So . . . anyone have a notion of how much wind a fifth wheel can take without toppling over?
This is with slides in and everything secured . . . water tank full for extra weight.
I ask because we are in NJ - static and working - and, while not at this moment in the direct path of Hurricane Irene, we are looking at rains and winds.
The forecast has deteriorated in the last few hours to currently show gusts of up to 89 MPH on Sunday.
(Of course, in another couple of hours, we may be forecast to get nothing. And then tomorrow be slated for a direct hit. Gotta love hurricanes for their indecisiveness . . .)
Dave, Maggie and I have safe shelter in the mill and do not want to evacuate unless we need to do so . . . I mean that's a hassle; however, this IS our home.
If we were just "here" - i.e., not working - no question. We would already be getting the heck outta Dodge.
Of course, if we need to leave, we will and return when all is safe. On the other hand, I'm reluctant to pull up stakes and boogie down the road when I could have sheltered in place. Evacuating can bring on a whole set of tiresome and possibly dangerous scenarios.
So - general parameters for a 38' fiver, fully loaded, slides in to withstand winds / gusts without "tumping over?"
First the earthquake and a computer croaked yesterday . . . now Irene!
53 Merc said
02:14 PM Aug 24, 2011
I can only offer our experiences with a 5er. We were in Oregon on the river, read that as on an island in the middle of the Columbia. Slides out and winds of over 45 mph. Little buffeting and awning slapping but that was all. Wind was from directly astern. Then we have been in transit in TX, CO, NM, ID and there were high wind warnings and signs out everywhere to beware of severe cross winds. We had no problems (and there were severe crosswinds). We made it through a tropical storm with winds approaching hurricane in 1963 in a 55 ft X 10 ft wide trailer house. We have seen sandstorms in west Texas with winds at approximately 60 mph and the RV parks had no problems. I saw a posting somewhere of a 38 ft MS that survived a tornado, except for the CrossRoads parts stuck through the sidewalls of the MS. So, there are all kinds of scary stories and all kinds of , "Well, it never bothered me" stories. I am sure you will make the right decision based on your situation.
Terry and Jo said
02:43 PM Aug 24, 2011
Betty,
Is your RV in any way sheltered by a belt of trees or other structures? Is your RV parked in such a direction that the nose or back of the coach will be facing the wind? You may need to watch the weather reports to see if you can get an idea of the direction from which the wind will come.
As for Ken's (53Merc) comment about the Mobile Suites holding up to a tornado, I wouldn't put much faith in that sort of circumstance. Tornados are known for doing strange things, such as tearing up one structure and leaving another nearby structure intact. Your situation would be different because the hurricanes give pretty much sustained winds for some time, along with the gusts.
Whatever you do, have a shelter to go to if needed.
Terry
GENECOP said
03:44 PM Aug 24, 2011
TYR, I think you will be fine, this does not look like much of anything, 80mph gusts will not tip over your rig. Definately batten down the hatches, slides in, awnings in etc.....More importantly encourage your neighbors to secure chairs, BBQ's and anything else that can launch.......G
-- Edited by GENECOP on Wednesday 24th of August 2011 03:45:05 PM
TxYellowRose said
04:00 PM Aug 24, 2011
Gene, we have no immediate neighbors - except groundhogs, deer, foxes, rabbits and birds.
Now if the mill stack just stays upright . . .
NorCal Dan said
05:11 AM Aug 25, 2011
Wind deserves (demands) a healthy respect from RV'ers. The wind speeds your talking about are dangerous and you should be taking precautions to minimize the threat. As others have mentioned, get away from trees if possible, and try to position your rig to minimize cross winds.
TxYellowRose said
06:13 AM Aug 25, 2011
Thanks to everyone for your input.
We are doing all of the above and then some.
We are located in Bloomsbury, NJ and are inland; however, we can anticipate heavy rain, winds, branches/trees down in the surrounding area, power outages and the like.
Fortunately, our rig is away from things that may fall directly on it such as trees, etc. We are as well positioned as possible where we are. Our beloved Monty stood strong in a very nasty storm on July 4th with winds of 60+. Heck, that came up so fast we didn't have time to bring in the awning and we were fine.
Needless to say, we will close up the rig entirely and shelter in the mill, probably from anytime Saturday through Sunday night. We are gathering food, batteries, lights, change of clothes, Maggie stuff and other items. I think the laptops will be going with us, too. Heck, our zero-gravity recliners will be with us so we can at least sit and be comfy . . . who knows, hopefully catnap a bit.
I recently persuaded Dave that we did indeed need a generator with a view to coming Winter and ice storms, etc. He balked at first, stating no need for one, but was eventually persuaded. I got us a beast and I think we will probably be happy to have it come Monday. Dave built a shelter for it and the site electrician grounded it for us yesterday. Yep, it works; I cranked it up and it is, as I said, a beast.
Today we have rain/storms unrelated to Irene and tomorrow is to be nice. We are preparing with securing loose outdoor items, filling the trucks and gas cans with fuel, getting cash and . . . . the list seems to grow! Can't do everything or take everything with us across to the mill, but will get the important stuff.
Like Monty's insurance papers!
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers . . . sure would appreciate it!
It's going to be interesting . . . but hopefully not too interesting!
Earthquake a couple of days ago and now a hurricane - full-timing sure isn't dull!
Peace all,
Betty - who has no clue why her font sizes keep changing!
Tim & Robyn said
09:38 AM Aug 25, 2011
Personally, I would not risk it at all. I would get as far away as possible. These storms are not predictable and you could lose everything, including your lives.
