Deliberate or Forgetfulness?
Arrived home today after a drive up the M6. Could not believe how many caravans, campers and motorhomes drove by, north and south directions, with roof heikis open. Now admittedly my understanding of the law of physics is limited, but isn’t this a dangerous practice against the forces of wind, movement and speed. One of those coming loose on the motorway would be like a missile. Doesn’t bear thinking about. So why are drivers doing this? I can see a caravanner forgetting and being unaware when driving along, but the noise is surely obvious in a motorhome. Quite concerning if being opened deliberately. Anyone else seeing this?
Comments
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@JMD we too have noticed the odd one but I suspect that with M/Hs the Helkis will be open to their rear side so air pressure should be forcing them towards their closed position. You will see the same with horse boxes, providing fresh air into the box for the horses.
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Obviously possible that very occassionally someone forgets to close a hatch, But from personal experience they can spring open and its not always easy to find a safe place to stop and close them. Probably easier in a motorhome but with a caravan you could be blissfully unaware of the fact.
David
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I doubt the noise would be obvious in most MHs as they’re noisy, rattly beasts on the move. I believe your brand is quieter than most, JMD.
Whatever the reason for the open rooflights, there’s little we can do about it.
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I cannot believe it's deliberate, at least with a caravan as it would serve no purpose. Although I've noticed that most of these roof lights hinge open at the front so that wind pressure world force then closed.
I know very well a very experienced caravanner who started to tow with the battery flap open recently 🤐
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Given the open heikis were in vehicles being driven in the middle and fast lanes on the M6, also M1 yesterday, I’m not convinced the drivers were unaware of them being opened, even with the various rattles and shakes! One of those flying into another vehicle’s windscreen doesn’t bear thinking about. One in particular, which was in a Motorhome speeding by me, was completely vertical.
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OK but what do you suggest to combat this?
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I would think you're probably over exaggerating the impact of a plastic rooflight hitting a windscreen. Firstly it's large open box shape will make the rooflight tumble about and lose quite a lot of its velocity (and therefore energy) and it's quite light to begin with and so it wouldn't likely hit any windscreen with enough force or pressure to do much damage.
There are plenty of videos on youtube about of people hitting windscreen with hammers without hindering the view too much and worse case it might crack locally but it won't shatter, I've had birds hit my windscreen without any damage in a car (and off the ground too) but they do make a big mess! The rooflight would certainly come off worse.
Running over the rooflight could be more dangerous in my view. Then again a loose towing mirror could too?
As said what do you suggest?
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I think it was entirely reasonable for the OP to raise an issue which they had noticed. That is after all what the forum is for. Others may or may not have noticed the same. As for the effect on other motorists of a flying roof light, it’s not just any damage to another vehicle , it is also the possible effect of taking avoiding action potentially leading to an accident. Interestingly the motorhome etiquette video advertised on this forum does make mention of closing roof lights. Maybe the club magazine could carry a reminder?
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@Hja yes indeed, hence my mention of loose towing mirrors and driving over the rooflight.
However he OP mentioned hitting a windscreen twice and that along with his wording, doesn't bear thinking about (used twice) and the rooflight being like a missle (when it certainly wouldn't be) appeared as being his main concern and worry and hence my answer on that particular point.
Worse things could happen and you and I have given other examples and always best to play it very safe when driving ot towing.
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