricanes after we got our 5er, I ran some numbers. Basically filling the tanks to capacity and putting the jacks down increased stability to the 100+ MPH range broadside.

If you can park into the wind front or rear, be sure to use good chocks and X chocks to prevent the unit from moving. I would personally avoid hooking up the TV in the off chance something happens to the camper you are not stranded completely (just my thoughts). The TV will only provide stability for rolling as the way most hitches work on 5er's there is enough side pivot and in some even vertical play that the momentum forces will already be there and they are applied at the center up high not down low where you need them.

**TucsonJim** · 09-15-2023, 10:38 AM

Originally posted by Jlawles2 View Post

During one of the gulf coast hurricanes after we got our 5er, I ran some numbers. Basically filling the tanks to capacity and putting the jacks down increased stability to the 100+ MPH range broadside.

If you can park into the wind front or rear, be sure to use good chocks and X chocks to prevent the unit from moving. I would personally avoid hooking up the TV in the off chance something happens to the camper you are not stranded completely (just my thoughts). The TV will only provide stability for rolling as the way most hitches work on 5er's there is enough side pivot and in some even vertical play that the momentum forces will already be there and they are applied at the center up high not down low where you need them.

Good points. But one good aspect of hooking up is that you can quickly turn into the wind if the wind direction changes.

Jim

**Jlawles2** · 09-15-2023, 10:46 AM

Originally posted by TucsonJim View Post

Good points. But one good aspect of hooking up is that you can quickly turn into the wind if the wind direction changes.

Jim

Depending on location, this may not be an option. PLUS if you hit the auto level button and the trailer is NOSE LOW, it will try and possibly succeed in lifting the rear of the truck or at least taking quite a bit of load that could be part of the truck weight. Any time I put the jacks (all 4) on the ground, the TV and trailer are disconnected for this reason.

Also depending on wind conditions, it's possible that there is no warning and everything gets hit by the worst gust first followed by the sustained winds.

If you plan and prep leaving the tailgate open and everything about the right height, 2 people can hook up the TV to the trailer in 60 seconds or less. You will spend more time trying to pull the chocks and blocks and power.

**Sandridge4** · 09-15-2023, 12:34 PM

Country Campers Cate&Rob TucsonJim TheNescios Jlawles2 Thank you all for your replies!! We are going to fill the water tank, put the jacks down and keep the TV hooked up as now we will be able to move and stay nose into the wind as it changes from NE to NW. Just have to remember to raise the jacks before moving!!

**Jlawles2** · 09-15-2023, 01:21 PM

Scott, watch it when you lower the jacks. If you hit the auto level it may either pick up the front jacks or try to lift the rear of the truck. You may have to manually lower them.

Unfortunately for me, I only have 1 direction I can point the unit in the driveway. And depending on location of the center of a storm, the winds can literally do 180's in minutes.

**Sandridge4** · 09-15-2023, 07:42 PM

Originally posted by Jlawles2 View Post

Scott, watch it when you lower the jacks. If you hit the auto level it may either pick up the front jacks or try to lift the rear of the truck. You may have to manually lower them.

Unfortunately for me, I only have 1 direction I can point the unit in the driveway. And depending on location of the center of a storm, the winds can literally do 180's in minutes.

Yeah I knew not to auto level, where I’m sitting is actually pretty level just a little low on the door side but was able to manually level and get it very close, still have some weight on the truck also. Thanks again for the advice!!

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