I've been through several hurricanes and tropical storms, having lived in south Florida since I was 12 (I'm almost 65 now), and I don't ever want to have to go through another one again.
I remember one from the 60's that isn't in the record books because it was before satellites, etc. It hit Miami bullseye, and one of the first things to be knocked out was the National Weather Service, so there are no official records.
One radio station was still on the air broadcasting from a tower to the west of where we lived, and the storm was being tracked by people calling in - if they still had phone service.
The eye of the storm went right over us, and that was eerie... to go from complete calm to screaming winds in just minutes. Our cross street neighbor called in and said his rooftop anemometer had just registered a 140 mph wind gust before it blew away. None of this ever made it into the official records.
You don't want to mess with tropical storms or hurricanes. Get out, and be safe even it it turns out to be a false alarm. That's one of the big advantages that RVers have over people who are in stix'n'brix - you can move whenever you want or need to . Don't throw that option away.
Tim & Robyn said
07:18 AM Aug 26, 2011
I've been through several hurricanes and tropical storms in south Florida and never want to experience another. No electrical power, no water, no stores open (and even if they were there was nothing on the shelves), etc.
The last full-blown (no pun intended) hurricane I went through was when I was in high school - up to 140 mph wind gusts. My youngest brother was then a baby and we upended the sofa and put him under there to protect him. My mother was an RN working the 4PM-midnight shift in labor and delivery, so she was at work when the storm hit. The ORs and delivery rooms at that hospital were in a one-story wing off one side. During a delivery the roof blew off, and they were in pitch darkness with water everywhere. Thank God no one was hurt.
The storm lasted all night long, nobody got any sleep, and it was not fun at all. When the eye passed over us it was eerie. We went out into the carport to look around and could see flashes of light from downed power lines. We didn't stay out there long because we knew that we would soon be hit by full fury from another direction.
The next morning when my father drove to the hospital to pick up my mother he had to drive over people's lawns etc. to avoid downed power lines.
Don't underestimate these storms. They are awesomely powerful, and if you are in the path when one hits you are on your own for your survival until it's all over - and maybe then some.
Jack Mayer said
09:59 AM Aug 26, 2011
If you can move away I would do so. I don't know the answer to your question but will relate an experience we had at Padre Island National Seashore in (I think) 2003.
We were there windsurfing for several months. We got caught in a microburst. 33 minutes of 75mph (average) winds, with a peak windspeed of 117 mph for 3 minutes. How do we know? There was a recording Weather Service instrumentation pod right next to us. Three motorhomes were totaled. One was lifted OVER a cargo trailer next to it and deposited on the motorhome on the other side. Never damaged the cargo trailer. One person was killed - but not in our area. This was on the national news.
We had some flood damage to the brakes of our 36' Newmar 5er. But other than that, no damage to the rig. The slides were out. We were lucky.
Caseydee said
11:01 AM Aug 26, 2011
TYR, I think you will be fine, this does not look like much of anything, 80mph gusts will not tip over your rig. Definately batten down the hatches, slides in, awnings in etc.....More importantly encourage your neighbors to secure chairs, BBQ's and anything else that can launch.......G
Gene, I can't believe you would give her such advice. Have you ever been through a hurricane or a tornado? Are you watching the Weather Channel? Of course, this "could" turn easterly & fizzle out...BUT, that's NOT what they're predicting. TYR, if I were you, I'd follow the advice of those with real experience (I've been through a Cat 1 hurricane & that wasn't fun either). I'd hook up my 5th wheel & head west out of the affected area. Why risk your life & your home?? Whatever you decide to do, stay safe. If I was worried enough to ask for prayers, I think I'd make the decision to help myself.
GENECOP said
03:35 AM Aug 27, 2011
We had our 35' Spacecraft fiver in a campground at Buxton, NC (about a mile from the Cape Hatteras light). Weather news indicated that a strong tropical storm was predicted to come ashore in South Carolina the next day. I decided late in the day to drive down and secure our camp site (run in the slides, make sure nothing loose was laying around). So I drove the 400 miles arriving after dark. I sacked out for the night and planned to take care of things in the morning. When I woke up the next morning the tropical storm had changed to a Category 2 hurricane and had turned north- was 40 miles south of Cape Hatteras. It caught the locals off guard too and no evacuation had been ordered. Once a hurricane is that close you just don't try to leave (much more dangerous on the north end of Hatteras Island). So, I ran the slides in and hunkered down. The winds were something over 100 mph where I was. The trailer rocked and rolled, but didn't move. I watched my neighbor's fishing pennant go through a 360 degree rotation as the hurricane moved over. The eye did go directly over me as we experienced the really weird sensation of no wind and a clear sky for a few minutes. Power and landline phone service went off early on, but cell service stayed good so I was giving my wife periodic sitreps all through the storm. At one point my shed door blew open and stuff was being sucked out so I went out in to the 100 mph wind long enough to secure the door. After the storm had passed by everyone started coming out to assess damage. Out trailer was under a big live oak tree and several limbs had come off and hit the trailer but left only scuff marks. One limb was pounding on the bedroom roof during the wind and I envisioned a big hole there, but when I climbed on the roof- everything was ok (thanks for a fiberglass roof). Some trees were down in the campground and some smaller trailers were knocked off their blocking, but no serious damage was experienced. However, out in the town the surf had broken through the dunes on the north end and the unevacuated tourists in several motels had salt water half way up their car doors (good towing business for several days). I should mention that our fiver weighs 16,000 pounds. In Hurricane Isabel the next year a lot of RVs were damaged, but, again, ours was fine (but I certainly wasn't there). Paul Johnson
Believe it, I think she will be fine.....
