questions about weather

[Weavery]

Hi--I have just purchased a used 19' Scamp and have started taking it on short runs to get familiar with it. This is my first RV. Someone recently posted about fiberglass RVs not being protection in a thunderstorm and I have some questions about weather and safety.

This past weekend we took the Scamp to the mountains on a Friday night. After we got there, the weather report changed to a high wind advisory (35mph gusts) and below freezing temps. I think we probably would have been fine but came home as the dog crate didn't fit easily in the camper and we were concerned for the pooch (my daughter's recent acquisition and not very well behaved).

Sans dog, what are the parameters for safely camping? Wind speeds? Temps? and thunderstorms? I'd like to travel further from home but am concerned about getting stuck in bad weather.

Thanks!
Jean

[steve dunham]

We have camped at - 17 below zero and at 102 deg above .We have camped in thunderstorms , snow storms , down pours , freezing rain ,sleet and brilliant sunshine . We have camped in dead calm ,and wind gusts of 40 MPH. Our biggest concern when camping during a storm is not lightning but having the trailer and us struck by a falling tree.
If a storm rolls in there isn't much you can do but ride it out.
Go camping , enjoy yourself and worry about something more important. Life is no fun without risk .

[bullfrogeh]

We too, have hard-top camped (not tenting!) in many different climes since the 1960's. We've even shoveled snow off the side of the Trans-Canada highway, north of Lake Superior, near the 'Land of the Big Goose', just to have enough space for our own camping rig. 'Camping' in all weathers, can be as much 'fun' as you want it to be. Get our there - and enjoy the life you've chosen !

[Julie and Jose]

Jean,
My family and I were in tents on the top of Springer Mountain, GA this past weekend. 30-35 mph gusts and 33-37 degrees (plus rain). We survived in tents. You will do GREAT in your new camper!
Julie

[Kai in Seattle]

Consider that the trailer itself can withstand 70 miles per hour on the freeway, and probably more. So 35 mph winds by themselves shouldn't hurt it at all.

[Donna D.]

If concerns about the weather are important, buy yourself a radio with a weather band. There's lots to choose from. Every kind from solar powered to hand cranks to battery powered. Turn to the weather channel and monitor it. IF you camp in a tornado alley, when you first get to the campground scope out the restrooms. They're often built with concrete blocks and may be the safest place during a severe storm.

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

If concerns about the weather are important, buy yourself a radio with a weather band. There's lots to choose from. Every kind from solar powered to hand cranks to battery powered. Turn to the weather channel and monitor it. IF you camp in a tornado alley, when you first get to the campground scope out the restrooms. They're often built with concrete blocks and may be the safest place during a severe storm.

Many of the newer campgrounds we have visited have bathrooms / shower houses made out of concrete block or prestressed concrete. The reason I was given for using concrete was that they are now required by law to provide a storm shelter for the campers and by building the bathrooms out of concrete they can serve two purposes. Maybe BS but it does sound logical

[Timber Wolf]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

Many of the newer campgrounds we have visited have bathrooms / shower houses made out of concrete block or prestressed concrete. The reason I was given for using concrete was that they are now required by law to provide a storm shelter for the campers and by building the bathrooms out of concrete they can serve two purposes. Maybe BS but it does sound logical

And at least you know the shelter has "facilities"!

[honda03842]

Our only concerns with weather is to stay put during severe weather. Outside of a tornado we feel safe in our trailer. In 15 years of 7 months a year travels we always feel secure in our cozy RV.

[Gordon in Idaho]

Jean,

All good advice here.

But the mention of using a vault toilet as a shelter made me smile. I can picture a campground full of people and dogs trying to take refuge in one of those. How many people can you stuff into a VW bug? Hilarity ensues. As far as I know, none of those toilets behave like Dr. Who's Tardis.

Weather on

Gordon

[Byron Kinnaman]

Watch the weather before you go out. When in doubt say home.