Pitching on a windy Friday - advice
Hi guys,
I'm planning on travelling to Devon on Friday with my tourer in tow and i'll be driving down from Cardiff. I'm going to head out early to get to the site before the strong winds are forecast to hit though so i'm not too worried about that bit.
However, whilst on site, there are forecasted wind gusts of about 50mph and I think that the CL is quite an open space and just wanted to know some thoughts from experienced folk about whether this will be OK? I am assuming that it would take a bit more than that to actually topple the caravan over but are there any sensible precautions to make?
I'll use the tow car to block some of the wind but I guess that the standing itself will dictate the position of the caravan?
Many thanks
Mike
Comments
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Try to pitch into the wind is usually the best advice, wind flows over the van much as it does when towing. Beware of using trees for shelter, we have had a couple of windy stays where quite large branches have just missed us, but tucking in behind hedges works well. At this time of the year you should have some choice in where you pitch hopefully. 50mph gusts shouldn't be too bad. Have a good stay!!
A stiff whisky before bed?
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Thanks Willbee - good advice especially about the whiskey!
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That's all good advice. The warnings are for tomorrow and Saturday but I can tell you that we're already experiencing gusting up around 50mph. Have towed in worse than this though.
I hope they don't close the Severn Bridge tomorrow.
It might be an idea to leave the awning at home.
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It would be remiss of me if I didn't point out that putting your car in front of the side of the caravan to block the wind, will actually increase the chances of the caravan toppling over. A simple experiment you can do to show this now is to push a heavy desk or box. If you push with one hand in the middle or lower towards the floor the desk will slide. To tip it you have to push right at the top. By shielding your van from the force of the wind along all of its side you are left with the wind pushing the top half only. Now having said this a 50mph wind will not be strong at all enough to topple a caravan. Even if all the wind's force was applied at the awning rail it will slide rather than topple. Its the same for a car which can never topple over with a only a sideways force applied to it (unless the other side's tyres were stuck or chocked or its hits something while sliding)
Pitching into the wind is best as described above and will also be more comfortable as you won't be rocked so much.
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Ah, interesting and that makes sense. I do love a good bit of theory! Sounds like the thing to do is pitch into the wind and enjoy my holiday....i've no awning to contend with so even less worry.
Thanks for the advice!
Mike
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We have experienced 60 to 70 mph winds on fairly open coastal sites twice. Apart from a lot of shaking and very little sleep due to the noise, we survived with the van intact on both occasions. Worth checking the steadies are hard down though. It is not pleasant when it gets that windy, but 50 mph gusts should be OK.
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A good answer from Corners. I learnt a lot from his reply. Good one Corners.
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Personally, if the weather forcast is for 50 MPH gales and/or gusts I would not even consider going away. I just wouldn't risk my outfit or nerves. I have been on site when I have been hit by very strong winds and had to leave the 'van for a while!
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It's very windy in the SW just now with severe coastal gales forecast tomorrow, peaking late morning. Possibly 80mph around the coast.There are some coastal flood warnings too.
Having stayed near Portscatho, Cornwall in a severe storm there was quite a bit of damage from objects not secured including lose caravan storage hatches etc..
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Hi Mike - the current met office weather warning is for gusts of 50-60mph in coastal areas with isolated gusts of 70mph. This warning is from 11am Friday morning to 3am Saturday morning. The warning includes heavy rain, travel disruption and possibly falling trees. Of course it can change and is regularly being updated. We keep the Met Office app on our phones for just this kind of decision. Think I would stay home...If you do decide to go, I'd suggest pitching the 'van noise into the wind. Best wishes, Chris
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I wonder if they stayed at home or went somewhere sheltered! I always wonder what strength of wind hit the caravan if you are driving at 50mph and a lorry comes the other way doing 50 mph - I think it takes quite a bit to tip one over but I try not to risk it when the Humber Bridge is closed. I was staying on the Murray Firth one year en route to Ullapool to get the ferry - set off it was fine and then crossing the hills the sign to say the ferries weren't running alerted me! That wind was something else making it a battle to get the door of the caravan open and a horrible night as the wind buffetted my Fiamma Canopy against the caravan! Remarkably when I sailed the day after it was virtually flat calm.
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I did get hit by a gust of wind once on the Durham motorway and it turned the caravan over. it was 1980 and it had the old style hitch on which turned, so fortunately the car car didn't go over. It is not nice watching the caravan overtake you on its side and spinning you around. That is why I do not tow in the winds anymore and why I advise all caravanners not to tow unless they really have to (going away for the week-end is not a must do!)
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