Tim & Robyn said
12:54 PM Aug 27, 2011
GENECOP wrote:
Believe it, I think she will be fine.....
Maybe, and maybe not. I could not disagree more. I hope and pray that TXR comes through it OK... it's probably too late now to move anyway. I read her blog and she is in a valley with a river nearby, which is scary. Maybe the RV will survive the winds, but it definitely won't survive a flood.
Again, I think it's foolish not to get out of the way if you can, which is one of the things that RVers can do as opposed to people in stix'n'brix. Why take the risk when you have the ability to get out of the way? To stay put makes no sense at all to me unless you have no other choice. When people get killed in these storms it's always the ones who refuse to leave.
As I've said before I've been through several of these things before and I never want to go through another.
It's pointless to try to orient your rig to take the winds head on because the direction the wind comes from changes as the storm passes.
Please believe me. All the other posts I've seen from people who have been through these things before seem to agree with me. All the things I've said are my own opinions, based on my own experience going back to Hurricane Donna in 1960 in south Florida. Just because you've been through one or two that fizzled out does not mean the next one will. Think Andrew or Katrina, and several others. Even a minimal cat-1 storm can spawn tornadoes that you won't see coming because they are usually rain-wrapped.
Your safety, your lives, and your moveable property are far more important than any campsite with an 'It' factor or whatever other plans you might have had.
TxYellowRose said
01:13 PM Aug 27, 2011
Okay folks,
Seems like I stirred up a hornet's nest but I suppose healthy debate is good, too.
Right now in our area the wind is a lesser concern than flooding.
PLEASE NOTE!
We are hitched up and ready to roll to much higher ground less than a city block away.
We will not wait too long; we are keeping a close eye on the river.
I have USGS Water alerts sent to my phone (among other things) and have a criteria which is set appropriately.
If you read my blog entry from last night, you will see that we have made all sorts of preparations and that we are not near the coast, so storm surge is not an issue.
Granted, all the preps in the world may count for naught when all is said and done.
I am a 50+ child of the Texas Gulf Coast and have sheltered in place and evacuated over the years.
Both have their hazards.
Seems a simple question has caused some agitation, which certainly was not my intent. I simply wondered if there had been a study or something.
Again, if you read my blog from yesterday, you will see that I have talked with Keystone on this subject.
Again, my apologies for causing a ruckus. Howard, if you wish to remove this thread, feel free to do so.
Peace all!
GENECOP said
04:58 PM Aug 27, 2011
TWR, Have a good weekend, hunker down, things have been down graded and there will probably not be sustained winds that will effect you.....FWI here is a good study on wind and vehicle movement and tipping, obviously there are many variables and only you can make the final call. Unlike other members I have always assumed that you where a normal intelligent women who not make such an important decision solely based on someones opinion on an Internet forum..Here is the link. http://ams.confex.com/ams/pdfpapers/50675.pdf. It's a good read, a little confusing, but i think it is the only study of it's kind.
Racerguy said
05:43 PM Aug 27, 2011
I think Betty and Dave are competent adults and would not take unnecessary risks.
Waggin Tails said
07:55 PM Aug 27, 2011
Ditto George/Linda
Tim & Robyn said
11:03 AM Aug 29, 2011
Seems a simple question has caused some agitation, which certainly was not my intent. I simply wondered if there had been a study or something.
Again, if you read my blog from yesterday, you will see that I have talked with Keystone on this subject.
Again, my apologies for causing a ruckus. Howard, if you wish to remove this thread, feel free to do so.
First of all, I'm looking forward to hearing from you TXR that you're OK.
My apologies to all for anything I may have said that contributed to a 'ruckus'. I guess by now you have an idea from my other posts that I have a healthy respect for these storms, having been through several, even up to a CAT-3.
N.Carolina seems to have gotten the worst of this storm in terms of winds, but there have been deaths up and down the coast. Despite the fact that Irene seems to have fizzled out, people are still in danger from floodng from the heavy rains. My prayers are with them.
I would grieve if that were to happen to any of you, especially when you have the ability to get out of the way if you choose to do so.
When it comes to Mother Nature, we are not in control. I watched the coverage on the Weather Channel, and heard may reports of how 911 responders could not come out to help people because of the danger. So again I would reiterate this - your survival is in your own hands. Don't depend on others to help you out when you're in trouble because those others may not be able to get there, no matter how much they would like to. And don't forget that those first responders also have families who are dependent upon them for their survival.
TxYellowRose said
03:10 PM Aug 29, 2011
Dave, Maggie and I are fine as is our truck and 5er.
As we suspected from our ongoing information, Irene was a rain/flood event rather than a wind event in our area.
We moved our rig to higher ground when the "Muskie" rose to a level we were not comfortable seeing given the fact that it was still going to rise. This was the plan we had in place should it become necessary.
Howard and Linda, I appreciate most sincerely the wealth of information and support from this site we received when preparing to embark on the full-time life. That appreciation extends to those who chimed during that time. You helped make this dream become a reality.
There are apparently very few here who have even a glimpse of the person I am, the people Dave and I are.
Because of the overwhelming assumed sentiment that I have no experience with hurricanes, tropical storms or weather in general, no respect of the power of Mother Nature, have no emergency preparedness skills and am only capable of making life decisions based on remarks I read in online forums, I bid you farewell.
