Problem in high winds

[gyuill]

Just want to say that it is recommended to take the wheel off the front jack when traveling so that it doesn’t hit the ground or pavement when going through a dip or over a hump. This is most likely to occur going into a driveway. The wheel typically sticks down 5 or 6 inches more than a flat foot (6 inch diameter wheel).

Graham
Opelika Al

[jon carpenter]

We store the wheel with the chocks in the truck when we are hooked up. Always close by when ready to make camp.

[tua]

Originally Posted by Jann Todd

We always chock both tires on front and back and make sure they are tight.

Yes, agreed! Chock both sides of all wheels seems to help.

What is the consensus about rubber chocks versus plastic chocks?

[Glenn Baglo]

Since the jack wheel is used to make moving the trailer easier, it follows that if you don't want the trailer to move, you remove the wheel.

Mine is in a box somewhere in the carport. Dozens of other jack wheels have been left on "free tarps" at rallies.

[rlsooby]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

Since the jack wheel is used to make moving the trailer easier, it follows that if you don't want the trailer to move, you remove the wheel.

Mine is in a box somewhere in the carport. Dozens of other jack wheels have been left on "free tarps" at rallies.

This is actually the configuration that has not moved. We still have high winds today, and everything is stable. Of course, I remove it en route.

[rlsooby]

Originally Posted by tua

Yes, agreed! Chock both sides of all wheels seems to help.

What is the consensus about rubber chocks versus plastic chocks?

I use wooden airplane chocks gifted to me by my brother, a pilot.

[rlsooby]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

When my brother in law had a fold down trailer be got in a big straight line wind that turned the trailers out 90 degrees. He told us about the experience an said it would not happen again. The next time we went out he had made a stabilizer for the jack and gave me one too. It was a piece of 2 by 12 that was square so I suppose 11 1/4 on all sides. ….
Iowa Dave

I was thinking of trying to anchor down, but the surface is rocky.

[rlsooby]

Originally Posted by Jann Todd

We carry a large wooden block of wood about 10X10X8 high I think it is a piece of a RR tie. We never put the wheel under the tongue when camping. The tongue kind of gets into a groove in the block when you use it. We've never had any sliding and we've been in some horrible wind in Utah. ….

Sounds like a good solution.

[Civilguy]

Originally Posted by Jann Todd

We carry a large wooden block of wood about 10X10X8 high I think it is a piece of a RR tie.

We do the same. I didn't invest in a power tongue jack, so a hefty block of wood saves quite a few turns of the crank raising and lowering the coupler.

I've pondered adapting the jack so I could operate it and the stabilizers with an 18V drill. Like most of my thinking, it's just a concept. Once I get our home remodel and a couple of other items wrapped up I can really start making a mess of things with the trailer again (rubs hands in anticipation)!

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by rlsooby

I was thinking of trying to anchor down, but the surface is rocky.

I should have clarified my post. When we drove rebar stakes in the ground it was in a state forest area or a primitive state campground where there was no underground utilities. That’s why ground anchors are spooky even in nice soil. When tent and awning guys put up festival tents in cities there are many times where they can only anchor to barrels of sand above ground due to shallow bury on fiber optic, electric lines and utilities of that type. Even a 16 inch stake can get you in a lot of trouble and there’s nobody to call before you drive the stakes.
Iowa Dave

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by rlsooby

I was thinking of trying to anchor down, but the surface is rocky.

I heard of one campground that had anchors in concrete for the trailers to hook into. IDK if that would make me feel safer, or less safe because they were needed.

[richardabush]

We have a bowl type container and a wheel under the jack. That is a grippy, unsliding combo.

[rlsooby]

Originally Posted by richardabush

We have a bowl type container and a wheel under the jack. That is a grippy, unsliding combo.

Sounds secure. I'd have to search around for that because I don't think I've seen one before.

[WaltP]

I've never had a wind problem so this thread raised an interesting issue.
I chock my wheels both ways but almost never lower my stabilizers. But I would lower them in high winds. I carry two sets of legos and two Camco tri levelers. With those I can level the trailer while staying hitched in just about any site I'd care to use.
One configuration I've often found useful when the site is nose low is with the trilevels under the tv rear wheels.

Walt

[rlsooby]

Originally Posted by WaltP

… One configuration I've often found useful when the site is nose low is with the trilevels under the tv rear wheels.

Walt

Good idea. I've had this problem before.

[k corbin]

I have a Camco trailer jack wheel dock. It looks a bit like a plastic dog water bowl but has a hole in the bottom for drainage. You lower the wheel into it and it does not roll out of it.

I have not had it shift on the ground, even when on pavement. But I have not used it in high winds on the open plains areas. It such a circumstance it would be wise to leave the trailer hitched to your vehicle as the vehicle is a very heavy anchor weight that both holds down the trailer tongue and keeps it from shifting sideways at the tongue.

Here is a photo in this link of the trailer jack wheel dock. It is widely available from many internet sources.
https://www.acehardware.com/departme...sories/8499378

[Byron Kinnaman]

High winds is another one of those things I've never worried about. We were in winds strong enough to send everybody's patio rug South. My wife opened the door and ended up on the ground. The only thing that happened to the trailer was the fridge propane flame blew out.

We've been in some pretty strong winds a few times. I don't know what the wing velocity was but predicted was 60-65 mph.
we've gone to death valley every year in feb. for the past 10 years. We,ve gone Big Bend TX a few time and experienced winds strong enough to rip up tents.

Worry and do things is up to you. Me I'm not going to worry about high winds.

[ZachO]

It does depend. I've only been in winds once that actually made me think I might get blown over. Southern Utah in a small motorhome. It was probably just a feeling, but it really felt as though the tires on one side of the vehicle lifted slightly during a couple gusts. Otherwise I worry about things ripping off my camper but not the camper itself moving. Crazy to hear that they do move, though.

[rdteeler]

Last year in Lajitas a small border town we were caught in a once in 300 year wind storm . Wind gust over 90 mph. I had installed bal c stabilizers front and rear . Our 17 ft Casita stood still while the wind had knocked a few large campers off there blocks and tore up 2 pop up campers. Front and rear stabilizers is what I suggest.

[tua]

Originally Posted by rdteeler

Last year in Lajitas a small border town we were caught in a once in 300 year wind storm . Wind gust over 90 mph. I had installed bal c stabilizers front and rear . Our 17 ft Casita stood still while the wind had knocked a few large campers off there blocks and tore up 2 pop up campers. Front and rear stabilizers is what I suggest.

Ok good to know 90 mph wind results!
Were you hooked to the TV?