The majority of responses in this thread have been filled with such generalized assumptions and negativity that I no longer feel I can be a member of this forum.
Life is choices. In this instance, I choose not to expose myself to such negativity. Life is too short.
To those who were supportive, truly supportive, during this time - thank you ever so much. You know who you are and I do hope you will keep in touch.
I wish everyone here - veterans and dreamers - safe travels!
With that, I bid you all good-bye.
azrving said
04:52 PM Aug 29, 2011
Glad everything worked out and you had no damage from the storm. Sorry to see you go, I have always enjoyed your post and will continue to follow your blog. Take care TxYellowRose.
Terry and Jo said
07:05 PM Aug 29, 2011
Betty,
First of all, it is a relief to know that all of you are safe. I certainly hope that nothing I might have said was construed to be a generality or negative. If it was, I'm sorry as it was not my intent.
I hope you will reconsider leaving as you have been a good source of knowledge for others here on the forums. I will keep in touch with your blog as well.
Good luck to all of you, and may God bless your future and your travels.
Terry
Waggin Tails said
06:52 AM Aug 30, 2011
Sorry to see you go Betty. You have shared experiences that are truly valuable to RVers. Your presence here will be missed. I wish you would reconsider.
-- Edited by Waggin Tails on Tuesday 30th of August 2011 06:55:46 AM
Tim & Robyn said
07:47 AM Aug 30, 2011
Please don't go.
Since I'm not an RVer, although I hoped to be, I'd rather sacrifice my own ability to post than to see all the others here lose the wisdom of your experiences, because I really don't have anything to add.
My posts were mostly intended for folks who have never been through anything like this before.
If anything I posted seemed to be negative or condescending, I sincerely apologize.
Caseydee said
09:36 AM Aug 30, 2011
Betty, if I was one of the ones who offended you, please accept my sincere apology. We are all so relieved that you & yours are safe! I'm sure that all comments were made out of concern for your safety and in no way meant to indicate that we felt you were incompetent or inexperienced. Everyone faces possible danger in their own way and some of us tend to be more cautious than others. We each have to make our own decisions, but please don't think our comments/suggestions were made to denigrate you or to cause a ruckus. We were only trying to be helpful out of concern for those of you in the path of Irene.
I'm very glad to know that you suffered no damage and hope that you continue to enjoy your stay and your work in NJ. I do hope that you will not leave this forum. I've been following Howard & Linda for probably 5 years. We've not fulltimers, but more like 3/4 timers and checking in at RV-Dreams is a daily occurence for me. I've learned a lot, but more important I've come to "know" some really neat people through the forum. They don't want to lose you!!
kb0zke said
04:27 PM Sep 25, 2011
Just read this thread, and it jogged some thoughts loose. Obviously, most of us are aware that our rigs can handle winds of 60+ mph head-on, since we go down the highway at 55 or more mph, and sometimes there is a headwind. We assume that a similar wind from the rear on a parked rig would also not be a problem, but we get concerned about side winds. That's probably a good thing. As was pointed out, securing the various loose items that we tend to have around the campsite whenever the wind is rising is a good idea. One habit we've gotten into over the years is to not leave anything out that we're not actually using. Our lawn chairs are stowed when we're not sitting in them. That doesn't mean that we put them away when going into the camper to get something, but that they aren't left out overnight or when we're away from the campsite. Wind gust do come along suddenly, do their damage, and then are gone.
One of the arguments for a motor home for our FT coach is that it comes with a diesel generator, so that we can have electricity even if no one else around us does. That doesn't mean that we would ride out a hurricane, but that if we happen to be around when a storm knocks out the electricity, we would be able to take care of our own needs, and maybe even help a neighbor.
Bill Adams said
05:22 PM Sep 25, 2011
TXYellowRose, I see some are calling you Betty so I will assume that they have more information than I do. I think you may have made an assumption that everyone responding has also read your blog. This may likely not be the case and you are making an unfair leap that people "should have known" that you had already made certain preparations. I have had nothing to do with this thread as I had no valuable information to add so I had to read it from start to finish. Could you take a look at the thread again with the view that no one responding had read your blog or knew anything more about you or your situation than what they read here? I am most hopeful that you will not leave (I have been there twice on 2 different forums) but rather either consider that those who somehow offended you had no intent to do so or those that offended you are easy enough to ignore. This is a great site and everyone's opinion and experiences are valuable to others. The loss of your experiences would be a loss to this community.
Edit: Made an incorrect blog referral. I corrected it above to mean folks had not read their blog!
-- Edited by Bill Adams on Monday 26th of September 2011 03:14:26 PM
-- Edited by Bill Adams on Monday 26th of September 2011 03:15:36 PM
Luvglass said
07:07 PM Sep 25, 2011
David, You can have a generator in any kind of rig, it's not necessary for it to be a diesel pusher. We have a built in 5000KW genny in our fiver.
Terry and Jo said
08:14 AM Sep 26, 2011
Bill Adams wrote:
TXYellowRose, I see some are calling you Betty so I will assume that they have more information than I do. I think you may have made an assumption that everyone responding has also read Terry's blog. This may likely not be the case and you are making an unfair leap that people "should have known" that you had already made certain preparations. I have had nothing to do with this thread as I had no valuable information to add so I had to read it from start to finish. Could you take a look at the thread again with the view that no one responding had read your blog or knew anything more about you or your situation than what they read here? I am most hopeful that you will not leave (I have been there twice on 2 different forums) but rather either consider that those who somehow offended you had no intent to do so or those that offended you are easy enough to ignore. This is a great site and everyone's opinion and experiences are valuable to others. The loss of your experiences would be a loss to this community.
For clarification, I don't think I ever posted an entry on my blog in regards to Betty and Dave's situation during the hurricane. Perhaps you meant my post in the forum thread itself.
However, I don't think I said anything negative in my first post, and if I did accidently appear to be making a generality or negative comment, it wasn't meant as such. In my second post, I was simply hoping that nothing I wrote was construed as such and if it was, then I hoped to apologize for it.
As for knowing Betty's name, if one looks at a poster's profile by clicking on their username above the avatar, one can find out whether the poster has supplied their actual name instead of just a username. Also, in past posts, Betty has signed at the end with her name.
Terry
RVPAINTER said
08:41 AM Sep 26, 2011
ONE THING TO REMEMBER - THE WORLD IS FULL OF SELF-PROCLAIMED EXPERTS BETTER KNOW AS A BIG PITA!!!! YOU KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW AND YOU SHOULD TRUST YOURSELF BEFORE YOU MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON KNOW-IT-ALLS.
SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO SPRED FEAR AND OTHERS WERE CONCERNED - THE TASK IS TO SORT OUT THE BS ARTISTS - BUT THAT'S LIFE AND IT'S WHAT MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND.
THAT ASIDE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR EVERYONES ANSWER IT'S NOT TOO GOOD TO ASK QUESTIONS ON AN OPEN FORUM - ESPECIALLY ONE WITH PROVEN PITA (S) THAT SAID THERE WAS SOME GOOD SOUND ADVICE GIVEN AND TO LEAVE THE SITE FOR A FEW "FEAR INDUCERS" I THINK IS A BIT HARSH - AFTER ALL YOU ASKED THE QUESTION.
Bill Adams said
03:16 PM Sep 26, 2011
Terry, sorry, I just got names mixed up and should have kept it generic. I meant to say that people responding likely had not read THERE blog, not yours.
Terry and Jo said
09:12 PM Sep 26, 2011
Not a problem, Bill.
I was just wondering if "CRS" was acting up again.
Terry
("CRS" = "Can't Remember Squat")
Valmigo said
06:19 AM Nov 16, 2012
My fifth wheel managed Sandy's 80 mph winds and stayed upright!
WestWardHo said
05:08 PM Nov 16, 2012
I've just read this thread from the beginning and if there was anything insulting I missed it. I understood several to say you're competent adults and others to just offered opinions for your safety. We are competent adults but are learning constantly from others on here and relish your advice and experience.
It makes me sad that people sometimes feel offended on/by this forum and its a reminder to us all to tread gently when expressing our opinions and for those of us on the receiving end to not take it personally. We all have different communication styles and posters on this forum generally offer well thought out advice and concern for others.
So . . . anyone have a notion of how much wind a fifth wheel can take without toppling over?
This is with slides in and everything secured . . . water tank full for extra weight.
I ask because we are in NJ - static and working - and, while not at this moment in the direct path of Hurricane Irene, we are looking at rains and winds.
The forecast has deteriorated in the last few hours to currently show gusts of up to 89 MPH on Sunday.
(Of course, in another couple of hours, we may be forecast to get nothing. And then tomorrow be slated for a direct hit. Gotta love hurricanes for their indecisiveness . . .)
Dave, Maggie and I have safe shelter in the mill and do not want to evacuate unless we need to do so . . . I mean that's a hassle; however, this IS our home.
If we were just "here" - i.e., not working - no question. We would already be getting the heck outta Dodge.
Of course, if we need to leave, we will and return when all is safe. On the other hand, I'm reluctant to pull up stakes and boogie down the road when I could have sheltered in place. Evacuating can bring on a whole set of tiresome and possibly dangerous scenarios.
So - general parameters for a 38' fiver, fully loaded, slides in to withstand winds / gusts without "tumping over?"
First the earthquake and a computer croaked yesterday . . . now Irene!
I saw a posting somewhere of a 38 ft MS that survived a tornado, except for the CrossRoads parts stuck through the sidewalls of the MS. So, there are all kinds of scary stories and all kinds of , "Well, it never bothered me" stories. I am sure you will make the right decision based on your situation.
Betty,
Is your RV in any way sheltered by a belt of trees or other structures? Is your RV parked in such a direction that the nose or back of the coach will be facing the wind? You may need to watch the weather reports to see if you can get an idea of the direction from which the wind will come.
As for Ken's (53Merc) comment about the Mobile Suites holding up to a tornado, I wouldn't put much faith in that sort of circumstance. Tornados are known for doing strange things, such as tearing up one structure and leaving another nearby structure intact. Your situation would be different because the hurricanes give pretty much sustained winds for some time, along with the gusts.
Whatever you do, have a shelter to go to if needed.
Terry
-- Edited by GENECOP on Wednesday 24th of August 2011 03:45:05 PM
Gene, we have no immediate neighbors - except groundhogs, deer, foxes, rabbits and birds.
Now if the mill stack just stays upright . . .
Thanks to everyone for your input.
We are doing all of the above and then some.
We are located in Bloomsbury, NJ and are inland; however, we can anticipate heavy rain, winds, branches/trees down in the surrounding area, power outages and the like.
Fortunately, our rig is away from things that may fall directly on it such as trees, etc. We are as well positioned as possible where we are. Our beloved Monty stood strong in a very nasty storm on July 4th with winds of 60+. Heck, that came up so fast we didn't have time to bring in the awning and we were fine.
Needless to say, we will close up the rig entirely and shelter in the mill, probably from anytime Saturday through Sunday night. We are gathering food, batteries, lights, change of clothes, Maggie stuff and other items. I think the laptops will be going with us, too. Heck, our zero-gravity recliners will be with us so we can at least sit and be comfy . . . who knows, hopefully catnap a bit.
I recently persuaded Dave that we did indeed need a generator with a view to coming Winter and ice storms, etc. He balked at first, stating no need for one, but was eventually persuaded. I got us a beast and I think we will probably be happy to have it come Monday. Dave built a shelter for it and the site electrician grounded it for us yesterday. Yep, it works; I cranked it up and it is, as I said, a beast.
Today we have rain/storms unrelated to Irene and tomorrow is to be nice. We are preparing with securing loose outdoor items, filling the trucks and gas cans with fuel, getting cash and . . . . the list seems to grow! Can't do everything or take everything with us across to the mill, but will get the important stuff.
Like Monty's insurance papers!
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers . . . sure would appreciate it!
It's going to be interesting . . . but hopefully not too interesting!
Earthquake a couple of days ago and now a hurricane - full-timing sure isn't dull!
Peace all,
Betty - who has no clue why her font sizes keep changing!
Personally, I would not risk it at all. I would get as far away as possible. These storms are not predictable and you could lose everything, including your lives.
I've been through several hurricanes and tropical storms, having lived in south Florida since I was 12 (I'm almost 65 now), and I don't ever want to have to go through another one again.
I remember one from the 60's that isn't in the record books because it was before satellites, etc. It hit Miami bullseye, and one of the first things to be knocked out was the National Weather Service, so there are no official records.
One radio station was still on the air broadcasting from a tower to the west of where we lived, and the storm was being tracked by people calling in - if they still had phone service.
The eye of the storm went right over us, and that was eerie... to go from complete calm to screaming winds in just minutes. Our cross street neighbor called in and said his rooftop anemometer had just registered a 140 mph wind gust before it blew away. None of this ever made it into the official records.
You don't want to mess with tropical storms or hurricanes. Get out, and be safe even it it turns out to be a false alarm. That's one of the big advantages that RVers have over people who are in stix'n'brix - you can move whenever you want or need to . Don't throw that option away.
I've been through several hurricanes and tropical storms in south Florida and never want to experience another. No electrical power, no water, no stores open (and even if they were there was nothing on the shelves), etc.
The last full-blown (no pun intended) hurricane I went through was when I was in high school - up to 140 mph wind gusts. My youngest brother was then a baby and we upended the sofa and put him under there to protect him. My mother was an RN working the 4PM-midnight shift in labor and delivery, so she was at work when the storm hit. The ORs and delivery rooms at that hospital were in a one-story wing off one side. During a delivery the roof blew off, and they were in pitch darkness with water everywhere. Thank God no one was hurt.
The storm lasted all night long, nobody got any sleep, and it was not fun at all. When the eye passed over us it was eerie. We went out into the carport to look around and could see flashes of light from downed power lines. We didn't stay out there long because we knew that we would soon be hit by full fury from another direction.
The next morning when my father drove to the hospital to pick up my mother he had to drive over people's lawns etc. to avoid downed power lines.
Don't underestimate these storms. They are awesomely powerful, and if you are in the path when one hits you are on your own for your survival until it's all over - and maybe then some.
We were there windsurfing for several months. We got caught in a microburst. 33 minutes of 75mph (average) winds, with a peak windspeed of 117 mph for 3 minutes. How do we know? There was a recording Weather Service instrumentation pod right next to us. Three motorhomes were totaled. One was lifted OVER a cargo trailer next to it and deposited on the motorhome on the other side. Never damaged the cargo trailer. One person was killed - but not in our area. This was on the national news.
We had some flood damage to the brakes of our 36' Newmar 5er. But other than that, no damage to the rig. The slides were out. We were lucky.
TYR, I think you will be fine, this does not look like much of anything, 80mph gusts will not tip over your rig. Definately batten down the hatches, slides in, awnings in etc.....More importantly encourage your neighbors to secure chairs, BBQ's and anything else that can launch.......G
Gene, I can't believe you would give her such advice. Have you ever been through a hurricane or a tornado? Are you watching the Weather Channel? Of course, this "could" turn easterly & fizzle out...BUT, that's NOT what they're predicting. TYR, if I were you, I'd follow the advice of those with real experience (I've been through a Cat 1 hurricane & that wasn't fun either). I'd hook up my 5th wheel & head west out of the affected area. Why risk your life & your home?? Whatever you decide to do, stay safe. If I was worried enough to ask for prayers, I think I'd make the decision to help myself.
We had our 35' Spacecraft fiver in a campground at Buxton, NC (about a mile
from the Cape Hatteras light). Weather news indicated that a strong
tropical storm was predicted to come ashore in South Carolina the next day.
I decided late in the day to drive down and secure our camp site (run in the
slides, make sure nothing loose was laying around). So I drove the 400
miles arriving after dark. I sacked out for the night and planned to take
care of things in the morning. When I woke up the next morning the tropical
storm had changed to a Category 2 hurricane and had turned north- was 40
miles south of Cape Hatteras. It caught the locals off guard too and no
evacuation had been ordered. Once a hurricane is that close you just don't
try to leave (much more dangerous on the north end of Hatteras Island). So,
I ran the slides in and hunkered down. The winds were something over 100
mph where I was. The trailer rocked and rolled, but didn't move. I watched
my neighbor's fishing pennant go through a 360 degree rotation as the
hurricane moved over. The eye did go directly over me as we experienced the
really weird sensation of no wind and a clear sky for a few minutes. Power
and landline phone service went off early on, but cell service stayed good
so I was giving my wife periodic sitreps all through the storm. At one
point my shed door blew open and stuff was being sucked out so I went out in
to the 100 mph wind long enough to secure the door. After the storm had
passed by everyone started coming out to assess damage. Out trailer was
under a big live oak tree and several limbs had come off and hit the trailer
but left only scuff marks. One limb was pounding on the bedroom roof during
the wind and I envisioned a big hole there, but when I climbed on the roof-
everything was ok (thanks for a fiberglass roof). Some trees were down in
the campground and some smaller trailers were knocked off their blocking,
but no serious damage was experienced. However, out in the town the surf
had broken through the dunes on the north end and the unevacuated tourists
in several motels had salt water half way up their car doors (good towing
business for several days).
I should mention that our fiver weighs 16,000 pounds. In Hurricane Isabel
the next year a lot of RVs were damaged, but, again, ours was fine (but I
certainly wasn't there).
Paul Johnson
Believe it, I think she will be fine.....
Maybe, and maybe not. I could not disagree more. I hope and pray that TXR comes through it OK... it's probably too late now to move anyway. I read her blog and she is in a valley with a river nearby, which is scary. Maybe the RV will survive the winds, but it definitely won't survive a flood.
Again, I think it's foolish not to get out of the way if you can, which is one of the things that RVers can do as opposed to people in stix'n'brix. Why take the risk when you have the ability to get out of the way? To stay put makes no sense at all to me unless you have no other choice. When people get killed in these storms it's always the ones who refuse to leave.
As I've said before I've been through several of these things before and I never want to go through another.
It's pointless to try to orient your rig to take the winds head on because the direction the wind comes from changes as the storm passes.
Please believe me. All the other posts I've seen from people who have been through these things before seem to agree with me. All the things I've said are my own opinions, based on my own experience going back to Hurricane Donna in 1960 in south Florida. Just because you've been through one or two that fizzled out does not mean the next one will. Think Andrew or Katrina, and several others. Even a minimal cat-1 storm can spawn tornadoes that you won't see coming because they are usually rain-wrapped.
Your safety, your lives, and your moveable property are far more important than any campsite with an 'It' factor or whatever other plans you might have had.
Okay folks,
Seems like I stirred up a hornet's nest but I suppose healthy debate is good, too.
Right now in our area the wind is a lesser concern than flooding.
PLEASE NOTE!
We are hitched up and ready to roll to much higher ground less than a city block away.
We will not wait too long; we are keeping a close eye on the river.
I have USGS Water alerts sent to my phone (among other things) and have a criteria which is set appropriately.
If you read my blog entry from last night, you will see that we have made all sorts of preparations and that we are not near the coast, so storm surge is not an issue.
Granted, all the preps in the world may count for naught when all is said and done.
I am a 50+ child of the Texas Gulf Coast and have sheltered in place and evacuated over the years.
Both have their hazards.
Seems a simple question has caused some agitation, which certainly was not my intent. I simply wondered if there had been a study or something.
Again, if you read my blog from yesterday, you will see that I have talked with Keystone on this subject.
Again, my apologies for causing a ruckus. Howard, if you wish to remove this thread, feel free to do so.
Peace all!
Seems a simple question has caused some agitation, which certainly was not my intent. I simply wondered if there had been a study or something.
Again, if you read my blog from yesterday, you will see that I have talked with Keystone on this subject.
Again, my apologies for causing a ruckus. Howard, if you wish to remove this thread, feel free to do so.
________________________________________________________________________
First of all, I'm looking forward to hearing from you TXR that you're OK.
My apologies to all for anything I may have said that contributed to a 'ruckus'. I guess by now you have an idea from my other posts that I have a healthy respect for these storms, having been through several, even up to a CAT-3.
N.Carolina seems to have gotten the worst of this storm in terms of winds, but there have been deaths up and down the coast. Despite the fact that Irene seems to have fizzled out, people are still in danger from floodng from the heavy rains. My prayers are with them.
I would grieve if that were to happen to any of you, especially when you have the ability to get out of the way if you choose to do so.
When it comes to Mother Nature, we are not in control. I watched the coverage on the Weather Channel, and heard may reports of how 911 responders could not come out to help people because of the danger. So again I would reiterate this - your survival is in your own hands. Don't depend on others to help you out when you're in trouble because those others may not be able to get there, no matter how much they would like to. And don't forget that those first responders also have families who are dependent upon them for their survival.
Dave, Maggie and I are fine as is our truck and 5er.
As we suspected from our ongoing information, Irene was a rain/flood event rather than a wind event in our area.
We moved our rig to higher ground when the "Muskie" rose to a level we were not comfortable seeing given the fact that it was still going to rise. This was the plan we had in place should it become necessary.
Howard and Linda, I appreciate most sincerely the wealth of information and support from this site we received when preparing to embark on the full-time life. That appreciation extends to those who chimed during that time. You helped make this dream become a reality.
There are apparently very few here who have even a glimpse of the person I am, the people Dave and I are.
Because of the overwhelming assumed sentiment that I have no experience with hurricanes, tropical storms or weather in general, no respect of the power of Mother Nature, have no emergency preparedness skills and am only capable of making life decisions based on remarks I read in online forums, I bid you farewell.
The majority of responses in this thread have been filled with such generalized assumptions and negativity that I no longer feel I can be a member of this forum.
Life is choices. In this instance, I choose not to expose myself to such negativity. Life is too short.
To those who were supportive, truly supportive, during this time - thank you ever so much. You know who you are and I do hope you will keep in touch.
I wish everyone here - veterans and dreamers - safe travels!
With that, I bid you all good-bye.
Glad everything worked out and you had no damage from the storm. Sorry to see you go, I have always enjoyed your post and will continue to follow your blog. Take care TxYellowRose.
Betty,
First of all, it is a relief to know that all of you are safe. I certainly hope that nothing I might have said was construed to be a generality or negative. If it was, I'm sorry as it was not my intent.
I hope you will reconsider leaving as you have been a good source of knowledge for others here on the forums. I will keep in touch with your blog as well.
Good luck to all of you, and may God bless your future and your travels.
Terry
Sorry to see you go Betty. You have shared experiences that are truly valuable to RVers. Your presence here will be missed. I wish you would reconsider.
-- Edited by Waggin Tails on Tuesday 30th of August 2011 06:55:46 AM
Please don't go.
Since I'm not an RVer, although I hoped to be, I'd rather sacrifice my own ability to post than to see all the others here lose the wisdom of your experiences, because I really don't have anything to add.
My posts were mostly intended for folks who have never been through anything like this before.
If anything I posted seemed to be negative or condescending, I sincerely apologize.
Betty, if I was one of the ones who offended you, please accept my sincere apology. We are all so relieved that you & yours are safe! I'm sure that all comments were made out of concern for your safety and in no way meant to indicate that we felt you were incompetent or inexperienced. Everyone faces possible danger in their own way and some of us tend to be more cautious than others. We each have to make our own decisions, but please don't think our comments/suggestions were made to denigrate you or to cause a ruckus. We were only trying to be helpful out of concern for those of you in the path of Irene.
I'm very glad to know that you suffered no damage and hope that you continue to enjoy your stay and your work in NJ. I do hope that you will not leave this forum. I've been following Howard & Linda for probably 5 years. We've not fulltimers, but more like 3/4 timers and checking in at RV-Dreams is a daily occurence for me. I've learned a lot, but more important I've come to "know" some really neat people through the forum. They don't want to lose you!!
One of the arguments for a motor home for our FT coach is that it comes with a diesel generator, so that we can have electricity even if no one else around us does. That doesn't mean that we would ride out a hurricane, but that if we happen to be around when a storm knocks out the electricity, we would be able to take care of our own needs, and maybe even help a neighbor.
TXYellowRose,
I see some are calling you Betty so I will assume that they have more information than I do. I think you may have made an assumption that everyone responding has also read your blog. This may likely not be the case and you are making an unfair leap that people "should have known" that you had already made certain preparations.
I have had nothing to do with this thread as I had no valuable information to add so I had to read it from start to finish. Could you take a look at the thread again with the view that no one responding had read your blog or knew anything more about you or your situation than what they read here?
I am most hopeful that you will not leave (I have been there twice on 2 different forums) but rather either consider that those who somehow offended you had no intent to do so or those that offended you are easy enough to ignore. This is a great site and everyone's opinion and experiences are valuable to others. The loss of your experiences would be a loss to this community.
Edit: Made an incorrect blog referral. I corrected it above to mean folks had not read their blog!
-- Edited by Bill Adams on Monday 26th of September 2011 03:14:26 PM
-- Edited by Bill Adams on Monday 26th of September 2011 03:15:36 PM
You can have a generator in any kind of rig, it's not necessary for it to be a diesel pusher. We have a built in 5000KW genny in our fiver.
For clarification, I don't think I ever posted an entry on my blog in regards to Betty and Dave's situation during the hurricane. Perhaps you meant my post in the forum thread itself.
However, I don't think I said anything negative in my first post, and if I did accidently appear to be making a generality or negative comment, it wasn't meant as such. In my second post, I was simply hoping that nothing I wrote was construed as such and if it was, then I hoped to apologize for it.
As for knowing Betty's name, if one looks at a poster's profile by clicking on their username above the avatar, one can find out whether the poster has supplied their actual name instead of just a username. Also, in past posts, Betty has signed at the end with her name.
Terry
SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO SPRED FEAR AND OTHERS WERE CONCERNED - THE TASK IS TO SORT OUT THE BS ARTISTS - BUT THAT'S LIFE AND IT'S WHAT MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND.
THAT ASIDE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR EVERYONES ANSWER IT'S NOT TOO GOOD TO ASK QUESTIONS ON AN OPEN FORUM - ESPECIALLY ONE WITH PROVEN PITA (S)
THAT SAID THERE WAS SOME GOOD SOUND ADVICE GIVEN AND TO LEAVE THE SITE FOR A FEW "FEAR INDUCERS" I THINK IS A BIT HARSH - AFTER ALL YOU ASKED THE QUESTION.
Not a problem, Bill.
I was just wondering if "CRS" was acting up again.
Terry
("CRS" = "Can't Remember Squat")
It makes me sad that people sometimes feel offended on/by this forum and its a reminder to us all to tread gently when expressing our opinions and for those of us on the receiving end to not take it personally. We all have different communication styles and posters on this forum generally offer well thought out advice and concern for others.
Sherry